Dog Kennels

tiamai_d

We have a few kennels around and the one we use is WONDERFUL!

They will not take a dog who is not up to date with vaccinations including kennel cough! Which is a horrendous illness for dogs.

They have large kennels, all with an outside run.

They use vet bedding, vircon for cleaning, stainless steel bowls and the kennels are immaculate.

The kennels are near their house too, so there is someone there 24hours.

There is a 'play area' which is a large fully fenced off area with balls and toys, which each dog gets in for at least an hour a day, more if they get on with other dogs and are neutered. Dog-bot had a friend last time and they were in it most of the day.

They guarantee one walk per day though try for two.

Dog is allowed toys or his own bed, and they accommodate for special treat routines, like dog-bot getting his cigar chew at 7pm.

They provide a range of foods, or you can provide your own, and will feed as you request, dog-bot is a grazer and has food out all day.

Dog gets a bath on the day they go home with flea shampoo 'just in case' and to make sure they are not smelly.

Plus, a friend stays up the hill and has given us gossip that dog-bot does get out for walks and gets into the play area.

Also, we can phone them for updates. I have heard horror stories, but really you have to find what works for you. Dog-bot would be worse with a stranger than he is in kennels, he comes back happy and I am very happy with those kennels. For us, those kennels are the WAY better choice.

They charge £8.50 per day and have an option of insurance for £1 per week, that covers any vet bills incurred during the stay at kennels or 3 days afterwards. That includes food if wanted.

suki1964

Wonder_Girl wrote: »

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

Kennel cough is like our flu, in that you can be vaccinated and still catch is as theres so many different variants going around.

Most kennels will insist on your dog being vaccinated. Its not nice as its a liquid that goes up the dogs nose, and as I said it is still pretty likely your dog will still get KC.Dogs aren't vaccinated against it in their routine jabs, its something you have to ask for x amount of days in advance of going into kennels (your vet will advise) and has to be done every time

Most cases of KC are harmless and a cough medicine will help. However it can cause complications and lung infections can ensue so most vets will give a course of antibiotics just in case. Its highly infectious and if you think your dog does have it, inform the vet before turning up as they often dont want you to bring the dog into the surgery,preferring instead to come out to the car

HTH

Good luck with finding a sitter. I googled dog sitters/walkers leeds and got a few hits so there are some in your area

cazziebo

elsien wrote: »

Don't rule out all kennels on the basis of a few bad reports. My dog quite likes going in - last time i went to pick her up, she tried to go back into the kennels instead! I think she likes being around lots of other dogs - doesn't usually get the chance.


Congrats on the wedding, hope you have a great day.

I'm so glad it's not just me! When I go to pick up my dog he comes bounding out to see me, then tries to get back in to the kennels!

I've had to use a few kennels because as one of the posters has said, the good ones get booked really quickly. And there are some good ones. Go and see them. If I was to rate the three kennels I use, I'd get completely different ratings from my dog! The one where the kennels are smaller, and the walks are on lead rather than a paddock for free running, is his preference. He can tell when we are going there and gets so excited. He leaps out of the car and runs straight in. The other two have fields for running about, keep schedules of poos, pees, meals, have hosts of qualified staff etc and are good but I think the other one is his favourite.

If you do use kennels, go and visit them first. It will put your mind at rest.

And CONGRATULATIONS - have a lovely day!

Scubabe

I left our lab puppy (aged 4.5 months) with a pet sitter for 4 weeks last February when we went to Australia.
She's based in Ripon and her rates are fabulous and I will absolutely use her again if we ever need boarding.
Her website is AnimalOutings.co.uk if you wanted to check out her services.

Good luck

Ness

Mrs_pbradley936

Perhaps the breed matters German Shepherds often refuse to eat and pine but Labradors could care less. So long as someone is feeding them they don't care if it is the owner or a stranger. I think you need to look at your lifestyle and if you will often leave him to go away on holiday then let him get used to a kennel while he is young. If you do not intend to leave him apart from having to then a dog sitter would be my choice.

kempy

When a dog goes to stay in the home of the dog minder it tends to be known as "home boarding" rather than pet sitting. You can look around the house of the dog minder and learn a lot about what kind of person they are and how they will treat your dog. They should usually have dogs of their own and a record of long involvement with dogs. They are not legally allowed to have young children either.

These people will not only be insured for caring for your dog but they should also have a license on display from the local council who regularly vet and audit them for such things as cleanliness, health and wellbeing of dogs boarded, safety & security of premises and grounds, etc.

Home boarding is covered by the law Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963.

thriftmonster

Do you know anyone that can give you a personal recommendation for a kennel? We changed with our current dog because someone recommended his kennels - and they are fabulous (Belfast area - pm me if you want the name). Lovely kennels with runs and heat lamps for night over their beds. Paddocks for playing in twice a day and a walk in the fields - and I have seen the staff out there in full waterproofs and sou'westers in bad weather. He's nearly always bathed for free before he comes home, takes his own bed, blankets and toys and the food is whatever you request. We only have to set off up the road and he goes hyper.

They're so popular that I have had to book him in for July 2009 last month!

And although he's the only mongrel we've ever seen up there, the staff all know his name when he goes back!

Just wanted to say - not all kennels are bad.

Wonder_Girl

Thank you everybody for your kind replies, I'm glad some people have positive things to say about Kennels, This time a friend from work has offered to look after him for the 2 nights we need, hopefully in the future we won't need to use a kennel, but if we do i won't be so scared about the prospect.

WG x

SarahLou

Congrats on the wedding! :beer:

Know I'm a bit late in replying to this thread but felt I had to put my two-pennies in for yourselves and anyone reading this in future looking for advice.

Don't discount boarding kennels - I like to get all my dogs used to them from an early age as its kinder to have them used to a kennel environment for occasions when you have to use them for whatever reason.

I actually think its a damn shame not more people do this as I've seen far too many middle aged or old dogs (and cats) placed in boarding for the first time in their lives and they're either really nervous, act agressive or just refuse to eat for a few days til they settle in. Yet those who're more used to it (even if its just once a year for a few days) they usually settle in within a matter of minutes/hours. Largely dependant on the individual animal of course but those who're used to it from a younger age are almost always fine with it.

My future sister-in-law bugs me as she actually got her cats (as kittens) from a rescue centre so they started life in a cage in that sort of environment. Yet she now (three years later) point blank refuses to ever put them in a cattery. She lives over 5 hours drive away yet she still thinks its kinder for her cats to travel in her car (both of her cats HATE being put in the cage in the car and usually cry the entire time and are sick regularly in the car) yet she thinks this is kinder than putting them in a cattery near to her home. :mad: She does this regularly too whenever she goes on holiday, etc. Usually 3-4 times a year (minimum) and drives them all the way up here so that her dad can look after them for her.

That, to me, is ludicrous. But, each to their own as they say! :rotfl:

I used to work in a boarding kennels and cattery which catered for 80+ days on a daily basis and 20+ cats. I was lucky in that those kennels were excellent, lovely clean runs (for both cats and dogs), dogs allowed out to exercise regularly. Lots of playtime. Socialising, etc. I know for a fact (as I was head Kennel/Cattery assistant!) that everything was kept in tip-top condition, clean and generally very nice. However, by the same token, I also used to work at a variety of Veterinary surgeries and volunteered for rescue centres before now too and I have seen other boarding kennels that didn't reach the high standard that the kennels I worked at. But ultimately, you should always go and "vet" a kennels before using them anyway. Basically, just go and ask to be shown around the entirety of the kennel environment. Ask about how often/how long the dogs are walked, what they're fed and when. Ask about insurance. Ask to see certificates. By law, certificates of insurance have to be displayed readily somewhere in a reception type environment. If you ask to see this and you don't get allowed, its simple, they're more than likely not insured so don't use them. Most places are spot-on. Its just the few that aren't. Don't get put off by the majority.

What you've got to remember also is that to work in a kennel environment you're almost always a keen animal lover. Lets face it, the pay is abysmal (lucky if its minimum wage!), the weather is often awful, you often get pounced on, scratched, bitten, etc. by unruly dogs (owners fault - nothing to do with the kennels).... so to do that work you've gotta love it. So thats one thing to always remember.