If you plan on ever going out of town and you have a dog, you should look for a kennel to board your dog at before you need to use the service. You should not take your dog to the first kennel that you find listed online or in your phone book. Instead, you should visit multiple kennels in order to find the one that is right for your dog. Here are a few things you need to keep an eye out for when you visit potential kennels for your dog:
Make Sure All Areas Of The Kennel Look Clean
First off, the kennel should be clean when you walk in. Make sure you see all areas of the kennel. Pay attention to how clean the floors are. Look in the corners and the areas one doesn't inspect that often. The entire area should be clean and sanitary. The facility should also smell clean and fresh, and should not smell like urine or dog feces.
Look in the water dishes and pay attention to how clean the water looks. It should not be cloudy or look like it has been sitting in there for a long time. Pay attention to the food dishes; there should not be any bugs or insects around them.
Take Note Of The Temperature
Pay attention to how the inside of the kennel feels. Ideally, it should be kept at about room temperature. You don't want to leave your dog in a sweltering hot and stuffy kennel, nor should you leave them in one that is freezing. Try to find a kennel that replicates, as closely as possible, the temperature of your home.
Make Sure There Is An Outdoor Running Area
You don't want your dog to be inside a cage the entire time you are gone. You want your dog to have space to run, jump, play and exercise. Make sure that any kennel you are interested in hiring has a large outdoor area for your dog to play in.
Make Sure The Outdoor Running Area Is Clean & Secure
Having an outdoor play area is not enough; it also needs to be clean and secure. For maximum cleanness, the outdoor running area should be made of either concrete or gravel. It should also have really high fences so your dog can't jump out and run away. The fences should also be dug into the ground at least a foot, so your dog can't dig its way out either.
Finally, make sure that you trust your gut instinct. If you don't feel right about a kennel, don't board your dog there. Choose a kennel that looked, smelled and felt clean and had a friendly, welcoming staff who you felt comfortable around.
Start looking for the right place for your dog by visiting kennels in your area, such as Daily Wag.
