Taking Your First Trip Since Owning A Dog? What To Do For A Succesful Boarding Experience
Posted on: 24 September 2019
If you have a dog that has never been boarded and hasn't even been to stay at another house overnight, you want to find a good kennel for your first trip. You want your companion to be happy while you are away, and you want to feel good and not stress about how your dog is doing while you are traveling.
You want to walk through each boarding kennel and ask questions about the amount of time they get to play, when the animals are fed, and what the sleeping arrangements are. Here are some suggestions to improve your boarding experience.
Try a Couple Days of Day Care First
Don't drop your animal off and leave for an extended period of time at the new location. This can cause them to dislike the kennel and resist going in the future, and it may put them in distress to be in an unfamiliar place for a long period of time.
Your dog may quickly feel abandoned and display abnormal behavior. The personality and compatibility test the boarder uses may not be long enough to see the dog's real anxiety. Instead, drop the dog off there for day care on a few occasions before the longer trip when they will be boarded overnight.
Get Your Pet a Wellness Visit
Check in with your local veterinarian to make sure that your dog has all of the vaccinations that will be necessary to board the animal, as well as additional ones that may interest you. A flu vaccine for dogs and tick and flea prevention treatment are other medical precautions you should take before you board your dog with several others. You also want to make sure that the dog is in overall good health.
Send Treats and Familiar Items
If there is a specific type of treat that your dog likes and gets at your house, this is an item that you want to send along with your dog's normal food. You also want to send in a bed, blanket, or familiar toy that your dog will want. This way they aren't missing you and their favorite items from home.
Talk with the kennels to see what hours their employees work so you can get an idea of how long your dog will be left alone at the facility. If you want to go somewhere and your pet will have to be boarded for the first time, be sure to take these steps. Reach out to a pet boarding facility like the Abraxas Pet Resort for more information.
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