And here it is from the boarding kennel's perspective:
7 Questions To Ask When Boarding A Dog
Your go-to list of questions when boarding a dog
- Have you taken a tour of the facilities? Before boarding a dog anywhere, you must tour the facilities. If they won’t let you, take that as a sign that you should get out of there as soon as you can! Make sure that the kennels are clean and spacious. You wouldn’t want your dog left in a cramped space. Always go with your gut – if you get a bad feeling about a dog boarder, don’t leave your dog there.
By all means call for a tour. We want to meet you, to see if you are the type of people we choose to deal with. Do you love and respect your dogs? Are they healthy and well cared for? Do they have any temperament issues that might make this the wrong type of place for them? Remember, this is a two-way interview. We may tell you that this isn't the right type of place for your dog.
Also please respect us when we say you need an appointment for a tour. A lot of the nicest boarding kennels are small operations, and we can't afford to pay someone to sit in the office all day in case someone drops in for a tour. So we schedule the tours at times we know it won't conflict with our feeding the dogs, doing play times, putting them out, etc. If you drop in unannounced, we will be glad to give you a tour but you will have to wait until we are finished caring for the dogs.
2. How many dogs are boarded there at one time? The dog kennel should have limit on the number of canines it can house. Does each dog have its own unit or will it there be two or more dogs in a kennel? If so, ask why – sometimes multi-dog families are kept together, but that should only account for a handful of the accommodations.
We specialize in multi-dog families. It is common for MOST of our accommodations, which are huge, to have two or more dogs in the run. Most people who have more than one dog want their dogs to be together, it's much less stressful for the dogs. However, we do not ever board dogs together that don't live together at home, and you should be certain that the kennel you are considering does not, either.
3. Is there a play area? And don’t just ask this question – make sure you get to see it and that dogs are actually using this area to play. Some kennels charge extra to let your dog out to play or have time-restricted sessions. Insist that when boarding a dog, your pup gets enough time to burn off excess energy, do its business and socialize with other dogs.
INSIST your pup gets time to socialize with other dogs? Excuse me?? We are professionals, and we recognize that this is not a good situation for many dogs, in fact, for most. If you insist your pup get to socialize with other dogs, we will recommend a different facility. And when you call us the next time telling us your dog came home with stitches, lame, or sick, we won't even say "I told you so".
4. How many staff members are on duty? A good rule of paw is that the dog boarding facilities should have one staff member for every 10 dogs. That way, your dog gets the attention it needs, especially if there is a problem or emergency.
That's the rule of thumb for dogs interacting. It's not the case for dogs that do not do socialization groups. And remember, payroll = cost of doing business = more cost to the consumer. We'd love to have one person for every 10 dogs, but we'd have to increase the price by about $10 per day.
5. What happens if there is an emergency? Knock on wood that it doesn’t happen, but your dog could get sick while you’re away. Ask is there is a vet on staff or on call. Make sure they will contact you before taking any drastic measures or making any serious decisions. If possible, see if your dog can be transported to her own vet if she becomes sick.
Absolutely ask those questions, they are very important. Be sure there is a protocol in place for if the boarding kennel cannot get in touch with you, and needs to make a serious decision for your dog. BE SURE TO LEAVE AN EMERGENCY CONTACT NAME AND PHONE NUMBER WHO CAN PICK UP YOUR DOG IF NECESSARY, TO TRANSPORT TO THE VET, OR TAKE THE DOG HOME IF HE/SHE HAS A CONTAGIOUS DISEASE, OR TO MAKE DECISIONS IF YOU CANNOT BE REACHED. Be sure your emergency person is WILLING TO PAY THE VET FOR YOU if your vet won't bill you later, that is not up to the boarding kennel to pay a multi-thousand dollar bill, and then try to get you to reimburse them.
6. What are the costs for everything involved? If you’re
boarding a dog, you need to have all the costs involved broken down. There may be a flat fee or charges added for special services. You don’t want any hidden charges added to your bill when you come back to collect you pooch.
Very true. And be sure to inquire about all special services you will be requesting, such as ear cleaning 2x a day, medications, cooking special food, and so on. Don't just assume they will be part of the boarding bill. If your dog has housetraining *issues* and the kennel has to wash all the bedding 2 or 3 times a day, there may be a charge for that. Be sure to ask.
7. What will my dog eat? Since boarding a dog can be a stressful situation, you want to stick to an established routine as closely as possible. And providing your dog’s preferred food and treats is a good way to limit the stress on her body. Leave instructions as to what your dog can and can’t eat, as well as a feeding schedule.
Most good boarding kennels now require you to bring your own food. Bear in mind that they have many dogs to care for, and cannot feed your dog at *exactly* the same time he eats at home. If you say your dog normally eats at 6:00 a.m., he will probably get fed some time between 5:30-6:30. Boarding kennels have to do what is best for the majority of dogs.
And most important....remember, this is not an adversarial relationship. A good boarding kennel should make you feel as though you are leaving your dog with a friend, and the boarding kennel should feel as though they are watching a friend's dog. Communicate with us. Let us know your concerns. Tell us everything you can about your dogs so we can care for them properly.
Then relax, and enjoy your trip!
