My Eye-Opening Experience

Originally Posted August 28 / 2013 

Let me first start out by saying that I am sure there are excellent kennels out there.  People who love dogs, take excellent care of them, and may even be very knowledgeable about dog behaviour.  

I will also say that, like in any industry in the world, there are some that are good and some that are not so good.  Because our dogs cannot speak to us in words, it is important that we advocate on their behalf, and be sure that we find one of the good ones.  We must be assertive about the type of care we expect and do our due diligence when selecting a kennel.

Why did I climb upon my soap box today?  Two reasons:  1) We have to put our dog, Maddy, in a kennel this weekend, so I have some first-hand experience, and 2) A recent call from a client brought this issue back to the forefront for me.

We are normally very fortunate and have been able to find friends to stay at our home when we go away, so Maddy has company and doesn't have to leave the comfort of her own familiar environment.  Unfortunately, it didn't work out that way for this coming long weekend, so we had to find her a kennel to stay in.

Firstly, I was shocked at the cost.  I have done home-boarding and thought my home-boarding costs were slightly higher than a kennel, but that people were comfortable paying a little extra because of the warm home environment and the more frequent exercise and attention.  I was wrong.  Kennels are actually more expensive...  and the real shocker for me: You have to pay extra just to have your dog walked!  I have always operated under the assumption that exercise is secondary only to food, and as a basic need, is part and parcel of caring for dogs.  Apparently at most places walks are considered an add-on, so definitely ask about this before booking.

Secondly, if you don't ask, they may not tell you.  Ask, ask, ask.  Don't be afraid to come across as an over-protective pet-parent.  I had a client who recently put his dog in a kennel for a week.  When the dog returned home, he was a nervous wreck: He was acting "off": not his playful self and he started pooping in the house when he had previously been fully house-trained.  When I asked the client what type of experience the dog had at the kennel, he told me that the kennel owners had put a shock collar on their dog and shocked him when he went after their cat.  Rather than keeping their cat safely away from the dog, they punished the dog for going after the cat.  They also walked him using a prong collar and used harsh corrections when he pulled on his leash.  When I asked the client if he had authorized these types of corrections, the client said "I don't know, I think so, I might have signed something..."  This poor man had put his trust in this place and assumed that they would treat his dog well...  but people's ideas of treating a dog "well" can be very different, so it's very important to get the details.

I am sure that most kennels are excellent: clean, caring, safe environments.  I know for a fact that there are many kennel-owners and staff who are animal-loving people with huge hearts and do their best to provide a positive experience for the dogs who are away from their home and their people.  It's not about causing fear or anxiety around kenneling one's dog, it's about arming ourselves with information, asking the important questions, and advocating for our pets because they can't speak up for themselves.

Okay, I will climb off my soap box for today and get started on my packing for the long weekend.  Wishing you all a safe and happy holiday!

2017 Update:

Some things to look for and questions to ask when visiting or inquiring at a potential kennel or boarding situation for your pet:

• Do they have the necessary licensing and insurance?
• Does the facility look and smell clean and sanitary?  Do they use proper cleaning protocols to reduce the risk of spreading illness between animals? 
• Do they require proof of vaccination, including bordetella (kennel cough)?
• How many animals to they house at once?  Do they have separate areas for smaller dogs?  How do they ensure the safety of the pets in their care?  Do they allow play time, and if so, how is it supervised?  
• What is their maximum capacity, and what is their ratio of staff to dogs? 
• What do they do if animals in their care display behavioural or health issues?  What is their emergency plan?  
• How much time to they spend in a kennel and how much exercise do they get on a daily basis?  Are there extra costs for walks?  

The boarding facility should also ask you important questions about your pet.  They should desire to know if your pet has any behaviour or medical concerns, if they're on a special diet, and they should ask questions about how to make their stay as comfortable as possible.  

Some people offer boarding services out of their home.  This can be very a warmer, more comfortable environment for your dog, and can also ensure they get more attention and spend less time cooped up.  That said, someone taking dogs into their home should be held to the same standard as a boarding facility.  It is unsafe to have a large number of dogs in one home, especially dogs who don't know each other and are already under the stress of being away from their families.  

The care provider should have excess animal permits if they are taking in more dogs than allowed by their local by-laws.  What is their plan if they get sick or injured, do they have assistance?  What do they do if the dogs get into a fight, or if someone becomes ill or injured?  What is their emergency plan?  How do they clean and sanitize their home environment to reduce the risk of spreading illness between dogs?  They should still require proof of vaccinations, including bordetella, as mentioned above and should still carry liability insurance.  

Do the dogs still get walked?  How many dogs does the care provider walk at a time, and do they have a safety plan?  What happens if a dog gets away from them, do they have a plan for getting a dog safely home?  While a home boarding situation can be less stressful for your pets, the care provider should still be a professional who knows what they are doing and can give you concrete answers to any of your questions.  Ask for references and to see proof of their insurance coverage and always arrange to visit the location in advance to ensure you are comfortable with the arrangements.

For information on our boarding services, please visit https://PawsitiveCare.ca/Boarding

Unfortunately, the pet care industry (aside from veterinary medicine) is largely unregulated.  This means anyone can put up a shingle calling themselves a boarding and/or training facility.  Please exercise caution before selecting a pet professional.  For some tips on finding a compassionate, ethical, and qualified trainer, please see our blog post at http://pawsitivepooch.blogspot.ca/2016/04/finding-trainer.html

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