Many dog owners will need to board their dog at some point in their lives. You could need board your dog frequently, the odd occasion while you’re away on holiday, travelling for business or other reasons. For most dog owners, it’s our goal to find someone who will care for our dog as much as we do.
If your dog hasn’t been boarded before, consider a short overnight stay as a trial before planning an extended stay. Even an afternoon of doggie day care can be a good test of how your dog will get on in a new and different environment
Whichever care option you’re looking to choose for your dog, here are 10 questions to ask when shortlisting other dog care providers for when you’re not around:
1.Can I visit your home set up and meet in person?
For many dogs, home boarding is the perfect alternative to kennels. If your dog prefers home comforts and needs a lot of human interaction, it’s the perfect solution.
Usually the number of dogs in a home environment is quite low, and some may only board a single dog at a time, which is ideal for those dogs who do not enjoy the company of other dogs. Once you have shortlisted a few providers, we suggest booking an appointment to go and see the premises and meet them in person. A good dog boarder should be happy to meet you and go through any questions you have as well as all necessary paperwork and arrangements. Most will offer a free consultation, with no obligation. This is an opportunity to make sure they are a good fit and to see how they interact with your dog.
2.Are you certified or a member of a professional organisation? And are you fully insured?
All those offering dog home boarding in the UK need a licence if they're operated as a commercial business, and the licensing documents should be available for you to view when you visit. All businesses are given a star rating according to how well they meet the standards of animal welfare. If a business has achieved a 4 or 5 star rating, they may qualify for a longer licence (2 or 3 years rather than one year). And of course, a 5 star rating shows potential customers that their business is reliable and responsible.
Insurance is a necessity to protect everybody – the dog boarder and any family members, your dog and the general public. If a dog boarder has no insurance, it would make me question whether they take safety as seriously as they should. Don’t forget they will be in possession of your dog for a prolonged period, and it is entirely reasonable to ask to see copies of their licence, insurance documents and certificates.
3.Do you have any repeat customer references?
Initially, ask for recommendations from family and friends whose dogs have previously used a home boarder. Google reviews are helpful, but it’s hard to beat a personal reference—somebody that's used the boarder without difficulty. If that isn’t possible, use a local community Facebook page or other social network/App to find personal referrals.
4.What immunisation requirements should my dog be expected to have?
A reputable and licenced boarder will ask you to provide an up-to-date veterinary vaccination record to show that your dog is up to date with all their current vaccinations. These vaccinations include canine parvovirus, canine distemper, infectious canine hepatitis (adenovirus), leptospirosis and other relevant diseases. Vaccination against other diseases such as kennel cough (bordetella bronchiseptica or canine parainfluenza virus) may also be required.
A vet certificate of a recent protective titre test may be accepted instead of a booster vaccination. The certificate must state that it is valid for the current period. It is up to the licence holder whether to accept such a certificate.
Primary vaccination courses must be completed at least 2 weeks before acceptance into boarding.
The Boarder will also ask that your dog is up to date with flea and worm treatment too. These are all requirements set out under their licensing.
5.How many dogs do you care for at one time? How much exercise do the dogs get? Where do they sleep?
This can vary due to the individual set up, however boarders usually have a low number of dogs at one time so they can offer a more personalised service. You’ll want to know how many walks your dog goes on and whether this is with other dogs, where they’ll sleep and spend their time. You’ll also want to know if they are ever left alone and if so, for how long – so make sure you ask and find out how the boarder operates.
6.What type of animal care education and training do you have?
It’s always a good question to ask because it will give you peace of mind to know your Dog Boarder has some level of qualification in animal care. Having the OFQUAL regulated Level 3 qualification covers everything aspect of the licensing requirement and more. Plus, with this qualification a dog boarder is showing any potential customers that they are the right person to be caring for your dog. It’s worth highlighting that the higher standard licence (4 or 5 star) for Dog Boarding asks for a qualified person to be on the premises during the day.
7.What happens in the event of an emergency and are you pet first aid trained?
A professional dog boarder should have the details of your dog's vet to go to in the event of an emergency. It is also worth asking if they have a relationship with a local vet practice that they could also use if yours was unavailable.
While it’s not mandatory to have, and you hope that it will never be needed, knowing that your dog boarder is trained in pet first aid gives you some assurance that they would be able to act quickly in the event of an accident or injury.
8.What do you take when you check your dog in for a stay?
Most reputable boarders will ask you to bring food for the duration of your dog’s stay and bedding (including a crate if this is what they are used to) as well as any medication they are on. It’s quite common for them to request that you don’t bring toys because they will provide plenty of enrichment activities and their aim is to avoid any issue with resource guarding special toys.
9.Is any interaction encouraged with other dogs? How well is this supervised?
If boarding as a group, there will be natural interaction on site with space to exercise and play. Whilst this is lots of fun, it’s important that the situation remains safe for all involved by ensuring the dogs all get along. It’s worth finding out how they determine each dog’s personality, what interactions your dog may have with others and, again, confirm that all interactions are supervised at all times. For dog boarders who have dogs from different homes, it’s important for them to have an understanding of Canine Body Language to ensure they are aware of how each dog is feeling and communicating with each other and the humans.
10.What is your cancellation policy?
Many boarders require a deposit to secure your dates with the balance paid prior to your dog’s stay. Many will charge a penalty for cancellations, which can be understandable if they’ve turned other bookings away so you’ll want to find this information and clarify when you need to pay when booking.
Click here to discover 10 Things to Ask a Dog Groomer Before You Hire Them.
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