Kennels

[Floofydawg]

Just been to see a kennels which I'd provisionally booked for our dog in the summer and OMG I don't know what I was expecting but it's literally like doggy jail! Have resigned myself to finding a home boarder but wondered if anyone had used kennels and found them ok? There's clearly a big market for them.

Maybe I'm being precious and my dog is a bit spoilt. We've only ever left him with family. I do know he's only a dog but I honestly can't leave him there.

I’d really stress this. If your dog is an only dog they may find home boarding really stressful. My friends dog had never resourced guarded in its life, spent two weeks at a boarders and
now furiously resource guards food.
Kennels don’t look as nice but could
be less stressful. I’d want to know what happens with things like, are they fed separately, played with separately, what are the sleeping arrangements.

We've used a fantastic home boarder through Rover.com. He only boards one dog at a time unless you're ok with it, and sent many photos of rookiedog having a great time. I used a chap who had many great reviews even though he is wrong end of town and a bit dearer than some of the others.

I was tempted to use kennels after my friend said their dog had a great time there, as half the price, but then I saw the photos and yes it looked like Guantanamo Bay and no specific daily walks for the dogs. Friends pup went to one and came out really stressed- weeing himself when fully house trained and trying to bite his beloved owner.

God it's so hard isn't it? I have two home boarders lined up to visit, will take a look and make a judgement call.

I am definitely precious about my dog, he is precious to me! There's no way I'd use kennels, it would break his heart, he isn't keen on other dogs either and won't eat if he's stressed.

I wouldn't discount a house sitter until you've at least thought about it. I had to leave my dog for a long wend last summer and all the usual people I ask couldn't help so I paid for his dog walker to stay at my house. It was a bit weird having someone else in the house but she wasn't a complete stranger and it was the best solution I could find.

I care greatly about my dog too! Using a kennels doesn't mean you don't love your dog.

I don't believe that home boarders are automatically better than kennels just because it's in someone's house. There's still the possibility your dog can be mistreated, especially as anyone can be a home boarder.

I've heard of home boarders using shock collars on dogs in their care to stop barking.

Ultimately there are positives and negatives to all settings - and different dogs have different needs and personalities, so there's never going to be a "one size fits all".

A of mine put her dogs in kennels and they both came out with giardia and it took weeks to clear. I've also heard of a home boarder who has been seen hitting the dogs in his care to get them to shut up and stop pulling on the lead, and a walker who was seen shoving dogs in their van and yelling at them.

All you can do is research, trust your instincts and have an open mind about what would suit your dog - you might have a positive view of one but find that another is much better for their personality.

Ok tell me what your thoughts are on this. Lady in pub we know reasonably well who has 3 dogs of her own. Has offered to have him for the going home boarding rate. He loves her and she is a proper dog lover. BUT she's not registered and only does this for friends.

I'd say that sounds like a great solution. If your dog is familiar with her dogs and the lady that will help them settle.

You wouldn't be bothered about her not being registered etc?

I use the doggy daycare person as my home boarder as it's effectively his second home.

He has had many negative vet admissions and quite frankly a kennels to him is just the same so it's a no. And as mentioned in my previous post given our old family dogs didn't do well in kennels when home boarding at that time wasn't really a thing makes me think that it takes a certain type of dog to love them.

Ok tell me what your thoughts are on this. Lady in pub we know reasonably well who has 3 dogs of her own. Has offered to have him for the going home boarding rate. He loves her and she is a proper dog lover. BUT she's not registered and only does this for friends.

A lot of people would say no as to not being registered and yes it would be a risk of insurance. For me the bigger concern is it whether the dogs get on given a strange dog entering their home and how she would manage that. Looking after your own dog(s) is different to looking after someone else's.

If it's someone I knew really well and trusted to take good care of a loved pet, then that's a big plus for me. If I knew my dog was already used to a person and the dogs that would help.

Although make sure your dog is happy to share space for a prolonged time with other dogs as it could still be stressful. What would happen if they need to be separated or your dog is too stressed to eat/sleep?

Gosh lots of grammatical mistakes in my post. I really should proof read.

Why not see if he can do a night with her before you go on your holiday to see if he’ll enjoy it?

Personally I'd never leave our dog in kennels.

She's a springer spaniel - she needs a good hour off lead a day at the beach or through woods etc then she's happy to mainly mooch around and snooze, but she loves our company too. The thought of her sitting alone in a concrete floored kennel for two weeks is awful.

We visited several kennels which were all fairly similar - we were assured they get 'three walks a day' and proudly shown their secure dog fields. But three twenty minute struts around an empty field does nothing to exercise or stimulate a springer. She needs water to splash in, she needs forest cover to explore, she needs hills to climb, mud and squirrels to chase.

We chose a home boarder who only takes one dog/family at a time and provided daily photos of their adventures up mountains, on beaches, all the places we take her. It costs £30 a night - more than double the cost of kennels - but it's just a price we now factor into our holiday costs.

Personally I would never leave my dog with someone I met in the pub with no insurance or license in place. It's fine when it goes right, but if (heaven forbid) it goes wrong, that's where the problems start.

If I was going to consider it, I'd want to know the answer to the following:

What happens if a fight breaks out between all the dogs?
What would she do if your dog freaks out at something and bolts off on a walk or from the house?
Can she keep your dog separate from hers at all times if there's an issue?
Will she be leaving the dogs alone during the day? Will they be separated if so?
Do the dogs all get along? Will she manage walking/transporting them all together safely?

@coffeecupsandwaxmelts yeah I agree, I'd rather go with someone who is licensed and does this kind of thing regularly.

I’m with you here. Even without potential security issues there are many reasons I don’t like the idea. Plus my house has a kitchen and bathroom that really need upgrading and if I’m being honest I’m sort of embarrassed about it 🤦‍♀️

My lab went to same kennels for years then they got took over and she came back stinking of poo and wee first time ever I've seen her tail on the floor and she literally leapt into the car. Her paws were full of crap and her bag of food was still full and unopened.i had to detour to a groomer the smell was so bad in way home. Her bed stank and this was just after 3 days...before it was took over she always came back same way she went in waggy tail, beautiful coat etc..Will never ever trust a kennels again. Now we book animal friendly places or she stays with my parents

I had the same experience with my first Lab. He stank to high heaven and his coat was dull and filthy. And a day after release, he started passing huge chunks of blue rubber ball - obviously unsupervised. Now we holiday in this country

@Spanielsarepainless that's awful - it's horror stories like that which put me off. Sorry you haven't been able to find an alternative for your dog.

It doesn’t solve your immediate issue but my solution to this (2 sensitive dogs who wouldn’t cope with kennels or potentially other peoples house) is to find a local dog walker and build a relationship with them. We have one who takes ours out once a week and then she stays with them when we are away. We all love her and trust her implicitly. I don’t actually need a dog walker as I’m around for them but I can afford the walk and it means I have someone on hand for if im out for the day or we go away. You have to play the long game.
Im

Our dogs came back from 5 weeks on kennels recently, they stunk and one of them had obviously barked himself out, he's a terrier that sounds like a Chihuahua now.

We are looking for a home boarder now for our trip away in august

I have always used dog boarders, and it has always been very good. I also had a lovely lady who stayed at mine, which was so convenient, so I think in the future I'm going to do the same.

I can't see my dog coping well in a kennel. I may be wrong though.

That's a good call. I'm fairly confident I've found a good home boarder, haven't been to see her get but have chatted on the phone and she's well known in the local community so fingers crossed.

I me at 5 days, not 5 weeks