If you are planning a trip out of town and cannot take your dog with you, then you may be considering keeping it at a dog boarding facility while you are away. These boarding facilities offer dog owners a great service that can make having a pet more convenient. However, there are many steps you can take as a dog owner to make the stay away from home more enjoyable for your canine friend and also eliminate any last-minute problems some pet owners face when boarding their dogs for the first time.
Read on to learn three tips for ensuring a successful first-time stay at a dog boarding facility.
1. Take Your Dog With You When Checking Out Boarding Facilities
You will likely want to check out the dog boarding facilities in your area before you choose one for your dog to stay at to ensure the facility you choose is sanitary and equipped with staff members who really care about the pets under their care. However, if you do not take your dog with you when visiting these facilities, you will miss out on a great opportunity to see how your dog responds to the environment and staff members.
Call the facilities ahead of time to ensure your dog is welcome during the tour and allow your dog to help you pick the facility that is best for them.
2. Ask the Staff What Vaccines They Require
Even if you know that your dog is up-to-date on all routine vaccinations, like rabies and leptospirosis, be sure to call the dog boarding facility to ask them what vaccines they require dogs to have.
While not a routine vaccination, many dog boarding facilities require that dogs obtain the Bordetella vaccine. This vaccine protects your dog from the Bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria, which is the most common cause of kennel cough. An infection with this bacteria cannot only lead to an upper respiratory infection and a bad cough, but it can also lead to secondary infections that are even more hazardous to a dog's health.
3. Start With a Short Stay
If you plan to board your dog during a long vacation or work assignment away from home, then you should consider having your dog stay for just one night ahead of your main vacation to ensure they have a good first experience staying a night away from home. When you pick your dog up, they may be less likely to worry that you may never return when you check them in for another longer stay.
Follow these tips for a successful first-time stay at a dog boarding facility so you can feel better knowing that your dog is in good hands and enjoying the facility while you are away from home.
For more information, contact a boarding facility like Simply Posh Pets.
