Kennels

[Corcadail]

I am researching kennels for dog care for two weeks this summer for my two large dogs (Labs). I’ve visited a few and can’t get past the fact the dogs will spend 20-22 hours a day in 2x3m concrete or breeze block room in a barn, even though some offer four walks a day (probably 30 mins max, many on the lead), the pens have heating etc.

Some have access to an outdoor space but this space seems to just be another 2x3m area but with no roof.

They house 40-50 dogs so are noisy and I worry that could also be stressful. I also worry about the dogs picking up bad habits like barking too much - on top of distress.

Am I overthinking it? Are kennels an ok option? If so, for a shorter period of time, not two weeks or more? Does anyone here use kennels? Thanks!

You're not overthinking it at all. I would try and find a trusted dog sitter or house sitter (local vet might be able to recommend someone, or if you have lots of doggy owner friends they might know someone). Or a friend or family member to take them tbh. But what I would say is trusted dog sitters or house sitters are like hen's teeth.

Personally, I would never put my dogs in kennels - particularly large ones with multiple other dogs where they spend most of the day locked up. And I strongly encourage people who buy puppies from me to find a trusted puppy sitter from day one (partly for this reason). I've heard horrible stories (including some on mumsnet) of people going to pick their dogs up from kennels and their dogs have kennel cough, or various illnesses or injuries, or haven't been fed the right food and are sick etc.

I know dogs spend most of their day in these kennels locked up for their safety - you can't have dozens of random dogs running around loose because that's how serious fights start - but, actually, if they had less dogs and focussed on providing a better service (instead of trying to force as many dogs in together as possible to maximise their profits) that would be in their interest because they could charge more anyway.

So no, you are being 100% reasonable in being uncomfortable.

Its hard. My dog goes to kennels because no one would have him for me as he is hard work and needs boundaries enforcing which is hard for a casual visitor to do. Also you need to plan so far in advance with a dog sitter, you cant do anything spontaneous.
I wouldnt use a kennel if i didnt have to but i dont think its always bad. I trust the people where my dog goes, he gets walks and play. He is a dog after all.

The only time I have been to look around kennels, I cried. Horrible little, bare concrete blocks and they only walked them for 15 minutes a day in summer as they were busy.
Needless to say, I didn't use them and went for a pet sitter instead.
I have used one that looks after them in their home, which didn't work as well because they had other dogs too. But my sister uses one regularly and her dog loves going to one like that.
Recently I used one that came to my home and stayed with my dogs. I felt this was better for them, as they remained in hir own home and kept to their usual routines.
But if it is for this summer, you may have left it a little late to try to find a good one.

Kennels are fine. They keep your dog secure.

Please don’t put your dog in kennels. It’s traumatising for any dog that’s used to living in a house and having human company. I’ve owned dogs for 40 plus years and after seeing how distressed and confused our first dog was after a week in kennels, we’ve used a dog sitter. Much easier on the dogs.

I needed for my dog to spend a day in kennels. I didn't visit but the place but they had great reviews and it was only for one day (not overnight). I took her and was showed the kennel and went in and we both left a few minutes later. No way could I have left her there. She was terrified because it was terrifying. There would have to be literally no other choice for me to ever consider kennels again.

Hope you find a solution OP.

We have put our dogs in kennels for more than 20 years, on a couple of occasions for as along as three weeks.

And honestly? They adapt quickly and come home happy - we take them for a walk as soon as we collect them and they slot instantly back into their usual routine and behaviours. My twitchy poor eater gained weight in kennels, and the kennel owner was full of suggestions for encouraging her to eat more (she had decades of experience of running kennels). One of my dogs used to race in as if she was going to her favourite theme park - she liked the staff, they loved her. Our dogs have always been allowed off-lead time in the paddock as their recall is very good.

Yes, I'd rather leave my dogs at home with someone they know, or have them go to stay with a friend, but that's usually not feasible for us. But a good boarding kennel with experienced and caring staff works perfectly well.

I have only once had an issue, when one came home with fleas (our other dog who had gone in too didn't pick them up). That's 20+ years, 4 dogs, very different personalities, several different boarding kennels.

If kennels made my dogs unhappy, I wouldn't use them. But they don't, so I do.

I had left my dog in kennels when I was away for two weeks. He was moulting heavily and I suggested it would be more comfortable for him if he could be combed every few days. When I collected him he stank and obviously hadn't been combed. More concerning was that the following day he was struggling to pass huge lumps of blue rubber, from an unknown toy he had eaten while there. That was nearly thirty years ago and I haven't used kennels since.

I used to work in kennels during school holidays, including quarantine kennels, and every dog was bathed and groomed before collection and never had unsupervised access to destructible toys.

I'm relieved other people have had more positive experiences, however.

I had to leave my dog in kennels a few years ago because there was absolutely no availability for boarding and I was lucky to even find a kennel with space. Looking back, I wish I had driven all the way to Scotland to leave her with my parents. She looked so sad when we picked her up. However she was a hound dog and I believe they really need to feel part of the pack. They can’t be alone for long. My dp’s dogs (labs) have always loved the kennel so I guess it depends on the breed.

Our dog goes absolutely wild with joy when he is picked up from a few days of being left with my in laws where he gets treated like a king. There is no way I could leave him in kennels without the guilt spoiling any benefits of being away.

I would never put my dog in kennels - and none of our local ones are anywhere near as bad as you describe. They all have large, secure outdoor areas for exercise and the kennels themselves are heated/have air conditioning and always look clean.

My dog goes to kennels, I looked around a lot and this one is fairly small, bit more pricey than most but it’s worth it. They have lots of time in a big paddock being played with and fussed if they want and he always comes home happy and instantly settles back into his home routine.

I envisaged using home boarders but although we tried it just doesn’t suit him. He finds it overwhelming being with other dogs and was incredibly unsettled with someone else in our house too. I think he likes the routine and predictability of the kennels - would he prefer to be at home? Absolutely but for 2/3 weeks a year he goes and I am ok with that as he has a great life the rest of the year!

Use a housesitter.
There's agencies and even groups on Facebook where people offer their services in exchange for a holiday and often come with references.
I'm fortunate enough to have a brother look after my two in my home in exchange for money, free food and crap souvenirs when I get back.

A colleague at work uses a dog walker throughout the year and when he goes away the dog walker takes his dog into his home so Doggy gets her own little holiday. She loves it apparently.

Dearth of home boarders in our area. We thought we had one lined up but they let us down a few weeks before our holiday. Have since found multiple people this has happened to on different areas all different boarders so reluctant to try again.

I use Rover, my dog goes and stays with a lovely family who have a dog, I trust them implicitly and he has a great time.

I did it once, many years ago but never again. Our golden retriever came back completely traumatised and it took her a couple of weeks to become herself again. Not to mention the kennel cough and coming back stinking.
Have a look for home boarding or a dog walker who will stay in your house

No more than I’d abandon another family member to it, without any explanation they can understand.
How heartless must you be to do it.

Thanks so much everyone for sharing your experiences and thoughts about kennels - positive and negative.

It’s really helpful. I am torn between being practical and pragmatic, or doing something which might cause long term negative impact on my dogs. I see it’s also very much breed and personality dependent too

its really the fact they’re locked up for 22 hours a day in a cell (even nice ones with heating and soundproofing and cosy beds). And that’s assuming two hours of exercise per day which is the upper end. It just seems a long time to be locked up.

I would say that the dogs do often like watching out the window/gate of their kennels. There is often people coming and going/other dogs being walked. the dogs quite like to watch all this. And the kennels have a routine of coming in to clean each kennel (more activity to watch and someone to say hello to) and they also have e feeding time etc
So it’s not literally 22 hours just sitting doing nothing.

that said there are good kennels and bad. And I would say 40-50 dogs is not a good sign as they can’t get much individual care

Our local kennels don't lock them up for 22 hours a day - they are out playing with the daycare dogs. I think places that give them only two hours of freedom a day are pretty rare these days - have you looked at daycare centres as well?

I think it depends on the dog and the kennels. Two of mine go sometimes and they absolutely love it. It’s on a farm, they get tons of free play time and are outside running around all day. Plus, they have each other. They come home happy and shattered! I have others though that would absolutely hate it and I would never send them.

Two of the kennels we looked at do take daytime boarders (doggy daycare) but said they don’t let the dogs mix to avoid any bad behaviour.

I guess this is a human capacity issue to take time to only put dogs together that get on and intervene if any agressive or annoying behaviour starts.

A well run kennels must need a really high human > dog ratio! And the ones we are
looking at are £40-£50 per day per dog. I can’t imagine what the best ones cost.

Thank you. I saw a couple of farm based ones with lovely open spaces where dogs are let out for a run or a walk 4 times a day but that’s still a maximum of 90 minutes to two hours out of the 24 hours in a day (as all the other 40 or so dog boarders also need letting out and they need to do it in small groups).

Maybe your place is much smaller? Sounds great.

This is a really good reminder and very helpful to keep in mind. Thanks!

How does that work if they (presumably) let all the daycare dogs mix?

Sounds like they're just in it for the money rather than because they care about the welfare of the dogs.