Kennels - How does it effect a Boxer?

[DAVE ED]

Hi,
I am probably going to get married abroad at the beginning of 2007. We would be away from home for 10 - 14 days depending on the location. My question is how would this effect my 2 boxers? Jack will be about 8 months and Poppy about 6 months old come January time. My parents can probably have them for about 5 days of this time but the rest would have to be in a kennel. There is a very good one (or so I've been told) local to me but I'm still really apprehensive about it...
Will their age have a bearing on how they react? Does it harm their personalities? Am I just being over protective? Sounds sad, but leaving them behind is my main concern of getting married abroad!

 

[lisasentous]

I have never put Lisa in a kennel before but I am looking in to for christmas as we are planning on going home to Ireland for about 10 days. I have looked on various websites and read the comments which I really am not too convinced about.
I will within the next few weeks visit some to check them out.
Over here they have to be booked pretty soon as there are a lot of people using them at christmas time.

But your babies are alot younger than Lisa so I am not too sure.
I am sure you will get alot of advice on here.


And congratulations on the forth coming wedding!!!!!!!

 

[slavvachops]

Hi Dave Ed, not sure whereabouts you are in UK, but we put Chester in here http://www.mypetstop.co.uk/ they are excellent, a little bit more expensive than a regular kennel, but at least we could enjoy ourselves without worrying! I know they have a few centres round the country. Congrats on the wedding by the way!! :D

 

[dharmadoodle]

Rogue had her first kennel experience when she was just 6mths old. Being a pup she was put in a puppy area, & of course got loads more fuss than the older dogs. :D

Rogue actually came out walking on her lead a lot better.

I knew it was a great kennel because my brother's dog goes there all the time & does just fine.

I liked the fact that a vet came to the kennels everyday. I liked the way the kennels had walls inbetween, (some don't do well with fences where they can see other dogs). I liked the way they called me on hols to get permission to give Rogue antibiotics, as she got sick just before we had to go away. They had indoor heating too, (extra charge, but worth it - We went away in Oct).

You will have to get the kennel cough med done from your vet before hand, & show vaccination card, (if the kennel is any good).

I will tell you now - The best part of your trip will be spent thinking about your dogs, & you will be so excited to go & get them too.

Look at it as their little holiday - Just find a decent place - Word of mouth is always the best way - Go view though.

 

[Cookiepie]

I had to kennel Pepik first time for two weeks at around 6 months of age.
Before that I shopped around because the kennels are very different. Some places you definitely wouldnt leave your dog and some are like five star hotels. How the staff interacts with the dog, their experience, how clean it is, how much daily attention each dog gets are things that I researched.
I also had him for day care/boarding first half a day, then a whole day and then again a whole day&night with time in between before the actual two week boarding so that I could check how he was doing and so he got to know the people at the boarding place. He had full daycare Mond through Frid with playtime with other dogs so he seemed to have double the fun that he has at home LOL. I think that if they get to know the boarding experience young perhaps it's not as hard as if you board a senior that has never been boarded before. If Poppy and Jack can be together that probably helps too.

Congratulations in advance!

 

[Net45582]

Each pup is individual. I would contact the kennel and set up a day for them to stay before you make reservations for a long stay. This may give you an idea of how they will react to the whole kenneling/seperation situation.

 

[LovNBoxers]

Last year for Christmas we put Beau and Jesse in a kennel for 5 days. I called the place every day to see how they were doing and the person working there just told me they were not eating much. Other than that they were fine. ( I also had a friend working there who said they were fine)

I do not think they ate well because they were not at home with us.

 

[LovNBoxers]

I also showed up twice in the 30 days before we left our boxers there to see how clean the place was ect......

 

[Queenmum]

Wil and Em have stayed a few times at a local "pet resort" and have done just fine. The minute we get out of the car, they run for the door and as soon as we are in the building, they run behind the desk and wait at the door to go to the back where the kennels are located. Dogs have such a keen sense of what is good and bad in the world. They are never hesitant. The last time they did come home with a tiny bit of kennel cough. Nothing that a few swigs of Robitussin and honey didn't take care of. Just make sure they are given a Bordatella (sp) update. I prefer the nose spray vs. the shot they got the last time. We have always used the nose spray at our Vets and this last time we got the shots. I will ask for the nose spray next time. Good luck!
I have always found it hard to ask a family member or friend to watch my pups. They just never seem to do exactly what you want. I also am a little weird about someone staying in my house while I am away. With a private kennel, you can be very specific and they also have very strict health department regulations.

 

[Lola's mum]

I've been to look around a couple of kennels and we're not planning to go anywhere at all
We have quite a few to choose from where we live so we want to make the right choice if and when we use them.