Choosing A Dog Boarding Facility

Sep 13, 2024

Before committing to a boarding facility, is there an alternative?

Consider if a boarding facility is right for your companion animal: Is your animal likely to cope in a boarding facility environment (e.g., do they get stressed by change or other animals)? If it is likely that they will find the boarding facility environment stressful, consider whether another option (e.g., a trusted and reputable pet sitter who will come and stay at your home with your animal) may be a better option for your companion animal.

Identification: Make sure that your animal is registered with your council, microchipped, tagged, and your details are up to date so that you can be contacted if they accidentally become lost.

Health check: Make sure your animal has had a recent health check so any issues can be adequately managed while they are in boarding, and they are in the best shape possible to cope with any associated stress.

Here are some key factors to consider when selecting a boarding facility:

Research and Reviews

Don’t trust the marketing alone
Read Reviews: Check online reviews on platforms like Google, Yelp, or social media to see what other pet owners have experienced.
Ask for Recommendations: Get suggestions from friends, family, online community groups, or your veterinarian.

Visit the Facility

Tour the Facility: A good facility will allow you to tour the premises. They are likely to have set visitor times. Check the cleanliness, safety measures, and overall environment. If you are refused to inspect the facility during their designated visiting times, this is a red flag.
Observe the Staff: Ensure that the staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely care for the animals.
Incident History: Ask if they’ve had any animals escape their facility in the past. Have there been any deaths?

Safety and Cleanliness

Clean Environment: The facility should be clean, odour-free, and well-maintained.
Safety Measures: Look for secure fencing, proper ventilation, and emergency protocols.

Check Accommodation

Comfortable Kennels: The kennels should be spacious, clean, and comfortable. Ask if your dog will have their own space or if they’ll be sharing.
Sleeping Arrangements: Check if bedding is provided or if you can bring your dog’s bed or blanket for comfort.
Partitions: Are there block-out partitions between the kennels so there is an area where dogs cannot see each other through fencing between kennels. It is essential for quality sleep and rest that the kennel/sleeping area is partially partitioned to block sight between kennels.
Fencing: Is the fencing material sufficient? Strength, Bottom and top bars to prevent mesh being pulled to escape or dog attacks. Is there a roof to prevent climbing to escape?
Temperature & Ventilation: Is there sufficient ventilation and shade and heat mitigation strategies in hot climates? Are staff trained in identifying the signs of heatstroke?
Water: Do water containers have hooks to prevent falling over? Is there sufficient clean water sources?
Solo/Family Kennels or Stacking? “Dog stacking” is a common practice at busy times in the pet resort business where multiple dogs from different homes are put in the same accommodation area together. This can be a recipe for disaster.
Emergency kennel(s) Does the facility always keep an accommodation area free/empty away from the main area for emergency separations, for a dog that’s not coping or for unplanned longer stays due to owner not returning when expected?

Supervision

How many hours per day is the facility staffed? What times are the dogs fed, checked and put to bed for the evening?
Weekends & Public Holidays? What are the staffed hours weekends and Public Holidays?

Exercise and Playtime

Exercise Schedule: Find out how often and where your dog will be exercised and if they will get playtime with other dogs.
Supervised Play: Ensure that playtime is supervised to prevent any aggressive behaviour or accidents.
Enrichment: Does the facility offer any enrichment activities / equipment?

Barking

Anti-Bark Collars: On inspection, observe if any dogs are wearing barking collars (electrocution/vibration/citronella spray).
Barking Reduction Methods: Ask what strategies the facility uses to reduce barking if any. If they say they use any aversive equipment such as barking collars – move on!

Health and Vaccination Requirements

Vaccination Requirements: The facility should require proof of vaccinations or positive titer testing certificate to prevent the spread of diseases.
Health Checks: Ask about their policies for handling illness or emergencies, including out of hours. Ask them when and how often the animals are given a basic health check by staff?

Feeding and Medication

Dietary Needs: Make sure they can accommodate your dog’s feeding schedule and dietary needs. You may need to bring your dog’s food.
Medication Administration: If your dog requires medication or supplements, confirm that the staff is trained to administer it correctly.

Staff-to-Dog Ratio

Adequate Staffing: A lower staff-to-dog ratio ensures your pet will get more individual attention and care.

Trial Run

Short Stay First: Consider a short stay or day boarding to see how your dog adapts to the environment before committing to a longer stay.

Insurance and Licensing

Licensed Facility: Ensure the facility is licensed and meets local regulations.
Insurance Coverage: Ask if the facility has liability insurance in case of accidents or injuries.

Rates and Additional Services

Understand the Costs: Ask about daily rates, additional fees for extra services, and what’s included in the price.

Emergency Protocols

Veterinary Access: Confirm that the facility has a relationship with a local vet or emergency services.
Emergency Contacts: Make sure they have your contact information and a plan in case of emergencies.