Helpful Tips

Selecting a Boarding Kennel

Stop by a kennel and visit with the owner. Get acquainted with the people who will be caring for your dog. Ask questions; take nothing for granted. "Are toys or bedding welcome? How will my dog be exercised? What will you feed my dog?" Talk about safety features. Discuss frankly any qualms you may have about boarding. They will appreciate your frankness and interest.

Make certain you understand the rate structure for all services and hours of operation. The fee for boarding not only includes the care of your pet, but also the peace of mind that goes with knowing that your dog is safe and with someone you can trust.

Cat Boarding

Keep in mind that cats react much differently in a strange environment than do dogs. Cats are instinctively solitary animals. They do not run in packs as dogs do. Therefore, when confronted with strange surroundings, a cat's normal response is to withdraw physically and mentally into a protected, solitary state. For this reason, cats enjoy the "protected" feeling they get from being caged while in the kennel.

What To Do Upon Arriving Home After Boarding

When your dog is picked up they will be very excited to see you. (Dogs do not have a sense of time, so they would be just as happy to see you if you left 5 minutes or 5 days ago.) Do not feed them (though they will act hungry once back on familiar turf) for at least 3 hours, and then be very careful not to overfeed. Also, excitement will cause your dog to pant a lot, lose body water and be thirsty. Give them a few ice cubes to tide them over until feeding time. Again, in their excited state, excessive food and water consumption can create problems.