Easy Ways to Recognise a Good Boarding Kennel and Keep Your Dog Safe While You’re Away

Travelling away from home can become a bit more complicated when you have a dog that you need to leave behind. More than likely, one of the options you’ll be considering to ensure that your canine is comfortable and well cared for while you’re away is a boarding kennel somewhere in your area. Most cities in Australia have a number of such locations, but it’s important to keep in mind what distinguishes a quality operation from a not-so-top-of-the-line spot. Here are a few of the most basic attributes to look for in any good boarding kennel that will be able to keep your dog content while you’re gone.

Easy Ways to Recognise a Good Boarding Kennel and Keep Your Dog Safe While You're Away

Easy Ways to Recognise a Good Boarding Kennel and Keep Your Dog Safe While You’re Away

Large, Clean, Comfortable Looking Living Spaces
To ensure your dog is getting only the very best treatment while you’re away, one of the main things to consider when looking at different boarding kennels is the overall state of their individual living spaces. Is the kennel itself clean and well kept? What about the condition of the cages? Asking for a tour beforehand will allow you to see around the facility to assess whether it would be somewhere that would suit your particular dog. Depending upon his or her needs when it comes to staying active, a larger cage may be more important, and so it would likely benefit their well-being to look around for a boarding kennel that will be able to accommodate the exact size required. All kennels are unique when it comes to their living spaces, but regardless of which one you choose, you must ensure that the environment it will be providing for your furry friend is clean, welcoming, and safe.

That time in Hong Kong that I shared a flat with a dog, Milo!

That time in Hong Kong that I shared a flat with a dog, Milo!

A Variety of Dietary Options
The best boarding kennels out there are those that provide a wide range of dietary options. If your dog isn’t one to have problems with a slight change in their diet, then check out the quality of the on-site food that a particular kennel offers. The superior locations will have basic healthy options that they serve to all their boarders, while also providing you the choice of either supplying your dog’s food yourself or requesting that they be served something specialised. There may or may not be an extra fee involved with asking the kennel to provide a specialised diet, but the best kennels in operation are the ones that give you the option and reassure you that they understand the importance of feeding your dog only what you stipulate.

In my hometown of Bangor, Northern Ireland with Rocky, our family dog.

In my hometown of Bangor, Northern Ireland with Rocky, our family dog.

Attentive Staff Who Constantly Monitor the Health of Boarders
All the top boarding kennels in Australia will have staff on hand day and night who vigorously monitor the daily condition of your dog. The last thing you want to do is leave your dog in a nice looking kennel that doesn’t actually pay attention to the state of any of their boarders. So make sure that the kennel you choose explains to you their policies and practices for watching whether your dog becomes sick or injured. A quality kennel will actually perform regular external checks of your dog, looking over their body to ensure that they’re still in an optimal state of health. These kennels will also be able to treat your dog on-site should it become sick, or give you the option to request that it be taken to your own veterinarian in the event of a problem or illness.

Travelling can be stressful enough all on its own, so don’t make it any more exhausting than it has to be by worrying yourself sick over the condition of your dog. To find the best dog friendly accommodation South Australia has to offer, look for a kennel that provides clean and comfortable living spaces, a variety of dietary options and comprehensive monitoring of your dog’s overall health. As long as you don’t settle for anything less than the very best, you can remain confident that your dog will be as happy and healthy as ever once you return home.

5 thoughts on “Easy Ways to Recognise a Good Boarding Kennel and Keep Your Dog Safe While You’re Away

  • Just from reading your points to consider about the kennel environment, it seems that short term visits are the best strategy for your pet. I can see how a kennel with several animals might be a convenient thing that needs a lot of pet specific considerations added when you think about boarding your animal. My dog is a rather self contained kind of guy, so the idea that he’d only get attention half the day, wouldn’t really worry me much. He’d just sleep it off anyway.

  • I would agree with touring the kennel before sending your dog there. You can often tell a quality kennel if it passes the eye test. I recently found a great kennel in my area, as we travel a lot. Great ideas.

  • Jonny, I believe there are many more pleasurable opportunities ahead for individuals that looked at your site.

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