What do you look for in a kennel?

aliasojo

I'm toying with the idea of starting a holiday home for pets and wondered what you would class as important when you considered putting your animals into kennels?

My cousin runs a kennel business and has a special room (which obviously costs more but is always booked out) where there is a tv on the wall and a couch for the dogs to lie on to make them feel more at home.

I've just had a chat with our local vet's receptionist who tells me she couldn't find anywhere suitable to place her own animals recently and that they get people asking for recommendations all the time.

I think there is a market in my neck of the woods for something more than just your average stone floor small cell type of kennel but would very much appreciate your thoughts and opinions too.

Do you look for quality or cheapness? Would you want a high amount of interaction with your animal on a daily basis or would you be happy with just a standard morning/afternoon walk? Would you pay extra for a more homely experience for your pet?

Any thoughts would be welcomed.

elsien

I think I'd be looking for a lot more interaction and time spent checking on the dog. I've always used bog standard kennels, with the two walks a day and been reasonably happy with it.
However now mutt is getting on a bit and has more ongoing ailments, I've stopped using kennels and gone to a petsitter where mutt goes to stay with them, and they can only leave her for 2 hours a day. I'm not so much fussed about the home comforts like tv or a settee - mutt doesn't get them at home, so she's definitely not getting into bad habits while I'm away!
In kennels, I just don't think she gets enough individual attention to spot any signs of illness when they're just starting. They do pick up when she's not right (we're not talking major injury, but she does often come back from kennels with a urine infection or colitits) but I think more personal care would pick it up sooner. Or when she gets indigestion in the morning, the pet sitters will persist and encourage her to eat, whereas the kennels would just leave her to it.
I get the impression that other than when feeding or walking, the dogs are pretty much left to get on with it. And that was one of the better kennels in the area.
I'd pay more for care later into the evening - my kennels didn't want to do meds after 6pm because of disturbing the other dogs, but when they don't start meds till 9 and you have to fit 3 lots in by 6, it just isn't spacing it out enough to get the full benefit.
Price wise though, depending on costs in your area, I think you'd find it difficult to get the level right. The higher staffing levels you'd need for more time with the dogs would be quite expensive. Kennels costs me £14 a day (they have a cheap basic charge, but charge extras for feeding twice a day, and giving meds 3x daily.) Whereas the petsitter is £20 a day for one on one care. Presuming you priced it somewhere in the middle, I think I'd still think that for the extra couple of pounds a day the petsitter will win out every time.

hippyadam

aliasojo wrote: »

What do you look for in a kennel?

Will it fit the wife....


Sorry couldn't resist

WolfSong2000

My mother worked for years as a "dogsitter" - instead of owners sending their dogs to kennels, they lived with us (back when I was still living at home as well!) and it worked out much better. The dogs were allowed everywhere they were at home (e.g. not upstairs if they weren't allowed upstairs at home) and I reckon they really enjoyed the "family atmosphere" with us, the other dogs we had to stay, home comforts, etc. Some of our "regulars" viewed our place as a second home, and really loved coming - the moment their owners dropped them off, they ignored the owners and went looking to see who else was staying, what was new, etc. It was a home away from home for them, and after seeing how much the dogs enjoyed it, once I'm in a position to have a dog myself, I'll always use a petsitter and never a kennel.

rising_from_the_ashes

Somewhere where individual attention is paid to each dog and its needs are met.

There are various dog walkers (some come from kennels) around here who walk the dogs in huge packs - one size fits all no matter what size/age they are - there is no way I'd leave my dog there.

Also, I'm happy to pay a fair price but what really annoys me (and this goes for catteries too) is that I take my own food (cat on prescription food and dog on wheat free so wouldn't expect kennels/cattery to cater for this) but they still charge me the full price - even 50p/day discount would be appreciated!

The others are probably obvious - if I was "checking somewhere out" I'd want to make sure the kennels were clean but also notice whether the surrounding area is clean/safe.

Are there:
- special places where dogs can get a bit extra TLC
- are there some kennels where the can the dogs see each other (some don't like this but equally some need to see others around - esp whilst away from home)
- can you cater for "quirks" (my dog hates the dark - seriously)
- can you administer medication
etc etc


Good luck

ali-t

One that would cater to the needs of individual dogs e.g. my staffy thrives on human company and would want lots of hugs and cuddles but wouldn't mind if she only got a quick walk to pee and poo. Whereas my rott isn't very sociable and would want to be able to watch other dogs, wouldn't want cuddles but would love long walks or runs with someone who was confident around him.

You may also be able to find a niche market in difficult dogs who don't necessarily need pampered but need confident, experienced handlers who can effectively read body language in dogs. This is a service that can't be bought, your staff either have it or don't!

devildog

There will be some people who will want more than the average kennel with tvs, chairs etc. Do you define quality with kennels that have tvs etc or do you define quality differently? My take on it(having worked in a few boarding kennels and know quite a few of the tricks)
1. A kennel that has adequate heating in winter(some claim and do have heating but so poor that water bowls would be frozen in morning)
2.A kennel that allows your dog to have whatever bedding/beds/toys/treats that you provide(many do not put in kennel with dog because bedding will get wet/dirty. toys lost etc.
3.A kennel that is clean and dry-too many kennels have wet indoor floors for majority of day.
4. A kennel that will feed your dog what it is used to/likes and not what is the cheapest food going.
5.A kennel that does not 'double book' kennels(in case of cancellation) meaning that one dog gets shut in a crate somewhere.
6. A kennel that gives each dog either a walk or individual attention everyday and doesn't just simply turn them out into a run for half an hour.
7.A kennel that has all it's kennels and runs cleaned out by mid-morning(when I have gone round looking at kennels(at mid-day) I was really surprised that some would not let me see the kennels because they hadn't been cleaned yet!)
8. Kennel owners that do it because they love dogs and not because they want the money
9.A kennel that immediately notices if something is not quite right with your dog and takes immediate action(eg some dogs will not go to loo on concrete so need taking out onto grass)
10.A kennel owner that will tell you honestly how your dog was (even if it means them losing your business)Too often they will say "oh yes, doggy was fine" when actually it really wasn't.
TBH I would be happy with a decent 'ordinary' kennel provided the above conditions were met(very few and far between)

gettingready

I woul dnot leave Zara at a kennel or cats in a cattery (or whatever this is called).

Got 2 lovely ladies nearby who take dogs for home boarding and they do cats visits while the owner is at home.

I do not go away much but when I did last time:

1) Zara stayed in the house of one of the ladies, with her 2 dogs and has been treated the same - not locked away in some cage by herself. She was in the house with people and dogs.

2) Cats stayed in my flat and had the other lady visiting them twice per day - to feed them , play with them make a fuss of them (and clean the litter boxes)

I was only away for 4 days but if ever need to go away again - would do exactly the same.

No, it is not cheap but - I have 5 pets and they get looked after as best as I can/as long as I can.

If I was not able to afford proper care for them while I go away, - simple solution.. I would not be going away

hjb123

wow, just found this thread as was about to start one asking the exact same question:D

I too am thinking of starting some boarding kennels! Im just in the planning permission and research stage

Hope your plans go well aliasojo!

aliasojo

Lol great minds and all that hjb. I hope you're not in my area. Good luck with your venture.

Thanks very much to all who've taken the time to reply, I really appreciate your input.

elsien

Something else I've just thought of is getting rid of that kennel smell.
I've noticed that some have a distinctive aroma to them. It's not necessarily because they're dirty, the last time I complained after turning up unexpectedly, the owner got quite offended and hoiked me round the place to demonstrate the thousands he'd spent on refurbishing with easy to clean surfaces, and it did look ok. It just had a distinctive pong (not urine or faeces, more a stable type smell) which meant I had to bath mutt as soon as I got her home. And I don't want to have to pay extra for a bath, I just want my dog to not gas me as soon as she gets in the car.

I also second what devildog says about own toys and bedding. Mine can take in her own toy (she has to, as she's not safe with most toys) but they've stopped letting you take in your own box and bedding as there were too many mix ups, which is a shame.
Also heating - mutt is a heat seeking missile, so needs lots. Plus given the option, I'd quite like her to have a radio to listen to. She has the radio on while I'm at work, so I think having the option at kennels would make her feel more at home.
The most important thing though is the staff. Most complaints I've had to make have been because of poorly trained part time staff with attitude - you pay peanuts, you get monkeys.