Finding a Solution if Your Dog Won’t go in Kennels

Not everyone is happy, when they go on holiday or away for a few days, to place their beloved dog in what amounts to a cage in an anonymous boarding kennels and many dogs are even less happy in that environment. In unfamiliar and impersonal surroundings, with no home comforts or favourite people dogs can become anxious and stressed which can result in obsessive behaviours like tail chasing or paw chewing, a sore throat from barking or howling, continuing noisiness once home and even regression in house training. Fortunately there are alternatives…

Family or Friends

You may be lucky enough to have a kind and animal-loving relative who is happy to have your dog living with them for a couple of weeks. If it’s someone you can totally trust, and who your dog already knows well and likes, this can be a Godsend. However, it doesn’t come without potential pitfalls. If you need to go away frequently, you may not like to impose too often, and you need to consider how it would affect your relationship if anything were to happen – what if they lost your dog? Or he became ill or had an accident while in their care?

Dog Boarders

Dog boarding means your dog stays in a professional dog boarder’s home, living as part of the family, with his own comfy bed, favourite food, best toys and all the comforts of home – albeit someone else’s home. He’ll have one-to-one care, plenty of walks and lots of attention, so this is good for dogs who prefer to be in a home rather than kennels, so long as he’s happy in the company of people who aren’t ‘his’ people. Don’t just find the cheapest though – research local options, check credentials and ask for recommendations.

Pet and House Sitters

Perhaps the Gold Standard in pet care is an experienced, qualified Pet and House sitter – with the added bonus that your house is being looked after, too (one less thing to worry about). Someone highly professional and fully insured, will stay in your home and take care of your pets as you do, so, as well as avoiding the stresses and health risks of travel and kennelling they need have no change of routine at all – they’re in their home (on the sofas if that’s what you’ve arranged), eating their usual food at the usual time, having their usual walks – the only thing that changes is who’s caring for them.