When it comes to operating a day- and overnight-boarding kennel, we’ve learned a few things since we opened. We’ve learned what to do and, more importantly, what not to do.
And sometimes those “don’t do this” lessons come from other boarding kennels.
Read below for five things our competitors have taught us over the years.
- Allow dogs outside for only a few minutes or an hour a day. We find it amazing that some boarding kennels keep their guests in large – or even not-so-large – kennels or even cages most of the day. And when they are let out for some exercise, it’s only for an hour or so. Maybe even less. Here at Barney’s Ranch, our guests have the run of our 8,000-square-foot outdoor yard for hours at a time, making for some very happy guests!
- If you do let a dog out to walk, make sure he’s on a leash at all times. We understand that many kennels just don’t have the space to let dogs run free. So they need to walk their guests once or twice a day. Naturally, since they are walking their charges on public streets, they must keep the dog on a leash. But, as mentioned above, our guests have the run of our large outdoor area for hours a time.
Many boarding kennels must exercise dogs by walking them on a leash. At Barney’s Ranch, they can play for hours in our large dog run!
- Make sure you’re understaffed; keep your team members harried. Many kennels have too many guests for too few staff members. Which makes for some stressed employees and dogs that don’t get the human attention they crave. We know that a great kennel should have a human to dog ratio of at least 1 to 10. This allows our team members to do what they love to do: spend plenty of time with our guests, playing and making sure your dog has a great time with us.
- It’s OK to let the kennel’s ground smell of dog; after all, dogs can be pretty stinky at times. Sure, dogs poop, barf and fart. They also have that pungent wet-dog-smell when wet. But that doesn’t mean Barney’s Ranch has to smell of “dog,” and we work hard to ensure our human guests enjoy an odor-free atmosphere.
- We don’t need to have a vet tech available to dispense medications, nor do we need to be affiliated with a veterinarian should an emergency crop up. We’ll just call the owner to come get his dog. Accidents happen. Dogs need medicine dispensed properly. Owners are away (that’s why they are boarding their pet) and often can’t get here quickly in an emergency. That’s why we provide a vet tech to dispense any medications your pet may need. And, while we don’t have a veterinarian on site, we work closely with Valley View Pet Health Center in Farmer’s Branch so that we can get your pet to a veterinarian in an emergency (we’ll discuss emergency situations with you before you board your dog with us).
We work hard here at Barney’s Ranch to ensure your dog has a great time with us. We’ve learned from the best – and the worst – and we’d love to provide you more information about our boarding services. Contact us at 469-450-7040 or send us an e-mail at info@BarneysRanch.com.
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