What Is Important For You When Boarding Your Dogs?

[Pheebs]

Lots of things! Obviously most importantly is the level of 'care' (broadly speaking) but a big one for us is someone who's familiar with giant breeds and the risk of things like bloat.

[OSoSwift]

I want to see obvious facilities for environmental enrichment. I don't need solid partitions, I'd rather my dogs get some stimulation by interacting with their neighbour. An appropriate number of grassed areas for the number of dogs boarding. 40 dogs and 1 area doesn't fill me with confidence.

I want to see a whiteboard with who gets fed what (implying the dogs get the right food), when I agisted horses this always put my mind at ease.

I want my dogs to have some natural sunlight in their runs and good ventilation. A partitioned shed wouldn't satisfy me. Genuine questions about my dogs personalities/likes/dislikes so hopefully they won't be treated like a number.

I would pay extra for all this, what's the point of wasting $4000 on a holiday if I spend the whole time wondering how they are.

Ultimately I'd love a webcam setup like the doggy day cares have!!

I am going to have the inside run with a solid partition and the outside part of the dog run without. That way they have a choice. IT also means that they can sleep on their bed and it not get pee'd on by the leg cocking dog next door, or be growled at by a resourse guarder when eating.

Yes to adequate exercise areas. Over time I will also make some even larger areas, but in the beginning I am working within some cost constraints as all areas are double fenced.

Yep to the Whiteboard - I have to be organised and certainly wouldn't want to feed a dog the wrong thing. I will also have a cage card on every run a container on each run to hold dog coats, leads etc any thing that is personal and not in with the dog at the time. Any required medication that can be held at room temp will also be there - I think not sure if to put it there or in the kitchen in a set number area near the whiteboard.

Yep and yep to natural sunlight and fresh air.

Most certainly want to know any likes or dislikes of the individual dogs so I can make sure they get positive interaction they enjoy

[Inevitablue]

I want to see obvious facilities for environmental enrichment. I don't need solid partitions, I'd rather my dogs get some stimulation by interacting with their neighbour. An appropriate number of grassed areas for the number of dogs boarding. 40 dogs and 1 area doesn't fill me with confidence.

I want to see a whiteboard with who gets fed what (implying the dogs get the right food), when I agisted horses this always put my mind at ease.

I want my dogs to have some natural sunlight in their runs and good ventilation. A partitioned shed wouldn't satisfy me. Genuine questions about my dogs personalities/likes/dislikes so hopefully they won't be treated like a number.

I would pay extra for all this, what's the point of wasting $4000 on a holiday if I spend the whole time wondering how they are.

Ultimately I'd love a webcam setup like the doggy day cares have!!

I am going to have the inside run with a solid partition and the outside part of the dog run without. That way they have a choice. IT also means that they can sleep on their bed and it not get pee'd on by the leg cocking dog next door, or be growled at by a resourse guarder when eating.

Yes to adequate exercise areas. Over time I will also make some even larger areas, but in the beginning I am working within some cost constraints as all areas are double fenced.

Yep to the Whiteboard - I have to be organised and certainly wouldn't want to feed a dog the wrong thing. I will also have a cage card on every run a container on each run to hold dog coats, leads etc any thing that is personal and not in with the dog at the time. Any required medication that can be held at room temp will also be there - I think not sure if to put it there or in the kitchen in a set number area near the whiteboard.

Yep and yep to natural sunlight and fresh air.

Most certainly want to know any likes or dislikes of the individual dogs so I can make sure they get positive interaction they enjoy

What about the webcam!! :laugh:

[OSoSwift]

Lots of things! Obviously most importantly is the level of 'care' (broadly speaking) but a big one for us is someone who's familiar with giant breeds and the risk of things like bloat.

Yes having had a dog with Bloat I am very aware of those issues, and a huge consideration myself when boarding my own dogs.

I am also making sure I get who the dogs normal vet is - not too much choice here so not hard, but also if the person does have any limits with what or how far they would go with treatment/cost. I would of course make absolutely every effort to contact them in the case of anything going wrong, but I would be happier knowing what they would like to have done if for any reason I couldn't get a hold of them.

[OSoSwift]

I want to see obvious facilities for environmental enrichment. I don't need solid partitions, I'd rather my dogs get some stimulation by interacting with their neighbour. An appropriate number of grassed areas for the number of dogs boarding. 40 dogs and 1 area doesn't fill me with confidence.

I want to see a whiteboard with who gets fed what (implying the dogs get the right food), when I agisted horses this always put my mind at ease.

I want my dogs to have some natural sunlight in their runs and good ventilation. A partitioned shed wouldn't satisfy me. Genuine questions about my dogs personalities/likes/dislikes so hopefully they won't be treated like a number.

I would pay extra for all this, what's the point of wasting $4000 on a holiday if I spend the whole time wondering how they are.

Ultimately I'd love a webcam setup like the doggy day cares have!!

I am going to have the inside run with a solid partition and the outside part of the dog run without. That way they have a choice. IT also means that they can sleep on their bed and it not get pee'd on by the leg cocking dog next door, or be growled at by a resourse guarder when eating.

Yes to adequate exercise areas. Over time I will also make some even larger areas, but in the beginning I am working within some cost constraints as all areas are double fenced.

Yep to the Whiteboard - I have to be organised and certainly wouldn't want to feed a dog the wrong thing. I will also have a cage card on every run a container on each run to hold dog coats, leads etc any thing that is personal and not in with the dog at the time. Any required medication that can be held at room temp will also be there - I think not sure if to put it there or in the kitchen in a set number area near the whiteboard.

Yep and yep to natural sunlight and fresh air.

Most certainly want to know any likes or dislikes of the individual dogs so I can make sure they get positive interaction they enjoy

What about the webcam!! :laugh:

HEhehe well webcam from here can be a tad frustrating and somehwat expensive and unreliable. So while it is on my likes list in the beginning it would be a no - but I would happily take photos and post them on a Facebook or webpage :)

[OSoSwift]

I do realise that I would never be able to please absolutely everyone on every point, but I will try :D

[cowanbree]

The main thing that is important to me is security. I have a breed renown for being runners and most kennel setups don't really allow for that. I would want 2 fences or gates between my dog and the outside world at all times. Eg if they are in the exercise area it shouldn't be the perimeter fence. I like to see hard springs on doors and gates so they can't be accidentally left open.

I also love kennels that separate by type. Not necessarily by size as some of the smaller terriers are very full on but in general smaller and older dogs don't enjoy stays beside big bouncy noisy dogs.

I prefer smaller kennels and I am prepared to pay more for them and I sometimes think kennel owners do too much for free. I have boarded one of mine that is very special needs and his care would required perhaps 2-3 times what any other dogs would, I wasn't charged for that even though I was quite happy to pay.

[Inevitablue]

The main thing that is important to me is security. I have a breed renown for being runners and most kennel setups don't really allow for that. I would want 2 fences or gates between my dog and the outside world at all times. Eg if they are in the exercise area it shouldn't be the perimeter fence. I like to see hard springs on doors and gates so they can't be accidentally left open.

I also love kennels that separate by type. Not necessarily by size as some of the smaller terriers are very full on but in general smaller and older dogs don't enjoy stays beside big bouncy noisy dogs.

I prefer smaller kennels and I am prepared to pay more for them and I sometimes think kennel owners do too much for free. I have boarded one of mine that is very special needs and his care would required perhaps 2-3 times what any other dogs would, I wasn't charged for that even though I was quite happy to pay.

What a great idea..... A geriatric area, for those that don't need the hive of energy the younger dogs bring

[OSoSwift]

The main thing that is important to me is security. I have a breed renown for being runners and most kennel setups don't really allow for that. I would want 2 fences or gates between my dog and the outside world at all times. Eg if they are in the exercise area it shouldn't be the perimeter fence. I like to see hard springs on doors and gates so they can't be accidentally left open.

I also love kennels that separate by type. Not necessarily by size as some of the smaller terriers are very full on but in general smaller and older dogs don't enjoy stays beside big bouncy noisy dogs.

I prefer smaller kennels and I am prepared to pay more for them and I sometimes think kennel owners do too much for free. I have boarded one of mine that is very special needs and his care would required perhaps 2-3 times what any other dogs would, I wasn't charged for that even though I was quite happy to pay.

Would think they would need to be seperated even in the runs had a solid partition between them??

Although I have already thought I wouldn't put a very soft dog next to a very loud say dog aggressive one.

Okay self closing springs - hadn't hought of that one so will add it.

Yes the design has two fences/gates between the dog and escape at all times.

I am also going to have one exercise yard with angled in wire around the top to stop any climbers - which I will ask on admission.

My friends Whippet is the guinea pig, she can climb better than a cat, so we put her in, peak around the corner and if she can't get out it is safe from climbers :)

Edited February 27, 2012 by OSoSwift

[OSoSwift]

The main thing that is important to me is security. I have a breed renown for being runners and most kennel setups don't really allow for that. I would want 2 fences or gates between my dog and the outside world at all times. Eg if they are in the exercise area it shouldn't be the perimeter fence. I like to see hard springs on doors and gates so they can't be accidentally left open.

I also love kennels that separate by type. Not necessarily by size as some of the smaller terriers are very full on but in general smaller and older dogs don't enjoy stays beside big bouncy noisy dogs.

I prefer smaller kennels and I am prepared to pay more for them and I sometimes think kennel owners do too much for free. I have boarded one of mine that is very special needs and his care would required perhaps 2-3 times what any other dogs would, I wasn't charged for that even though I was quite happy to pay.

What a great idea..... A geriatric area, for those that don't need the hive of energy the younger dogs bring

Yes it is a great idea :)

I love having this fountain of knowledge and idea at my fingertips

[iBoz]

I have to board my dog mid-year for 2 weeks so I've been looking them up lately and I must say that your planned kennel sounds fab. :-)

All my top things are:

- that the dog will be comfortable e.g air-con + heating, comfy beds

- that the staff actually care about the dog (I think the report card thing sounds cool)

- that it is safe and they won't get out, get an injury/illness

When we boarded ours for a couple of days last year they put him in the 'quiet dog area'. It was all different sized dogs (e.g. there was also a greyhound and a super old smally fluffy dog in there) but they were just in a separate sort of area from all the other dogs. You could still hear the barking a bit but nowhere near as loud. I was happy with that place but they don't have heating/cooling hence why I am sussing out my options.

When I called another kennel recently and mentioned the 'quiet dog area', they reacted like it was a bit of a nutter idea. So, even though that's not a total definite for me (kind of just a bonus), their reaction made me feel like they don't think about the dog's personalities/enjoyment at all and that did turn me off a bit.

[rajacadoo]

Our dogs, (Basenji's) were in a boarding kennel last year for nearly 8 weeks, and one thing that was offered, (for a small additional cost), was either a bushwalk, or a beachwalk... My 2, (other dogs were in different boarding kennels), had either one, every second day, to help relieve their boredom... They loved it, they were NOT to be off lead, (I think it was the rule that NO dog was allowed to be off-lead, anyway), and it was wonderful. I realise that it would depend on where your kennels are situated, but maybe something to consider, if you were able to...

As Basenjis are shocking escape artists, VERY secure runs were very much on top of my priority list, but it sounds like you have that covered :) ...

Also as Pav Lova said, the ability to follow MY directions at all times, meaning great communication between all staff, needs to be a HIGH priority too...

[OSoSwift]

I have to board my dog mid-year for 2 weeks so I've been looking them up lately and I must say that your planned kennel sounds fab. :-)

All my top things are:

- that the dog will be comfortable e.g air-con + heating, comfy beds

- that the staff actually care about the dog (I think the report card thing sounds cool)

- that it is safe and they won't get out, get an injury/illness

When we boarded ours for a couple of days last year they put him in the 'quiet dog area'. It was all different sized dogs (e.g. there was also a greyhound and a super old smally fluffy dog in there) but they were just in a separate sort of area from all the other dogs. You could still hear the barking a bit but nowhere near as loud. I was happy with that place but they don't have heating/cooling hence why I am sussing out my options.

When I called another kennel recently and mentioned the 'quiet dog area', they reacted like it was a bit of a nutter idea. So, even though that's not a total definite for me (kind of just a bonus), their reaction made me feel like they don't think about the dog's personalities/enjoyment at all and that did turn me off a bit.

I won't be able to put them in a totaly seperate area, but will have two sides so can seperate them a bit that way. I don't think it is nutty at all. I am quite sure the older or more sedated dogs don't really want to watch a energiser JR or BC bouncing around all the time :)

I also want to have small sign on run doors say if they are a little timid, or dog agressive or don't like males females etc as I don't want my husband going to get out a timid dog who is scared of men for example. Not fair on the dog.

I do really care, and I really want the dogs to have a great time and enjoy being here so I hope I get it right :)

It has taken me two years to get to the point I am now and lots of research has gone into it. I have met brick walls and had to rethink and re-gather and go on. I have reasearched building materials, configurations and lots of other things. This is also part of that research. When I eventually get it happening I will have to post photos for comment :)

[OSoSwift]

Our dogs, (Basenji's) were in a boarding kennel last year for nearly 8 weeks, and one thing that was offered, (for a small additional cost), was either a bushwalk, or a beachwalk... My 2, (other dogs were in different boarding kennels), had either one, every second day, to help relieve their boredom... They loved it, they were NOT to be off lead, (I think it was the rule that NO dog was allowed to be off-lead, anyway), and it was wonderful. I realise that it would depend on where your kennels are situated, but maybe something to consider, if you were able to...

As Basenjis are shocking escape artists, VERY secure runs were very much on top of my priority list, but it sounds like you have that covered :) ...

Also as Pav Lova said, the ability to follow MY directions at all times, meaning great communication between all staff, needs to be a HIGH priority too...

I live on a two thousand acre farm, so for long termers or frequent and longer termers (one person is going to be working month on and month off and wanted to book his Lab in already!!!) that will definately be an option. I can walk 6 kms easily without leaving my property. They would be on lead most definately, they may see bunnies and roo's, birds etc so don't want them being able to bolt.

Yep the dog runs will be fully covered inside and out. I am far to worried about potential escapees to not have that.

[rajacadoo]

Sounds great, I just wish you weren't in WA, with me in Tassie :laugh: ...

[OSoSwift]

I would LOVE to go to Tassie, not sure about living there all the time......winter is very cold!!!

THank you for your positive words and suggestions all are being taken on board and filed in my head for future reference and I will print this thread out as well.

[chicko]

Great thread, i am going through this at the moment. My 2 have never been boarded so trying to find some where i am happy with. A small little outdoor run isnt something im keen on, i want a bigger area that they can have a good run and zoomies. Not against them being with other dogs unless its supervised.

Do you mean you want them to have access to a large grass area ll of the time?? Or you would be happy with an outdoor run as long as they had access at least twice a day to a large grass run?

Sorry i wasnt clear, im happy with an outdoor run as long as they had access at least twice a day to a large grass run.

[OSoSwift]

Great thread, i am going through this at the moment. My 2 have never been boarded so trying to find some where i am happy with. A small little outdoor run isnt something im keen on, i want a bigger area that they can have a good run and zoomies. Not against them being with other dogs unless its supervised.

Do you mean you want them to have access to a large grass area ll of the time?? Or you would be happy with an outdoor run as long as they had access at least twice a day to a large grass run?

Sorry i wasnt clear, im happy with an outdoor run as long as they had access at least twice a day to a large grass run.

Ah okay no worries - thank you :)

[espinay2]

I want someone who will feed exactly what I want and take note of the notes I give on check in.

Someone who will not mix my dogs with others (or even my other dogs) without my permission (I may have two dogs that fight and need kennelling separately!!)

I want clean facilities which are managed so the dogs are not left in wet runs if possible when they are being cleaned (which leaves dogs coats stinky and can be slippery!!)

I want a facility that will not insist on the dogs being vaccinated and chemically treated up the wazoo.

I want someone handling my dogs who has at least some dog knowledge when it comes to behaviour and management.

I want them to have some attention if possible while there, particularly on longer stays.

I want facilities that are well designed to minimise stress (there is a LOT that can be done in this respect)

I want decent sized runs for large dogs!!

:D

Edited February 27, 2012 by espinay2

[alpha bet]

OsoSwift,

As an owner/operator of a small kennel designed and built ourselves, I shall play devils advocate and give you some things to think of.

If you expected to meet most of the needs people are asking for then I hope you have $1,000,000...... have you done any costings.... aircon for kennels...Watering systems...heating in floor etc..... really adds up. Good quality fencing costs a fortune, bigger runs cost more..... If you take into account that fencing can be $60 per metre then a good size pen has an inside area of 2mx2m and outside area of 2mx8m is costing over $1,000 for the outside area without adding flooring or the cost of the inside area or outside excercise paddocks, landscaping etc. Having a draftperson draw up a design $3,000, approval with council can cost $2,000 plus.

Hence why some of the new kennels (such as Hanrob) are using prefabricated concrete factory panels and then they have 4 to 8 sqm size pens with vinyl floors that can be hosed down - they have fancy playground equipment with playground soft flooring which costs an absolute fortune - Huge number of staff to brush and supervise - however these kennels are charging $40-$80 PER DAY..... therefore if a family have two dogs (Which is very common) and are going away for a 10 day holiday the cost can end up around $600 - many families won't pay this. Big elaborate kennels also rely on having large numbers of dogs to help to cover their overheads.

Staff numbers can kill your business - Considering man hours to brush poodles every day or walking dogs of leads twice a day to toilet..... if you had 50 dogs you would need 10 min per day per dog and this would take two full time staff 8 hours to achieve....... You need to design your layout to give the least amount of manhours.

Often people are sold an the razzle dazzle of what the upmarket kennel is offering, but if you do the math I have to question what they can actually achieve. As an example: I was in Texas at a 4 day conference at a big Upmarket Kennel - I could see the (4 only) exercise paddocks all of the four days - the kennel had over 100 dogs in when we did the tour on the first day but I didnt see ANY DOGS IN ANY PADDOCK AT ANY TIME.... sheese........

my advise (this is what I did) Visit many kennels and look at there setup - go behind the scenes not the public show - determine what you think is important (ie what you would like for your dogs) and viable (costing) - zero in on providing the best you can under this and then market yourr kennel to people who feel the same - you will then build a loyal and happy client base who will love how you operate - you cant please everyone.... I wouldnt brush a poodle every day or even every second day - unless they want to pay and extra $40 a day for the time..... and even then I really don't want to as I am busy looking after all the other dogs - Therefore I dont get those clients who want or expect this service which is fine - just remember to be honest with everyone about what you really offer and you will succeed.

Even playing devils advocate, I shall say it is a great business to run but there is much much more to it than playing with dogs...... good luck.

Edited February 27, 2012 by alpha bet