Advice on kennels

[batteryhen]

We have a 7 month old cocker spaniel, and we are going away for 2 nights in June. We want to put him in a kennel for 2 nights so when we have to go away for longer it won't be such a shock to him, so a 2 night stay is a good way to start off.
I board my cat at a local cattery and kennel so I asked there about taking him.
However when I asked about if they walk the dogs they said quite reluctantly that 'they could if I wanted- unless it's raining then they wouldn't bother'

Is this the norm for kennels - for the dogs not to be walked? When I was a kid the family dog used to go to a kennel that would walk the dogs every day, so this is my only experience of kennels.

Advice appreciated!

We try and get a friend to house sit if we go away but if she can't our local kennels walk them twice a day. It's not the norm as I found out when looking at kennels. Must of asked and only
1 out of 5 walked the dogs.

I find it really bizarre - what if the dogs were in there for a week or more? Would they get no exercise at all?

We have got friends who would house sit but we want to get him used to kennels just in case he has to go in for a longer period of time.

They don't walk them seriously???

I have never used kennels I either take them with me or a friend or famliy member looks after them.

WTF do they charge all that money for then? Just the use of space??

It can't be food as owners provide food don't they? So they're just stuck in that kennel all day and night surrounded by other barking dogs. How awful!!

That has seriously shocked me!!

I'm guessing it's got to be something to do with insurance or liability incase they escape. Perhaps kennels just don't want the risk. It's a shame, sign of the times.

Bloody liability insurance isn't that much and they can always keep them on the lead .

sign of the times? More like sign of lazy money grabbers imo.

I am going to look at a kennels this afternoon so I will report back what they say. If they don't walk them then I will try and get my friend to house sit. At 7 months he needs a good walk!! And they can keep him on the lead - I would be happier if they did rather than let him off and he runs away!

I would provide his food as the last time we swapped food he had a bad tum for a few days :(

That's neglect. What about toileting? Are the dogs expected to go in their run? That'll really mess up his house training if he is only 7 months. I wouldn't even be going to look myself. Avoid.

I leave my dog in a kennel (albeit in France) and she definitely gets walks and ball play and an unleashed romp in the fenced land with other dogs. And she gets to sleep at night with another friendly dog, so that she is not alone.

Anything else would be bizarre...what is the dog supposed to do all day, if it is not walked and exercised and allowed to socialize?

So I am back from looking at a different kennel. This lady only has 6 kennels, out door runs, heated bedrooms. She also walks them every day and has an outside exercise gravelled yard with flowers and trees that the dogs get let into 4 times a day. They can play with the other dogs providing they are not aggressive etc. So I have booked him in to see how he goes. She has asked that I bring him down before he boards for a visit so he knows her, and the place.

Ah battery that sounds so much better.

Anything below that standard really does sound like neglect to me.

The kennels that I've used walk the dogs everyday, also have enclosed (with deer fencing) 2 acre field that they dogs can run off lead in, they take balls etc with them for the dogs to chase. They also have a radio on so that there's voices to keep the dogs company. It's heated in winter and air conditioned in summer. They sit and play with the dogs in the kennels, and we always take our dogs food and they feed them the same amount and time that we do. They always want to see their certificates, kennel cough, vaccinations etc, and have our vets numbers. They also drop the dogs back at our house if need be. Also a BIG plus, the dogs don't stink when they come home!

Yes - I have to take his food which is fine as I don't want him to have an upset tum. They play with the dogs too and the lady was lovely. She also has a lovely big cattery and does a lot of re-homing for the cats protection league. The radios were on in the kennels too for company, and the the dogs looked very happy. There was one cocker spaniel already in there and he did a wee at the sight of us as he was so excited :) - a frequent occurance apparantly :)

I feel a bit :( at leaving him but it is only for 2 days.

Oh she also wants to see all his vaccination records, and took down vet details and phone numbers etc :)

My kennels lets my dogs out into an exercise area where they get some playtime with a person. They are always exhausted after staying in kennels from pacing and barking non-stop, always keen to go back for more though. You need to make sure they check Vaccine certificates, you don't want your pet catching kennel cough.