Who boards their dogs? - Paw Talk

Linda Lee · #1 08-30-2003, 09:58 PM

I have never boarded my dogs before, and you know we have been very tied down too. I did take my dogs on vacation with me a couple of years ago but it's kind of a pain.
I'm am so afraid to board them, but I have to start! This kennel I'm checking out with the labs also boards dogs, and they sound so nice- I hope to start boarding my dogs there when needed.
When I go to visit is there anything you think I should look for beside the obvious like being clean and not too stinky?

SharonM · #2 08-30-2003, 10:56 PM

Fleas. My boss informs anyone that brings their doggies in that if they have fleas, they'll be treated for them.
Do they require shots being up-to-date ?

My boys seem to like being boarded - it's like a vacation for them ... all the doggies to bark at/with, the different smells... I started boarding them there about 4 years ago (been working there for just over a year)

We keep them in a somewhat small area, and if the owner requests it, we'll walk them, or if they're not fence climbers or diggers, let them run. We have a few older dogs that come regularly, and we let them run so they don't get too stiff and cramped.

Also - look to see how close other dogs can get to yours - we have a certain male that likes to fight through the fences, and they can do some damage to their muzzles that way.

Deja · #3 08-30-2003, 11:42 PM

I've boarded Jack quite a few times. I did learn that there are good kennels and not so good ones. The things I learned to look for are:
Do they require all dogs to be up to date on immunizations?
Do they require proof of bordetella (kennel cough) vaccination?
If fleas are found on any dogs brought in to be boarded- do they flea-dip them?
How big are the kennels the dogs are to stay in?
Do they have indoor/outdoor access?
Will the dog have access to a supervised area to run around and play in- will someone play with my dog?
Will they walk the dog on leash if requested?
Will they allow you to provide your dog's regular food?
Will they give your dog treats you provide?
Will they give your dog chew toys that you provide?
Do they give the dog anything to chew or play with that you might not approve of?
Do they at any time or for any reason put the dogs in choke collars? (I learned this one the hard way once when I picked Jack up from a boarding kennel and he was hoarse. I thought he was sick, only to find out he'd been put in a choke collar and obviously left unsupervised... he had a minor throat injury as a result)
Do they provide clean soft bedding? Can you supply your own?
How much time will people be spending with your dog?
Is there a vet on call at all times?
And one I find to be a really nice perk- Will they bathe and groom your dog the day you are due to pick him up? (No matter how clean the kennels are, it's nice to get a clean and fresh smelling dog back!)

Look at the place, and smell the place, talk to as many people as you can and ask lots of questions. I usually get a gut feeling that tells me if it's a place I'd feel comfortable leaving my best friend or if I should walk away and find another.
Ask for references and call people who have left their dogs there. This is where you can get the most valuable information- where they satisfied? What did they like? What did they dislike?
What mood was the dog in when they picked it up? Happy? Aggitated? Depressed? How did they think their dog was treated while in the care of the boarding kennel?

I've also hired a pet-sitter to come into my home twice a day to care for the animals. I have to be honest - I realized the dog was better off at a boarding kennel where he was around other dogs and people.
When I go away now I can get a family member come in every day to feed and care for the cats and birds. I board Jack... and now if I need to at some point, will board both Jack and Max.
I would ask that they be put together- they'd be miserable if they had to be split up.

Bottom Line, for me? Trust your gut. Trust your instinct.

It can be a fun vacation for them... and Jack is always sooo happy to see us when we pick him up, the first few days at home he's a velcro dog personified

Like he's saying - "Hey that was fun, but there's no place like home!"

DirtySouthChins · #4 08-31-2003, 12:07 AM

We boarded Tabitha and Scooby for the first time in July.... The place we took them to was very nice, they only feed once a day but would feed extra for extra money, they gave them their favorite treats, and let us bring 2 rubber/vinyl toys for each dog...nothing cloth, and of course they couldn't have their own food bowl.... All shots had to be up to date, and if there is a flea problem they wouldn't take them unless treated.... Also any dog that was boarded there, was a problem (fighting through fencing ect.) would have the owners called and would be requested to leave A.S.A.P. We toured the facility before boarding our 2... We looked for cleaniness, how well the staff related to us as well as other dogs in the facility, Asked questions about walks, extra one on one time, ect.... All those were available at extra cost.... Our 2 got a large kennel with a private run that included ice cream on sundays and if we wanted to pay extra they could of had ice cream everyday, but ummm we opt NO for that, wouldn't want them to expect that all the time, lol

I agree with Deja, trust your instinct on what you feel about the place.

Deja · #5 08-31-2003, 12:22 AM

Wow- that sounds like a great place- Jack and Max would love ice cream on Sundays!

Linda Lee · #6 08-31-2003, 07:36 AM

Thanks for all the tips!
I did work at a kennel(groomer) for about 3 years, I guess that's why I'm so afraid. The owners appeared like friendly people on the outside but I never met such wackos in my life. One time they got a puppy in and he kept pooping on the inside- they had doggy doors to the outside run. The lady owner got so mad she smooshed his nose into the poop! I told her no one trains dogs like that anymore and it wasn't the right thing to do. She told me it worked and the puppy never pooped inside after that.
She could get really nasty and I wouldn't want my dog there. Also they didn't have a fence around the property so if the dogs slipped out the run door while someone was hosing it's run the dog could just run away! They did have dogs get loose while I was there too.
My dogs would diffinately need soft beds to lay on, so I would find out if I can bring them in- and they better be aloud. The food I would like to be their own and I think most kennels these days don't argue about that.
I guess I will really try to get a sence of the owners personalitys and make sure they're nice people. One thing I liked about this man at the Lab place is he referrered to the dogs as our children , and I really like that! The place I worked at would say "they're just dogs" The man there was a hunting dog trainer and he treated them like animals not loving family members- like my dogs are to me!
I can't believe fleas would still be a problem these days with all the great spot products out there. When I was working I didn't see dogs with fleas come in anymore, ticks yes, fleas no.
I have to say I wouldn't want anyone else washing my dogs~ I'd rather do it myself when I got home.

DirtySouthChins · #7 08-31-2003, 08:11 AM

OMG Linda....how horrible....I surely don't blame you at all for being so leary about boarding, wow what a horrible place to have worked for.
Deja it was a wonderful place, it is a Pet Motel...and the cost was great.... For Tabitha and Scooby both weighing about 52 pounds, it cost us like $38/Day that was the tax and holiday charge included (it was over 4th of July). So $38 combined was great. then all the extras

BrendaLynn · #8 08-31-2003, 09:21 AM

Linda I would call around and see if your vet knows of any reputable kennels in the area. My Vet clinic actually did board Moose for me and he was very well taken care of. He isn't quite as afraid of the clinic anymore. Maybe your vet offers that service too.

PokeyPokey · #9 08-31-2003, 10:08 AM

I always board my dogs. My cocker would just be the happiest little thing and wanted to stay longer but the sheltie would be like "get my outta here!!!!" but it really wasn't that bad for them.

The kennel we take them to is niiiiiiice. They have like three extra fences just so the dogs could never get loose. they have monitoring cameras everywhere. You can watch them take the dog to the pen they'll be staying in etc. You can opt to have your dog play with other ones or not.

Linda Lee · #10 08-31-2003, 09:58 PM

Guess what Lvnmycritters? The place I worked at is the place my vet recommends to everyone. It isn't the worse place in the world, it was very clean and all that but I just couldn't stand the idea of leaving my dogs with the wackos,
What I really want is some luxury sweet like you see on pet planet for the rich pups in Beverly Hills California. Like some fancy pet resort. There are ones like that near Philly on the Main Line but it's too far for me to drive them. I need a close place , I may have an emergency and have to leave for a day or 2.
My vet dosen't board dogs so that's not even an option. I also tried to get a receptionist or vet tech to help me incase of emergency(i"m right down the street from the vet) but none of them were interested= I was really willing to pay one of them very well too, but I never mentioned what I would pay- Do you think I should offer big bucks and see if I could purswade one, or maybe it's about time I got over my phobia of leaving my dogs with a kennel. After all I'll have 3 soon and I don't think I can be bringing them with me everywhere.OMG- don't even think my jeep is big enough!

BrendaLynn · #11 08-31-2003, 10:52 PM

Oh that stinks! I have been taking Moose with us on vacations to our cabin (which is usually the only place we've been going) so i haven't boarded him this year at all. Do any of your pet food stores or supply stores have a board that may list petsitting services? We have those also, most of them are bonded and insured. I see listings for them at various places, such as the grocery store on the boards before entering and the local pet stores.

Linda Lee · #12 09-01-2003, 08:05 AM

There are petsitters advertizing in phone book, they don't live near by though.I'll keep an eye on the boards.
Hopefully I'll like the kennel I'm visiting this week.
That's great you have a cabin get away and take your Moose with ya. We rented a cabin at Long lake NJ once. The dogs loved it, but it was so cold for August! After that we rented a house at a beach in Delawere- the house was nice but it was overcast the whole week. I really hate vacations, only have gone for the sake of my family. I'd much rather stay home unless I could go on a tropical vacation- but of course I have to board the dogs to do that.
I like that name Moose for your dog, whats a cool name for a white lab? I keep thinking polar bear but it's to hard to say.
Let me start a new thread and ask that question.

BrendaLynn · #13 09-01-2003, 10:09 AM

A white lab I have never seen before, hummm...
Maybe Cloud or Silver, or maybe Moonbeam?
I usually like people names for dogs.
Moose was really named by his previous owner, I guess he was the biggest puppy in his litter and she got used to calling him that. We thought it was hysterical because all of our dogs up until him were quite large. So we found it amusing and ironic!

Chrisanne · #14 09-01-2003, 10:12 AM

I don't board my dogs ...... EVER. Vacations is just something I sacrafice.

Once in a while I'll have a close friend stay at the house and tend to my critters while we go away for a few days..... but NOT long at all. Then I still call every day. This was a decision we made as a family when we got our first family dog..... which was my Gazoo.

Bordatella vaccines are highly over rated. My lab gets Kennel cough everytime he gets the shot. The fact is.... much like a common cold there are a variety of strains of it, and the vaccine doesn't cover them all.

IF I were to board, which I never will, I would definately look hard at all the things mentioned by the others.