There are more than 83 million pet dogs in the United States, according to the Humane Society of the United States. That’s at least one in nearly half of the households in the country. Although more than 40 percent of dog owners take their furry friends with them when they travel, there are times when that just isn’t possible. Business trips, cross-country flights and solemn occasions like funerals are no places for a dog. For those times, it makes sense to consider boarding your dog.
What is dog boarding?
Dog boarding provides a home away from home for your dog when you have to be away and can’t take him with you. Unlike dog boarding facilities of 20 years ago, today’s boarding facilities offer large doggy suites (not cages), plenty of attention, state-of-the-art medical facilities and ample room for your dog to exercise.
What you can expect from dog boarding
Just what can you expect from your local boarding facility? Although each business is different, you can be assured that most professional boarders offer:
- Caring staff who love dogs. “Must love dogs” is a job requirement.
- Spacious accommodations. Gone are the days when dogs were boarded in cages (ugh!) and only let out to exercise once a day. If this is your mental picture of a boarding facility, you’ll be very pleasantly surprised.
- Room to exercise. Virtually all boarding facilities give your dog plenty of room to run and play.
- Time to socialize and time to be alone. Dogs are social animals and boarding gives them time to interact with other dogs, which is so much better than just having a pet sitter come by your house once or twice a day. However, dogs need their private time, too. A good boarding facility offers both.
- Access to veterinary facilities. Some boarding facilities are adjacent to veterinary clinics. Others have vets or other pet health care workers on staff. Either way, you can be assured that if your dog needs medical care, it’s only a few steps away and that the staff has been trained in emergency veterinary medicine.
- Treats. Boarding should feel like a vacation for your dog. That’s why most boarding facilities offer treats, toys and other fun things for your dog to enjoy.
- Designated care givers. All boarding facilities assign a loving care giver specifically to your dog to see to not just his room, water and bathroom needs, but also to play with him, give him treats and make sure he gets enough belly rubs.
Nice extras
Some additional amenities offered by some boarding facilities include daily emails to let you know how your pup is faring and what he’s been up to all day and webcams that let you peek in on your dog while he’s at the boarding facility.
Boarding your dog when you have to be away from home overnight, for a day or for a week, can be a great solution for both of you. You have the peace of mind knowing that he’s being well cared for and your dog gets to have fun with other dogs and a care giver, almost like you, to watch over him.
