Let's
Talk About ....... Boarding Your Dog
| Selecting a Kennel | A Working
Partnership | Understanding
the Kennel Environment |
| Now that
Rover is Home Again... | Find a
Boarding Kennel |
Selecting
a Boarding Kennel
Stop
by a kennel and visit with the owner. Get
acquainted with the people who will be caring for
your dog. Ask questions; take nothing for
granted. "Are toys or bedding welcome? How
will Rover be exercised? What will you feed
Rover?" Talk about safety features. Discuss
frankly any qualms you may have about boarding.
They will appreciate your frankness and interest.
The
experienced personnel at an American Boarding
Kennels Association Kennel are trained to
recognize the warning signs of potential health
hazards and will contact a veterinarian if they
feel it is called for. Many times it is easier
for kennel personnel to detect problems than it
is for the owner of the dog. For example, blood
in the urine (a warning sign that deserves
attention) can more easily be detected in the
kennel than at home, because the dog is exercised
in a specific area which is cleaned regularly.
Yet,
it is not part of the kennel's job to diagnose or
prescribe. If Rover does require veterinary aid
while he is in the kennel, you should be aware
that you, as Rover's owner, are financially
responsible for such aid. Discuss, before
boarding, any medication or special care Rover
might need. Most kennels offer a certain amount
of individual care (Playing with, talking to,
petting, the dog) but you must be reasonable.
Asking the kennel owner to check Rover at 2 a.m.
to see if he's uncovered is not reasonable.
During
boarding, it is possible that dogs sometimes step
in their stools or urine and become dirty. This
can happen in the cleanest of kennels! Also, some
of the finest disinfectants available for
sanitizing are not always the most pleasant
smelling, and the odor may cling to your dog's
coat. Grooming may be indicated, and you should
advise the kennel owner if you want Rover to have
a bath on the day he goes home.
One
standard for measuring the kennel owner's
interest in his/her profession is their
membership in the American Boarding Kennels
Association. You can be certain that ABKA members
are trying to keep current on the latest
developments within the industry, and that they
truly care. Their membership certificate will be
proudly displayed.
Make
certain you understand the rate structure for all
services and the hours of operation. The fee for
boarding not only includes the care of your pet,
but for the peace of mind that goes with knowing
that Rover is safe and with someone you can
trust.
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A
Working Partnership
Let
us suppose that you do choose to board your pet.
Boarding is a shared responsibility. As a
responsible pet owner there are a few things you
must attend to before bringing Rover in to board.
First, make certain all immunizations are
current, including the parainfluenza vaccine for
protection against tracheobronchitis. Your pet
should be free of internal and external parasites
and not have been exposed to any contagious
diseases. Do not feed Rover for at least 4 hours
prior to kenneling to minimize the possibility of
stomach upset.
Boarding
at a kennel is the best alternative, but
separation from master and/or being in strange
surroundings can produce stress in your dog, and
stress can result in lowered resistance and
sometimes even temporary changes in behavior. Be
sure to inform the kennel proprietor of any
special idiosyncrasies or medical problems Rover
may have, such as a history of epilepsy or fear
of thunder, etc., that may aid them in keeping
Rover healthy and happy.
Dogs
should be prepared psychologically for boarding.
It's best, of course, to begin with a pup as soon
as the immunization program is complete. Puppies
usually learn very quickly to enjoy boarding!
Some kennels offer "daycare" services,
enabling you to leave your dog for a few hours at
a time. This is an excellent way to introduce
your dog to boarding. After just a few visits
Rover accepts a kennel as a normal way of life.
The
psychological preparation of a dog for boarding
(and also for helping him develop a healthy
personality) also includes getting him used to
new people and experiences (socialization). This
is probably most easily accomplished by taking
them through obedience classes and occasionally
boarding him. Naturally, a dog who is relaxed
about boarding is more likely to board well. It
almost goes without saying that a pet owner
should not moan or cry over their dog in the
kennel office upon leaving him, nor should they
bring out the suitcases at home the day before
the trip. You should understand that both of
these things cause your dog to be unnecessarily
upset!
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Understanding
the Kennel Environment
You
should understand the possible effects of stress
on a dog and not be shocked if, while your dog is
boarding, he develops tracheobronchitis or,
occasionally, intestinal problems. You should be
aware that some dogs carry viruses in their
systems for months and begin to show symptoms
only after being subjected to a stress situation.
In other words, they can 'catch' a disease from
themselves.
Sometimes
temporary behavior changes can occur as a result
of unfamiliar surroundings. For example, dear
sweet Rover may tear up the bed he has slept in
for years, or 'Killer' (usually the rowdy scourge
of the neighborhood) turns into a little lamb.
Eating habits change under stress, and all dogs
assimilate their food differently. Some will eat
like canaries at home and like vultures at a
kennel. They may put on a few pounds. Others can
lose weight though eating well or lose weight by
not eating enough. Kennel life can be very
exciting, and some dogs lose weight because they
run the weight off as they charge around barking
at other dogs and having a wonderful time. These
dogs often go home exhausted but happy, and sleep
a lot the first couple of days at home.
All
of the preparation by the pet owner merely points
out that they should recognize that successful
boarding depends not only upon the kennel, but
also upon how well the owner prepares their dog
for the experience.
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Now that
Rover is Home Again...
When
Rover is picked up, he will be very excited to
see you. Dogs do not have a sense of time, so it
would be just as happy to see you if you left him
for 5 minutes or 5 days. Do not feed him (though
he will act hungry once back on familiar turf)
for at least 3 hours, and then be very careful
not to overfeed him. Also, excitement will cause
Rover to pant a lot, lose body water and be
thirsty. Give him a few ice cubes to tide him
over until feeding time. Again, in his excited
state, excessive food and water consumption can
create problems.
Copyright
© 1998 - American
Boarding Kennels Association: A
Nonprofit Corporation dedicated to the betterment
of the Boarding Kennels Industry. Printed with
Permission. Your ABKA kennel owner is in the
business of boarding because we love animals.
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as a service of: The
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