If you’re planning for an out-of-town trip for a couple of days and your loyal canine friend has to stay behind, you’re going to be in need of dog boarding services. With the right dog boarding place, you can guarantee that your dog will be well taken care of, kept safe, and of course, made happy. Finding a facility that has all of your dog’s best interests at heart will be more than enough to give you some peace of mind while you’re away.
When it comes to dog sitters bundaberg has tons of reliable options that you can check out. Besides preparing for your appointment, you’ll also want to prepare your dog for their boarding experience to minimize their stress. Here are a few helpful tips to keep in mind to help you find the right place that will help your dog feel comfortable in their home away from home.
Booking Reservations Early
For most purposes, you would want to find an upscale dog boarding facility that would act as a pet hotel, with a comfortable bed and other amenities to simulate a more comforting environment
There are also other dog boarding kennels that act as doggy daycares, with fun activities your dog can take part in. Playtime with other dogs should always be supervised to reduce the risk of injury or the spread of disease.
Be sure to book your reservations to any of these boarding facilities ahead of time in order to get the best place possible for your budget, and to find a place that caters to all your doggy’s needs.
Dog’s Personal Preferences
Each dog is unique, so matching a boarding facility’s amenities with your dog’s needs will help to set them up for a successful stay. Dogs with separation anxiety need extra preparation before being boarded. Spending time at the new facility to get to know the staff can be very helpful. Choose a facility that allows trial visits and is willing to spend the extra time needed to help your dog feel more comfortable.
Consider whether your dog has the right temperament for staying at a boarding facility. If there are many dogs in daycare during the day at the facility, they will need to have good social skills. If your dog doesn’t enjoy the company of other dogs, look for a boarding facility that keeps the dogs separate from each other instead.
How much exercise does your pet require? Some facilities only have dog walking once daily for about half an hour, while others have more extensive facilities. If your dog is used to being free to roam around, half an hour a day may not be enough for your outgoing pet. Make sure your chosen boarding facility allows ample time for your dog to go for walks.
You should also analyze the immediate environment and determine whether it is suitable for your pet or not. At the end of the day, you want your pet to remain happy and healthy despite living temporarily in another facility, being under another person’s care.
Vaccinations and Prevention
Vaccinations for your dogs are one of the most cost-effective and safest ways to prevent diseases from spreading. Places where dogs are in close proximity to one another, such as a boarding facility, are at a higher risk of having an outbreak. Check your dog’s vaccination records or contact your veterinarian to make sure they are current and up-to-date with their vaccinations.
Also, take note that any reputable boarding facility will require all of its dogs to be current on many vaccines. An example of this is the DAPP or DHPP vaccine. This combination vaccine protects dogs against Distemper, Adenovirus type 1 (Hepatitis), Adenovirus type 2 (respiratory), Parainfluenza, and Parvovirus.
Another important vaccine is the rabies vaccine. The rabies vaccine is mandated by state laws and required every 1 or 3 years, depending on your location. This goes the same for the Leptospirosis vaccine which helps protect dogs from Leptospirosis. This bacterial infection can destroy the kidneys and/or liver if left untreated.
The Bordetella vaccine, formerly called canine kennel cough is also very important when your dog is being boarded or attends doggie daycare. This goes the same for the Canine influenza virus, which is also called the dog flu vaccine. For dogs that are often around other dogs (such as at boarding kennels, dog shows, or in a daycare, protecting them against canine influenza is very important.
All year round parasite prevention is important as well for your dog. You don’t want your dog bringing home any fleas or ticks or getting diseases these parasites transmit. Ensure that your dog is on a prevention program that covers them for external parasites like fleas and ticks, as well as internal parasites like heartworm and intestinal worms. A good boarding place will require all of the animals in their care to be on continuous parasite prevention.
Emergency Food or Snacks
Some pets have special diets and restrictions, while some are just simply picky eaters. Nevertheless, it’s vital to ensure that your pets would have an ample supply of their favorite food with them during their little staycation. A common attitude amongst dogs would be to refuse to eat unfamiliar food, or food they haven’t tried out yet.
It would be also important to let the dog boarding place’s staff know of any types of food which would upset your doggie’s stomach, or if they are allergic to any food types. Your dog getting sick due to the food they’re fed while you are away would be great stress for both you and your dog.
Something Familiar
Besides food, dogs are often also choosy about their immediate environment, especially where they tend to sleep and rest. Whenever they would be forced to stay in an unfamiliar or strange environment, their survival instincts kick in and they would naturally turn wary, anxious, and sometimes even hostile.
In order to get them through this as best as possible, try to bring along their favorite chew toy, stuffed toy, blanket, or any item they’re fond of playing around with and sleeping with. A familiar scent that is found in your home is a very effective and powerful tool to make your dog feel at home in the dog boarding place.
Conclusion
The best way to screen a boarding facility is to take a tour and ask about their dog boarding requirements. At a minimum, a boarding kennel should have prevention and emergency measures in place, including requiring up-to-date vaccinations and continuous parasite prevention, having emergency veterinary care readily available or a plan in place to get emergency care for any pets that need it, and having a disaster plan in case of environmental emergencies.
Dogs should also always have access to proper sanitation, safety, and comfort through the availability of appropriate and effective cleaning products, kennels designed to prevent injury and decrease stress, and making sure there is enough space for dogs to eliminate away from their food, water, and bedding.
Lastly, your dog must be provided some form of positive social interaction and enough physical exercise from qualified staff trained in proper animal care and handling.
