Kennels/Dog Boarders

[Daisy829]

We’ve got a lovely cavapoochon who we need to find someone to take care of for 3 nights next year. Trying to find somewhere to take him & my brothers dog so they will hopefully be kept together/able to socialise together. My boy can be quite anxious and I feel sad we will be leaving him so am starting to look at options already.
I’m thinking someone who home boards would be preferable. I called one kennels and they don’t let people inside to view due to safety/hygiene so that put me off a bit.
Any tips as to what questions I need to ask & things to look for. Also any recommendations for Manchester/Cheshire area appreciated. Thanks

Hey I think there is a a trusted pet sitters website where you can get people to pet sit at your house? I wouldn’t recommend kennels.

I’m leaning more towards someone who takes them into their home but I’ll look at the house sitting option too. Figure with someone who boards them I can book them in to walk him for a few months first so they get to know each other.

Yes there will be lots of local dog walkers near you who do doggy sitting too - I would ask around your area and get recommendations. We recently had a horrible experience on Rover with a 5 star reviewed sitter so I think word of mouth is better.

We recently used a home dog boarder. After making contact I took ddog for a quick hello just in case ddog just didn’t take to her (!) then that was followed with a (free) two hour solo visit to check both boarder and ddog got on. All was well and we left ddog for two day/one overnight stay. Ddog was only dog there at our request so paid a little more which I think is fair. Ddog is rescue and uncertain atm around all dogs so thought best for all concerned for her to be on her own.

Dog boarders have to be licensed by local council and insured. Ours had lots of forms re ddog habits/routines etc. Very thorough.

@Reasonistreason that’s great that you had a good experience and thanks for the info. I’ll defo check insurance/routines.

Dog boarders have to be licensed by local council and insured. Ours had lots of forms re ddog habits/routines etc. Very thorough.

This is really important - don't be afraid ask to see their license and insurance and any relevant qualifications. Your local council will have a list of home boarders who are registered with them - please don't leave your dog in the home of anyone who's not on that list!

Dog sitters do NOT need to be licensed but they can only care for the dog in your home, not theirs. I would recommend any sitter has insurance, doggy first aid and some qualifications in canine body language too. It's not a legal requirement, however, so many will have nothing.

Why do people think Kennels aren’t very good? First time dog owner here so just educating myself on options

@Turquoisesol

Why do people think Kennels aren’t very good? First time dog owner here so just educating myself on options

Personally I don't like kennels because I don't want my dog locked up alone overnight or left alone in a run during the day. I also think there can be too many dogs there and he would find it quite overwhelming. It's just completely different to anything he's used to.

Home boarders specialise in a "home away from home" environment, and their licensing restrictions mean they can only have a certain number of dogs at a time, and can't leave the dogs for longer than a few hours each day.

I'm very lucky that we can leave mine with relatives, but if not I would always choose a home boarder over a kennels. A friend of mine home boards and he has the same breed as me, so if we had to leave him, I'd definitely use his home boarding facility.

I've looked into kennels in the past and some don't get dogs out for a walk at all which I think is a bit awful. You have to ask not assume they do. I'm sure I saw on my pet insurance site free membership of some pet sitting organisation.

@scochran this is why I would want to view a kennel. The one I called has an excellent reputation but there’s not a chance I would send him them without seeing the set up. I thought it was a bit odd/unhelpful!

I found my boarder through a recommendation on Nextdoor. He is spoilt rotten, she adores him and he loves going there. Even sleeps in bed with her

Word of mouth is best. Kennels vary a lot but some will tell you what you want to hear. You need to visit, ask a lot of questions and go by your gut feeling really. It depends on what your dog is like too as if they're prone to be more anxious they need more attention.

I have left my dog with boarders and 'interviewed' some. One person I felt had too small a home and garden and it was obvious from the conversation that it was a busy, sociable home with lots of comings and goings and I knew my dog would not like that. She had all the right paperwork and was nice but the actual home setting wasn't right.

Another woman I did use (only once!) was a bit deceptive I felt. She made out like she was home all day to look after the dogs but I found out later she worked at least part time and I suspect she just locked my dog up in the garage and left him for ages.

I own a boarding kennels, 10 rooms, so not big.
The dogs get our for five 15 minute walks a day plus they get free time in the paddock.

I have 5 dog walkers and 4 home boarders as customers and I have only been open 3 years.
Why don't they use a boarder? Because they don't trust them

Why wouldn't I use a home boarder?
The boarder can cancel on you if they are ill/family crisis. Kennels are more likely to have staff so the show would go on.
A boarder can only take limited dogs due to the new licensing rules, they get booked up very quickly and far in advance. Kennels are more likely to have room.
Boarders have dogs in their house, they may well have kids in their house. Doors could get opened, there have been a fair few dogs lost by boarders. Kennels are built to be safe - we have a minimum of 2 locked doors between a dog and the outside. Not going to lie, it could happen that a dog escapes but I.would say it is less likely.

As a kennel, I take dogs from home boarders who haven't settled/argued with resident dog/are generally hard work. I have never has to send a dog to a home boarder because they didn't settle here.

As a final point, there are great kennels and great home boarders. There are shit kennels and shit home boarders. Do your homework, look at reviews, meet the boarder/kennel owner, choose the one that gives you the best feeling.

I use a home dog boarding service which is run by a local couple. They are licensed for 6 dogs in their home but only take 3 max at once. I just did quite a bit of internet research and found them. The reason I chose it was the lady who runs it absolutely loves dogs and also let my dog sleep in her bedroom! Which is what he is used to at home. She is also a dog Walker and I have carried on sending my dog out with her on a walk once a week so he knows her ready for the next time he goes to stay.

I’m not adverse to using kennels it’s just a minefield & I defo wouldn’t use one that I can’t view that’s a bit odd to me. Like sending my baby to childcare without seeing the setting. Maybe I’m over worrying but ultimately he’s a member of our family so I want it to be right.
@NiceTwin thanks for your insight. You don’t happen to be near Manchester do you?? 🤣
I’ll keep asking around locally and try to see a few places.

@Daisy829 not a million miles , off the m65.

I have somebody coming in tomorrow who made an appointment to look at a kennel, they wouldn't let her in the block, they told her she'd have to go the next day to look inside.
She came and looked round mine the same day and decided not to go back to the other kennel the next day.

I don't understand why they wouldn't let her in but it cost them a customer.

@NiceTwin this kennels I called told me it was for hygiene & safety & they had been told by customers that if they let people in for viewings they wouldn’t use them
🤔

@NiceTwin Plse can you pm me the details of your kennels & link to any info. We are actually heading up north as it’s for a wedding.

@Sisisimone that’s what I want! I love our boy so much I just want someone to look after him nicely.

I like the idea of a kennel that has the dogs in and out all day to keep them stimulated and gives them lots of human contact.

We use a kennel for our dog for his day care now and then. Mainly to help with his socialisation. He's been going for a good 8 months now and the difference in him is amazing. He used to be super nervous of people and dogs alike and we have no family to help with him so felt it was best for all incase we ever needed to use dog care in an emergency or to go away and I will definitely use it if I go away because the staff are lovely and I really do trust them. They introduced him slowly to the other dogs and nothing was ever forced. They even said if he's not feeling it they won't push it, he can do his own thing in his little run.. The little run and separate part is actually really beneficial for him if he needs some time out to chill. The staff send me updates and sometimes put pictures on their Facebook page of him running around their field having the time of his life, jumping in the ball pit and the paddling pool... He loves going, hates the car but recognises the building as we drive closer and wags his little tail. The staff adore him and he adores them. I know a lot of people are against kennels but with dog care it's really not one size fits all...

@Daisy829 I'd really really recommend a place in Penketh/Warrington called No More Kennels - a quick Google search will bring them up. My doggo has been there and it's fab, they also have CCTV where you can watch your dog all day if you wanted to!

@lemonyfox thank you. I love the idea of being able to see him. I’ll have a look at that.

I use homeboarder she works with one other person so across 2 properties both are licensed and checked

They also are dog walkers so works well who.my boy stays with depends on whT other dogs are staying where (one house us better set up.for puppies or dogs that need more space from others (room.divides etc) where my boy flops where ever and easy going
Used same people for almost 8 years now

I.foumd her via word of mouth and yes she gets booked up early(I booked my 2022 definite stays )