AboutLani O'Brian Expertise I can answer basic questions such as:
"Why does my dog act like this when dropping off?"
"What should I look for in a boarding kennel?"
"What questions should I ask the kennel at which I'm going to board?"
"What are tips for boarding, to make it easier on my dog and myself?"
I can tell you what your pet is about to face when boarding. Some do's and don'ts during boarding. I also can answer questions about cat boarding and some small animal boarding.
Experience I've worked with pets since I was in highschool. I worked at a boarding kennel and I dog sat for a number of clients. Nine years ago I opened my own boarding kennel.
Education/Credentials 2 years of biology college courses. Business major.
Expert: Lani O'Brian Date: 7/2/2008 Subject: first time boarding
Question Last week we welcomed a 12-month Silky Terrier into our family. His family could no longer care for him. He has been a complete delight, and seems to be settling in nicely. He still follows me from room to room, seeming to need the comfort of knowing exactly where I am. Once in the same room, he immediately settles on the floor or sofa and contentedly rests until we change rooms again.
We had him neutered ten days after we got him. The evening we brought him home he quivered unless we were rubbing him or talking to him. I asked the vet if the quivering was normal during recovery. She said she thought it was his nerves. By the next morning, the quivering had stopped, but even though he was uncomfortable after the neutering, he still insisted on following me around the house. I tried to make it easy by staying in one room or carrying him when I changed rooms.
At this time, he obviously needs the comfort of our presence. (I'll add that we crate him when we leave home, and this does not seem to upset him.)
The problem is that we are scheduled for a five day vacation at the end of the month. Watching his need to be with us and watching his nerves after the neutering, is there any way to keep this little guy content while we vacation?
I have called a boarding facility that came highly recommended. He could stay in a 3 X 7 kennel, with two daily walks, plus two hours in the indoor/outdoor doggy playground. Or he could stay in a larger room (higher price of course) equipped with a toddler bed and a TV, with the same walks, and playground time. Or he could stay at my house, where my brother-in-law has agreed to move in. The brother-in-law works 12 hours a day, so I would have a neighbor come twice daily for walks and playtime, with her staying at least one hour each time. With any of these options, it seems like an awful lot of time in a small, lonely space. Currently, he is in the crate no more than four hours a day.
None of these arrangements seem right for the dog, but we are unable to take him with us. Our other choice is to skip the annual trip, but my children greatly look forward to the vacation.
Am I overlooking any options?
Is there anyway for us to take the trip without completely traumatizing this little dog, who obviously is still adjusting to his new life?
We would greatly appreciate any advice you could give.
Many thanks for your time,
Mary
Answer Hello Mary,
First off congrats on the new baby, it sounds like he got a wonderful loving home with you and will have much more attention than his previous home.
After reading your question, my first idea is to ask this boarding facility if there is any chance of bringing him in for the day. I do this quite often with new customers. More with people who have had a dog for a number of years and have not boarded to date. I have them drop the dog off in the morning, and pick up later in the day. I charge for a days boarding for this, but this way the dog is able to stay for the day, they have fun with their walks/playtimes, they get treats, they meet the employees, and they get to go home at the end of the day. No shots, no thermometer up the butt, no neutering. It can turn out to be a very fun day, and then they will associate the boarding facility with a positive experience, and not a scary one as he did with the vet.
My first instinct is to recommend boarding your dog, verses the long stay in the house. The dogs that stay at my place see activity from 6am to 10pm. I know your concerns, boarding is stressful, but being that he is at a young age still I think that he will adjust. I always joke with my clients (but they know that I'm telling the truth) that the owners always have a harder time adjusting than their pets do. They are as bad as kids being left at daycare. They will whine, pull on the leash, and shake, but a few minutes after the owner is out the door, they settle in nicely.
I'm sort of all over the place with my answer, but I'm hoping that this gives you some information. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask a follow up!
Some things I would suggest if you do decide to board.
Ask if you can bring his own crate and if it can stay in his kennel. I don't know if you give him access to the crate at all times, but this may provide some security for him. BUT - I would remove the door from the crate. Wouldn't want him to get himself trapped during the night. A warning though, I have had dogs that back themselves into a crate and refuse to come out. Unfortunately in this case the crate gets tipped, and the crate is stored for the rest of the time.
Also ask if he can have things from home such as bedding. But I do not accept owner's clothing. I had one case where a small dog burrowed into a long sleeved shirt and was stuck in the sleeve and very stressed the next morning. Bring things that he is used to having at home. I assume that most people don't give their dogs clothing to lay on at home, so why would that comfort them? I think the smell of their own bedding is more comforting than the smell of your clothing.
Another tip, make sure that the 2 hours of playtime is fully supervised. I do not offer social boarding at my kennel, only in my doggy daycare where dogs are fully screened and evaluated prior to enrollment. I would be concerned letting boarding dogs together, its hard to tell who is dog aggressive, food aggressive, toy aggressive without fully asking the owners and watching the dog in action.
Please, if you have any other questions feel free to ask! I hope all goes well and that what I've said has helped.
