How do your dogs cope with kennels?
Discussion
I've never had a dog, but am keen to get one soon. However, I live abroad with my OH and we both have family back in the UK, so both of us leaving the house for a few days in a row, a few times a year, is essential for us. (probably totalling an absolute max of 2 - 2.5 weeks a year, probably more like two or three long weekends)
It may sound silly, but I already worry when we leave our cat alone for a few days with a daily cat sitter visiting - I don't know how comfortable I'd feel about putting a dog in kennels! So I'm keen to hear people's experiences. Do different breeds deal with it differently? Are they mostly fine about it once they've settled in? Or is it best avoided?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
It may sound silly, but I already worry when we leave our cat alone for a few days with a daily cat sitter visiting - I don't know how comfortable I'd feel about putting a dog in kennels! So I'm keen to hear people's experiences. Do different breeds deal with it differently? Are they mostly fine about it once they've settled in? Or is it best avoided?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
I live up the hill from a boarding kennel, and when the wind is blowing from that direction all I can hear is anxious, yelpy barking.
Friends put their viszla in kennels for a week and would never do it again. Poor thing came back hoarse.
Now, they either get a dog-sitter at home, or board him in a family environment with other dogs.
Friends put their viszla in kennels for a week and would never do it again. Poor thing came back hoarse.
Now, they either get a dog-sitter at home, or board him in a family environment with other dogs.
Our dogs get a holiday from home at this pet hotel, the lady who runs it is just lovely and the dogs are very well looked after.
www.gordoncountrykennels.co.uk/
we get updates on how they are getting on too
www.gordoncountrykennels.co.uk/
we get updates on how they are getting on too
My R Ridgeback is day boarded in kennels and is utterly fine , in fact he prefers it as he is around other dogs all day and can play through the mesh with the other ones
Alot depends on the kennels you use , go check out the kennels before hand to make sure you are happy with the level of care they afford your dog
Alot depends on the kennels you use , go check out the kennels before hand to make sure you are happy with the level of care they afford your dog
Go and look at the kennels and pick a good one. Our dogs go to one where they have a large inside sleeping area, access to outside space, they get taken out twice a day and fed whatever we specify. They go in quite happily and come out cleaner than they ever are the rest of the time.
By contrast I once had to put them in kennels overnight, couldn't take them to their normal one and picked another. They came out miserable and smelly after only 24 hours there.
So there is nothing wrong with kennels, it just needs to be a good kennels.
By contrast I once had to put them in kennels overnight, couldn't take them to their normal one and picked another. They came out miserable and smelly after only 24 hours there.
So there is nothing wrong with kennels, it just needs to be a good kennels.
GeraldSmith said:
So there is nothing wrong with kennels, it just needs to be a good kennels.
I can't argue with that, friends of mine worked in Kennels for years and we visited there a few times and the dogs mainly seemed really happy. I guess a lot of it will depend upon your dog - I mean, if it is used to being alone during the day at home (let's say you both work all day long etc) then being in Kennels won't be much different, but if you have someone at home all day long with him/her then being left in Kennels won't be that nice in the main.
Very interesting - thanks for everyone's experiences. A couple heartening, a couple less so! It certainly sounds like it differs plenty between kennels.
I found myself feeling more positive about kennels recently after speaking to a friend who was taking her parents' dog to his regular kennels - he started bouncing about with excitement as soon as he realised where they were headed! Perhaps that would be a good one to bear in mind for the future!
I found myself feeling more positive about kennels recently after speaking to a friend who was taking her parents' dog to his regular kennels - he started bouncing about with excitement as soon as he realised where they were headed! Perhaps that would be a good one to bear in mind for the future!
Mine has only been to the Kennels once and he seemed to love it. They have a big play pen which, when I went to pick him up, was full of labs. Took me ages to get the bugger out of there.
Just check the state of the place before you put your dog in. If all its residents look happy enough then it will be fine.
Just check the state of the place before you put your dog in. If all its residents look happy enough then it will be fine.
Mrs Grumpy said:
As has been said, some dogs can cope and others can't. Mine certainly wouldn't.
There are also good kennels and then - not so good.
Are you able to get in a house/pet sitter?
I've often wondered about house sitters and whether they have problems with the dogs whilst their owners are away. When I was a kid our dog was fine when we were around but when we asked someone else, who knew the dog well, to call in and take him for a walk he wouldn't let her through the door. We make a point of not leaving anyone else with the dogs in the house when we aren't around.There are also good kennels and then - not so good.
Are you able to get in a house/pet sitter?
It can depend on the dog's temperament as to how well they cope in kennels but having previously worked in a kennels & cattery I can honestly say the dog will be fine, I've never known a case where they won't eat and considering it is for a short time it's very unlikely to have any kind of detrimental affect to the dog's personality long term.
It's preferable to keep them at home, but don't feel awful if you have to go down the kennel boarding route.
It's preferable to keep them at home, but don't feel awful if you have to go down the kennel boarding route.
i went a looked at a few diffrent ones,first were s
te tiny sleeping area and the fenced in run bit was out in the open,no chance, finally found the one which the breeder takes thiers, found this to be great, all kennels are fully covered in heat lamps in kip areas ,also diffrent areas for noisy dogs and so fourth.the owner showed us round everywhere including the field where they do two walks a day and what ever food your dog eats.when day came took dog and the owner just put a lead on and told us to go and the dog went off happy as larry,of course the missus was balling her eyes out,it was only one night first time and was pretty rewarding when we picked her up as she was going nuts to see us,i couldnt drive for 20 mins as she was everywhere in my car it was covered in fur.next time its for 2 nights ,then maybe a couple of weekends,next year i may go abroad as since we had dog aint been away.
te tiny sleeping area and the fenced in run bit was out in the open,no chance, finally found the one which the breeder takes thiers, found this to be great, all kennels are fully covered in heat lamps in kip areas ,also diffrent areas for noisy dogs and so fourth.the owner showed us round everywhere including the field where they do two walks a day and what ever food your dog eats.when day came took dog and the owner just put a lead on and told us to go and the dog went off happy as larry,of course the missus was balling her eyes out,it was only one night first time and was pretty rewarding when we picked her up as she was going nuts to see us,i couldnt drive for 20 mins as she was everywhere in my car it was covered in fur.next time its for 2 nights ,then maybe a couple of weekends,next year i may go abroad as since we had dog aint been away.Edited by eskidavies on Sunday 5th June 16:35
This thread interests me, myself and the better half have house-sat for friends of ours for about 11 years now, they have had 5 horses at most, just 2 now, always many chickens, ducks, geese, a few cows, 2 or 3 dogs, 2 or 3 cats and a veg garden to tend. Point of my post is that I love looking after the animals - the dogs especially love it as they are at home and taken to the woods they know, rather than in some pen. Maybe we should set up business!
66comanche said:
This thread interests me, myself and the better half have house-sat for friends of ours for about 11 years now, they have had 5 horses at most, just 2 now, always many chickens, ducks, geese, a few cows, 2 or 3 dogs, 2 or 3 cats and a veg garden to tend. Point of my post is that I love looking after the animals - the dogs especially love it as they are at home and taken to the woods they know, rather than in some pen. Maybe we should set up business!
We occasionally use a dog walker who does exactly this. He charges about a tenner a night stay in YOUR hosue with YOUR dog. He seems to do OK from it as well. Ours only went to a kennel once- he came back smelly and was extremely happy to see us.
Since then we have always used a pet sitting service- used http://www.barkingmad.uk.com/ to great effect.
Barney now comes back looking well exercised and is extremely happy to go on holiday- he loves it!
Since then we have always used a pet sitting service- used http://www.barkingmad.uk.com/ to great effect.
Barney now comes back looking well exercised and is extremely happy to go on holiday- he loves it!
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