Tips for finding the right pet boarding house

Boarding your pets might be the best decision…but it doesn’t make it any easier. However, knowing that they are safe and will enjoy their stay can help relieve your stress!

Being away from our pets is never easy. But there are times when they simply cannot accompany us. In these situations, knowing that they are in good hands and having fun can help calm our worries and ease any guilt we may be feeling. And that’s why it’s so important to spend time finding the right pet boarding house for your furry family members!

Although you never intend to leave your pet behind, it’s impossible to predict when unforeseen circumstances might force you to opt for boarding. It’s less stressful for you and your pet if you have a good plan in place!

Is pet boarding the best option?

Before you start looking for pet boarding, consider whether another care option might be better for your pet. For example, finding a pet sitter to stay with your dog or cat would allow your pet to stay in familiar surroundings.

Some pets do better in boarding, while others prefer to stay at home. It all depends on the animal. Thinking about your pet’s personality, likes and dislikes, and their comfort level with other animals should give you a good indication of which option they prefer.

LEARN MORE ⇒ Pet boarding or pet sitter – Which is best for your pets?

Find Pet Boarding

When researching boarding options, start by asking your friends where their pets are staying. You’ll probably get a few recommendations to start looking into.

Next, decide if you want your pet to stay in a boarding house or stay with someone. Home boarding offers more personal attention, a more familiar home environment, and generally does not involve crates or kennels.

Boarding facilities are often safer with double gate entrances and high fences. Many also offer other amenities like dog grooming and daycare, allowing dogs staying at the facility to play with other dogs for several hours a day. For pets with health issues, finding a veterinarian who also offers boarding can be a good choice.

You can search GoPetFriendly.com for pet boarding. Home boarding options are listed on services such as rover.comwhere pet professionals are vetted before joining their network.

You may need to board your pet for a short time while you travel together. If so, many pet-friendly hotels, campgrounds, and vacation property owners can recommend facilities in their area. Check with staff when booking your accommodation and make boarding reservations for your pet well in advance.

If you have an exotic animal that needs special care, try contacting a local society or organization for its species. They might be able to offer boarding recommendations.

Questions to ask, ask, ask

When you have more than one boarding option to choose from, call each one for additional information. The first question to ask is whether you can take a tour of the facility. If the answer is no, move on. Any place that won’t show you where your pet would stay is not a place you should leave it.

Also, think carefully about places that require you to plan a visit in advance. It’s a good sign when the staff are happy to show you around, even if they haven’t been told in advance to prepare for your visit.

For places that clear the first hurdle, here are some additional questions to ask:

• What vaccinations should my pet have before boarding?
• Are all areas that my pet will have access to fully fenced?
• Is there a human on site 24/7?
• Is the facility temperature controlled?
• Are there enough smoke detectors and security cameras? Is there a fire extinguisher sprinkler system?
• Is there a live camera feed for me to monitor my pet? Are you able to send photos with updates while she is there?
• How many and what types of other animals will my pet come into contact with?
• What procedures are in place to ensure that animals receive the medications they need?
• What actions would be taken in the event of a veterinary emergency?
• Can he bring his own food, bed and favorite toy?
• How often are the animals fed?
• How much time will my pet spend in their single room or running around vs playing in a group?
• What is the ratio of pets to staff during group play?
• Is the group game canceled in case of bad weather?
• When he is in his single room or enclosure, will he have access inside and outside?
• Will it be crated at any time?
• Will he ever be taken outside the facility for walks or other reasons? (This can increase the risk of pets getting lost.)
• Can additional services be added, such as chews or treats at bedtime, or grooming before pickup?

Limit options

After asking all your questions, a few options will likely stand out. To figure out which pet boarding is right for your pet, you’ll have to dig a little deeper.

Now is the time to make your visits. Give yourself plenty of time to visit each facility and ask any additional questions you have. Check if there is adequate security to prevent pets from escaping, if the kennel is clean and smells good, and observe if the staff is attentive and caring with the animals. Ask to see where your pet will sleep, play and exercise. Finally, pay attention to animal behavior – are they happy and content or do they seem overly anxious or stressed?

After forming your own impressions, take a look at online reviews of the facilities you are still considering. Nextdoor.com is a great source of boarding tips.

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Schedule a trial

When you’ve finally selected what you think is the best boarding option for your pet, it’s time to see what they think! You will likely need to provide their vaccination record and complete an application. You may also be asked to schedule a behavioral assessment for your pet, which lets staff know your pet’s likes and dislikes.

If this is your pet’s first boarding, perhaps start by planning a half-day visit. If all goes well, try an overnight stay.

These trials allow you to observe your pet’s behavior when it returns from boarding and to see how it reacts when you bring it back to the facility for return visits.

The first time we boarded our dogs, Ty and Buster, we chose a very fancy setup with TVs in each dog suite and a wonderful indoor/outdoor play area. It did wonders to ease our guilt for leaving them behind! But when we got back, it looked like both dogs had forgotten all of their training. I guess their stay was a free dog for all, with no regard for proper rules of decorum.

The setup we used later was more spartan, but it had a calm energy and the dogs didn’t run wild. They didn’t watch Animal Planet on private televisions, but they were well cared for and spent most of the day romping around in the large dog yard. The best part was that Buster and Ty were both happily exhausted when we picked them up, and sometimes their behavior even improved!

Myles will go for his first boarding experience later this week. Hope everything goes well. Is there anything else we should consider? Leave a note in the comments below!

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