Trust your instincts... (Boarding Kennels in general)

Member Name: rolletrog

Product:	Boarding Kennels in general
Date:	20/02/09 (287 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Pig's secure - probably better than letting her fend for herself as she's rubbish with a can opener

Disadvantages: So many if you pick the wrong one.

~~*~~*~~ Boarding Kennels & Catteries ~~*~~*~~

When it comes to choosing your holiday, the hotel itself features pretty heavily it has to be said. You wouldn't just pick the one nearest to the airport or go for the cheapest and hope for the best. So why is it that when it comes to man's best friend, many people are willing to use the two aforementioned options solely in choosing their boarding kennels?

Having worked in many different kennels (I don't get sacked frequently, I just move around, a lot) I've seen a few excellent kennels and some with very worrying procedures. I didn't last long at The Worst Kennels in the World, Ever, as I couldn't keep my mouth shut but it's not the fact that I had to find a new job that worries me the most - it's that none of the lovely paying public had any idea. With this in mind, I'm penning this piece to help all you lovely doggy and catty (I'm not using the other word that describes a feline as it'll make all the immature readers snigger and my comments will be merely full of innuendos) owners make an informed decision before the dreaded summer holidays.

I'll put a handy checklist at the end so if you value your precious time and feel like skipping the big fat chunk in the middle, go for it (to be honest, it's long and dull but at least it's comprehensive).

~~ Don't book until you look. ~~

To some of you this may sound like common sense but my parents did it once - after a last minute holiday booking, the girls were found to be homeless - the usual kennels were full and we were forced to go where the space was. When we dropped them off, the woman wouldn't let us see where they were going and didn't even ask about their food. If there had been a choice we'd have legged it but when you're leaving on the annual trip up north with three kids and a Volvo crammed full of luggage (including a very illegal roof box that your dad's made and that would one day fall apart on the M6 emptying toilet roll everywhere (he always packed a lot of toilet roll (perhaps it was something to do with 3 boys and a portaloo, anyway...))) you've really just got to dump the precious pooches and go. See? It's very easy to do.
Some boarding places have definite viewing hours which somewhat disturbs me. Yes, I understand that the dogs do need their quiet time but to be fair, the staff should be milling around the place anyway so an extra person looking around should make no odds. One kennel I know has a 3 hour quiet period in the middle of the day - this is because the local council has told them to keep quiet as they're in a fairly residential area. The kennels are quiet but it's worrying that during those 3 hours, the animals are not seen at all - lord knows what the little monkeys could be up to (one little dog managed to get his head stuck in a hole in his blanket and tangle himself up completely - not only was he very distressed when finally somebody spotted him after 4 o'clock, but it could have had a very different ending). Ask yourself why a business has definite viewing hours - is it because they are cleaning until a certain time and then the marauding public is let in? Is it because they only want you to see it in a good light? If it's a decent enough place then even whilst a dog's kennel is being cleaned, there should be adequate temporary accommodation for that animal and there should therefore be nothing to hide - one place I worked at just let the dog out to run around whilst the kennel was mopped and another had a holding pen open to the elements - obviously not something you'd like the general public to see. Consequently these two kennels had very specific opening hours.

~~What to look for ~~

Go with your instinct - or even better, your dog's instinct. If they allow Fido to have a look, see how the staff react to him. I took baby Pig to a kennels to have a look and to get prices and they announced that I could look at 3 o'clock so I asked how much my 3 month old choc lab would cost for a night and that she was in the car to have a look too. The fat bird (if most of the staff are 'big-boned' then the dogs are more than likely not walked (never trust a thin chef)) behind the desk didn't bat an eyelid and said Pig would have to wait in the car as she couldn't go into the kennels (erm, isn't that where the dogs go?). Big worry. Firstly, if I knew a puppy was lurking in the vicinity I'd have it straight in for a cuddle and a big fuss to let it know that kennels is FUN. Secondly, why couldn't Pig have a look? All the dogs were in their kennels and for me, it was important to gauge Pig's reaction - she'd always been in kennels because I'd worked in them but due to moving 50 miles away from her usual holiday home, I had to find a new one and I wanted her feelings on the place. Although I don't agree with a lot of this kennels' practices, I ended up working there and everyday Pig comes with me - she hates it - her little brakes go on even though she's only got to stay for 3 and a half hours and she sits quietly in the corner (very unusual for the Pig - she's so unnerved by the place that she even turned down a Jumbone (anyone who's ever met a Labrador will know that food is more important than life itself to them)). My instincts were right and so would hers have been. I will never leave her there overnight as the procedures are fairly pants - more on that later.

What's it smell of? If the place smells like a litter tray or there's the overwhelming smell of bleach then either they're not cleaning properly or they're masking the smell. Obviously, if you're being shown round during cleaning time then there will be a pong - dog's are filthy little buggers overnight. However, if its all been supposedly cleaned, then something's not working. Good kennels will use Trigene to clean which generally has a soapy smell and kills many germs such as Kennel Cough which bleach cannot do. The second thing to bear in mind when sniffing the air whilst you walk round is how many dogs have mess in their kennel with them. The Good Kennels (GK) I worked at picked up poop or mopped whenever it was spotted - that's because we were always around the dogs and also because mess can be spread around very easily (onto bedding etc) or even eaten. At the current kennels (BK), mess is cleaned up first thing in the morning and last thing at night - if an animal messes at 10.00, they've got to live with it until 6.00 - the kennel walls are filthy and many more dogs than I ever saw in GK regularly eat it (I pick it up if I see it but don't tell the boss).

How big are the Kennels/Pens? Is there enough room for your Great Dane to turn around - there certainly isn't where I work now. Is there enough room in the kennels for the dog to move when the bed and water bowl are in it too? How much space does your cat have when the litter tray and bed are with it? If you don't think there's enough room then don't use it - your pet has to be in there for 2 weeks solid - can they even stretch out? If you're boarding more than one animal, check there's enough room for the two of them to share - try and imagine the two of them in the same space or ask if they have larger or double kennels or consider them going separately as the price is usually not too different. Most kennels and catteries should have a separate run attached to the kennel but separated by a moving hatch or door - usually these are open to the air so the animal can do their business away from their sleeping area. Check on the kennels policy for these areas - GK let the dogs have access at all times to their runs so they were able to either sleep or bounce around when they pleased. BK, however, shuts the dogs into the run for 1 ½ hour periods on the pretence that it's 'exercise time' and during this time there's no access to their water or bed - it infuriates me as there's diabetic and arthritic dogs that need the aforementioned items, yet they are prevented from getting to even these most basic necessities. Catteries generally use cat litter or sawdust; if you've a long haired cat, make sure they have litter available as your cat will end up in a right mess if not - check how often they change the trays too.

Kennel staff are not available 24/7 so be aware that most animals will not be seen from between 10pm when usually the owner makes last minute checks, and 8am the next morning. If you're particularly worried, then maybe kennels aren't for you - you could think about someone who either stays in your home, or takes the animal into their own home. There are alternatives available.

~~ Walks for the dogs or playtime for the cats ~~

Walking and playing with the animals isn't merely exercise for your pets; it's socialising too. Imagine if your dog's only attention is being taken from your inside kennel to your outside run in the morning and back again in the evening (or if the kennel hands are pushed for time - just being called in or out (another reason Pig won't be staying at BK). Dogs that are nervous never get to experience fun or attention - this has an impact on their appetite and/or their behaviour. Some dogs are naturally scared of kennels but at GK there was only one dog who never got used to the place and we really tried - she was aggressive at the start but through massive amounts of coaching we got her out and after many visits she started wagging her tail. She still had her moments usually on the first few days of her stay but at least she eventually got walked. It was a massive achievement but imagine if she'd gone to BK?! There are a number of dogs at BK that are only called through the hatch and are never touched - now I'm not saying that all of these would have been walked successfully at GK but at least we'd have tried. Thus, it is very important that 'walking' is high on your list of questions. Equally, playtime with cats is important as they begin to trust the environment and eat better. Cats are fickle creatures, they're not easily led - you can't merely kid them with a bit of chicken but mostly they like being talked to or played with - just sitting with them and allowing them the opportunity for them to come to you is very important - one thing to look for is a seat somewhere in the cattery area - BK has a little stool in with every cat which is nice as I sit there and either brush them or just have a random conversation with them.
NB: Ask where dogs are walked - BK says they walk them twice a day but what they mean is that they get walked down the corridor, around a corner and put in a run. Not exactly a cross-country run.

~~ Grub ~~

Just because little Pickles tucks in happily to her Felix at home, doesn't necessarily mean she'll eagerly gobble up whatever offerings the cattery presents her with. Dogs and cats are different in kennels. For one, they're probably used to the run of the house and not being confined to one little pen. Cats that are used to only being indoors generally fair better in catteries - they don't miss the outdoor escapism. If your pet's on a special diet or is extremely fussy, take your own food - you're unlikely to get a discount but at least the kennels are prepared. Ask if they have anything extra should your animal not eat such as tuna, chicken, sardines, gravy etc all of which GK had. If you're not taking your own food, check what the animals are fed on - it's unlikely to be high quality expensive kibble - but bear in mind the change over period from your food to theirs and whether your animal's stomach will cope with it combined with the stress of their visit.

Some dogs easily lose weight in kennels - staffys, weimaraners, and boxers in particular can end up looking like little skeletons - a good kennel will change the food accordingly or if you know your dog has a high metabolism, then make sure you provide enough food for the increased portions. Similarly, if you've a little Pig like me, tell the kennels that the Porkster piles on the pounds if she's given too much and even provide them with a measuring cup. Kennels usually feed once a day as standard - if your little ones have always had a brekky and a din-dins then ask the kennels if they do this (GK did and BK do) as keeping to their usual routine will help them settle in. Ask what treats, if any are given - if yours has an allergy to anything; make sure they put a sign on the kennel/pen door so that yours is bypassed when they give out the tasty morsels.

~~ Medication ~~

Some kennels charge for administering medication so check that before you turn up with your bag of tablets. If your animal needs regular insulin or other injections, make sure that they're able to do this, for example; if your pet usually gets their injection at 7am and 7pm because of the 12 hour interval then you may need to change this to 8am and 8pm due to the kennels opening hours - you can gradually change the times before your visit. Similarly, if your pet always has their tablets in a piece of cheese or ham, then supply it for familiarity - it'll make everyone's lives a lot easier. Tell them what the tablets are for too so that the kennels are aware of what symptoms to look out for should anything go wrong. Make sure they know which vets you are with - they will try and use your own vet if possible, but out of hours they will probably use their own.

~~Vaccinations ~~

All kennels are required to see an up to date vaccination card when checking your pet in, however, a few are now accepting dogs that can prove they have the correct levels of vaccination within their system even if they're out of date - check with the kennels and your vet too if you don't vaccinate your pet regularly. Some kennels also require Kennel Cough to be up-to-date so check this too - Kennel Cough is not included in your annual vaccinations and will have a different sticker or signature on the vaccination card. I would be more inclined to trust a kennels that requires this as even though Kennel Cough can be caught by dogs that have taken the precaution, it shows a level of understanding by the staff and that they're trying to prevent it spreading to the best of their abilities (it's too long winded to explain how this works - I can't be bothered and you would be bored).

~~ Book early. ~~

The best kennels I've worked at used to book for summer the year before. Now, it was good but it wasn't the best nor did it have wonderfully luxurious apartments. It was simply good and everyone knew it. The cancellation list for holiday periods was regularly long enough to fill the kennels twice over and this was no small business - there were over 90 kennels and 40 cat pens. There's a reason for my ramblings - if you ring up for say, New Years Eve the day before and there's space available, be very concerned. BK places random dogs together and even keeps them in the grooming cages overnight; the overbooked cats are kept in their carriers - it disgusts me and is purely down to greed.

If possible, book your animal in for a long weekend prior to going away properly - this way you'll gauge how well they'll do in the long run. A lot of animals refuse to eat at first but by the third day, the kennels will have a fair assessment of how they're going to do - they may suggest you bring your pet's own bedding or toys for comfort or that you don't as they were fine without them, either way your mind will be put at rest if they've had a successful stay before. One thing to bear in mind when taking your first look around is to notice whether the kennels are using vet bedding (it looks like a cosy rug type sheep wool thing), random blankets or people's own bedding - if there are a lot of nice looking blankets and toys on the top of the kennels, then the animals are probably not allowed them even though the owner is not aware of this (BK takes the items from the owner and says the animals can have them but in reality it's hard work to keep a track of whose blanket is whose after its been in the wash and toys and bedding can get spoilt so BK takes no chances, however, GK used to always give the pets their belongings and occasionally something was spoilt but we never really had a problem as we made the owners aware that they may get a slightly browner version of their blanket back!).

~~ And Finally ~~

Ask around - word of mouth is usually a good indicator for a great or a terrible kennels. Vets are often affiliated with one particular kennels so ask them which is a good one.

~ Kennels Checklist ~

Space
Smell
Walks
Waggy bums
Vaccinations
Medication
Food
Opening hours

~ Cattery Checklist ~

Space
Smell
Playtime
Vaccinations
Medication
Food
Opening hours

There's no point in me putting prices on here as they vary so greatly in different areas and between different breeds. Just because a place is expensive doesn't necessarily mean it's fantastic and sometimes the smaller, family run ones are cheaper and more fun because they do it merely for fun and not for profit. If you want a heads up on the good, the bad and the ugly kennels in most of Lancashire then drop me a message and I'll let you in on the gossip!

If you've reached this point and you're still alive, well done. I'll send you a tasty gravy bone in the post.

Caroline & Doughnut
Feb 2009

Both needing a decent holiday.

Summary: Trust your instincts