SolveYourProblem.com Article Series: Dog Care
Dog Care Tips
How
To Prepare Your Dog For a Boarding Kennel
It’s time to head to Las Vegas for your long
awaited week of vacation. But, what do you do with THE DOG?
Some people are unable to face the prospects of boarding Fido
and therefore, they stay home. Others either impose on their
friends or hire “pet sitters” to come into their homes. And
finally, a vast number of people choose to board their pets
in kennels.
Before
committing your dog to a particular kennel, you should
visit the facility for a personal inspection. Does it appear
to be clean, does it smell clean, is it well lit and ventilated?
How is the temperature? Are the cages and runs of adequate
size? A phone call to the American Boarding Kennels Association
(719-667-1600) will determine if the kennel under consideration
meets accepted standards and is accredited.
After you’ve made your final kennel selection, it’s
time to prepare your dog for its visit. First and foremost, make sure
your dog’s vaccinations are up to date. A kennel will reject
your dog if his rabies vaccination isn’t current. Furthermore,
even though you’ve selected a sparklingly clean boarding facility,
your dog is subject to any number of communicable illnesses
always present in a boarding population. A current shot record
is good insurance against some of these diseases.
If at all possible, you should consider
stopping by the kennel with your dog for a brief visit. He can meet the staff and
become somewhat familiar with the surroundings. An overnight
stay will do wonders to prepare the dog for his longer visit.
Always provide as much information as possible to the kennel
staff. Obviously they will need to know about any medications
they’ll have to administer, food allergies, whether or not
the dog socializes well with other animals and what, if any,
particular fears or phobias he might have. If you happen to
be boarding more than one dog, you might want to request that
they be housed in the same pen or allowed to exercise at the
same time in the same run.
If Fido requires a special
diet, the kennel may request that
you provide them with a supply of his food. This will usually
depend on the extent of the dog’s special requirements and
will be settled in advance of the dog’s visit. Make sure the
kennel has the name and phone number of your veterinarian and
a phone number where they can reach you in case of an emergency.
Most dogs will benefit from bringing
familiar items with them.
A special toy, their blanket, or even one of your slippers
will comfort them and stave off feelings of being abandoned.
By all means, don’t wash the item; familiar smells are half
the battle, so don’t destroy them.
When packing and preparing for your trip, try to go about
it as calmly and casually as possible. Hectic packing and rushing
about will alert Rover that something is amiss and by the time
you’re ready to transport him to the kennel, he’ll already
be under stress. Gather his kennel items and have them in the
car prior to loading Rover.
When dropping him off at the kennel, try to remain as nonchalant
and as calm as possible. Don’t be overly affectionate or do
anything that might cause Rover to attach too much significance
to his plight. The objective is to minimize, rather than exaggerate.
Keep it low key - no long goodbyes, no tears and no emotion.
After handing Rover’s lead to a kennel staffer, allow the staffer
to distract the dog and quietly slip out.
If you’re a frequent traveler, Rover will get used to being
boarded and in most cases will look forward to the experience,
especially if he gets an opportunity to mix with other dogs
at the kennel. He’ll get to know the staff and look forward
to seeing them.
Once both dog and owner get used to the idea of boarding and
become completely comfortable with the experience, being separated
will become much less stressful. While away, the owner will
be at peace, confident that his faithful friend is safe and
being well cared for. And, Rover will be able to lay back and
enjoy his vacation as well. #
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SolveYourProblem.com : 2007
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