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you don’t get a good vibe from the staff, you may as well rule
out this kennel too: if they treat you like a dog, how will
they treat your dog?
Rules
Even a kennel with polite and helpful staff may say “No” when you ask if you can see the entire kennel. If they say no and then explain that it is a disease-prevention measure, they are being cautious and rightly so. Dogs in the kennel could pick up germs from your shoes. But when a kennel doesn’t let prospective customers look around at will, it should still show you something – perhaps a viewing area – that will show you the conditions under which your dog will be residing there. It’s reasonable for you to want to know what goes on behind the front office. If the kennel staff can’t show you where your dog will be living, they may have something to hide.
The helpful kennel staff will certainly have a brochure or a list of regulations discussing health concerns, necessary vaccinations and proof of parasite-prevention, and conditions which would prevent a dog from being taken as a boarder. The more information they give you, the better!
Space
When you visit, make sure you leave with a clear idea of how much space your dog will be allotted, and that you feel confident that his needs for safety and privacy will be met. Find out if there is a raised place in your dog’s personal pen for him to sleep, so that he’s not sleeping right on the bare floor. Find out also if you can bring his own bedding along, or if the kennel prefers to use its own. This too, need not be a point of contention: kennel staff can’t tell if people will bring their dog’s bedding in sanitized or grubby, and the kennel may not want to chance it.
Kennels should have clear-cut security precautions. Obviously, pens should prevent escape, outside fences should be solidly built and tunnel-proof, and there should be locks (dog-proof and human-proof) on gates and doors. Make sure there are smoke detectors and fire alarms (and fire extinguishers posted in hallways and offices would be good too).
Cleanliness
A kennel is going to have a certain doggy smell, like the vet’s office does. But it shouldn’t smell bad! Reviewing the daily schedule should give you some idea of how the kennel treats hygiene: they answers they give you about sanitizing bedding and cleaning up after sick dogs will also be some indication. Go with your gut instinct here: if the place looks clean and smells clean, it’s probably fine. If not, get yourself out of there – and leave your shoes at the front step when you get home. Wipe down the soles with a mixture of bleach and water and let them dry before you take them any place your dog spends time.
Comfort
The kennel pens and play areas should be appropriately warm or cool, and staff members should be ready to make accommodations for dogs based on their furriness, age and general health. Older dogs may have achy joints and need warmer temperatures than young dogs, and Newfoundlands and Chihuahuas will have vastly different needs when it comes to heat and cold. Are outside areas adequately sheltered from hot sun or rain or cold winds? Are indoor facilities kept at “room temperature” appropriate to the season?
Staff
Kennel staff should be polite and knowledgeable. They should be people who like animals! When you visit, check out the personnel: are they working with the animals and cleaning stuff, or are they hanging around in the office or smoking outside? Do they keep charts on their residents, and talk with each other about how particular animals are doing? Are they aware of how kennels should be run and of what dogs need when they’re staying away from home? Do they seem trustworthy? Pay attention to your instincts: if you don’t like the people, don’t leave your dog with them!
Other Dogs
When you visit, pay attention to what the dogs in residence are doing. Do they seem comfortable? Do they like the staff members? If the kennel is filled with barking, seemingly anxious dogs, the staff may not be caring for them properly. (There will always be some barking in a kennel: you’ll have to judge for yourself whether it’s the companionable barking of fairly happy dogs, or the scared and angry barking of stressed-out animals).
References
Ask if the kennel can give you references from customers or local veterinarians. Talk to vets and ask their opinions of the kennel. Don’t be shy about calling up customer references and asking if they’ve been happy with the kennel. If a customer who seems genuinely fond of her dog tells you she has boarded the dog at that kennel several times or over a period of years and recommends it to you, you can feel that much more comfortable with trusting your pet to the place.
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