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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Tara336 · 31/03/2023 19:50

I've never used kennels, but gave used home boarding and my dogs were pretty happy and very well looked after. Our home boarder met the dogs walked sith me, theyn stone and then we introduced them to her home and I stayed with them and then left them there for a couple hours etc. She wanted them to be as settled and happy as I did as makes her job easier. She's seen them since boarding when we met on a walk and they were thrilled to see her

Sd352 · 31/03/2023 19:58

I couldn’t see our dog being happy at kennels but we have generally had good luck with home boarding. He now goes to day care regularly and also does home boarding with the same people, which works very well. He is SO happy with them (and his doggy mates)!

Bananasinpjamas4567 · 31/03/2023 20:03

As many have said, it depends on the dog and the kennel. I have an ex-racing greyhound and he isn’t bothered in the slightest as was bought up in a kennel. My brothers labs LOVE all the fuss and attention they get at theirs and have to be bribed back to the car with food at the end of their stay. My old staff found it too stressful so he stayed with family or a friend came to stay here.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 31/03/2023 20:03

Blossomtoes · 31/03/2023 19:47

Kennels are cruel.

Some of them might be but not all. The one we use is excellent. It’s a bit like choosing a care home, you have to know what you’re looking for. A dog will very soon let you know if it’s a good one or not.

Surely the main issue is the dog can't tell you, though?

You have to hope for the best and wait and see what they're like when you collect them - and if they did hate it and turned into a nervous wreck, it's a bit too late.

BashfulClam · 31/03/2023 20:10

When I wax young we used a great kennel but she was a grade 4 clinger. She’d desperately try to escape before getting taken through crying the whole time. There was a run outside ez b kennel did them and the women used to sit inside the kneels with any unsettled dog(even all night, my dad worked with her husband). She even fed her some chicken as she wouldn’t eat. The cat had kittens and she was giving it chicken and our pooch got right in there.

When we picked her up she was delighted but would then sit in the back of the room and draw us daggers for a full day.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 31/03/2023 20:11

They were essential for us, given the sort of family holidays we enjoyed and that there was nobody we could leave our dog with.,

When she was still very young I put her in just for a couple of days at first, to get her used to it before booking a fortnight - and to understand (I hoped) that we’d be coming back for her.

I asked our vet (who had dogs) which he used, and stuck to that one.

She was always fine when we collected her -but somewhat hoarse from barking her head off with nobody telling her to be quiet! I dare say she’d rather have been at home, but she had never lost weight or suffered in any way that we could see.

I did once hear of someone who refused for many years to put their dog in kennels but eventually (for a reason I can’t remember) they did need to go abroad, so when the dog was at least 10, he went in kennels for the first time - but very sadly pined away and died before they returned.
So if you think you’re ever going to need to, maybe as well to get your dog accustomed to kennels, for a few days at least.

MarieInternette · 31/03/2023 20:14

We have used TrustedHousitters.com several times, as have friends, and all had excellent experiences. It’s kinder to the pets and having someone looking after the house is also reassuring. References come from previous sits so they can’t just make up their own references and you only pay an annual subscription, regardless of how many times you use the site. You don’t pay the sitter. It’s a fab arrangement, and much less stressful for your pets.

Coffeeandcrocs · 31/03/2023 20:16

PIL use a dog sitter who comes and stays at your house and looks after your dog there

Lou670 · 31/03/2023 20:21

All kennels operate differently. Go around a few to have a look and ask them how they are run. I know some kennels 'buddy up' your dog to another (stranger) dog and use the reason it is better for the dogs. They shouldn't do this. If one of the dogs vomit in the kennel there is no way of knowing which dog it was. You are paying for the kennel and not a share of one. Alternatively is to use a pet sitter that would either visit your home several times a day or board in your home. Perhaps you could do a trial run before you actually go on holiday and book for one or two nights for your dog to go to a boarding kennel and see how it goes. That way you are there to collect if need be. Most dogs do settle though and if you start now when young they will get used to it.

Fuctifin0 · 31/03/2023 20:26

I would use a kennel over a home boarder or dog sitter any day of the week.
The amount of people who home board and aren't licensed is astonishing. You may assume your dog is safe but the amount who go missing from home boarders is too high a number.

Our kennel of choice walk the dogs 5 times a day and they have exercise in the paddock.
They must be doing something right as they were fully booked for this year's school holidays in November.

My dogs are stupidly excited to go in and seem to genuinely love the owner. I get photos sent regularly whilst I'm away.

PurpleNebula84 · 31/03/2023 20:26

Sorry, not read all the posts - there are some people who can come and look after your dog in your home.

Shamsterdam · 31/03/2023 20:30

Probably depends on the dog and the kennels. Mine absolutely loves going to hers, but she is very social and never had any anxiety. I see that when I drop her off she goes off with the staff very happily, not a backward glance at me! They have a lovely big room, a bed, a play area all to themselves, plus a large enclosed play area and field for 1-1 playtime with staff, plus country walks. I definitely don't think kennels are cruel as a concept but it's not for every dog of course.

bloodywhitecat · 31/03/2023 20:32

Sometimes it is the only option.

Maybebabyno2 · 31/03/2023 20:38

My family won't use kennels but they have a bloke who looks after thir dog in his house. The dog loves it there and they get loads of pictures throughout his stay. Dog gets to play with the other dogs and the bloke has a huge garden they spend most of the day in (when weather is suitable). I would look to see if you had something like that locally over kennels.

I have friends who pay people to come and stay at their house but its not something I would be comfortable with.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 31/03/2023 20:43

I did once hear of someone who refused for many years to put their dog in kennels but eventually (for a reason I can’t remember) they did need to go abroad, so when the dog was at least 10, he went in kennels for the first time - but very sadly pined away and died before they returned.

That's incredibly sad but it's not like kennels are the only option if you want to go abroad - many people have family or friends who can help, or would pay double to use a home boarder or sitter as an alternative to kennels.

LoveWillGetYouThere · 31/03/2023 20:52

I worked in rescue and then in boarding. In boarding we had regulars who were in on and off a few times a year.
It sounds daft but the atmosphere at the boarding kennels was different to the rescue kennels. I used to tell owners that the regulars knew they were going home which rubbed off on the others. Obviously we had some dogs who hated it but as dog lovers we did everything to make sure that they had a good stay. We even rang emergency contacts to pick up two dogs who were really struggling. Most of our dogs were social and enjoyed seeing what was going on. I never felt like the dogs were sad whereas in rescue you could see dogs struggling.
I had two rescue dogs who both went into kennels. They were ok there and both got lots of attention from the staff.
One was particularly stressed in rescue but handled the kennels fine. In our second dogs later years I used a kennel that let the dogs mix during the day. She couldn't care less about mixing but it made me feel better.

fromageallday · 31/03/2023 20:54

Another one here recommending trustedhousesitters. I'm a sitter via the site and it works really well from this side of the table.

Having fostered tens of dogs, I agree it's all down to the dog/kennel match up. Some dogs will never thrive in kennels; others will have the best time in a fantastic place.

SallyWD · 31/03/2023 21:00

fromageallday · 31/03/2023 20:54

Another one here recommending trustedhousesitters. I'm a sitter via the site and it works really well from this side of the table.

Having fostered tens of dogs, I agree it's all down to the dog/kennel match up. Some dogs will never thrive in kennels; others will have the best time in a fantastic place.

Highly recommend Trusted Housesitters too. We've used them many times. All the house sitters are absolutely lovely. It seems to attract the best people.

MathsNervous · 31/03/2023 21:05

Our breeder does boarding so we have used her so the dogs all sleep together in the living room and play together. Our dog doesn't like coming home!! It's very homely. Often ther

MathsNervous · 31/03/2023 21:06

Often there are at least a few other boarders too.

sonjadog · 31/03/2023 21:07

I used a kennel with my dogs for years. It really depends on the dog and the kennel. I visited several before choosing the one I used. It was a small-holding in the countryside, only ten dogs maximum, lots of outdoor space to run around and lots of attention. My dogs loved it there, and after a while it became like a second home to them. But they were very secure and social, and I had had them from puppyhood and they thought the whole world revolved around them. My current dog I would not put in the kennel as he is rehomed to me and is very shy and timid and would hate a kennel. So I use home boarding for him instead or he goes and stays with a friend when she has time.

SuperfastJellyfish · 31/03/2023 21:08

Dog boarder all the way. I think it depends on the dog but my dog is an anxious dog who loves home comforts and I couldn't bear the thought of her in a kennel. I use a couple of different boarders where she lives in the house as part of the family.

MajesticWhine · 31/03/2023 21:19

Dogs going to kennels is totally fine. Obviously do your due diligence and check the place out that it's clean and comfortable and there is enough exercise time for the dog. And it's better to put them in when they are quite young so that get used to it.
Mine share and have each other for company when they go - it's one advantage of having two dogs.
They sometimes go to their dog walker for boarding and get thoroughly spoilt, but if he doesn't have space they go to a larger kennels and it's fine.

GreekDogRescue · 31/03/2023 21:24

Many kennels are shocking.
I paid 10k for a year to a Berkshire kennels (near Bracknell I think) so that a rescue I support could kennel their rescues and it was a shocking place.
we discovered that the kennel maids never let the dogs out and didn’t even let them have the dog beds their owners left.
if you love your dog don’t use a place like this.

mrsjoyfulprizeforraffiawork · 31/03/2023 21:37

I have a Battersea dog. When I adopted her, Battersea made me promise I would never put her in kennels as they found she could not tolerate them and became very distressed. They had to send her home each night with a staff member because of this. For her and my previous dog I have always used people who board them in their own homes. I got their names from other dog owners or the local vets. A good boarder will give your dog a trial half day and/or night to see if they and the dog get on.