Dog Kennels

Wonder_Girl · 23 February 2008 at 12:21AM

We are going to have to put out dog into kennels for the weekend of our wedding as there will be nobody around to look after him for us.

I won’t lie I am less than enthusiastic about it. I have never had to put a pet into kennels before as we have always left them with friends and family. I also know lots of people do it so it can’t be that bad (repeats over and over)

I have the contact details of a local kennels from our Vets, they made it clear that they couldn’t recommend anywhere as they don’t use them but that lots of their clients use them. They don’t have a website but they are called Delph End in Pudsey, Leeds, anybody heard of them?

My questions are these – What questions should I ask them when I’m there? Should we tell them we are coming to have a look well in advance or just turn up? What should I be looking out for? What kind of prices should I be paying and what should I be getting for this?

Basically ANY advice would be appreciated as I want to make sure he is being looked after in the best possible way, mostly so I fell less guilty about abandoning him.

Thanks guys
WG x

MoneySavingStudent_2 · 23 February 2008 at 12:36AM

Hey there!
If your not comfortable with a kennel, you can always opt for a pet sitter? Try the yellow pages for them i suppose. We run our own little pet sitting business in hudds, and alot of people dont like putting their doggies in kennels so dont worry your not the only one!

You should proberbly ring ahead to let them know your coming to look around just so they know! Im not sure on prices but us as a pet sitter charge £7.50 per 12hrs so a would proberbly say kennels are about the same or cheaper. I would definatly ask if they walk your dog because we've had some surprising reports of kennels not having time to walk the dogs because there are so many dogs to look after! I would definatly ask about it! Of course not all kennels are like this so you should be ok!

Im not sure what they do about food in the kennels but i would recommend taking your doggies normal food or he/she might come home with a funny tummy!

I hope that helps alittle, if it were me i would opt for the pet sitter as i couldnt bare the thought of my puppy being in a kennel!

HTH x

suki1964 · 23 February 2008 at 12:36AM

Can you not get a professional sitter who takes dogs into their homes rather then going for kennels if you and he arent used to using them?

If you do need to use kennels then go on recommendations. Ask other dog walkers where you live who they use. Do visit well in advance of any bookings. Most kennels have set times you can go visit, this is usually so that all the dogs are fed, watered, exercised and kennels cleaned and staff have time to greet visitors. Ask about feeding, do you take your own food, does your dog have a diet you would like him kept to.What socialisation do they get with the other dogs, how much exercise do they get and where. Check out the kennels themselves. Are they well maintained, lit and heated. Do they have outside runs.

Also be prepared to have your dog vaccinated against kennel cough and also be prepared for him to come home with it all the same.

Good luck on your big day

mum2one · 23 February 2008 at 12:46AM

Go and c some kennels, ask about how many walks they have, what vets are they registered with, what size are the runs, can you bring anything in for the dog.

From your post, Im guessing the dog is not a puppy, ask if you could bring the dog for a visit, personally as the dog has never been in a kennel, I would consider the pet sitting service, is there anyone that could look after the dogs.

You would need to make sure all jabs are up to date, inc kennel cough, it also goes on how you feel, not sounding daft but if you visit or ring do you get a positive vibe, ie are you being given time to ask questions, are you pushed out etc.

We use to use a kennel bout 8 miles from where we live, from childhood to having our last dog, they all stayed there. Our dog is 13, he went in as a pup, and ended up living in the owners house! talk about the life of luxury, although now when we have family hols a lot more sites are pet friendly so he comes with us.

Sorry, if I keep digressing, as im typeing, im thinking of other points, one major point all the good kennels get booked up while in advance. x

PS Congratunations with the wedding x

Wonder_Girl · 23 February 2008 at 12:51AM

I’m not at all comfortable with a kennel, how ever did you both tell? :rotfl:

I haven’t heard of these pet sitters before? So our baby would go and stay in a house with real people?

I’m terrified that he won’t get walked and that he will just be left bored, also as he is only 5 months he is still training and I’m worried about this taking a backward step.

What’s the point of getting him vaccinated (he already is) if he is going to get it anyway? Lol, is kennel cough dangerous like cat flu or is it literally a cough?

Wg x

Wonder_Girl · 23 February 2008 at 12:56AM

Thanks Mum2one,

Unfortunately there won't be anybody around to look after him as everybody we know will be at the wedding and it's too far to drive back.

His jabs are all up to date as he was only inoculated in November so that isn't a problem, I’m more worried about him being lonely and bored.

Thanks for the tips about visiting etc, it's nice to hear from somebody who has used kennels and is positive about them.

Wg x

matimage · 23 February 2008 at 1:05AM

We left our boy in a kennel for a week and will NEVER do it again. They were so inflexible it was untrue, they were very rude when we went to pick him up and when we did get him he was like a different dog, cowering in the corner, wife burst out crying and he went bonkers and couldn't get out of there fast enough. The way he was so nervous, completly unlike him, made me think someone had not been very nice to him.
He had also lost weight, we had given them just enough food for him if they had followed the instructions but there was loads of food left.
Never again.

MoneySavingStudent_2 · 23 February 2008 at 1:18AM

kennels cant be that bad though obviously because people put their doggies in everyday and are quite happy with the service! Their will be the old bad experience but there is with everything i suppose lol!
If you are thinking of using a pet sitter make sure they are insured etc! hope you liked our little website! if u want to enquire more on our services just get in touch through one of the emails on the website.
I would also look around the pet sitters home as sometimes they can be unsuitable, we have people come and look around where their doggie will be staying all the time so it might be worth given them a ring and enquiring about looking around and where the doggies sleep etc! We have the doggie sleep with us in one of our bedrooms, so if the doggie gets scared or distressed in the night we can attend to them straight away (plus it sometimes comforts them just to have someone their while they go to sleep)
x

Wonder_Girl · 23 February 2008 at 1:33AM

Thanks Moneysavingstudent, Your site is great, I don’t know what you have done to all those doggies to make them sleep! If you looked after our Ben you would be lucky to get him to sit still for 5 mins! :rotfl:

I have just emailed our vets to see if they know of any local ones, I have had a Google but can only seem to fine house sitters, and I don’t want people in the house, really we only need Ben to be looked after from Saturday afternoon until Monday afternoon once we are married (ohh it’s so exciting:j )

I am much happier at the prospect of a sitter, I am definitely not putting him in a kennel now I know there is an alternative that’s WAY better.

Wg x

MoneySavingStudent_2 · 23 February 2008 at 1:44AM

We just take them on a looonggg walk!! We've delt with a few hyper active doggies before! Our own ridgeback is one! But she helps us wear them out by running around the garden really fast with them! our price for saturday til monday would be about £30 in total thats including all walks etc and doggies must bring their own food. So thats proberbly the sorta price you'd be looking at (we have been told were quite cheap though so it might be abit more!)
We would love to look after your doggie if you really needed us too! We're only about 10minutes away from leeds (on the motorway etc). We're based in huddersfield.
But im sure you can find a good one abit closer to home! But please feel free to use us as a last resort or back up! We would be happy to look after a fellow moneysavers doggie!

Wonder_Girl · 23 February 2008 at 1:47AM

Thank you MSS

That is a lovely offer, I will bear that in mind, I can't see any local ones so unless the vets have some you have pulled the short straw and will get a nutter for the weekend

Dog Kennels

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