Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

Original poster

To think kennels are a bit cruel?

105 replies

yoshithe · 31/03/2023 17:49

I don't think cruel in the sense that it's some kind of abusive thing to do but wasn't sure how else to word it. Our dog is 11 months old and DH really wants to go to New York for his birthday, so far we have taken our dog with us to UK getaways and did drive with him to the Netherlands.

We don't have any friends or family that would look after our dog for the time we are away, so it feels like our only option is kennels. I've seen dog boarding but I'm actually unsure if that's also difficult for a dog? Just being taken to a new home environment.

Kennels seem particularly sad though, aren't they enclosed in their "room" most of the time with only human interaction a couple times a day? He's obviously quite young still as well.

Personally, I don't really want to leave him, would rather do another suitable getaway that involves him, but DH really wants to go.

The title is less about me judging kennel use and more about hearing he's going to be perfectly okay if we put him in one!!

OP posts:

FfeminyddCymraeg · 31/03/2023 18:49

Haven’t RTFT but I could never put mine in kennels - it’s not an environment they are would be comfortable with.

Ours stay with our wonderful dog walker where it is home from home - they sleep in the bed with her and her DH etc.

Oldsu · 31/03/2023 18:49

It would depend on the dog, I wont use kennels because all my dogs are rescues, two of them are a bonded pair one is a Pug and one is an English Bulldog they were in a rescue centre for a long time as no-one wanted to adopt them as a pair, I feel putting them in kennels again may make them think they have been abandoned once again and I wont do that to them. But another dog may see the whole thing as an adventure, new sights, smells and new people to play with and would be fine

onepieceoflollipop · 31/03/2023 18:50

Ours goes to a local dog hotel type place that also dies dog care
He is a sociable boy and loves it
i don’t think he’d relax in a more traditional type kennel set up
they insist on all potential dogs having a trial day and then some day care a few times to make sure it’s right for everyone.

onepieceoflollipop · 31/03/2023 18:51

**does not dies!

35965a · 31/03/2023 18:51

It’s fine for some dogs plus it isn’t the only option.

dryingontheradiatior · 31/03/2023 18:54

What about a sitter that stays in your home?

BelleMarionette · 31/03/2023 18:58

I agree, it's horrible. I have never and would never send my dog to one. She stays with family that she knows well. They pamper her.

If you have no family or friends, then I would find a dog walker or boarder that offers this option. You can ask them to meet your dog or walk them first to build a relationship too.

I would always want my dog to stay in a home environment, and want the same for other dogs. So much so that I happily look after acquaintances' dogs while they go away to prevent the dogs going into boarding (plus love their company)

Reggiebo · 31/03/2023 18:58

Go and do some research into the kennels in your area. Visit a few. See what they offer. Try a one night stay in the one you think would be suitable. Every dog is different.

SkyK · 31/03/2023 18:59

We have a lovely lady who our dog goes to when we go away as she would be distraught in kennels (very needy). She does home dog boarding and think this is so much nicer than a kennel environment. She’s with other dogs, is mollycoddled, never left on her own and sleeps on the sofa! She was anxious the first time we left her there but now she’s used to it and goes happily! Hope you can find somewhere similar for yours - just search home dog boarders near you and find someone with good reviews :)

NorthernSpring · 31/03/2023 19:00

Our dog is fine in kennels.

She's always happy going in, happy coming out. Stays a good weight and her behaviour has never been different afterward when we have got her home. The staff always gush over her as she is such a sweet dog.

She is incredibly loved by us and no, I wouldn't say we were being cruel to her. We just want to keep her safe and looked after whilst we are on holiday and for various reasons a home boarder is not suitable.

BiteyShark · 31/03/2023 19:01

I would never send my dog to kennels because he is a sensitive dog and it would remind him of all the vet admissions which have upset him but were necessary.

Instead he goes to his dog daycare who also does boarding so it's like his second home.

Timeforachangeisitnot · 31/03/2023 19:01

We’ve tried home boarding, and various different kennels with our labs. The older one was more comfortable in a really good kennel which had a private run for him as well as fields for runs/ association. He hated the home boarder as her own dogs bullied him - he came home with nip marks on his nose.

The younger one, a rescue, was very unhappy in the lovely kennel we used. She barked the whole time. To be fair, she’d been left in a restrictive space for long periods before she came to live with us and has never really liked being left alone.

So now we take them with us. I would try out some kennels/ hotels with your dog, it’s useful to know they can settle.

Fairislefandango · 31/03/2023 19:03

I used to think that, then circumstances made me bite the bullet and send my (fairly pampered, quite clingy) pointer to the local kennels for the first time a couple of years ago and he's been a few times since. Sure, he's ecstatically happy to see us when we pick him up, but he walks in perfectly happily when we drop him off (compared with going to the vet's, where he plants his feet, growls and shakes). If it were a terrible experience for him, there us no way he'd go in happily.

mac1974 · 31/03/2023 19:04

Can you not use someone who boards dogs in their house? Our dog is really anxious so we managed to find a lovely lady who has him rather than use kennels.

FrostyFifi · 31/03/2023 19:07

Someone I know on fb does home boarding and the dogs seem to just hang out with her dog in the home and get cuddles.

Delatron · 31/03/2023 19:08

It depends on the kennels and the dog. We have a great kennels- big field with exercise equipment. They even have a pool so I book him for a swim every day he’s there. He wags his tail when we go in.

For some dogs there are not many other options. Our dog is hugely reactive and a bit of a handful. So no boarding at other people’s houses with other dogs. I find it stressful having people I don’t know staying in my house and then you have to clean the whole house for days before holiday. I stress that they’ll lose him! Often we have local facebook posts about dog sitters that have lost dogs.

On a basic level I know he will be fed, exercised and looked after well in our kennels. They do health checks every day. And he will be safe. That’s the bottom line for me.

HanSB · 31/03/2023 19:09

I don't know about kennels as my parents look after my dog when we are away but even though he absolutely loves them he still mopes around and acts depressed when we go away so I'm not sure he would he very happy anywhere. In your situation I would look for a home boarder with not too many dogs so he gets lots of attention.

Blossomtoes · 31/03/2023 19:11

We were determined not to have this dilemma and took ours to meet the owner of our kennels of choice as soon as she’d had her second vaccination. They had a big cuddle and a walk round together. She went in the first time at six months and they kept her in the house that time - she’s a teeny, very cute Jack Russell.

She’s always gone in happily, trotting off without a backward glance and is equally pleased to see us when we collect her. The kennel staff adore her apparently and often sneak off to cuddle her or play with her.

Whatsshecalled · 31/03/2023 19:14

Ours stays with a dog boarder in her home with her one other dog, our dog LOVES the company of other dogs and as far as i can tell from the videos we get sent and how happily he walks into her house, I think he has a lovely time. He was a bit sad the very first night he spent there so the dog boarder had him in her bedroom with her and her husband. I mean it's not like being in his own house with us but it's the best 2nd option I think.

Suzi888 · 31/03/2023 19:15

How about boarding?

Disneygirl37 · 31/03/2023 19:16

Lots of dog walkers do house sitting. We started our dog with a dog walker about 6months before our holiday.
When we went away she came to live at our house it worked really well. He usually went out for her 1st walk of the day with the other dogs or if she had to many dogs she would take him out for a bit 1st thing then come back and get him for her 2nd walk. He was only ever at home on his own 3 hrs max and got loads of really long walks and someone to sit and cuddle him in the evening.
It worked best for our dog for him to stay in his own home (nervous rescue) but our previous dog was fine going to stay at his dog groomers house.

ChannelyourinnerElsa · 31/03/2023 19:17

The right kennels, for the right dog, is fine.

otherwise just get a pet sitter to come and stay with him. I have three different pet sitters I use regularly for my pack.

Quveas · 31/03/2023 19:19

yoshithe · 31/03/2023 17:49

Kennels seem particularly sad though, aren't they enclosed in their "room" most of the time with only human interaction a couple times a day? He's obviously quite young still as well.

Personally, I don't really want to leave him, would rather do another suitable getaway that involves him, but DH really wants to go.

The title is less about me judging kennel use and more about hearing he's going to be perfectly okay if we put him in one!!

If that is what your kennels are like then yes - not remotely good.

My dogs have always run into the kennels without looking back!

Mins33 · 31/03/2023 19:19

Kennels aren’t your only option but as long as it’s a reputable kennel with good staff and facilities no it’s not cruel.

My dog is happy every time we go back (he goes for daycare one day a week, playtimes there and occasional overnight boarding). He’s never happy about going to the groomers and digs his heels in when I take him in so I know he’d show us if he wasn’t happy about going in to daycare/kennels. The staff love him, spoil him and he spends the days out playing with the other dogs from 8 - 5. We’ve built up a relationship with them since he was 12 weeks old and he’s now 2 he’s only stayed overnight a few times but wasn’t phased at all by it. You just need to find somewhere/one you trust.

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 31/03/2023 19:20

I wouldn't use one, it would break my dogs heart.

When we were really stuck we paid for a dog sitter to stay at our house, would that be an option for you op?

Flip

1 2 3 4 5