Helpful Information For First Time Boarders.

MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS EARLY

Most kennels are booked up on holidays and during vacation times. If you wait until the last minute

to make your reservations, you may be disappointed. As you make your reservations, verify those

items which you should bring with you to the kennel (immunization records, special food, medication,

bedding, and toys). Make arrangements for any special services that you wish to have performed such as a bath on pick-up day. As you make your reservations, find out what type of payment arrangements are acceptable (credit cards, personal checks, money orders).

PREPARE YOUR PET FOR BOARDING

Remember that pets, like people, usually appreciate a vacation in new surroundings with new friends.

Dogs, once they become familiar with their new surroundings, have a marvelous, exciting time,

almost like kids at summer camp. (If your dog has never been boarded before, you might consider

short, overnight stays at the kennel prior to an extended boarding stay to help him or her get used to

boarding. Every time you return your dog is less likely to be affected by "separation anxiety" and can

enjoy boarding more.)

As a rule, kittens take to boarding easily and have a wonderful time. Adult cats usually display a very

nonchalant attitude towards boarding and prefer to sit quietly and observe the daily kennel routine.

They don’t seem inclined to make new feline friends or participate in group play, but seem content to

rest, eat, make friends with the help and purr.

Don’t overfeed your pet right before going to the kennel. The extra food is not really necessary and

the result might be an upset stomach.

Finally, because pets sense and reflect our emotions, DO NOT allow any member of the family to

stage an emotional ‘farewell’ scene. Your pets can be made to feel unnecessarily anxious about the

kennel visit if they are subjected to this kind of dramatic display.

CHECK IN DURING BUSINESS HOURS

Bring all agreed upon medications, etc. Allow enough time in the kennel office to fill out the necessary paperwork. The kennel needs to know such things as: name, address, phone number, return date, additional services requested, where you can be reached in case of an emergency, the name of a local contact, your veterinarian’s name and phone number, special feeding instructions (if any), medication instructions, etc. If your pet has any special problems which are not covered on the check-in forms, such as fear of thunder, epilepsy, or deafness, point them out to your kennel operator.

All of this information helps your kennel take better care of your pet, especially if there is any type of

emergency requiring special action. (And this is what professional care is all about. Anyone can feed

your pet, as long as nothing goes wrong. But what you want for your pet is supervision by someone

who can assess and respond properly to emergencies).

Don’t be surprised if your kennel operator asks you to leave your dog in the kennel office, rather than

allowing you to place your dog in his run. This is done so that your dog will see you leave and will

realize that you have entrusted him or her to the care of the kennel operator. It also eliminates the possibility of your dog getting the erroneous impression that you are placing him in the run to "guard" it. When dogs get that impression, they sometimes become aggressive. (This same response often happens at home when house sitters try to enter your home during your absence.)

RELAX AND ENJOY YOUR TRIP

Remember that you are leaving your pet in the hands of capable professionals.

PICKING UP YOUR PET:

NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS

Attempting to conduct business after hours is not only an imposition of the kennel operator and a

possible disruption of sleep for the boarding animals, but can also result in a wasted trip to the kennel

(because all personnel may be working in the kennel area and unable to hear the doorbell). For these

reasons, many kennels assess an additional charge for after-hours pickup, to discourage the practice.

ASK ABOUT YOUR PET'S STAY

Did your pet adapt well to kennel food, routine and environment? Did he or she display any unusual

behavior or require any special handling? This information will be entered on the kennel’s records, to

assist kennel personnel in caring for your pet during the next stay, but you should also be aware of it

in the event that you move or use the services of another kennel in the future.

DO NOT FEED OR WATER IMMEDIATELY

Do not feed or water your dog for at least four hours after returning home. Cats adapt to their return

home with the same easy acceptance with which they adapt to boarding, but dogs can become very

excited when you return. And, when dogs become excited, they tend to gulp food and water.

U n f o r t u n a t e l y, owners who allow their dogs unlimited access to either food or water immediately after returning home, frequently trigger vomiting and/or diarrhea. If your dog appears to be thirsty, provide a few ice cubes, rather than water. Let him or her calm down (about four hours) before offering food.

CONTACT YOUR KENNEL OPERATOR

Contact your kennel operator if you have any questions about your pet's behavior after returning

home. Sometimes pet owners become unnecessarily concerned about behavior, which is completely

normal. (For example, many dogs tend to sleep almost continuously for a day or two after returning

home. This is usually a result of being back in a relatively calm environment after the excitement of

the kennel). However, if you observe anything that appears to be out of the ordinary, contact your kennel operator to discuss your observations. They want you to understand the boarding process and your pet’s reaction to it, and will be happy to discuss any questions you might have.