If you’re planning on going out of town soon, you might be thinking about boarding you dog. You also might be a bit worried about it. To take some pressure off yourself, research the process and learn a few things! Here are ten things you need to know before boarding your dog.
Is Boarding Right?
First, be honest with yourself about your dog. Is boarding them for some amount of time really the best option for them? Some dogs are laid back and can handle boarding for a week or more with no issue. Others are particular and will need a dogsitter to keep them while you’re gone. If you’re not one hundred percent certain that boarding will work for your dog, it’s best to find other accommodations.
Up-to-Date Vaccinations
Before you take your dog to a boarding facility, you’ll need to get their vaccinations up to date. This isn’t up for debate, as your dog will be interacting with lots of other canines in the facility. If they aren’t vaccinated, they could get one of the other dogs sick!
Visit the Vet
Stop by your vet before you board your dog and get them checked out. Make sure they’re in good health and don’t have any parasites or illnesses. Again, it’s not a good idea to let a professional boarding facility take your dog if the other pups there could get sick.
Learn the Kennel Policies
Talk to the kennel and learn about their policies. Will they board your dog’s breed? What are their guidelines for playtime? What will they do if your dog gets into a fight with another dog? Get satisfactory answers to all these questions before you consider boarding your dog with any professionals.
Medications
Another important question to ask your chosen kennel is whether they can administer medications, assuming there are any your dog needs. Some facilities have vets on location who can help tend to the dogs’ health, while others can’t take dogs with special medical needs. Make sure you iron this out well before you leave town!
Their Own Space
You also need to confirm that the kennel offers your dog plenty of their own space. This is vitally important, especially if your dog has separation anxiety. Even a normally relaxed dog could become very anxious if their owner takes off for several days and they have to share space with strangers. The fewer stressors on your dog while you’re gone, the better.
Clean Facilities
It’s also a good idea to ask the kennel if you can tour the facilities briefly. This gives you an overview of the cleanliness of the facility. You can also observe the ways the staff interacts with the dogs and make sure that your precious pup will be cared for properly while you’re gone.
Read More: Secrets That Only Your Dog Knows About You
Keep the Same Food
Make sure you bring your dog’s preferred brand of food with them when you drop them off at the kennel, or otherwise ask them if they can provide that brand. Dogs aren’t like people: they prefer the same meal over and over! It’s quite stressful for them to switch back and forth between different food types.
Read More: 10 Ways to Calm Your Pup in the Car
Keep it Calm
Remain calm when you drop your dog off. Don’t make a huge scene and smother them in hugs. It’s imperative that your dog doesn’t feel like something is wrong. They can pick up on your mood immediately and they’ll have a much worse time while you’re gone if they see you becoming emotional when you say goodbye to them. Keep it short and sweet! You’ll see them again soon.
Read More: Easy Tips to Calm a Panting Dog
Reacclimating to Home
When you do get home, don’t be freaked out if your dog is a bit different for a few days. It’s normal for a dog to have some odd behavior at first, including a higher appetite or a feeling of lethargy. They might even sound different if they barked a lot while you were gone. If these changes persist for more than a few days, call your vet right away, though.
