Doggie Boarding tips

At times, it is heart wrenching to see the plight of pet owners having to drop their furry companion off at a boarding facility. I have myself gone through these emotions and I fully understand what they are going through . A pleasurable boarding experience is the result of the owner and the boarding staff working in the interest of the pet. I get asked a lot about the preparations that needs to be made before you drop your pet off and what to expect in a boarding.

• If your dog has never been boarded before, consider few hours of day care as well as at least one overnight boarding prior to the actual stay. This acclimatises the dog to the new environment and the staff. It also gives an opportunity to the owner to give any feedback to the staff and vice versa.
• Get your dog used to other dogs, people, new environments, travelling in a car/vehicle and most importantly eating independently (At Petspace we do hand-feed the dogs that do not eat on their own, but some dogs look for their owners to hand feed them).
• Ensure that all his immunizations are current and that he is not suffering from any contagious disease.
• Get your dog on an anti-tick/flea treatment as a preventive. Tick collars and spot-on applicators are effective.
• Get your dog dewormed regularly.
• Bring any familiar clothing/object that smells of home.
• If your dog gets anxious seeing you pack, bring the dog in before the suitcases come out! The less stressed the dog is, he will adjust faster.
• Let the staff know in case your dog has any abnormal fears (water, birds etc), allergies (wheat, milk etc) or has any medical condition (such as epilepsy, hip dysplasia etc).
• Arrive as early as possible in the day, so the pet has enough outside time to make new friends before “lights out”.
• Dogs sense and reflect our feelings; don’t allow a family member to stage an emotional farewell. Keep your good-byes short and happy. Most dogs view their boarding stay as a vacation.
• While at boarding, eating habits of dogs may change – some eat a lot, while some may reduce their food intake. Some dogs tend to gain weight while some tend to lose weight running around with other dogs having a great time.
• It would be best if the dog is kept on the same diet as at home.
• Some dogs do not eat for the first day in a new environment.
• Most dogs sleep a lot for the first couple of days after they return home.
• Your dog will be very excited when you pick him up. Do not feed him for a couple hours as excessive food and water consumption may cause issues as the dog is in a very excited state.

As always, feel free to call us at 9900020364 for any suggestions or information.