It’s time to head to Las Vegas for your long awaited week of
vacation. But, what do you do with THE DOG? Some people are unable
to face the prospects of boarding Fido and therefore, they stay
home. Others either impose on their friends or hire “pet sitters“
to come into their homes. And finally, a vast number of people
choose to board their pets in kennels.
Before committing your dog to a particular kennel, you should visit
the facility for a personal inspection. Does it appear to be clean,
does it smell clean, is it well lit and ventilated? How is the
temperature? Are the cages and runs of adequate size? A phone call
to the American Boarding Kennels Association (719-667-1600) will
determine if the kennel under consideration meets accepted
standards and is accredited.
After you’ve made your final kennel selection, it’s time to prepare
your dog for its visit. First and foremost, make sure your dog’s
vaccinations are up to date. A kennel will reject your dog if his
rabies vaccination isn’t current. Furthermore, even though you’ve
selected a sparklingly clean boarding facility, your dog is subject
to any number of communicable illnesses always present in a
boarding population. A current shot record is good insurance
against some of these diseases.
If at all possible, you should consider stopping by the kennel with
your dog for a brief visit. He can meet the staff and become
somewhat familiar with the surroundings. An overnight stay will do
wonders to prepare the dog for his longer visit.
Always provide as much information as possible to the kennel staff.
Obviously they will need to know about any medications they’ll have
to administer, food allergies, whether or not the dog socializes
well with other animals and what, if any, particular fears or
phobias he might have. If you happen to be boarding more than one
dog, you might want to request that they be housed in the same pen
or allowed to exercise at the same time in the same run.
If Fido requires a special diet, the kennel may request that you
provide them with a supply of his food. This will usually depend on
the extent of the dog’s special requirements and will be settled in
advance of the dog’s visit. Make sure the kennel has the name and
phone number of your veterinarian and a phone number where they can
reach you in case of an emergency.
Most dogs will benefit from bringing familiar items with them. A
special toy, their blanket, or even one of your slippers will
comfort them and stave off feelings of being abandoned. By all
means, don’t wash the item; familiar smells are half the battle, so
don’t destroy them.
When packing and preparing for your trip, try to go about it as
calmly and casually as possible. Hectic packing and rushing about
will alert Rover that something is amiss and by the time you’re
ready to transport him to the kennel, he’ll already be under
stress. Gather his kennel items and have them in the car prior to
loading Rover.
When dropping him off at the kennel, try to remain as nonchalant
and as calm as possible. Don’t be overly affectionate or do
anything that might cause Rover to attach too much significance to
his plight. The objective is to minimize, rather than exaggerate.
Keep it low key – no long goodbyes, no tears and no emotion. After
handing Rover’s lead to a kennel staffer, allow the staffer to
distract the dog and quietly slip out.
If you’re a frequent traveler, Rover will get used to being boarded
and in most cases will look forward to the experience, especially
if he gets an opportunity to mix with other dogs at the kennel.
He’ll get to know the staff and look forward to seeing them.
Once both dog and owner get used to the idea of boarding and become
completely comfortable with the experience, being separated will
become much less stressful. While away, the owner will be at peace,
confident that his faithful friend is safe and being well cared
for. And, Rover will be able to lay back and enjoy his vacation as
well.
