Dog Boarding can be tough. Whether you’re jetting off for business or taking a long-awaited vacation, leaving your dog behind can be stressful for you and your pup. Choosing the right boarding facility and preparing in advance can make the experience easier and more comfortable for everyone.
Let’s look at some essential tips to help you make the right decision when researching dog boarding. You can have a family member or friend come by to take care of your dog during your travel time, if you decide to keep them in the comfort of their home, but let’s explore. Here are 10 essential tips to help ensure a smooth and stress-free boarding experience for your dog.
1. Research Boarding Facilities Early
Not all dog boarding facilities are created equal. Before deciding on a dog boarding facility, start researching well to compare options. Look for reviews, visit websites, and ask for recommendations from friends, family, or your veterinarian. A facility should be clean, secure, and staffed with experienced caregivers.
2. Visit the Facility in Person
Before booking, tour the dog boarding facility. Look for cleanliness, attentive staff, and happy, well-cared-for dogs. Ask about staff-to-dog ratios, daily routines, and how emergencies are handled. Please ensure they are a reliable facility and observe other animals currently boarded there. How often are they inside vs. outside? If it’s hot where you are, do they take the dogs in when it reaches a specific temperature? In the cold winter months, are they taken care of as well?
3. Ask About Vaccination Requirements
Reputable facilities require proof of up-to-date vaccinations, including rabies, Bordetella (kennel cough), and DHPP. This policy protects your dog and others. Make sure your pet’s vaccinations are current and bring documentation with you. Most vaccination records can now be emailed to you, so you can also show dog boarders that and even email them a copy if they need it.
4. Schedule a Trial Stay
Schedule a short trial stay (like a day or overnight) before a more extended boarding period if possible. This can help your dog adjust to the new environment and give you peace of mind about how they’ll be cared for. Most dog boarding facilities will allow this. It gives you some time to see how your dog reacts around other dogs, and if they need to be boarded separately from other dogs.
5. Pack Familiar Items
Bring your dog’s favorite toys, bedding, or an item with your scent. These familiar smells can help ease anxiety and make your pet feel more at home. It helps them feel more at home, even if not. You would be surprised how much this helps them to stay connected with you while you are away. If they smell your scent, their toys, beds, etc, they feel connected with you, even when you are away.
6. Stick to Their Diet
Provide the facility with your dog’s regular food and feeding instructions. Sudden dietary changes can cause stomach upset. Include treats if you usually give them, and label everything clearly. This can be very time-consuming, but it can also help avoid sickness while boarding your dog. If you include explicit instructions on how much to feed your dogs while they are being boarded, it can prevent a lot of stress when you do pick up your pups after you return.
7. Share Your Dog’s Personality and Needs
Inform the staff about your dog’s temperament, routines, medications, fears, and quirks. The more they know, the better they can care for your pet. Include emergency contact information and your vet’s phone number. Inform the staff about your dog’s temperament, routines, medications, fears, and quirks. The more they know, the better they can care for your pups while you are away.
8. Keep Goodbyes Low-Key
While making a big emotional farewell is tempting, stay calm and upbeat. Your dog takes emotional cues from you, so projecting confidence helps them feel secure. They feel what you think, so if you are stressed, they will feel stressed. Just reassure them they will be okay, and you will be back!
9. Stay Connected
Some facilities offer webcams or daily updates. If that’s important to you, ask about it in advance. Getting a quick photo or message about how your dog is doing can be reassuring. You can call almost all dog boarders to check on your pets to ensure all is going well. You are essentially a parent of dogs, but you want to ensure they are doing well.
10. Reward and Reacclimate
When you return, give your dog time to readjust to home life. They might be tired, a little clingy, or even slightly off-schedule. Reinforce positive behavior and reward them with love, attention, and a special treat. Make sure to spend plenty of time with them, give them more attention since you have been gone, as they missed you! You could even pick some fun treats up before you pick them up, so they can snack while in the car with their parents on the way home!
That’s A Wrap: Final Thoughts
With proper planning, dog boarding doesn’t have to be a nerve-wracking experience. By choosing a trusted facility and preparing your dog in advance, you’ll feel more relaxed and ready to enjoy your time apart, knowing you’ll be happily reunited soon. Be sure to take plenty of time in advance to do your research to ensure your dog is taken care of, and you are not stressed about them while traveling!
