While kennels
range from the very basic to the ultra-modern, keep in mind that the frills
are meant mainly for owners. What is important is general safety and
the friendliness and competence of the staff.
What to Look For in a Kennel
Visit the kennel before you
decide to board your dog. Most kennels welcome these visits, and it
gives you a chance to see their facilities and ask specific questions. Your
questions should be answered with confidence and to your satisfaction, so
that you will feel comfortable leaving your pet when you are away.
Make sure that the kennel
staff have a basic knowledge of dog behaviour and welfare so that they will
instantly know if your dog is feeling unwell. Proper supervision is the key to a good
facility. Pets should be checked frequently
during the day by someone who is trained to recognize the signs of illness
and distress. Experience
and practical knowledge are required to detect or interpret such symptoms
as lethargy (“I thought he was just sleeping”), severe intestinal disorders
(friends or acquaintances rarely check the backyard for bloody stool),
urinary problems (it is almost impossible to detect blood in the urine
when a pet urinates on grass), loss of appetite, coughing, sneezing or
discharge from the eyes or nose. All of these signs can be significant.
Competent pet care personnel are trained to recognize and evaluate such
signs and to seek veterinary assistance when needed. Therefore, you
should try to evaluate the competence of the facility’s personnel. Some kennels have veterinarians either
on the premises or working nearby. Find out how sudden illness is
addressed. The kennel's veterinarian may be the one contacted for treatment,
or it might be your regular veterinarian. If you have a specific preference,
discuss this with the kennel owner. Remember that it is customary
for you to be financially responsible for any veterinary care required for
your pet while being boarded.
If your dog is on medication
that is given several times a day, make sure that the kennel personnel are
able to administer it appropriately. Some kennels may not be able
to give medication as often as your pet requires.
If your pet is taking medication,
advise the business operator of the nature of the problem. Many facilities
will not accept animals requiring excessive medication (more than three
times per day, or nighttime medication, for example) or animals requiring
potentially dangerous medication (diabetes shots, for example). Ask
if there is an additional charge for administering the medication.
The kennel should be clean
inside and out and the runs and cages should look and smell clean. Proper
sanitation is one of the most important aspects of preventing the spread
of contagious diseases. Animals that are currently boarding should be
clean and appear well cared for. Take a look at the area where the
dogs are exercised, it should be clean with the waste material removed on
a regular basis, leaving the area relatively free of fecal material.
When you are on a trip, your
pet may decide to try to “find” you. Because of this tendency and
because very few homes are designed with pet security in mind, pets can
escape from inexperienced individuals you may have asked to watch your pet.
Boarding facilities, on the other hand, are designed to prevent this
type of accident. During your facility visit, look for sturdy, well-maintained
fencing, gates and dividers between runs. If your dog is a climber, digger
or some other type of “escape artist,” tell the facility operator so that
extra precautions, such as wirecovered runs or locks on gates, can be taken.
Observe fencing height and security in all outdoor play yards. You
should notify the boarding operators if your dog is a jumper so they can
ensure
proper indoor and outdoor safety is maintained for your pet.
Exercise is important for
each animal, but how much and how often depends on the individual dog's
need and the ability of the kennel to offer these services. Discuss this
with the kennel. Dogs
should have enough space to enable them to break into a run. Exercise
time will depend upon the facility’s layout. In some facilities, dogs
are allowed free access to their own individual exercise runs during the
day. In such facilities, you may want to make arrangements to limit
your dog’s exercise time if there is any reason he or she should not be
allowed to exercise at will (an older dog with a heart condition or a “hyper”
dog that tends to run weight
off, for example). Other facilities use a “time-sharing” method
for scheduling exercise. In such facilities, make sure that the time
allowed and the frequency of exercise periods are adequate for your dog. Find out how often dogs are walked,
and if they are allowed to run free in an enclosed area. Some kennels
will give dogs extra walks or exercise time, but often at an additional
charge.
Indoors, the boarding facility
should have adequate cage and run sizes, with larger cages for bigger dogs.
Natural light from windows is great, but if not available, indoor lighting
should adequate. The air should circulate well and not smell stagnant. Proper
ventilation will significantly decrease the risk of disease transmission.
Inquire about the following:
1. Water: At boarding facilities, individual containers filled
with clean drinking water should be available to each animal. Water
should be checked and changed frequently and all containers should be disinfected
at least once daily.
2. Food: Feeding procedures vary in each pet care facility. Some
facilities supply preferred brands of food, which they serve to all boarders;
however, they usually allow you to bring your pet’s favorite food if you
wish. Other facilities maintain a stock of the most popular brands and feed
whatever you request. Still others require that you bring your pet’s
food with you when you check in. Determining the business’s policy
and if there are any additional charges for special feeding arrangements.
3. Temperature Control:
The facility should be able to maintain temperatures within healthful,
comfortable limits for your pet. If you have an older pet or a pet
that requires warmer or cooler accommodations than are normally provided,
determine if special arrangements can be made.
4. Protection from the Elements:
In all types of pet care facilities, exercise areas should provide shelter
from wind, rain, snow and direct sunlight. Outdoor activities and
exposure should be limited when conditions are extreme. Check for shade
and shelter, which should always be provided in extremely hot or cold environments.
5. Ventilation: Good ventilation (no drafts) helps minimize the
spread of airborne bacteria and viruses.
6. Light: Lighting should be at comfortable levels during the
day.
7. Bedding: Find out
what arrangements are made for pet bedding. Some facilities provide
resting platforms, bedding or newspaper. Others require that you bring bedding
from home. Check if there are any restrictions on owner-provided bedding
(wicker beds and feather pillows, for example, may not be accepted).
8. Sleeping Quarters: As you know from observing your pet, most
of his or her time is spent resting
or sleeping. Your facility should provide a place for this purpose
(a primary enclosure). It should be clean and dry and roomy enough
for your pet to stand up comfortably, turn around easily, and stretch out.
Find out how many animals
are routinely boarded at a single time and the number of staff taking care
of the animals. More people and fewer animals may mean more attention
for the individual animals.
Some boarding facilities
offer grooming services. Consider having your dog groomed the day
he or she is going to go home. It is always nice for your dog to come
back from the kennel smelling clean, fresh and newly groomed.
Once you have decided on which
kennels make your reservations early: Most boarding facilities are
booked up quickly at holiday peak times. If you wait until the last
minute to make your reservations, you may be disappointed. As you make
your reservations, verify those items which you should bring with you to
the facility, such as immunization records, special food, medication, bedding
and toys. Make arrangements for
any special services that you wish to have performed while your pet is
at the facility, such as grooming. As you make your reservations,
find out what type of payment arrangements are acceptable (credit cards,
cash, personal checks, money orders).
Remember that pets, like people,
usually appreciate a holiday in new surroundings with new friends.
Dogs, once they become familiar with their new surroundings, have a marvelous,
exciting time—almost like kids at summer camp. (If your dog has never
been boarded before, you might consider short, overnight stays at the facility
prior to an extended boarding stay to help him or her get used to boarding.
Every time you return, your dog is less likely to be affected by
separation anxiety and can enjoy the experience more).
Don’t overfeed your pet the
night before he or she goes to the boarding kennels. The extra food is not
really necessary and the result might be an upset stomach.
Finally, because pets sense and reflect our emotions, DO NOT allow any
member of the family to stage an emotional “farewell” scene. Your
pets can be made to feel unnecessarily anxious about the facility visit if
they are subjected to this kind of dramatic display.
Don’t be surprised if your pet care facility operator asks you to leave
your dog in the office rather than allowing you to place your dog in his
run. This is done so that your dog will see you leave and will realize
that you have entrusted him or her to the care of the facility staff.
It also eliminates the possibility
of your dog getting the erroneous impression that you are placing him in
the run to “guard” it. When dogs get that impression, they sometimes
become aggressive.
Kennel Requirements
A kennel may require a health
certificate from your veterinarian and proof of your dog's most recent vaccinations.
Certain kennels have very specific
requirements regarding vaccinations. Check with the kennel first for
which vaccinations are required. The general vaccinations needed
are distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, and parvovirus but
check with the kennels in question as to their vaccination policy prior
to boarding. Sometimes, a letter from your veterinarian will be all
that is required. Other times, additional vaccines may need to be given.
A kennel cough (bordetella) vaccination is a common vaccine required
by kennels that may not be routinely given by your veterinarian. It
is a vaccine that offers protection from bordetella bronchiseptica, a contagious
infection that causes upper respiratory signs (mainly coughing) in dogs.
The vaccine is given either subcutaneous or intranasally (via the nose).
It is usually administered yearly, but some kennels may additionally
require it shortly before boarding.
As a general rule, most
kennels require vaccinations to be given yearly. All dogs that
are to be boarded should be healthy and free of contagious diseases. If
your dog has a medical problem that is stable or currently under treatment,
let the kennel know prior to boarding to make sure they are comfortable
boarding your dog.
If your dog has fleas or
other external or internal parasites, he or she should be treated prior
to arrival or on admission to the kennel.
What You Should Bring to
The Kennel
If your dog has a special
bed or favorite toy, ask if you can bring them with your pet. Familiar
items from home will make your pet feel more comfortable while you are away
as they contain your personal scent which will help to relax and comfort
your dog whilst you are away.
It is always a good idea to
bring your dog's own food to the kennel. Abrupt changes in food commonly
lead to diarrhea in many animals, especially when they are in a more stressful
environment (i.e. away from home). In dogs that tend to get diarrhea
when stressed, a high fiber diet while boarding may help. If your
dog is on a special diet or has special dietary needs, make sure the kennel
is aware of this, and that they follow your specific instructions.
Try and leave the kennel staff
several contact numbers so, if needed, the appropriate people can be contacted
in the event of an emergency. Provide the number (if possible) where
you can be reached while you are away. If you are unavailable, a friend or
relative's number should be accessible. This person should be able to make
any emergency decisions if needed. Discuss your wishes with this
person prior to your leaving. The kennel should also have your veterinarian's
number in case there are medical problems. This is important if there are
any current medical problems with your pet.
If your dog is receiving
medications at home, they should be continued while boarding. Bring
the medications with you to the kennel, and make sure the kennel is aware
of the specific problem that is being treated. If you feel it necessary
provide some relevant background information about the problem.
