If you are planning to board your dog in a kennel, you want to make sure your pet has a safe and comfortable place to stay. Here are a few questions to ask a kennel to make sure your dog will have a safe and comfortable stay.
Ask about play and exercise programs.
These will vary by kennel and often are determined by price. You want to check that the kennel segregates the dogs during exercise by size and age. Dogs that need more exercise should be walked by a staff member.
We offer your pet an 8,000-square-foot outdoor yard, allowing your dog to play with other dogs all day (if he wants to), or whatever amount of time you deem appropriate.
Ask if you may tour the facility.
First off, the place should look clean. You shouldn’t be able to detect much of an odor. It should be well lit, and you shouldn’t see any waste or urine lying around.
Also, you want to make sure the place is not overcrowded. Find out how many animals the kennel usually boards and how many people work there. Pet experts recommend that there should be no more than 10 animals for every staff person. Naturally, the more people there are, the more attention your pet will get.
Check out the spaces for the dogs. How do the animals look? They should look content, and they should have proper bedding and water.
Find out how often they walk the dogs. Or, if there’s a dog run, how often do the dogs get to roam within it?
Ask if you may talk to the staff.
Do they seem to be genuinely interested in your pet? Do they want to find out information about the animal, such as what he or she eats, his exercise regimen, and any medications he is taking? A good staff will be able to provide details about all of the animals in their care.
Ask about safety.
If you see things like bent, torn or jagged wire, you may want to take your animal someplace else. Also, if the kennel allows your animal to play with a chew toy alone, without a staff member present, it is definitely not a place to put your animal.
Ask what the facility will do if your dog needs medical attention or won’t eat. While Barney’s Ranch doesn’t have a veterinarian on staff, we do have a close relationship with Valley View Pet Health Center in Farmers Branch.
We like to think of Barney’s Ranch as a vacation spot for pets. We want them to have as much fun as their owners are having while on holiday. Give us a call at 469-450-7040 or send us an e-mail message at info@BarneysRanch.com to arrange a tour for both you and your dog.