Dog Kennels: Choosing The Right Dog Kennel While You're Away

Dog Kennels

4 Things To Look For When Choosing A Dog Kennel

Choosing among dog kennels can be a difficult task, especially because as a loving dog owner you are already faced with the task of going away from home and leaving your pet. Unfortunately, nowhere you decide to leave your dog will be like leaving them in the comforts of their home, but you do want them to be in a dog boarding facility that is as close to the comforts of home as possible.

Of course, you always have the option to choose among the more expensive, dog spa facilities. These places will absolutely treat your pet like royalty, but along with this will come a hefty price tag that not every dog owner can afford.

If you are looking for an affordable kenneling facility that will still treat your dog right, consider these tips before deciding on a location:

Adequate Exercise Facilities
Experienced dog owners can tell you that one of the most important features to look for in a dog kennel is a place that offers adequate exercise for your dog. Too many dog owners have come home to pets that are overly excited, not because they finally get to see their owners, but simply because they have received very minimal exercise during the time you were gone. Remember that although it would be nice to board your pet at a veterinarian’s office because of the comforts of having a pet doctor nearby, if they don’t have backyard space, it is best to move on to a facility that does.

Look for a dog boarding facility that has a fenced in play yard or one that offers special services for extra prices, like a game of fetch twice a day or an extra walk for fifteen minutes.

Requires Vaccinations
A place that requires vaccinations is a must. This is to protect your dogs as much as it is to protect the staff. Remember that your dog will be boarded alongside other pets, so it is best to find a facility that requires dogs to be updated on vaccinations before kenneling. Rabies and Bordetella shots are the most important updated vaccinations that facilities should require. The Bordetella shot protects dogs from receiving “kennel cough,” a common cold that is passed from dogs that are boarded in close proximity.

A Clean Facility
Trust your instincts when walking into a boarding facility for a preview walk through. It is essential that the dog kennel be cleaned on a regular basis to protect your pets from illness while they are staying there. You also want to be guaranteed that your dogs won’t be left sitting in their own mess while you are away.

Feel free to take a tour of the facility. This should mean finding the dog kennels are hosed down on a regular basis to remove any urine or feces. As well, the facility is cleaned with disinfectants and the animals are cleaned immediately in the case of an accident. When you stop by to check out the facility, if the kennels and dogs there don’t seem clean, move on to another place.

Meets Your Dog’s Needs
Overcrowded boarding facilities are a common occurrence and this means that your dogs won’t get the attention they deserve. If you feel like the facility has an abundance of dogs and scarce staff when you visit, this means your dog will probably just get the basic necessities, like being let out to go to the bathroom on a minimal basis and getting two meals a day.

As well, if you are going out of town and have a new puppy, you may also want to consider finding a place like a puppy kennel that specifically takes care of puppies or at least a facility that has adequate staff to watch over a potty training puppy.

When deciding among dog kennels for your pet, be on the lookout for a good facility that will make sure your dog receives necessary medications, special foods for their diet, as well as adequate outdoor time.

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