Boarding Your Dog For The First Time

Boarding Your Dog For The First Time
From Krista Mifflin

Make It Easier For Both of You
The day has arrived, and you and your family (or just you) finally get to plan that trip you've been waiting for. Except for one small thing : you can't bring your dog with you, for whatever reason. A lot of dogs experience anxiety when they are boarded at a kennel, or even any place that's not home, for the first time. Their owners do too, and each feeds off the other's worry. These helpful hints will hopefully make this first-time a little less nerve-wracking and stressful.
If you need to vaccinate him before boarding, make sure you do so at least two weeks before he goes into the kennel. Not only will this be easier on your dog because he won't be feeling the effects of the vaccination at the same time as a stressful and situation (the kennel), but some vaccines need at least two weeks to take hold in your dog's system and be effective. Talk to your veterinarian about how much time each vaccine needs.
Try to be calm (hard, I know). While planning, packing, and on the day of departure, act as if it's nothing out of the ordinary.
Bring his favorite blanket, cushion, or if he hasn't one of his own, sacrifice a sweatshirt or something you wear frequently, unwashed, so it smells like you, to help him calm once you are gone.
Bring his own food, and his own dishes as well. Anything that came from home will help him adjust, minimizing the distressing changes.
Take any of his favorite toys with him; a Kong, a stuffed animal he likes to cuddle with, a squeaky cat, his brother.
Make sure you don't suddenly change his food on him, as the resulting stomach upset will just add to his distress.
Once you drop him off, leave. Do not drag out the good-byes, or make a fuss, or act like you are leaving for a week (even if you are). If you drop him off and make like he's just going for a play-date, he won't as stressed out, and your leave-taking will be much easier if you don't have deal with a freaked-out and screaming dog.
Be calm. One thing I've noted over time when boarding two dogs that are fairly close: mine prefer to share a kennel, rather than each have their separate rooms. Yours might like it better this way as well. Enjoy your vacation, and hopefully your dog will enjoy his at "Chez Puppy" or some other fun boarding kennel.