Pat Storer - Boarding Your Dog: How to Make Your Dogs Stay Happy, Comfortable, and Safe

How to Make Your Dogs Stay
Happy, Comfortable, and Safe

Pat Storer

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Edited by Jeanee Ledoux and Nancy Ringer

Cover design by Carol J. Jessop (Black Trout Design)

Illustrations by Rick Daskam, except by Jeffrey Domm

Text production by Nick Noyes

Copyright 2000 by Storey Communications, Inc.

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Printed in the United States

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Storer, Pat.

Boarding your dog / Pat Storer.

p. cm.(A Storey country wisdom bulletin; A-268)

ISBN 1-58017-358-6 (pbk. : alk. paper)

1. Kennels. 2. Dogs. I. Title, II. Series,

SF428.S76 2000

636.70831dc21

00-052216

When you decide to include a dog as part of your family, you accept the responsibility for his mental and physical well-being. This responsibility includes making arrangements for his care when you are away from home. When you leave home, you often may be able to take the dog with you, but there will be times when it is not appropriate for your pet to accompany you. Perhaps youre going on vacation or attending an out-of-town wedding or funeral. Perhaps you are moving and need someone to care for your pet while you find a suitable new home. Maybe you will be visiting someone who is allergic to dogs.

These are just a few of the thousands of forseeable and unforseeable situations that leave you wondering, What on earth am I going to do with the dog?

The answer is that youre going to have to board him. If youve done your homework and found a good kennel that you and your dog like, you wont ever have to feel guilty or worried about leaving your canine friend behind. Your dog will feel like hes visiting friends; you will rest secure knowing that your dog is being looked after by experienced and kind people.

Your dogs personality and temperament will be important factors in determining what type of accommodation you should choose for him. For example, if your dog loves water, you may want to board him at a kennel that offers a wading pool for playtime. If your dog becomes anxious around other dogs, he may fare better with a professional pet sitter. If your dog is hostile toward strangers, however, a neighbor or family member may be a better caretaker. This bulletin will guide you through the process of making arrangements that best meet your standards and the needs of your dog.

As the dogs owner and master, you have the power to make her time away from you a fun, trouble-free experience. Giving your dog basic training, exposing her to a variety of social situations, teaching her structured games that other humans can play with her, and preparing a thorough list of her dietary, medical, and other requirements will make your absence bearable for both the caretaker and your canine companion.

Crate training is a method of teaching your dog to accept and enjoy being in a dog crate, where she can rest and relax in private. Crates are used by many dog owners, especially those who travel frequently. If your dog has been properly crate trained, she considers her crate her very own room. In many instances, the crate can go with her to the kennel or other boarding place; it will give her security while you are away. The crate also helps you feel more at ease when leaving your dog because you are confident that she will feel at home, secure, and comfortable.

A crate-trained dog feels right at home in the crate, no matter where the crate may be.

For More Information

Training your dog to accept a crate is thoroughly covered in the Storey Country Wisdom Bulletin Crate Training Your Dog for Home and Travel, by Pat Storer.

Dogs that have at least basic obedience training will accept the leadership of a substitute caretaker more easily than dogs that have had no training at all. Your caretaker also will find it easier to get a message across to your dog if she responds to basic commands.

If he is trained in basic obedience, your dog will be able to adjust quickly to the leadership of substitute caretakers at the kennel.

Make an effort to introduce your dog to other pets, people, and places. If your dog is well socialized, he will be more comfortable with any changes that must be made because of your absence. If you are dropping off your dog at an unfamiliar kennel, he will be better able to cope and adapt if he has had frequent car trips, opportunities to play with other dogs in a park, visits to neighbors and friends homes, and so on.

10 Words Your Dog Should Know

1. Her name Used to get the dogs attention, often in conjunction with other commands.

2. Sit Change from a standing to a sitting position.

3. Stay Remain there, usually 1 or 2 minutes.

4. Heel Walk beside me.

5. Okay Permission to act, such as pass through a door or take a treat.

6. No Stop what you are doing (or thinking about doing).

7. Kennel Go into your crate, kennel, or the car.

8. Come Come to me.

9. Down Change from a sitting to a lying-down position.

10. Stop Stop what you are doing and stay where you are. This command is particularly helpful if the dog is in danger.

If your dog is well socialized, hes less likely to be upset by the presence of other dogs at the kennel.

Teach your dog games of fetch, Frisbee, hide-and-seek, and so on. Your dogs caretaker will find bonding with your pet much easier if the dog enjoys playing structured games. Tell the caretaker which pastimes are your dogs favorites, and indicate dos and donts. For example, if your dog is aggressive toward other dogs, ask the caretaker to keep the games one-on-one, and not to share the fun with other dogs.