Boarding kennels which allow dogs to mix vs boarding kennels that only walk dogs alone

[Bbnelly]

I have my first dog who is almost a year old. I have been researching kennels and some seem very keen to let dogs socialise and others say absolutely no mixing of dogs ever. All dogs walked separately. It surprises me that some take this stance. I would imagine most kennels are likely to be somewhere inbetween? Mix like minded dogs? WhT are peoples thoughts who have used kennels before? Is it better to use one which doesn’t mix dogs just in case the kennel owner doesn’t make the right call on whether they are suitable playmates?

If I had to use a kennel I would only every use non mixing of dogs kennels.

We have only ever used kennels that don’t mix and only walk dogs alone or with other dogs from their home.

We went to view some that allow mixing and they were awful - chaotic, dogs that were clearly not coping desperately giving out signals that were being ignored by more boisterous dogs and the kennel hands. They all looked like and incident waiting to happen.

It think home boarding with one or max two other, well matched, dogs can work for some highly sociable dogs, but personally I would rather my dogs only mix with others when I am there to supervise.

I would never allow my dogs mixed when I wasn’t there.
I also don’t like daycares etc where dogs run together all day, I think the vast majority look stressed!

Home boarding with only a few dogs (up to say 4), all of whom are well known to the person running it and who have been walked and hung out together before - great

Big kennels, the definitely walk in household groups or at a pinch with one other dog.

Big kennels and lots of mixing sounds like a recipe for havoc

I will only use kennels that walk dogs alone.

Way too much unpredictability involved in mixing unknown dogs for me.

Thanks that’s very interesting. Having no kennel experience in the past I am just learning what the differences are and the questions to ask. I have noticed the longer established kennels seem to do no mixing dogs. Whereas the newer kennels with nice Facebook sites are mixing them more and putting up lots of photos of dogs playing with their friends. The kennel I went to today, the lady did seem lovely and said that a lot of the dogs have been going for a long time and they know their temperaments and which dogs mix well. My own dog loves to play but is quite submissive and will always lie down on her back for another dog and I worry that the kennel owners won’t look out for her like I would.

We use a boarder who provides us with day care and mixes dogs. Our dog goes regularly and knows most of the dogs, the lady in charge is a trainer and is very careful who is invited into the group.

If she isn't available we have a very good segregated kennels. I would not, in any circumstances, allow my dog to mix in an unregulated way - she's a rescue who can be really rough and tumble and is reactive on lead. She needs a knowledgeable hand.

The other option I am looking at is a home boarding place which has up to 4 dogs. But the dogs she has I don’t know will mix that well with mine as they are small Barky dogs where she is bigger and calmer. And I was thinking I wonder if the dogs would get left alone together occasionally if the lady pops out ?

I use a pet/ house sitting service.
I don't think mixing is great unless the dogs know each other and are comfortable with mixing.

The home boarding / doggy daycare places I use, there is no question of the owners popping out, when their work is to care for the dogs.

Both are rigid about trial periods and only accept dogs who get on well with their existing clients' dogs. One only takes dogs who they walk on their group walks, so they know the temperaments pretty damned well.

i think it can work very well, if the dogs get on. Ask the proprietor all the questions you want to - generally they like people who are that bothered about where their dogs go (small home-based businesses are often individuals/partners who do it because they love dogs).

Another question to ask is what they do about feeding, as each dog will be on a slightly different home routine

Seeing the group when they are out for their walk and watching how the person interacts, and what the group is like, is really useful and you can see if your dog gets along with them

I would only use non mixing kennels. I would worry too much about my dog being stressed, being hurt by another dog or acting crazy himself if mixing with strange dogs when we weren't there and he was away from home. Why risk it?

Thanks. Seem to be the general consensus from you all. Any other questions that are good to ask on visiting kennels?

I agree with @Mummyford . Kennels where they can't ever play with another dog sound so sad for the dog (unless the dog is reactive and hates other dogs). Ours would be utterly miserable

I understand what you are saying mummyford I would agree with you. I know with a couple of like minded dog friends my dog would love her time there rather than just endure it. But I suppose it’s down to how much you trust the kennel owner. Are they actually walking like minded dogs together for the dogs benefit. Or just letting the dogs out in a pack because walking 6 dogs at once saves them a lot of time. If I had a boisterous confident dog I would probably worry a lot less but she is fairly timid. A lot of places I have looked at have a paddock where the dogs are exercised (a field with sometimes some agility equipment) and I can see the benefit that they would not be walked in a public area, but it seems limited in terms of much exercise and enjoyment for them.

We use a kennels run by a very experienced dog-owning family where they exercise the dogs in secure paddocks, out in the middle of nowhere. If the dogs are reactive, or recovering from illness, or the owners prefer their dogs to be exercised solo, they're walked separately. Otherwise, they all play together in the paddocks, and have a whale of a time. There are a lot of regular dog customers who know each other, and the owners are vigilant about behaviour and keeping control.

Our dogs love it there. Especially our old terrier, who could be a total pain in the arse when walked on a lead; he was the amiable life and soul of the party playing out with the gang.

I wouldn't want my dogs mixing, and my kennels always walk dogs alone, or with their housemate.
As for questions...heating and air conditioning. The kennels I use are heated when cold and air conditioned when hot. This is certainly important for flat faced breeds and old dogs, in fact, any dog who is used to the comforts of a home. Just imagine the shock of putting a dog outside in an unheated kennel in winter when it's been used to a 65 - 70 degree temp at home. We (used to) go away mostly in the winter, and knowing my dogs were cosy and warm was very important.

I have worked in several boarding kennels and I only send my dog to ones where they don’t mix. Absolutely not worth the risk for a short stay.

Questions to ask, ask to see where they walk or exercise the dogs.
One that I worked at never actually walked the dogs, despite saying they did (the reason I left) and in hindsight there was nowhere to even pretend to walk the dogs or let them offlead.
The kennels I use has a huge field on site that they walk the dogs round, and a fully enclosed garden the dog can go offlead in.

Also ask what time they close the dogs in at night and who is onsite overnight.

Thanks. Very interesting that so many are reluctant to let their dogs mix. I thought perhaps I was being over cautious

Just to add a good home boarder with licence has to show that they can separate dogs safely if not supervising or of they have nervous dog and do introductions slowly

My dog walker/home boarder/day care does match dogs carefully but has sections of her garden separated as well if needed

She knows my boy well( used them.since was 12 weeks is now 7yeads ) so won't necessarily separate him from her own dog if pops out

My parents ran a big boarding kennels so I grew up with it. No mixing, alone or with their own family groups is definitely the right approach.

Dogs act differently at a kennels then they do with their owners, owners also tend to downplay their dogs flaws. So what might in truth be a highly reactive and aggressive dog is described by the owners as 'sometimes a tad unsociable but really just a big softie at heart'.

Thank you for all the advice everyone. I have found a kennel that walks them individually. It says the kennels are set up in such a way that they can see and hear each other to “create a sociable atmosphere and reduce conflict” does anyone know is this better than only being able to hear each other? Most kennels seem to have solid walls between kennel runs?