At some point in your pet’s life, you’re going to end up leaving them for a period of time. Maybe it’ll be for a vacation or a work trip, but there will come a time when you need to start thinking about finding your pet a boarding facility where he can be cared for while you’re away. And while we typically try to find helpful friends who are willing to pet-sit for us for brief absences, a boarding facility may be your only option for longer trips.
Boarding facilities can be a great resource for dog owners, but finding the right boarding facility for your dog and preparing your pet for that boarding facility can be a little challenging. At Wapiti, we’re always looking for ways to make the lives of pet owners easier. So here are our tips for finding the perfect boarding facility for your dog and getting him ready for his boarding visit.
How to Find a Boarding Facility
While googling “pet boarding facility” will undoubtedly provide you with thousands of results, how can you go about finding the right one for your pet? The answer comes through preparation. When it comes to finding a boarding facility for your pet, you’ll need to do a lot of prep work. Start by making a list of must-haves for your potential facility. The boarding facility’s website should have detailed information that will help you get started and weed out the winners.
Narrow your list down to three or four facilities, and then you can really start to dig in. Once you find your must-haves—such as daily report cards or video monitoring—select the facilities that meet those needs and start touring.
That’s right; you can tour boarding facilities. In fact, most boarding facilities make you and your pup visit before they allow you to leave your dog for a stay. While you’re scoping out the potential kennels, have some questions ready to ask yourself and the staff. Some suggestions include the following:
- Which features of my dog’s care are included in your daily rates?
- What is the cleaning schedule like for the facility?
- How knowledgeable is the staff on pet emergency care?
- How well maintained are the individual lodgings and group areas?
- What are the vaccination requirements for all dogs in residence?
- How often will my dog be taken outside?
- How much dog and human socialization will my dog receive?
These questions are just a starting point. Be sure to ask any questions related to specialized care your dog may need while in residence, such as medication administration or special room modifications. Once you have all of your questions answered and have visited all your potential sites, you’re ready to choose which facility will host your furry family member while you’re out of town.
Prepping for the Boarding Facility
Finding a boarding facility is only half the battle; you’re now faced with getting your dog ready to go. And we’re not just talking about the day of. There are a few steps you can take beforehand to make your pet’s stay at the boarding facility easier. The first is to prepare all information that your pet’s caretakers may need.
All boarding facilities will require you to fill out paperwork (prior to your dog’s arrival) that details relevant information like your name, address, emergency contact, vet contact, diet, medications, and so on. Don’t go light on this paperwork; the more detail you provide, the easier you pet’s stay will be.
Next, you may want to brush up on your pet’s behavior skills. Make sure that he hasn’t developed any potentially problematic habits recently that could make him a danger to himself or other dogs. While you may not have time to correct these issues, you’ll have ample time to inform the boarding facility of these changes so that they can keep all the dogs in their care healthy, happy, and safe.
Lastly, you may want to consider giving your pet’s health a boost before you go. Boarding facilities, while convenient, can be a breeding ground for all kinds of germs and diseases. Your dog will be interacting with many other pups while in residence, and you can never be 100% sure that those dogs aren’t carrying something. It only takes one infected dog to spread common ailments like respiratory congestion. Luckily, Wapiti makes several supplements—such as our Chest Formula—that can help to keep your pet healthy while boarding. With powerful, natural ingredients, our dog supplements can help your pet to have a healthy, positive experience while in boarding.
Make Boarding a Breeze With Wapiti
Boarding your dog doesn’t need to be an overwhelming task. And with Wapiti Chest Formula and other helpful supplements, you can make sure that your pet comes home as healthy as he left. While it’s never fun to leave your furry friend behind, boarding is a great solution for those looking for a way to care for their dogs while out of town. Best of luck! And be sure to call or message us if you need more information or advice on boarding your canine. We’re always here to help.
