Question re: Boarding at Kennel & Walks

[Brooke&Ryan]

Hi everyone,

Next weekend, weather permitting, Ryan & I will be travelling down to Pittsburgh to see his baby brother. This is the first time that Julius will be boarded somewhere. He's never been apart from us before.

I'm not really that concerned about boarding him. I'm sure that I'll have a bit of apprehension but I'll be sure not to pass it along to him. We're boarding him at the doggie spa, where we know the owners. So we feel that he's in really good hands.

He will be boarded in one of the luxury kennels which is basically a really small room with a doggie door at one end, which leads to his own private, small run with grass. We have put him in the same luxury kennel before when we were helping out with their grand opening & he uses the doggie door pretty well. It took some time for him to get used to it.

My question is: They offer walks, hikes, swimming, group play, etc. at the kennel. We, of course, will not let him participate in the group play. But my question is, would you let someone else take your dog on a walk/hike? Julius is fine with other people, but the thought of someone else taking him for a walk/hike makes me a bit uneasy. I'm not really sure why. They're out in the country, so busy roads are not really a factor. He'll be at the kennel for Friday night & possibly Saturday night.

What would you do if it was your dog? I'm sure that he'll pee/poop in the grassy area of his kennel, but at the same time, he won't get that much exercise for two days.

Thoughts?


Brooke

[Rottlva]

Provided that the person walking him is competent, the dog is stable, and the dog is going to be walked in a safe area, I see no problem with it.

[Bucky's Mom]

Originally Posted by Brooke&Ryan

My question is: They offer walks, hikes, swimming, group play, etc. at the kennel. We, of course, will not let him participate in the group play. But my question is, would you let someone else take your dog on a walk/hike? Brooke

When Bucky is boarded - even only overnight - I always pay for 2 or 3 "extra" walks - that way I know he is getting the attention he is used to more than expecting it to "exercise" him

(I also paid extra for "lap time" once - just to see the receptionists face)

[2rotties2luv]

The kennel where I board my dogs also offers walks and I do not allow them. I just feel it is too great a risk. I don't allow the group play either. The kennel I use has several fenced in grassy fields where your dog can run around free with an attendant who will throw objects for fetching for 1/2 hour per day (called "playtime"). This is the only activity my dogs participate in when they are boarding.

[Terrie]

Brooke it sounds like you trust these people and obviously they know Julius If you are concerned ask to meet the people who do the walks. We board at a kennel similar to the one you described and we have no problem with Payton being walked as long as it's not by one of the girls, 12 year old twins, that helps at the kennel.

Go have fun and give that baby HUGE kisses and snuggles. Oh that baby smell I just love it

[LisaS]

if you don't want him walked, maybe he can play fetch in a separate fenced area? When I boarded my FCR, they always had time for no-jump frisbee or ball play.
On the other hand, two days wouldn't be that long of a time.

[jas'smom]

Brooke I recently boarded one of mine for the first time It went fine, but like you I did not opt for the group activities etc. Go with what you are comfortable with. If you are leary of someone taking Jules out on hikes etc dont do it. Perhaps a walk in an enclosed area if available would make you more comfortable? Would this be an option? In any case I would not think that a day or 2 without long walks should not harm him and you can rest a bit easier

[Judi W]

No walks. The kennel people are not going to know your dog or your dog them that well. Let him exercise safely in the fenced play area.

[Brooke&Ryan]

Thank you all of your opinions! They are greatly appreciated!

Originally Posted by Judi W

No walks. The kennel people are not going to know your dog or your dog them that well. Let him exercise safely in the fenced play area.

Thanks Judi. That was what I was leaning towards as well. I would consider walks if we were going to be gone for longer, but he'll survive for two days.

[StephanieandToby]

You can ask if they would walk him on his own, or with a group of other dogs...you might feel better knowing that he was being walked on-leash without other dogs to distract him.....

However, as others have said if you are not comfortable it is only 2 days and it won't hurt him not to get 2 days of walks...if you were boarding for longer I would think differently.

If this kennel has a good reputation I would expect their staff to be competent.

[lblax]

Originally Posted by Judi W

No walks. The kennel people are not going to know your dog or your dog them that well. Let him exercise safely in the fenced play area.

i agree whole heartidly with this too risky.

[Bucky's Mom]

Originally Posted by Brooke&Ryan

We're boarding him at the doggie spa, where we know the owners. So we feel that he's in really good hands.

Brooke

Originally Posted by Judi W
No walks. The kennel people are not going to know your dog or your dog them that well.

I got the impression that the owners do know her dog.

[Brooke&Ryan]

Originally Posted by Bucky's Mom

I got the impression that the owners do know her dog.

I should have explained further.

The owners do know Julius & know him very well...but they just had a baby less than a month ago & are pretty much turning the kennel over at this point to the workers. They live on the premises but will not be involved that much. So I can't be sure that they will be the ones walking Julius. I would guess that it will be one of the workers.

[lblax]

Originally Posted by Bucky's Mom

I got the impression that the owners do know her dog.

regardless how well they know them i want my dogs locked down and secure while boarding..

[groupieindenial]

If your not sure who'll be handling him, and your not confortable with the idea, then don't.

Where I board, there's never more than a few dogs anyways. WHen I drop him off, we bring one dog out at a time to see how they interact. He knows most of them, cuz they are regulars or hers, so there maybe one new dog to meet any one time dropping him off. I like that he gets to play, and I TOTALLY trust her abilities. SO that is my confort level with this place. I cannot say that I would have that same confort level with ANY of the other places I looked into. THere is this one place, has impeccable facilities, but just way too many dogs. They are alway barking up a storm, and that just gets dogs going. I dont' think I'd ever leave him in a place like that. Dogs will get all wound up in situations like that. I also don't want to get a dog back that picked up barking excessively from there.