effects of boarding kennels

MotherOfChickens

MotherOfChickens

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Both dogs have had to go into kennels recently-and they have to go in for a couple of days at the end of April. Can't be helped, the first time was because we had a funeral and the other times because I have to travel away for work. First time was a couple of days and this week it was 4 nights. Local kennels, very highly recommended-not that flash but she obviously loves the dogs and adores Quarrie and they seemed happy enough to go back and really pleased to see her. I've not used any kennels in over a decade and he'd not been in before.

They were knackered after the first time and we joked we had a quiet weekend. They both seem tired this time too but Quarrie seems a bit too quiet, almost like he can hardly keep his eyes open sometimes but doesn't want to let his guard down. she said he hadn't eaten up his breakfast the day we picked them up (thursday), and he didn't eat up last night or this morning. He has no temp, is happy enough on walks/playing etc and everything else is fine. Fitz spends most of his time asleep when he's inside anyway so no change there. They've just been out for literally a 20min lead walk and they both seem exhausted. Is this normal? Obviously if he continues to not eat up etc I'll get him down to vets. They're going into a different kennel and of the month as this one was booked up-nice place with a bigger exercise area.
 
I think it's perfectly normal, especially if they don't go regularly. They probably didn't get any sleep at all because of the other dogs. Mine never used to have to go to kennels because someone always had to be at home to look after the yard and the other business. When I moved last year I booked them into a local kennels for a couple of days in May and a week in August when we were going to be away. The owner of the kennels, when hearing they'd never been before, was very pleased they were going to have a short stay first, so they got used to the environment a bit. They now love going, leap out of the car and greet the kennels staff like long lost friends. It's quite embarrassing really :D
 
thanks Rowreach, pretty sure its just tiredness-quarrie had the remains of his breakfast for lunch and they are both crashed out right now. My house sitter is not a dog person (but is a cat, native pony and duck person!) and she managed our old dogs fine but hasn't been keen to take these two on yet and I don't blame her.

I'd like them happy in kennels for longer eventually as we'd like to go abroad on holiday at the end of this year. and if I am away for work, OH has quite a lot to deal with animal and kid wise and works quite long days himself. will see how they are with this other place, kennel and exercise bit is very differently laid out to current one and they might prefer it.
 
It was a big thing for me to leave them in kennels after years of not doing it, but it's fantastic to see them so happy when they get there. The noise was something I was worried about, and I'm sure it must be stressful for some, but my three all stay together in one kennel with it's own integral run, and I think that helps.

My kennels lady runs marathons and she was running down the other side of the road the other day when I was walking my dogs, they saw her and nearly yanked me in front of a passing car trying to get across to say hello to her :)
 
I have never left mine in boarding kennels but I would imagine with the noisy environment and so much going on that most dogs get very little sleep or relaxation while there, so I would say it is definitely normal.

You might want to consider a house-sitter who could look after the dogs rather than boarding kennels which may mean less upheaval for them? My sister has used a company where her dog went to stay in a family home while she was away and this week had booked a house/pet sitter to come and stay at her house but sadly her dog was recently diagnosed with cancer and so she cancelled her holiday. She said she would certainly use the service in future though. I can get details for you if it is something you might want to look into?
 
I have only left dogs in kennels once but they came back on their knees exhausted. So I think what you are seeing is normal. It's not ideal but sometimes we all have to deal - even the dogs!
 
Clodagh said:
It's not ideal but sometimes we all have to deal - even the dogs!
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thats kind of my thinking too and I've yet to find a dog walker I would trust enough for those times OH is left behind.

Thanks WGSD, I did once send the setter as a 9 month old to home boarding for a long weekend. When the woman answered the door when I went to pick him up, she was a shadow of her former self rofl, her house had been a lot posher than mine.
My current house sitter is also a friend and she is great with the horses and used to the special ways of our house etc so would rather keep her and try and find a kennel they are happy in if I can. Occasionally I do have to go away at relatively short notice as well and so options are good.
Quarrie ate up his tea-they are yet again crashed out-I should probably try to enjoy the peace and quiet!
 
Boarding kennels are thought of as quite benign but can be I find a very traumatic experience for dogs. Working in them you see dogs who very much can't cope with being taken from a cosy individual home to a mass of other barking dogs and a small space thats not familiar.
I think we all at some point have to use them but I was wondering the other day how it came to be that many people who wouldn't normally let their pet out of their sight or have bought it the latests fluffy pillow for a bed happily sign them into someone elses care for what in a lot of cases is a concrete run with sawdust or a bed. It's interesting but not a lot of solutions for not using them I have to say and at least they are normally secure and safe which is more than you can say for some 'home care' set ups.
 
SusieT said:
It's interesting but not a lot of solutions for not using them I have to say and at least they are normally secure and safe which is more than you can say for some 'home care' set ups.
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You have hit the nail right on the head with "secure and safe" this is exactly why I send my boy to kennels! We have several good ones close by although I stick with the one I have been happy with, the chap who runs it used to train and handle police dogs, the place is immaculate, heated kennels, decent runs, screens that drop in doors if a dog needs that extra privacy, there's never much noise either unless there is a visitor.

For my boy I take his own bed so he feels more at home, he's been 3 times now for between 2 days and a week and has been fine, last time he trotted off with the kennel man quite happily. The only other person I would trust is my Gundog trainer who boards a few from time to time - but this time we are away right in the middle of the shooting season so not fair to pile on any extra work for her!

I wouldn't trust a home boarder TBH, especially with my boy hopefully heading to being a working dog.
 
Probably just tired.

Mine used to be quite huffy on collection but the last time I left him (two days last year) he was so overjoyed to see me I teared up a little. I mostly take him with me these days.
Mine is used to being kennelled and noisy as it is, it's the lesser of all evils. Especially the ones who listen when I tell them to put him in a kennel, feed him and leave him alone and try not to psychoanalyse either of us lol.
He doesn't need messed about with or 'trained' by anyone else, just kennel space and some food for a few days.
 
The safe thing is extremely important for me as Zak can’t be with other dogs. The kennel we use is run by the treasurer of a gun dog group, she has cockers and really understands Zak. They have a kennel with an indoor section plus a huge run plus a 2 acre stock fenced field they go in alone. The owner knows to keep Zak’s attention using a ball. They never interact with other dogs but are only separated by wire so there’s plenty of stimulation for him. It’s based around an outdoor area and most of the dogs don’t bark. She gets her clients through word of mouth.

They come back knackered, anything new or out of the ordinary wears them out, visitors, trips to different places. Hopefully yours is just mentally worn out, MOC.
 
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I think it is not just kennels that tire them out as cinnamontoast says... any change in place or routine has a knackering effect on mine. We've done two weekends away recently after a few years of not really going anywhere so they aren't used to it. They've both mostly slept for most of the week afterwards! And we haven't even left them with people or dogs they don't know, they've just been with us but in a different place. I really, really struggle to leave mine in kennels (and never have!) but would opt for kennels over home boarding any day, simply because it seems much more controlled and safe. My friend once house sat and looked after them... I spent the whole time worried that they would somehow escape or get into some bother when she took them out. They aren't even escapey dogs. Yeah I have trust issues. :lol:
 
That would be my worry too, Papa. I’d imagine worse case scenario, Zak attacking something, the pair of them repeating their overnight escape in the woods, Brig dying and we aren’t there! We’ve decided no more holidays until he’s gone, although he’s going to outlive is all looking at him today!
 
I would always rather my dogs were safe in a miserable (for them) environment than having a happy time in a risky one. To me, anyone else looking after them in a home would be too risky.
I am also very lucky (sometimes) that my mother lives next door and loves dog sitting, so they get to live at home and mum comes over to walk them a few times a day if we go away.
 
I am finding it harder to find someone to live in to look after my lot (children very inconsiderately grown up and moved away). I would never leave them at someone elses house and tended to think like you Clodagh, that I would rather they were a bit miserable in a secure boarding kennel than at risk elsewhere. Then today a lost dog post came up on my news feed, escaped from a local boarding kennel, so that has put me back to square one ! :)
 
MurphysMinder said:
Then today a lost dog post came up on my news feed, escaped from a local boarding kennel, so that has put me back to square one ! :)
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Our local one has lost two, that I know of. I suppose that is a small proportion of all the dogs they have in but definately 2 too many. Luckily I have two gundog friends who have kennels if I ever need them.
 
I have a sibe-proof recommendation if you get stuck MM. I too would rather mine were a bit miserable behind bars than risk leaving them with anyone else. Saying that I don't think they were miserable at all last time, the kennels had a huge new exercise paddock and having walked every inch of it before I left them I said it was fine to use, they got more hoolying time than they do at home.

The spaniels come here for their holidays but it doesn't work the other way around, mine are too escapey and chompy. :p
 
I don't think I would trust a stranger coming in to look after ours, but thankfully we have a friend who comes to stay in the house and lets the sheepdogs out and looks after the house dogs except Zak who always comes with us. We are lucky to have no roads nearby and no neighbours so it is relatively easy to just let them out on to the hill behind the cottage.
 
I had a "friend" housesitting for me a few years ago, over a long weekend. She didn't tell me she was going to a wedding 50 miles away, or that she was staying over .... so from Saturday morning to Sunday lunchtime, she left several horses (turned out), three dogs (in a kennel run) and two cats (with the run of the yard) all by themselves. I only found out by accident some time later :(

I'd far sooner mine were in boarding kennels.
 
I have a marvellous house sitter and she is worth her weight in gold! Copes with a very boisterous English Bull Terrier and an aging Rottweiler with no problems at all. Not cheap but well qualified and well insured! I don't know how the EBT would cope in kennels - she is dog aggressive and would find it very stressful I'm sure.
 
Did they keep them in separate kennels/ runs?

We don't have ours in boarding kennels very often but the one we use our 5 go into a small barn that has 3 kennels and runs at one end. During the day it is all open and at night they get separated into 2 two's and the aloof one goes in on her own. Seems to work very well and they come back the same as they went although they are very happy for cuddles the night they come back
 
They were together during the day but next door overnight. I don't have them sleeping together at night in a small space so would rather not do that at kennels. They both had very upset tummies this week-one then the other.
 
MotherOfChickens said:
They were together during the day but next door overnight. I don't have them sleeping together at night in a small space so would rather not do that at kennels. They both had very upset tummies this week-one then the other.
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That sounds like a good set up. I wonder if stress upset their tums? Would a probiotic help? Even just a good natural youghurt, or you can get real probitoic powder (I have some for chickens!).
 
I suspect the stress left them susceptible to picking something up -Fitz had it first and Quarrie 24 hours later. They are both fine now. They unfortunately have to go back in weds-sat this week although they are going to a different kennels. still, that will be it until december and am still working on a plan so they don't have to go in then. not looking forward to this week at all, them in kennels,I have to fly and worse than that, have to go to London :(
 
MotherOfChickens said:
I suspect the stress left them susceptible to picking something up -Fitz had it first and Quarrie 24 hours later. They are both fine now. They unfortunately have to go back in weds-sat this week although they are going to a different kennels. still, that will be it until december and am still working on a plan so they don't have to go in then. not looking forward to this week at all, them in kennels,I have to fly and worse than that, have to go to London :(
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Worst nightmare week. Still, at least only 4 days. :-)
 
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