AIBU to be happy with my dogs holiday at the kennels?

[TheCunnyFunt]

He was there for 2 weeks and he seems to have stolen the hearts of the owners and their children. From what I can gather he was hardly in a kennel, he spent the majority of his time hanging out in reception, opening a gate onto the private patio to play with the owners dogs (Whippets, Border Terriers and a Newfie!) or just mooching around the place. It sounds like he had a fantastic time and he was reluctant to come home when I went to collect him.

I am really pleased with this place, he'd lost weight and the owner was gutted, she said she hates to send dogs home thin. I like the fact that he wasn't really in a kennel, I don't like to think of him being cooped up all the time. Also, he is very selective about the dogs he socialises with when he's with me, some dogs he'll ignore, some he'll sniff politely at and others he'll go completely batshit crazy bonkers at. I'm scratching my head trying to work out a trigger and there just doesn't seem to be one and the fact that he was happily mingling with all these different dogs (and all the males he played with were entire, so that's that theory out the window as my dog is bollock-less) makes me so happy :)

I'm asking this because I told a friend about all this and she was really shocked, she said it was really irresponsible of them not to have my dog in a kennel all the time except for walks. She said they absolutely should not, under any circumstances have allowed my dog to even get anywhere near her dogs.

Am I wrong to be pleased about the way my dog spent his holiday? He had a whale of a time and I was even sent a photo of him being slobbered on by the Newfie (as you can see :o )

I think its great that your dog was treated so well and cared for, meaning he was enjoying his time there and wasn't stressed. your friend might be thinking that something could have happened between your dog and the others allowing your dog to get hurt? did the kennel owners ask your permission to mix him with other dog's?

the bottom line is as long as you and your dog are happy that's great

It sounds great for him...but, that's because nothing went wrong.

He wasn't kept securely if he was wandering round opening gates and he wasn't supervised either, even when meeting strange dogs by the sound of it.

I'd not be happy I'm afraid.

I don't really know her exact problem, she just kept saying how irresponsible it was! When I asked why she just said 'Because it is!'

They didn't ask my permission to mingle him, which I suppose, in theory should have annoyed me. But I'm just so happy he made lots of doggy friends! The kennel owner reckons he was fine with them because he could take his time, relax and then 'talk' to the other dogs when he felt like it, not like on a walk where you're usually walking towards each other and it's all rushed. She was astonished when I told her how aggressive he can be as they've never ever seen that side of him. He's stayed there a few times but this was the first time he wasn't in a kennel. Oh, he was also given a bath in the morning before I collected him, another reason I love these kenels!

What if he had managed to get out though say onto the road or worse?

I'm glad he had a great, relaxed, sociable time and that you've found a place you'll both be happy using for future holidays. Lucky you!
I don't think you are going to get many YANBUs here though! I imagine that while "lockdown" would have been desperately dull for him, it would technically have been safer, and that would be what many respondents would prefer.

My dog was treated very much like this at our previous kennels. He too used to chill out in reception with the managers for most of the time. However, the dogs were socialised in groups if the owner's permission had been sought. There was no way he could have got through the security gates.

I suppose yanbu in that he had a great time but sinbu for raising concerns about safety.

"I imagine that while "lockdown" would have been desperately dull for him, it would technically have been safer, and that would be what many respondents would prefer."

Well yes, because that's the point of kennels, if safety and security aren't as necessary and a dog would be miserable in a kennel environment then you don't use them, you use a home boarder or a pet sitter where they'll be in a/their home environment and going for walks.

Kennels are about controlling the dog's environment and keeping them secure. Which they didn't do.

It worked well for the OP's dog, but they won't always be that lucky letting dogs wander round and mixing freely.

My very old late dog used to go into kennels occassionally (we were young) and I know for a fact when the kennels were quiet they took her in their house. It didn't really bother me though as they were a family concern

If this is how the kennel is run, I don't see a problem. We're planning on usually using home boarding, but there is a kennel nearby which a friend of mine rates highly. I'm going along to see it next week, but it sounds similar with a very relaxed casual set up where my dog will have lots of socialising and little time in his actual kennel. I think he'll love it for the times when our usual home boarders are booked up.

I think its great, and I would definitely use them happily in the knowledge that he's happy. His contentment is the most important thing, and I really don't understand your friend at all.

I'd be a bit wary of this I think. On the rare occasion when our dog is in kennels I like knowing he is secure and safe. This is why I choose not to use home boarding or use dog walkers. I just don't trust anyone else with my boy!