First time boarding

[BuddysMom]

Buddy will be in the boarding kennel for the first time in October, for almost a whole week :cry:

I don't want him to feel abandoned, especially as he was a pound dog.

Are there any special things anyone can suggest doing to make it easier for him? I though about putting him in for a one night trial run, just so he knows I will come back for him ... is this silly?

[rotten_two]

yikes a whole week! you could take a blanket or toy with you to leave with him so he can have familiar smells. is it a kennel where he will play with other dogs each day or one of those we'll keep an eye on him in the crate and just take him out to pee? take some yummy treats (greenies, or whatever) so that the staff can give him treats just like at home.

[BuddysMom]

Thanks for the suggestions! He'll have his beddie. Greenies are a good idea because they take a bit of time to work on. The place is great, they give love and treats and let them out at least 5 times a day. He can go out with other dogs (our last dog could not because she was scrappy like me :lol: ) This is another time that I wish he had a sibling.

[rotten_two]

well if he's busy having fun hopefully he won't miss you much!

[BuddysMom]

I get it Mei! Thanks for the good advice. It may be harder on me than it is on him!

[CincoandDahlilasgirl]

BuddysMom napisał(a):

I get it Mei! Thanks for the good advice. It may be harder on me than it is on him!

I know it's so hard leaving our babies for that long :( we went to florida a few years back when we just had dahlila after the 1st day we missed her!. We also brought one of our slippers and some toys and her blankie bed :wink:

[JackieMaya]

The first time I had to leave Jackie and Maya at the kennel, I made the mistake of asking if I could go back to see where they were staying (after they had brought them back into the kennel). When they saw me, Maya started barking and Jackie started crying. Then of course I started crying. Jackie was the one I was worried about, since she had been at the pound. So after that, I just let them take the dogs back.

One time when I took them there, they took Maya back but Jackie didn't want to go. So I said "Jackie, I have to go to work now" and walked out of her line of sight. Then she walked right back there with them. LOL

The kennel I took them to feeds the dogs the same food that they get at home, and I always left a bag of their treats there too. You can bring toys for them and things that smell like you or their home, but if it's something that they could chew up, they might not let them take it back there (unless your dog never chews on things).

They'll be fine. It's always hard leaving your kids for the first time. My kids always had fun there, went to the bathroom when they were supposed to, ate when they were supposed to, and played. They always got straight As on their report cards!

[pyrless]

It will be okay, I promise. The beautiful thing is too, if you have to do this again in the future, they DO know you will be back for them.
Have you ever considered an in-house dog-sitter? Ours is wonderful, and costs the same if not less than the kennel. She stays overnights, takes care of the cat for free, waters plants, takes in the mail, etc. you can go to the Pet Sitters International website for references. Also, our dog sitter is bonded and insured and knows pet 1st aid and CPR...

[BuddysMom]

pyrless napisał(a):

It will be okay, I promise. The beautiful thing is too, if you have to do this again in the future, they DO know you will be back for them.
Have you ever considered an in-house dog-sitter? Ours is wonderful, and costs the same if not less than the kennel. She stays overnights, takes care of the cat for free, waters plants, takes in the mail, etc. you can go to the Pet Sitters International website for references. Also, our dog sitter is bonded and insured and knows pet 1st aid and CPR...

We are going to look into one for the kitty, but hadn't even thought of leaving B at home too. Something to think about! It's just that this kennel is SO wonderful.

[JackieMaya]

When I just had the two dogs, I used to take them to the kennel. It's a very nice kennel, but it was kind of hard on Jackie, even though she was with Maya.

Now that I have three dogs, I'm having a professional dog sitter come to the house 3 times a day to let them out, feed them, give them TLC when I go out of town. When I got back from my trip to Texas, the dogs were very happy to see me, of course, but I could see that they were all content and happy being in their own home. So that's what I'm doing from now on!