Upset with dog gone to boarding kennel?

[Sabrina145]

Help! I’m so upset because my dog is gone to boarding kennels for the first time. 🙈 he’s never been away from home in five years. I didn’t drop him because he’d feel that I was upset, so my dad brought him for me. I sobbed once he’d left! Anyone else? I know he will be fine and it’s a good place. Family run and only take small number of dogs so they get one to one attention , balls thrown for them in the exercise area individually etc. but I can’t help worry about him- he gets anxious and nervous at times and is very attached to me. My dad said he was barking going in and I’m terrified he’ll just keep barking! Calm me down please 🙈

My dog loves kennels. Doesn’t even glance back at me, just happy trots off!
And although he is super happy when he sees me again, after the initial excitement, he wants to stay!

I don’t use homeboarders as my dog wouldn’t settle in someone else’s house, he would constantly be looking for me, or trying to open doors/jump fences to find me.

I tried both home boarding and kennel. DDog much happier in the right kennel than with the home boarder. He had his own space, with raised beg, outdoor run, tv on, 4 activity parks, including one with a swimming area - as a lab he loved this.
He was always very happy to see me home, but also liked the kennel maids .
He did not sleep - paced all night- at the border - it was just not for him.

I’m sure you did your research and felt comfortable with the kennels, OP, don’t listen to the snidey “Oh I would NEVER….!” posters.
I’m sure your dog settled down and will be perfectly happy. Even if he misses you he is safe and looked after.
Our previous dog went to a fab kennels. No frills, no nonsense owners who knew, liked and understood working breeds and it was a job to extricate her from behind the counter when we went to collect her I swear she thought she was sent there to help them out!
Current dog is a bit more of a wimp sensitive so we have looked for a smaller kennels where she can maybe have a tad more individual attention.

I’m not a fan of all the home boarders that are springing up. One posted her dog and a client dog chasing round an empty ham packet. Lots of “Awww, they luv there treets, hun!”. Amazing that anyone would send their dog to her to eat crap and fight over plastic packets . I’m sure there are decent ones out there but I’d go for an established kennels from friend/family recommendation that takes into account the dog’s breed and what they can offer.

Judging by her posts elsewhere today, yes.

I’m sure your dog will be fine OP, it’s horrible leaving them but they’ll be safe and looked after.

I use kennels, like a previous poster my dog would not like a home boarder at all - he has zero interest in other people (or dogs) apart from us and I know he would try and escape to find me. I’d also be worried about other people walking him and him running off. The kennels I use have a huge enclosed area where they are walked and also paddocks for them to mooch about in during the day.

I'm sure she will be fine once she settles in.

I have a reactive collie x who I would never leave in a home boarding situation, but he loves the kennels. From an owner point of view, I'm happy that he is secure, safe and well looked after. They get used to the routine, they have a massive field to exercise in, and the owners really spoil them.

Not at all.
Just because you don’t agree with my opinion on another thread doesn’t make it nasty.

Honestly… who cares😂

I was booked on a flight, at almost the last minute pet sitter said she couldn’t have my dog. I looked at an alternative pet sitter, she didn’t seem nice so in a panic I phoned a local kennels who said they had a space, didn’t usually take dogs on a Sunday but they’d open for me. Tbh it looked a bit run down but dogs all looked happy, couple who owned it were lovely so I left my dog and friend phoned every day to check on her. When I went to collect her she ran to the male kennel owner before even noticing me, he was her new best friend judging by her behaviour.
I’m sure your dog will be fine, it’s you that’s feeling guilty and sad, your dog is probably having a ball.

We've only tried boarding kennels once, and home boarding several times.
Our little Border Terrier came home the most unaffected having been in the kennels.
The last home boarder she was with let her play all day long, every day, against my instructions, which inflamed her arthritis. Whereas in the kennels they're predominantly left to chill out or potter in an enclosure, which suits her better (despite the fact I give her an hour-long daily walk at home).

Yes a similar thing happened close too me, they caught the owner on film

Oh bloody hell I'm tone deaf sometimes, take no heed to scare stories, I'm sure they will be fine, shame you can't facetime them

The one we use is along a long country lane. Ddogs know that road and get excited. The buggars don't even look back after me when I leave! They were very patient with our lock down ddog who was very nervous at first.

@Fuchs1a
my dogs are exactly the same. We can’t say the ‘K’ word in front of them as they loose their minds. They drag me up the lane and don’t look back when they see the guy that owns the kennels. But mine go regularly and have been going there for about 3 years.

Get a grip of yourself. Here, have a ‘I love my dog the most’ medal and pipe down.

OP, I’m sure your dog will be fine 😊

Thanks for the medal 👌🏻

I think many have the incorrect impression of a decent boarding kennel. I have used an excellent kennels for 4 dogs now, all had different temperaments but all were safe, well looked after and brimming with health when I collected them. Unfortunately the owners have recently retired and I'm now on the hunt for an equivalent business.

Oh you’re welcome - you come across as someone who needs it.

See - this is what put me off home boarders . The first questions we were asked by the home boarder we visited were around the dog being left in the house when they went out and how he would get on with their toddler grandchild .

I have no idea how my dog would react with those things . Yes, we leave him alone at home - but I wouldn't be leaving him alone in a strange place such as if we were in holiday accommodation; and we don't have young children in our family . Best not to take the risk .

Absolutely . And I think having the routine helps them feel secure . Plus running around with the other dogs in the play field tired them and helps them to sleep.

Anyone with a modicum of intelligence.

My dog walker will board clients dogs. I haven't used them for holidays yet, but they took my 2 for 5 days last year when I had to spend a lot of time visiting my husband in hospital. I trust them 100%

@ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea my boarders don't have children it's a husband and wife company . The wife is a former vet. they also rent their own enclosed field so we know walks are safe, and they have a 3 dog limit, with experience of scent hounds (important for me)
I've met plenty of boarders i wouldn't use too, so research is important for anyone.

My dog is nervous. She’s not aggressive in the least but takes a loooong time to warm up to new people. I really don’t think she’d cope in someone else’s house, it would just be too stressful for her. At kennels they can let her out for a run around by just opening the door and letting her play in the paddock. She’s so obedient she just runs back into her kennel again afterwards when they tell her to🤣 she hates people she doesn’t know putting her lead on, and they are very experienced and happy to deal with her ‘quirks’ I absolutely love the people who work there and will be devastated if the manager ever leaves!

I use to work at a boarding kennels and we treated the dogs like our own.
Extra attention and cuddles to any that seemed a bit nervous too.