If you’ve never boarded a dog before, or if you’ve never boarded this dog before, you may be a bit nervous about it.
“Will my dog miss me too much?” “Will he have a good time?” “Will he get along with the other dogs?” “Will the kennel staff make sure he gets the right amount of food at the right time/give him his meds as needed?”
These concerns are natural and you’re not alone – almost every owner we’ve known is nervous the first time he leaves a dog with us here at Barney’s Ranch.
Understand, though, that if you’re nervous, your dog may very well pick up on that and become nervous/stressed himself. So it’s best to keep your worries in check.
Here are some tips on how to handle your nervousness about boarding your dog.
- Remember that most boarding experiences – especially here with us – end up being a lot of fun and full of adventure for your pet. Keep this in mind as your prepare to leave your dog with us.
- If you’ve never boarded this dog before, or if he hasn’t been to a kennel in several months (a year or so), it’s wise to bring him to our day boarding center a few times before an overnight stay. This allows your dog to experience/re-experience a boarding session. He’ll also come to understand that you’ll return to bring him home; you’re not abandoning him.
Most boarding stays are wonderful adventures for dogs.
- As you leave the dog with us for one or more overnight stays, make your goodbyes casual. A quick hug, scratch behind the years and “Bye, buddy. Have a great time!” at the gate is best. A more dramatic hug and tears just signals to your dog that something is wrong and you could stress him out unnecessarily.
- Before your dog comes onto our property, give him a treat in the car rather than in front of the other dogs (you could set off a conflict between dogs).
- Once you return to pick up your dog, remember to act (in front of the dog) as business as usual. A big, dramatic “reunion” only reinforces to your dog that boarding is a big deal.
If you’d like to visit Barney’s Ranch with your dog, just give us a call and we’ll make the arrangements! We’ll make sure your pet has a great time – and we’ll help calm your nerves, too.
Give us a call at 469-450-7040 or send us a message via e-mail at info@BarneysRanch.com.
Image courtesy of federico stevanin/FreeDigitalPhotos.net