Tips to Enrolling Your Dog at a Boarding Kennel

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There are a number of reasons why you may need temporary pet-sitting for your dog. Whether you are relocating and would like to keep your dog away from the chaos or you are travelling and cannot take your dog with you, boarding kennels would be an ideal solution for your needs. Nevertheless, opting for boarding kennels is not just about dropping off your pet then picking them up when you are back. There are various things you would have to keep in mind to ensure that their transition to the facility is easy and hassle-free. Here are some tips that can come in handy when enrolling your dog at a boarding kennel.

Ensure that your dog's vaccine schedule is up to date

Since boarding kennels will accommodate numerous dogs at a time, most of them will be insistent on ensuring that vaccines are up to date. This is to ensure that diseases are not passed on to other pets during their stay. Some of the more common contagious diseases include distemper as well as bordetella. Since it would not be economical for the boarding kennel to carry out these vaccinations, some would limit accessibility to pets that have received their required vaccinations. Before you enroll your dog at a kennel, pay a visit to your veterinarian to establish whether your pet will be due for any shots before their stay at the kennel. Additionally, ensure that you get a copy of their vaccination card that you will hand in to the kennel.

Ensure the kennel has your vet's contact details

Another aspect that some pet owners overlook is leaving their vet's contact details with the boarding kennel. Instead, they will only leave their own emergency contacts. The reality is, some pets may come down with an illness that may require immediate medical attention. Although some boarding kennels may have their own in-house medical staff, you may find that the cost of treatment would be more expensive than at your preferred veterinarian. Additionally, if your dog is already suffering from a predisposed condition, then it would be in their best interests to be treated by a vet that is already familiar with their case.

Ensure you include familiar items

To ease your dog's transition into their stay at the boarding kennel, you should pack some items that they are familiar with. Although boarding kennels will have their own pet toys, it would ease your dog's anxiety if they had their own personal items such as their favourite blanket, chew toy and more. These items will have the scent of home and this could make them less nervous once you leave them in unfamiliar surroundings.


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