Dog Boarding....thoughts?

Hello All!

I will be dropping my dog off to board for the first time tomorrow morning (approx. 6 hours from now...why am I NOT sleeping yet?!) and I was curious to hear other pet owner stories regarding their boarding experiences.

I was very selective with my location; I went and visited several (6) before making a choice. I also made sure to select a place that had stringent entrance requirements with vaccinations and doggy temperaments ( much like childcare or school). I also decided to shell out the extra $$$ per day to ensure he is adequately taken care of exercise and potty wise.

The resort he is staying at includes:

3 X Group Sessions
2 X Individual Play Sessions
1 X Pool Playtime
Webcams
Air conditioned doggy condo with raised bed and bowls
Medication administration (he is special needs...Diabetes Insipidus, long story)
4 X potty breaks.


Mind you, I am a young 20 something with no children...my dog is very important to me.
I'm interested to hear what other people have to say on this topic...and if it has been discussed already, please forgive the inquiry!

 

Well first of all I jVe never boarded my dog. But it seems like you have All of your bases covered. I like the idea of the webcam. Does that mean you can check in in him/ her anytime you want?
What exactly did you pay extra for? More potty breaks and Ac??

 

A friend runs a non for profit thingy where she puts owners in need in touch with walkers/sitters/litter tray emptiers/foster homes whilst owners are in hospital.
I think it depends on the dog. One of mine spent three months in kennels awaiting adoption, and he was tortured with a hose pipe and water - that was rspca. He would not do at all well placed back in what to him was a hellish environment. In the event of me being sent to hospital, mine would be better off in a foster home - I do have a lady who sat all four of mine (at that time) for a day. They arrived with their own tea bags and china cups - and I do think the lady enjoyed having a tea party with them.
Webcam is a good idea if you have access to it -

 

When we had dogs we would board them at least once a year. Make sure your dog is vaccinated against kennel cough. Sounds like you picked a great place. It is an assault on the dog though. A totally foreign environment surrounded by several dogs all barking their heads off. But they adapt. Expect your dog to sleep a lot when you bring it home.

 

The only time Molly has been boarded is when I had to go out of town for my Mom's funeral. Generally I find the going rate for boarding and offer it to my daughters to stay at my house and dog sit.

The place that boarded Molly was like a spa with a swimming pool. I'm told they couldn't convince her to get out of the water ... duh.

 

Stanley and Molly have both trained their pet two-leggers to a fairly high standard. Never underestimate what a dog can do (nor a well trained two-legger.)

 

TFPers seem a decent bunch especialy when it comes to our extended families. I couldnt help but just remember that neighbours we once had went off on holiday and left their rabbit in its hutch for a week or two. I didnt know it was there dying.

 

I used to bribe dog sitters for my cocker by either buying a plane ticket for a friend to come to Chicago, or paying a local friend to stay for the week (a few TFPers have met my pup this way!)

I moved to a location where it is really difficult for someone to be able to help me this way at home, and we have no family here I would trust. I have switched to boarding my dog at my vet. I was always concerned when I was gone and dog was at home if something should happen and my pet sitters needed a way to get him to vet and get my OK to begin any treatment.

Having the dog at the vet, they know his medical history, he knows them, and they can act immediately to ensure good quality of health. I bring my dog to the vet usually once every 1-2 weeks to pop him on their scale and keep an eye on his weight because he was malnourished when we got him. Because of this, he's gotten to know the staff, knows our Vet, and it's not a scary thing when we go out of town. We've boarded him overnight when we had a function that wasn't going to allow us time to get home and get him walked, and he knows we always come back.

I personally think the facilities can be a bit overrated - but the play time is great and the pool as well.

 

This place sounds amazing! Any chance I could pass for a dog? I could use a relaxing getaway.

 

Mine does an eye tuck for about £80 - down side of your wish flowcntrl, is the habit vets have of 'coming at patients' from the rear wielding something that looks the size of a wall barometer. Relaxing?