BellaandClaire

and let me tell you I'm exhausted. I have spent the last 5 or so days researching kennels for the girls for when we take the kids to Great Wolf Lodge. Finally decided between 2, and went to check them out today. We will be gone from Friday until Sunday afternoon. One kennel, I didn't really care for because it is all indoors with no outside run, except for once while the staff takes them out for a few minutes. They also wanted to charge me for a third night since it would be 4pm until I could pick the puppies up. The one I decided to go with had an indoor and outdoor run, accessible at all times. The floors were heated, the place was clean. The do let them in a larger run in the mornings while they clean the area. They don't open until 4pm on Sunday, so can't charge me for that night. They also charged me a lower rate that is for another building, but are going to keep the dogs in the office building since they will have room.


It's amazing the differences there are between boarding kennels.

bubbad

You just have to be picky thats all. Some will say they will never board their dogs because of whatever but Vinny (my 8 yr old0 loved going to the boarding kennel and Esa even as a puppy had no problem.Like anything lese some are far better than others.

BellaandClaire

Well, they were going to stay with my mom, but she lives off of a busy road, and doesn't have a vence. So I'd rather board them and have peace of mind, than have to worry about them all weekend, and risk something happening. The one I chose, I went to without an appointment, and it was very clean, and the dogs looked very happy. Didn't have a dirty dog smell. The other one, didn't even want to let me back, and they knew I was coming.

myfourthchild

Ya'll don't live in the Charlotte area, by any chance? We are going to be looking for a kennel for Riley at Christmas.

BellaandClaire

I live right outside of Hickory, and the kennel we were looking at is in Granite Falls, halfway between Hickory and Lenoir.

We are going to be at GWL in Concord, and that's why we were looking at boarding. Not sure if they are going to be boarded now though, I was talking to a friend, who also has a basset, and she told me to bring the girls over tomorrow, and see how my 2 girls get along with her two. If all goes well, she will keep them for us.

Jnfr

What I do, rather than board my two, is have a pet sitter come to the house. My pet sitter is also a vet tech where I take the dogs.

I think the benefits for both me and the dogs outweigh a kennel. I feel better knowing if there is a problem she knows what to do and I always leave a "power of attorney" for her to take them back to the clinic and provide whatever treatment necessary and that I will pay all charges. I add that if they can't reach me, call my folks for any big decisions. The sitter comes twice a day, in the AM before work for bfast and potty duty, then in the evening for dinner, potty duty and she sits and watches a movie/tv and loves on them.

Additionally, one of my dogs has a special diet and needs medication daily and I feel better having a tech looking after these needs.

I think the dogs prefer staying home where they are more comfortable.

However, the lay out of my house helps too. Daily (when we are working) they are confined to the downstairs (family room, kitchen) that has tile floors (not they are ever on the floors!) So if there are accidents, its no big deal.

Plus after a kennel stay, they always need bathed. So after paying the boarding fee and two baths, it gets fairly expensive. The sitter charges less than the boarding fee, the dogs well cared for in their own home. Several of the techs do the pet sitting and will cover for each other if something comes up. And, they bring in the mail & paper, do a daily lap around the house to check for any problems like broken pipes, signs of break-in, etc

I do have a great kennel that I use when I have to tho. Other than the kennel stink (if I don't have them bathed before pickup) they're great. They have indoor/outdoor runs. The set up is looks a lot like a horse stable and they will let "sibling" dogs share a run.

BellaandClaire

My house is mostly carpeted and we have only been working on housetraining for 2 weeks (that's how long I've had them), they are making improvements, but are used to being taken out every few hours. Leaving them here is not an option. If it were summer, since they had always been outside dogs prior to us getting them, they could probably stay out in the fenced front yard, but with crazy new neighbors, I'm not even comfortable doing that, especially since their mother expressed interest in them. So I'd rather have them away from here and either boarded or with a friend that I trust.

I feel comfortable with the kennel if we still have to go with that option, because I didn't even make an appointment for a tour, and he willingly took me on one through the building they are currently using, and the other buildings they use during their busy times. It was extremely clean, and didn't even smell like dogs. They clean the kennels daily, and more often if needed. That was one of the things that made me uncomfortable with another kennel I looked at, they didn't even want to let me see the area the dogs would be staying.