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Finding Reputable
Dog Boarding Kennels
Finding Boarding
Kennels
Beyond the fact that
we all love our Cavaliers, these dogs are also a fairly expensive
investment. All the more reason to be careful with whom you leave your
dog when you're away from home. Finding safe and reliable
dog boarding kennels
for your Cavalier
King Charles Spaniel is an essential
part of pet ownership.
Start by making a
list of Boarding Kennels
Begin
by asking friends and family members who own dogs for
referrals. Veterinarians sometimes board dogs for their clients,
or can give you a referral to a local dog kennel,
if they
don't.
Of course, check your yellow pages and search the internet.
You might also have a local service like Angie's List
that reports customer service ratings of local vendors.
You may also wish to contact your local Better Business Bureau to see
if any complaints have been lodged against each of the boarding kennels
you are
considering.
Narrow down your list
Your
initial job is to narrow down your list to the top 2 or 3 boarding
facilities which you should then visit in person. Much of the
preliminary decision making can be done by looking over the boarding
kennels website and speaking to them by phone.
Checklist of
questions to ask
You
probably already know what criteria are most important to you in a dog
kennel. It may be that finding a convenient kennel near your home (or
near the airport) is more important to you than finding the lowest cost
facility.
But even if you think you already know what you are looking for, I
recommend gathering as much information about each boarding kennel as
you can. Then you can choose your top candidates with all the relevant
facts.
Boading
Kennels - Basic
Information
- Location of the
boarding kennel
- Business hours (and
pet pick up / drop off hours)
- Range of services
available (just boarding? or do they offer doggie day care, walks, play
times, bathing,
grooming,
etc?)
- Type of kennel area
that will be provided for your dog.
- Does each kennel have
an inside as well as outdoor area? (Can your dog relieve himself a good
distance away from where he will sleep?)
- Are the kennels
protected from the weather and/or temperature controlled?
- Is bedding provided,
or just a cement floor?
- Is fresh water
available to your pet at all times?
- What brand of pet
food does the kennel offer? Many kennels control costs by using
commercial pet foods that are not the best natural pet foods.
If you would prefer to bring your pet's own food from home, will there
be a surcharge?
- Will they accept a
pet that required medication? (Some kennels may refuse depending on
your pet's illness in order to avoid infecting other animals on
premises. Other kennels may take your pet, but keep him in a separate
"quarantined" area of their facility.)
- Rates for boarding
(and charges for "extras" like walks and giving medications)
- Do they have staff on
hand around the clock, or only during office hours?
- Does a staff member
supervise the dogs during group exercise at all times?
- Do they have a
Veterinarian available in case of emergency?
- What documents do
they require from their boarding clients (generally, proof of
vaccination)?
- If I have more than
one dog, can they boarding together in the same kennel. If I also own a
cat, can both my dog and my cat be boarded at this facility?
Schedule a personal
visit
Now,
armed with the essential details, you should take time to visit your
top 2 or 3 boarding kennel choices. There's no substitute for having
your own look around. What sounded good on their website or over the
phone might not ring true once you see the facility itself.
When visiting, ask to see the kennel area where your dog will actually
stay. Beware of kennel operators that refuse to let you visit the
kennel area. You may be told that visitors upset the dogs, etc., but
then you would expect the kennel to at least have a window where you
can see the kennels.
What
to look for:
- Observe how the
staff members handle the animals being boarded. Make further inquiries
about how staff members are trained and supervised.
- Is the boarding
kennel clean and sanitary? Ask how often the kennels are cleaned and
what type of cleaning products are used.
- Notice how the
facility protects against animals getting loose. Are there double gates
/ doors to prevent a dog from being lost?
Test Drive your
Chosen Boarding Kennel
Once
you've made your selection, it's wise to schedule a short visit (over
one night or a weekend) for your pet to be sure your Cavalier adjusts
to this kennel and comes home having been well cared for. If all
goes well during this intial short stay, then you will be more
comfortable leaving your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with the
boarding kennel when you go on vacation for a longer period.
Regardless of what brand of pet food the kennel uses, consider
insisting on bringing your own pet's dog food with them to the
kennel. Your dog may already be feeling a little stressed by the
change of scene. So why also subject him to possible stomach upset with
a change of food?
Ask in advance whether you are allowed to bring your pet's bed , pet
food and treats. The more you can keep your pet's environment familar
to him, the more easily he will adapt to the boarding kennel.
If all goes
well during this intial short stay, then you will be more comfortable
leaving your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with the boarding kennel
when you go on vacation for a longer period.
 ©
Copyright 2006 by I-Love-Cavaliers.com
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