Generally, your dog needs to be at least four months old to board in a kennel. The reason for this is that usually four months is the minimum age at which a rabies vaccine can be given to a dog. And the vaccine is required by law to be administered before a dog can be put in a boarding facility.
Boarding your puppy for the first time is similar to taking any dog to the kennel for the first time. There are a few things you need to do.
The first thing you want to do is make sure you are taking your dog to a good place. Call around and check out a few kennels. A good boarding facility will allow you to tour its facility, so you can see what the conditions are like. Check to see that the kennel is clean and that the dogs are well cared for and content. You should never leave your dog at a kennel that you have reservations about.
If you are boarding a puppy, check on the prices. Some places charge a little more for puppies because they have to do more clean up.
- Set a time.
Set up an appointment so that the kennel people know when you will be bringing your pet to them.
- Bring some of your dog’s favorite toys along.
This will help ease the transition. You can also bring along a blanket and bed. And if you are really concerned that the dog will get homesick, you can include an article of your clothing such as a t-shirt because the smell will remind your pet of you.
- Bring food and treats along.
This is something you would especially want to do if your dog has any kind of digestive issues. Make sure you have enough for however long your dog will be in the kennel. Put the food in a re-sealable pouch with instructions on how much to give to your pet.
- Leave promptly.
Don’t make your leaving any harder than it has to be for the dog. Do it simply and do it quickly and calmly.
- Provide contact information.
Make sure the kennel knows how to get in touch with you while you are away.
Puppies are so much fun and we’ll take good care of your little one, we promise! Call Barney’s Ranch. at (469) 273-1661 for more information and/or to make an appointment for a tour of our boarding facilities.