minimum acceptable standards in boarding kennels?

zaksmum

I may have to put my 2 dogs in kennels for a week in March. They've never been in kennels and I want the best for them. Just been in contact with one described as "luxury"...the dogs get two 20 min walks a day and the staff go home for the day at 530pm.

So I asked the owner whether anyone is there overnight...what if there was an emergency with one of the dogs in their care? And will the dogs' last walk of the day be prior to 530pm? How will they toilet after this time?

He said he actually lives on the premises and will "look in" on the dogs before going to bed. And if they need the toilet after 530pm they just go in their kennels.

So to me, this sounds FAR from acceptable. My dogs know not to toilet indoors and would be massively stressed if they had to. And they would be confined to their kennel for 23 hours and 20 minutes out of every 24 hours.

How can THAT be deemed luxury?

Or am I expecting too much? Please can any experienced kennel users enlighten me?

Thanks.

elliesmemory1

Have you thought of a dog sitter or home boarder instead? It may be better for your dogs. Look in your local vets and pet shops etc.

chelle230

I had big concerns with kennels when looking for one for my 2. I knew they would get stressed out and I'd worry.
so I opted for a pet sitter, and she is wonderful, the dogs stay at her home (in her house and live as they would at home, even sitting on the sofa!) and get walked two or three times a day usually, depending on the type of dog they may get more as she offers a dog walking service too.
my dogs come back happy (and don't need a bath to get rid of that smell) and have been to stay with her a few times since.
I highly recommend using one

zaksmum

I would massively prefer a home boarder. It's just finding one. I contacted one who said small to medium dogs only...mine are labrador size (female) and a bit smaller (male) so he said they'd be too big. Another said they couldn't take my boy dog as he's not been neutered. A third said she'd have another entire male dog in the house and asked if mine might !!!! his leg up in the presence of this dog (!!) and the fourth has 2 cats...!!

I don't know about the dogs being stressed. This is worrying me sick.

chelle230

https://www.gbpetsitters.co.uk
try these, the one I use is the Blackpool franchise and she's fab

zaksmum

Thanks for that chelle, but I'm on merseyside and they don't have a pet sitter located near me.

chelle230

oh no. there are a few around another is uk petsitters if you google it. or maybe ask friends/family if they could help out?

zaksmum

Thanks so much chelle. My family are usually brilliant at helping out but my daughter's 35 weeks pregnant at the moment so baby (her first) will only be a couple of weeks old in March...can't really expect her to mind the dog then.

ALTHOUGH....the dog is actually HER dog and I took the girl dog on to save the poor thing being sent back to the dogs' home when daughter's marriage broke up and she could no longer cope with her - on the understanding that when we went on holiday she would take care of her...!!!

And my son will mind our boy dog...but not both of them. So I need to find a good dog sitter that will be kind to my dogs and take proper care of them.

gettingready

My dog walker does home boarding - that is where Zara goes each time I have to go away.

2 of them do it, they work together doing dog walking, puppy classes, boarding etc etc.

East London so probably no good for you but saying that I would personally travel to make sure my dogs were happy.

They have a website and photos of dogs from both walks and boarding - Zara loves going there, another human bed to accupy and dog mates to play with. Fantastic walking spaces near by....

Could not leave Zara in kennels....

Not sure if this is allowed but I am not advertising my own business here (I wish) but have a look at:

https://www.dogsandthecity.co.uk

In the Gallery part there are photos from both walks and towards the bottom from boarding.....

Hope you find someone local for your 2... it is always a worry to leave them behind while going away ...

heretolearn_2

Sounds pretty normal to me. They are running a kennel, not a 'home from home'. It's usual for dogs to have a small concrete run and that's where they 'toilet'. It's nice if they have a large secure pen where the dogs can be let off the lead for a run around and play, I'd expect that at a 'luxury' kennels, not just a couple of walks.

zaksmum

gettingready wrote: »

My dog walker does home boarding - that is where Zara goes each time I have to go away.

2 of them do it, they work together doing dog walking, puppy classes, boarding etc etc.

East London so probably no good for you but saying that I would personally travel to make sure my dogs were happy.

They have a website and photos of dogs from both walks and boarding - Zara loves going there, another human bed to accupy and dog mates to play with. Fantastic walking spaces near by....

Could not leave Zara in kennels....


Not sure if this is allowed but I am not advertising my own business here (I wish) but have a look at:

www.dogsandthecity.co.uk

In the Gallery part there are photos from both walks and towards the bottom from boarding.....

Hope you find someone local for your 2... it is always a worry to leave them behind while going away ...

Thanks getting ready. Of course I am more than happy to travel to get the best for my dogs, I love them to bits...but I'm on Merseyside and London really is too far, sadly, as from the link you posted your dog walking people look amazing.