Boarding your dogs for the holiday season

Holiday season is upon us and many of us are looking forward to taking some well-earned time off and relaxing with family and friends.

There are lots of options for taking your dog with you on holiday, and these have been covered in previous blogs by Dog First Aid Training.

But what if you want to go away this year without your canine pals? With so many restrictions on foreign travel in 2021-22, you may be considering a trip abroad this year.

So what options are there for you and your dog and how can you make it as stress free for both of you?

Boarding Kennels

Boarding kennels are a popular choice for canine care during your holiday. During the holiday season they will have lots of enquiries and are likely to book up quickly, so booking early is advisable.

Recommendations from people you know, and trust is a great place to start. If you don’t have this, a quick internet search will give you reviews from existing customers. It may be worth travelling a little further for an excellent kennel set up with great reviews.

Reputable kennels will allow you to visit and inspect their premises and standards. Look out for how the dogs in their care are behaving; are they showing any obvious signs of stress such as pacing or continuous barking. Also look for how the kennel team interact with the dogs. Don’t be afraid to ask probing questions.

• What will their daily routine consist of?
• What are the cleaning protocols for the kennels as well as communal areas and meal prep areas?
• Will you be able to take in their own bed and a few of their favourite toys/blankets
• How often will your dog be exercised?
• Do they cater for your dog’s special needs such as administering medications, handling elderly dogs or managing different behaviours?
• Do the kennel staff have animal handling qualifications?
• Is the kennel team dog first aid trained?
• What will happen in the event of an emergency?
• What vaccination requirements does the kennel have?
• How much time will the dog spend in their kennel and how much time will they have activities to engage in?
• How many instances of kennel cough have they experienced in the last 12 months?
• Can you see a copy of their licence and insurance?

Home boarders

Most of the questions that apply to kennels, also apply to home boarders. You can also check:

• How many other dogs will be in their home at the same time?
• Can they provide references
• Do they offer a trial sleepover?

Friends and Family

Taking on the responsibility of someone else’s dog is huge so try not to be offended if your friends and family don’t want to oblige. Many people will worry about what would happen to the relationship if something bad happened to the dog while the owner is away. However, if they are happy to help, here are some tips to make sure things go smoothly.

• Do a tester run – have your dog stay with them for one or two nights to see how they both get on
• Talk to your friend or family about your dogs needs while you are away – how often they will need to be exercised, where they sleep at home, what they eat and at what times, what games they enjoy.
• Make sure your friends and family have your vet’s contact details and inform your vet that they have permission to have the dog seen and treated in the event of an accident or illness.
• Check whether your dog will be ok with their pets and/or children. If their children aren’t used to having a dog around, teach them some basic safety around dogs.
• Agree up front with your friends and family whether you are paying them to look after your dog and agree a rate up front – this can avoid embarrassing conversations later.

Finding the right place for your dog will give you complete peace of mind so that you can relax and enjoy your holiday. Putting in the work up front will be key to ensuring that you can go away without having to worry about your best friend.