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!

Well the ones I saw do not let the dogs mix

Therefore the dogs get less time out of their kennel

I was wondering if there are very small kennels (eg ten dogs or less) that can manage the mixing of dogs so they get longer to roam and be outside. Otherwise I also don’t see how it’s manageable unless they have lots of staff to control it!

Mine has a number of fenced, secure areas and we sign to say ours are allowed to socialise with other dogs since they are both super sociable. The owner is great, has plenty of staff and knows my dogs (they don’t go often, maybe twice per year, but we’ve been using her for decades) and they are outside running around 5-6 hrs per day at least. That suits their breed and temperament though, some of my others would be utterly horrified at the prospect of being outside that long!

My question is - how are they offering daycare if they don't allow dogs to mix? Or are the daycare dogs locked in kennels all day with only two walks?

I'm not saying I disbelieve you, just that it sounds like a shit set-up for everyone.

Our local kennels do daycare and boarding - both the daycare and the boarding dogs are allowed free-run of one the several secure outdoor areas during the day. They also have access to a quiet indoor space with shelter and sofas, or they can go to their kennels.

Also look at the Rover App, it wouldn't be my first stop but you may find someone that will look after your dogs in their home. It has it's own issues and I haven't used it, but can be part of your thinking.

I'd never use kennels again after what happened to my parents dogs. The dalmatian came back with almost rotting skin on his behind, and the little jack Russel couldn't walk at all (they thought he'd have to be put down, but he got much better after hydropool therapy).

We did use a supposedly trusted dog sitter. Until she tried to hide that my sisters little westie had been attacked. She was picked up and was sparkly white and clean, no reported issues. When she developed a fever the vet found vicious bite wounds in her fur that must have bled profusely.

I have now accepted that in our case all holidays will be ones the dogs can come on.

My dog goes to day care twice a week and they do foster care too, so that's where he goes if I need to leave him overnight. But you do have to book months in advance. For my sister's wedding they couldn't take him, but luckily one of my sitters recommended a home boarder - licensed by the council - who could. I'm sure there are some lovely people on Rover.com etc but there's probably some dicks too, so I'd always rather get licensed home boarders. Your council will have a list. I would never, ever leave my boy in kennels - he would absolutely hate it. On the other hand my sister's dog has gone to kennels regularly and always been fine. It's very much down to the dog I think.

ETA my daycare do have loads and loads of staff, yes, and different rooms/garden spaces/buildings, and satellite foster/daycare homes too, so they can separate dogs who wouldn't get on - we had to have a 45 minute interview and a meet and greet before he could start going for the day (my brother said he did less than that when his kids went to nursery 😄). He stays overnight at their HQ, which is a family home, sleeping on the bed of one of the family. They're council licensed, have a resident groomer, nutritionist, and even provide cooling coats for all the dogs when it's warm. I'm very lucky I know.

One thing to be aware of with Rover is that it doesn't check whether people have a license - anyone boarding dogs for money in England, Scotland or Wales needs to have a council license.

If someone is dog-sitting in your home then they don't need to be licensed.

Agreed, our dog is very picky about who he likes and what dogs he likes and he absolutely loves the kennels he goes to, trots off with the women who runs it and doesn’t look back - believe me he’d soon complain if he wasn’t happy!!

He's been going to the same place since he was little though, so he knows the people and the place, I think if you’re going to use kennels it’s good to get dogs used to the concept early on.

Our dog goes to kennels without issues. Every time she goes in excited and without a backwards glance.

Id trust kennels more than unqualified and unvetted dog sitters. A friend found out her dog had a bark/shock collar put on it by a dog sitter.

I am another one who wouldn't leave my dogs in kennels. I live near one, and used to regularly walk past another (in a different area), and the barking is INSANE. DDog 1 does not bark (except in an emergency, like when the washing machine flooded) and does not appreciate being barked at. DDog 2 has a very intimidating-sounding bark (which is useful for scaring off salespersons and JWs), but goes to pieces and hides behind my legs when confronted with a chihuahua. Kennels would be a disaster for both of them!

On the rare occasion that I've had to leave them somewhere, I've driven them to stay with my family (50+ miles away), because while I know that they will be absolutely RUINED, they will enjoy themselves!

Also, my childhood dog went into kennels while we were away. When we came back, the staff tried to give us the wrong collie... I've had people offering to buy DDog 1 (she is glorious, and a working dog, too), but have always said no! I think someone would be delighted to be offered her if she was mixed up with another.

Most kennels are unacceptable to me, but thankfully, I found one that works for me. My criteria are that there must be an outside space beyond the sleeping area for toileting (I find it shocking how many don’t have this), they are prepared to be flexible on type of exercise. My Weimaraner needs a free run each day (most just do one lead walk a day). Beyond that, I love that I found one where the owner has, and clearly loves, large dogs of her own. Her staff have been with her for 18 and 20 years and they all ask lots of questions about a dogs like and dislikes. I had to use kennels for my big girl because all the house type sitters I could find would only care for small dogs. They knew I was worried about leaving her, so the staff member who (by choice) spent most time with her sent me regular WhatsApps with pictures of her free running, lead walking, feeding her carrots (a favourite treat) etc. I was so happy with the way in which she was cared for that we tried our two Toy Poodles there too on our next trip. They had previously been going to a house sitting service. It was very good, but they now greet the kennel staff like old friends and seem happier to go there than the house sit (which they had been happy with.

Keep looking. My experience tells me that there are good ones out there.

It's so hard. Kennels are not an option for me for all the reasons mentioned upthread.

hiring people you don't actually know; either by word of mouth or from sites isn't either - I just think this is how animal abusers would get access to animals.

so for me it is friends and family. Which is also tricky because they also have dogs, and many dogs (although lovely dogs) have issues such as resource guarding etc . So it is still a risk that my small timid dog would get hurt. All it takes is a second.

I have declined an all expenses paid safari trip to South Africa before because my usual back up wasn't around and I couldn't find a solution I felt comfortable with!

I used to use kennels for dogs because I had no other option. The dogs always came back clean and happy, but doubt they entirely enjoyed their stay because it’s a kennel, not their home.
The dogs I have now, one is old and I don’t think he’d cope in a kennel, and the other has never been in a kennel. We’ve relied on family so far. But I will need to find somewhere at some point. I think I’m going to go down the kennel route, but will be doing a lot of searching until I find the right one.
I know people who have used the rover app, and been fine, but I also know some of the people on there aren’t licensed which I wouldn’t be happy with.

Thanks again for all these posts sharing experiences and advice. It’s heartening to know there are good kennels out there and @StrikeForever your description really sets a benchmark! I will look into house sitters but also keep researching and visiting kennels as having a long term prospect to provide dog care over the next decade or more would be great.

The advantage of kennels (if you can find a good one) is that it is more guaranteed that the booking will go ahead. I tend to think how can you book and expensive holiday that hinges on one person being available and not pulling out last minute.

also kennels are much less likely to eg lose your dog cos they run off when out on a walk. It’s all more regulated

Not my experience and I work at one. Our regulars love coming on their holidays. Because they know they will be spoilt with tripe, cuddles and treats.

Our kennels are all tiled, kitted out with beds, blankets and heat lamps. Walked 4 times a day in secure fields. Only ones that remain on lead are high prey drive or have ball play in the buildings individual play pen.

For those coming in for the first time or are anxious anyway they are put into one of our quieter buildings.

Use a home boarder or sitter. Ours charges £25 per night

We used two kennels over a period of 20 years - first one closed when the owners retired. Both had full access to an outdoor space all day long, the second had an “adventure playground” each dog could use every day supervised by the staff. All our dogs over that period absolutely loved going there - trotted in with tails wagging and no signs of stress when we picked them up.

We've used a company called Barking Mad for all of our dogs and we've found it a really good system. The person running it in your area comes to meet you and your dog and then arranges a home stay with the families/sitters on their list for the dates you need. So they vet the sitters, check that they're licensed, match the dog to the sitters and they also do the transportation. Our dogs (labs) have enjoyed their stays each time and it's reassuring to know that if a sitter has to pull out at the last minute the agent will find another family or take the dog themselves. I think the price is about 35 a day/night at the moment so it's also pretty reasonable.

We use doggy holiday homes. They have a few dogs max & they live in the sitters home home with them like they were their dog. Complete home from home environment, including sleeping in the bedroom, daily walks etc. Throughly recommend it.

Mine absolutely loves going there. I would never put my dog in a kennel - it would be too traumatic for me let alone my dear dog.

Is there anywhere like this where you are?

So you don’t meet the people caring for your dogs?

I’m in the North East. If you are too, you could use the one my babes go to.

When I looked at Barking Mad I didn't see anything that said the people they used were licensed

"We take care of everything to ensure all of our host families are fully compliant with home boarding regulations and all of our host families fall under our Barking Mad business owners license, so there’s nothing for you to do except enjoy doggy companionship."

So the dog 'hosts' are not individually licensed. It sounds like a bit of a grey area really

No you don't, which we've been fine with over the years - you get a lot of information about the host families from Barking Mad, plus photos of your dog and updates while you're away but you do have to trust the person running your branch to know what they're doing. We've always been happy with them and would choose them over kennels. But it is a very personal decision, you have to go with what you feel comfortable with and all of these different kinds of dog care will vary depending on who is running them.