Even though you might not ever intend to kennel your pet, it doesn’t hurt to check out facilities near you in case you ever need to use them in an emergency. If you have an emergency and need to quickly kennel your beloved dog, it will give you peace of mind to know that the kennel facility will take the best care of your pet.
Of course, it would be great if you could leave your pet at home with a babysitter who is familiar with your pet and knowledgeable about pet care. With an older dog who is comfortable being left alone, perhaps keeping him at home with someone coming over several times a day to check on him would be sufficient. But for a puppy or young dog, leaving them alone at home might not be safe.
So, just in case you ever need a kennel, it would be good to investigate kennels close to you. They should primarily provide safety and comfort for your pet.
Below is a list of things you should ask (or investigate) when looking at a kennel.
1) Will the facility prevent strange dogs from coming into contact with each other?
“Group playtime” which mingles strange dogs together is extremely dangerous. (please refer to FAQ page on the website). Even a “non-group” playtime in a special “outdoor area” or “playroom” should be monitored by a human who is present every single second to watch your pet.
2) Emergency Medical Care. What is the kennel’s procedure in case a pet in their care needs emergency medical treatment?
Ideally, the kennel will be close to (or even connected with) an Animal Hospital, so emergency treatment can be swiftly administered. IF the kennel is associated or connected to an Animal Hospital make sure:
- The boarded pets are NOT kept in kennels/rooms that the sick/treated animals are kept in.
- The boarded pets do NOT use the same hallways, bathing facilities, play area, elimination areas, etc. that the sick/treated animals use.
- The caretakers of the boarded pets are NOT involved in treating the sick animals that come to the Animal Hospital.
- The caretakers do NOT pass through the Animal Hospital’s waiting rooms, treatment rooms or kennels before going into the boarded pet area.
3) Will there be a person in the building 24/7?
Or does the building get locked up at night leaving no one with the animals? It's not a good idea to leave a pet overnight at an Animal Hospital/Clinic (or connecting facility) if no one is there during the night. Junkies frequently target those places at night for the drugs that are kept, and can harm the animals there or set fire to the place to cover their theft. IF someone is there 24/7, make sure that they are not JUST in the Animal Hospital part of the facility at night.
4) Rooms.
Are the rooms spacious? Will they allow your pet’s siblings (if he has any) to be kept in the same room with him/her for companionship? Are the rooms climate controlled?
5) Noise Reduction.
Does the kennel take steps to ensure “noise reduction”? Closed doors (preferably with glass so the dogs in the rooms can look out) for each room/kennel. Many of the better kennels offer a television which will play (preferably easygoing movies like Disney movies) softly all day to help block out noise from other dogs.
6) Ventilation.
The better kennels have a ventilation system in which the entire are is re-circulated every hour, to prevent the spread of airborne disease. Some have systems that are so specific that air is brought from above the pet’s room and re-circulated through multiple vents so there is no air transmitted between rooms.
7) Bedding.
What kind of beds does the facility have. If they are the low, easy-to-clean type (like PetCots), they could be fine for your little Dachshund – especially if you bring blankets/comforters for them to crawl in between. Will they allow you to bring extra blankets/comforters to replace any that become soiled? Will they clean the soiled ones? If not, will they place the soiled ones in garbage bags so you can pick them up to take home and clean.
8) Elimination.
Will the facility use newspapers, peepads or even easy-to-clean rugs for the dog’s elimination? Is there a drainage system for each room? How often are the rooms cleaned? How often are they checked for urine or stool that needs to be cleaned up? Some of the better facilities have epoxy sealed floors that is impregnated with a disinfectant that will kill germs on contact. All surfaces are sealed, so there are no areas where dirt and germs can accumulate in the room.
9) Feeding.
Will the facility feed your pet at the times he is USED to being fed? Can you bring food that your pet is used to eating? Can you bring food that needs to be refrigerated (yogurt) or frozen (ie chicken & rice, if you will be leaving your pet for more than a few days). Will they feed the exact food the same way your pets are used to being fed? Will they give out milkbones? Will they stay during the feeding period if your pet is staying with a sibling, to make sure that BOTH dogs eat their meal (versus one dog eating both meals).
10) Watering.
Are water bowls stainless steel? and always present in the room in non-tipping containers or holders? Is the water changed to fresh at least twice a day? Is it monitored to make sure that water is always available and the bowls never remain empty. What kind of water do they use? I would HIGHLY suggest “Spring Water” ONLY. Not tap water or drinking water. If they don’t provide it, will they allow you to bring some bottles of Spring Water and use them for your pet?
11) Caring for and Attention.
Will the folks keep the “food toys” filled with peanut butter (or whatever food you want in them). Will they monitor your pet, either through the glass door, or via a webcam? Will they take time to pet and interact with your dog when they pick up, clean, replace water, feed or when they straighten or replace the blankets on the bed? Will they make sure that your pet is kept clean, and check to make sure that they have not soiled themselves. If their legs/tail is wet from urine or if they have feces stuck, that they will immediately clean the dogs. Sometimes if dogs go potty on a hard surface, the urine might come into contact with their legs before they’ve finished going; or they might have inadvertently stepped in a bowel movement.
12) At night.
How many hours will your pet be alone at night, 8 hours? 10 hours? Will there be a nightlight, or some kind of dim light so he will not wake up in pitch darkness?
13) Webcam.
Does the facility offer a webcam for each room. Many of the better facilities are doing so, giving the owner a username & password so they can log onto their site on the internet and have access to their pets 24/7. The better webcams can be panned left & right, up & down, so there are no “blind spots” in the room.
14) Security.
I’ve seen boarding facilities with webcams and once a password & username is issued – it seems to be valid forever, and for ALL the rooms, not just the one your dog is in. If strangers can use the webcam to view your dog, make SURE when you leave your dog that the facility demands a legitimate identification from you (or your significant other) when the dog is picked up. I am a bit uncomfortable with the fact that facilities allow strangers to view the dogs being boarded, and would like to know the steps the facility uses to prevent a stranger from picking up a dog that is not actually his. The better facilities will require valid ID’s when checking a dog in AND out; and also will allow the owner to specify whether visitors are allowed.
15) Visitation during their stay.
Honestly, it’s best NOT to have visitors the dogs know. It will only excite them and cause them to think they are being taken home. After the visitors leave, the dogs can become depressed or overly excited and not settle down for hours.
Pre-stay Visit:
Make an unannounced visit to the boarding facility and ask to be shown around. While being aware of all the above, take note of:
a) Air quality. Is the ventilation sufficient to prevent any buildup of odors?
b) Are the kennels spotless?
c) Do the caretakers smile and speak kindly to their charges, or walk right by without even looking at them?
d) Stand inside a room with the door closed for a few minutes. Is the temperature comfortable? What do you hear? What do you smell? What do you see? Remember that your pet will feel that temperature, hear that noise, smell that odor and see those things the entire time he is left in that room.
If you know that you will be using the facility, ask if they provide a free half-day (or several hour) stay for your pet, so your pet can get used to the facility and people before having to stay there for an extended period of time. Please remember that during this first “few hour” stay, it would really be best not to have the dogs disturbed much. This is the time for them to become acquainted with the room and staying alone in it. They will settle down more quickly if they are left alone, versus people coming in and out of their room constantly.
When you bring your pet to the facility:
Herbal “Stress Relief” is available for pets. It works on some pets, on others it seems to have no effect. If it calms your pet, you might consider giving that to him before leaving for the kennel, and asking the kennel folks if they would administer it to him if and when needed (particularly before bedtime).
Tell the facility that you, your friends, and your emergency contacts WILL be monitoring the webcam 24/7. [And if one of our puppies will be in a facility, I will be MORE than happy to assist in monitoring via the webcam.]
Bring toys (like Kong toys) that can hide peanut butter or food, or sturdy (not easily swallowed) rawhide toys.
Bring familiar blankets/comforters.
Bring written paperwork of the dogs names, their feeding schedule and food, spring water, what amenities you wish the facility to provide (walks, play, etc) and any information you think they should know – and tell them to tape (or attach) it to the door of their kennel/room; so EVERYONE going into that room will know exactly what the dogs should be given and have done for them. Especially note if your pet would rather interact with males, females, people without glasses or beards, etc.; or if your pet is timid and needs time to sniff and gradually come up to a person; or if your pet can be defensive and needs verbal reassurance and a calm demeanor.
Do not draw out a “long emotional goodbye.” You know what happens if you do that to a child going to kindergarten for the first time – you fill them with dread because they feel your emotional upheaval. Keep it pleasant and happy and upbeat and do not prolong it.
When you are watching the webcam:
Do not worry about listening to the “sound” on the webcam. Whining is normal, especially at first, and indicates uncertainty or excitement rather than unhappiness. Crying is different. Crying dogs will sit and howl and cry nonstop without walking around. Whining dogs are usually laying down, or restlessly walking around. Your main reason for choosing this facility is so your beloved pet will be kept safe and comfortable. Turn the sound OFF unless you see something that is unusual (ie your pet looks like he is howling or acting as though something is wrong.) If your pet is just whining because he is unsure , it might make you feel emotionally bad. You don’t need that. You just need to make sure he is being taken care of, is safe and comfortable. It might take him a little while to get used to being kenneled.
When you pick up your pet.
Keep it upbeat, happy and brief. Don’t go all emotional because then it will appear to your pet that you are “rescuing” him, and he will be all the more reluctant to stay there again if the necessity arises.
Make sure you have his leash, harness, toys, blankets and anything else that you need to bring home.
Keep an eye on your pet for the rest of the day and for the next few days. Be sure to note any physical or emotional changes.
Think "Companionship"
Whether you routinely kennel your pet or not, there might come a day when it will be inevitable, and it will be a LOT more comforting for your pet to have a "sibling" companion to share the days and nights in that strange place.
Kenneling aside, companionship plays a big part of a child's growth - whether human or canine. We encourage folks who purchase a puppy from us to also consider adopting a rescue puppy from their local SPCA, Humane Society or Rescue League. Because little Dachshund puppies are so small, the age and size of the other puppy should be taken into consideration. Ideally, the puppies should be about the same age. Children (human or canine) play best with companions their own age. As children grow, their play changes and an older child might not be a suitable "playmate" for a younger child. With puppies, size also has to be a consideration; an 8-week-old Dachshund is going to be vastly smaller in size than an 8-week-old Great Dane, and could possibly be injured during play by the larger puppy.
Dogs are "social animals" and puppies relish the companionship. Typically they are not as demanding on their owners, because much of a puppy's time is spent playing with his/her companion. They naturally begin to learn manners and limits to their puppyish behavior, as rough play and nipping will not be tolerated by the other.
Besides, there is NOTHING as fun to watch as 2 puppies playing together.