Standard Poodles -
Finding a Boarding Kennel

Should you consider a boarding kennel for your Standard Poodle when you are going on vacation or a business trip? People face this question all the time. I know that I want my two Poodles to have the best care they can at a reasonable cost while I’m away.

It’s not always feasible to take your Poodle with you, due to all the restrictions that are placed on pets. You could try having your Poodle taken care of by a friend or relative, but sometimes they are not knowledgeable or reliable enough to provide the proper care or supervision.

You can rest easier when you’re away, knowing that your Poodles are receiving excellent care at a boarding kennel, provided your do a little homework before you leave. There are excellent kennels out there; you just have to know what kind of questions to ask.

What is a Boarding Kennel?

A boarding kennel is a business that specifically cares for your Standard Poodle providing a variety of services such as boarding, day care, grooming, obedience classes, pet supplies and sometimes pet shipping.

Types of kennels

Generally, there are two types of boarding kennels, the plain, basic kennel with kennel runs and the fancy type with kennel suites and lots of extras. The type you choose all depends on how much you want to pamper your Poodle!

If your Poodle doesn’t mind being an actual dog, then a regular boarding kennel is just fine, provided it is clean. Usually the basic kennel will provide the following services:

• Indoor/outdoor runs (hopefully not cages) or indoor runs and regular exercise times
• The runs are cleaned everyday with disinfectant and the dogs are outside while they are being cleaned
• The runs have plenty of ventilation, but protection from the elements
• Allows for a variety of different diets, including feeding your Poodle on its own feeding schedule with your own food
• Usually have mats or blankets for bedding and keeps the bedding clean
• Gives the dogs their medications and checks on the dogs several times a day to make sure they are OK
• Pays extra attention to older or “special needs” dogs
• Requires that all dogs have current immunizations and possibly flea and tick prevention before boarding
• Will contact your own veterinarian if there is a problem.
• Some will charge a small fee for bathing your Poodle before going home.

On the other hand, if your Poodle thinks it is a kid with a fur coat, then you may want to consider boarding your precious pooch in more of a “resort” style board kennel which provides the following extras:

• Suites instead of plain runs
• Piped in music
• Television
• Swimming pools
• Larger exercise areas
• Massages
• Grooming
• Daily walks
• Separate housing for special needs or older dogs
• Toys
• Obedience training
• Gift shop with fancy clothing, collars, etc.
• Plush bedding

Although the above extra frills may be nice, they are mostly for your benefit, not your Poodle’s. They may help you feel better about leaving your dog in the kennel, but they are going to cost you!

How Do I Find a Good Kennel?

One way to find a good boarding kennel is to ask friends, relatives, animal shelters, dog trainers or your veterinarian for a recommendation. But remember, their idea of a suitable kennel may not be the same as yours! You can also check the internet or Yellow Pages. Another way is to ask satisfied customers of the boarding kennel you’re considering. The kennel should be happy to provide you with references.

Check the Boarding Kennel Out

Once you know which type of kennel you’re looking for, start calling several of them to see if they have space available. If you are booking the kennel around holiday times, make sure you do it far enough in advance to ensure that time is available.

Next, make an appointment to visit them. Try to get an appointment to visit them during the middle of the week when they are not so busy with dogs checking in and out from the weekend.

Some states require boarding kennels to have regular inspections. If yours does, check to see if they have a license or certificate displayed showing that they meet the required standards.

Ask the boarding kennel if it belongs to The American Boarding Kennels Association. The American Boarding Kennels Association (719-667-1600), was established in 1977 by a group of dedicated kennel operators to provide education and training in the latest pet developments and establishing a code of ethics within the industry.

Today, there are almost 1,600 boarding kennels registered with the ABKA throughout the US and Canada. A kennel accredited by the ABKA, has been inspected and meets the standards of professionalism, safety and quality of care.

You might want to consider checking with the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been filed against the boarding kennel you are considering.

What Should I Look For?

First impressions can give you a quick idea as to whether you want to consider a certain kennel for boarding your Poodle.

• When you walk in the door and the smell of urine or feces about knocks you to the floor, turn around and leave! You definitely don’t want that one!
• When you’re in the office, take a look around. If everything looks shabby and there’s junk, trash or dirt everywhere, you don’t want that kennel either!

If everything passes your first impression, look for:

• Kennel runs, bedding, water and food bowls, food storage and preparation areas that are clean and clean smelling
• Plenty of ventilation, light and also protection from the elements
• Knowledgeable, friendly and caring staff
• Vaccinations that are needed
• A list of all costs including any charges for extras like bathing or giving medications
• Each dog has its own run and it is big enough
• The bedding provided allows the dog to sleep up off the concrete floor
• How often are the dogs fed and what type of food are they fed
• Can you bring your own food?
• What vet do they work with?
• What other services do they provide?

At this point, you should have a pretty good idea of which kennels you want to consider and the ones you want to eliminate from your list. Now you’ll just have to decide how much you want to spoil your Poodle and how much you’re will to spend doing that.

It’s also very important that you are comfortable dealing with the people who will be taking care of your Poodle. Poodles are very social and do best with friendly, caring and professional staff.

Once you’ve decided on the kennel you want, make a reservation or get put on the waiting list. You should also make reservations at a few of your other choices just to be on the safe side. If space becomes available at your first choice, don’t forget to cancel the other reservations.

Talk to the Staff and Ask Questions

Make sure you have good communication with the staff when boarding your Poodle. Let them know of any medical, physical, behavioral or emotional conditions that your Poodle may have. Be sure they know all the medications your Poodle is taking and how to administer it.

Ask what their schedule is for checking on the dogs and if they are trained to notice signs of illness or distress. What do they do if your Poodle appears ill or is not eating? Ask whether there is a fire alarm system and if it is connected directly to the fire station. Do they have escape routes and evacuation plans?

Ask about their security measures. Do they have a security alarm? You wouldn’t want your precious Poodle stolen!

Make sure you tell the staff if your Poodle is a climber or digger, so they can keep a closer eye on it or put it in a covered kennel so it can’t escape. Also, ask what measures they take to separate your Poodle from more aggressive dogs.

Preparing Your Poodle for Boarding

You may have found the perfect boarding kennel for your Poodle, but in order for the staff to give your Poodle the best possible care, there are some things you need to do before you board your dog:

My Poodles know when we are getting ready to go somewhere. They can sense it and start getting excited! I’d suggest allowing plenty of time getting your Poodle to the kennel. Rushing and panic not only stresses you out, but your Poodle as well. You want him to be relaxed and happy when you drop him off.

Make sure you have everything before you head out the door to the kennel, such as current vaccination records, medications, special food and treats, toys, bedding. Also be sure you have your vet’s phone number. Make sure you’ve arranged for any special services you want performed while your Poodle is in the kennel such as, training or grooming. Be sure you know what types of payments are accepted (checks, credit or debit cards, money orders)

If the kennel will allow it, take an item of yours from home with your scent on it, like a towel, blanket or pillow. This will help calm your dog and remind him of home.

If you are planning on going on a long trip or your Poodle hasn’t been in a kennel before, it’s a good idea to board it for short, overnight stays every so often to get it used to the idea. Alert the kennel staff to any medical or behavior problems your Poodle may have, such deafness, epilepsy, fear of loud noises, fear of men, aggressiveness to other dogs, etc.

If your Poodle is well socialized, knows a few basic obedience commands and can walk calmly on a leash, it will greatly help the kennel staff care for your dog.

Finally, when leaving your Poodle at the kennel, make your goodbye short, sweet, happy, but unemotional. You don’t want to make him unhappy about his kennel visit before it’s even started!

Your Poodle’s Homecoming

Once you return home from your trip, there are a few things you can do to help make your Poodle’s homecoming easier: Before you drop off our pick up your Poodle, know what the kennel’s hours of operation are. You don’t want any surprises if you get there and no one is there, or you get charged for an extra day.

Find out how well your Poodle handled his stay at the kennel. How was his appetite and behavior? These things are good to know for future visits or if you have to board him at another kennel sometime.

Don’t feed your Poodle for about four hours after returning home. He may be very excited to be home and when they get excited, they tend to gulp their food and water down. This can lead to vomiting, diarrhea or even bloat. It’s a good idea just to give him a few ice cubes instead of water.

You may find that your Poodle won’t to anything much but sleep for a few days after getting home. This is quite normal. He will find it much calmer than his stay in the kennel where he may not have gotten much sleep.

If you observe anything out of the ordinary when you return home, don’t be afraid to contact the boarding kennel to discuss the situation.

In Closing

Go on your trip and enjoy yourself knowing that you have done your homework and that your Poodle is in the good hands of capable and caring professionals!

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