Question for people who use dog kennels

[Yonididnaedaethat]

I'm abit at how much it's costing me to board my 2 dogs for 17 nights, not to mention the boosters and kennel cough that they'll need beforehand.

So for those of you's that use them please tell me all the good reasons that you do and why it's worth the money.

Well 17 nights is a fair chunk of time so it adds up.

Kennels where I take mine cost me £32 for 4 nights last week, he's a small dog so that helps as its cheaper. Vaccinations were already done but I had to pay £8 extra for kennel cough which I guess if he wasn't going in kennels I wouldn't bother with.

Have you any pet home boarding near you? There is someone near me who has dogs in her own home......she's qualified and insured, etc. might be cheaper?

Yeah it's 17 nights as they need to go in the day before as its a early morning flight and then a late landing so a extra night again .....so 17 nights at £23 a night, I just phoned vets and the kennel cough is £19 each and the boosters that they are due will be £60 each!

My MIL usually has the dogs but last year they pulled her over and broke her arm so is refusing them, well she says she would take them but whe only exercise they'd get is the back garden which isn't fair to them (2 GSD's).

But I just can't get my head around the cost, I keep trying to think at least they will be safe and well cared for .....but still !!

I can't use home boarders or dog walkers as I have one that hates strangers at 1st but the kennels have assured me that it won't be a problem with them.

The boosters need doing annually regardless of whether they are going into a kennel or not.

How about a house sitter?

Is this a kennel you have used before? I ask because it may be worth shopping around. Here in Kent, I looked at lots and although the type of kennels factored more than the cost, they ranged from £9-£15 per night.

At this time of the year, (a bit like holidays themselves) it is the busiest time of the year,and most kennels will have been booked solid for August for months.

As others have said, vaccination is something you'd pay for anyway.

There are definitely cost differences between local kennels - worth investigating. One of our local ones isnt the most expensive for the basic costs but they chuck in lots of little extras like a heating charge at certain times of the year, and will charge for every item of medication they administer. With elderly dogs this can quickly add up. I'd prefer (and do vote with my feet) to pay a slightly higher fee but not have all that faffing around. Having said that, our cheapest local one that we use regularly is lovely and they are more than happy to administer medication and general TLC by the bucket load.

We use kennels because we have tried other things - we tried the home boarders and he came home "different" from each (tried 2) - he came home subdued and like he had been told off for everything, constantly sitting - even if you looked at him etc.... I think he was bullied by other dogs as he became very submissive...

House sitters said they would do this and that (hoover, clean food bowls, kitchen floor etc...) and walk him twice a day .... but we know that did not happen... maybe we had a bad one...

Kennels, he came home the same as he went in..... he is a "people" dog, not a dog loving dog - so that may have made the difference.. our local kennels give lots of hugs and play with the dogs on their walks in their own fields and enclosed exercise yards 5 times a day.

It is pricey, but worth it to get our lovely doggy back the same character as before - not have to worry...

We have used a dog walker in the past while DM has custody of the dogs. They have always been very accommodating and have taken the time to come round and meet the dogs beforehand, get to know them and their habits. It was cheaper than kennels and IME infinitely preferable.
Now they have passports and come with us :)