5 Ways to Prepare Your Dog for Boarding

Prepping Your Dog for a Boarding Stay: Key Takeaways

• Consider a Boarding Trial: If your dog experiences anxiety or nervousness, plan a trial boarding stay of at least 24 hours to help them acclimate to the new environment and routine.
• Adjust Your Dog’s Sleeping Habits: If your dog is accustomed to sleeping in your bed, train them to sleep alone before boarding to reduce any discomfort during their stay.
• Keep Your Dog Comfortable: Bring familiar items like a rug, bed, or favorite toy to the boarding facility to provide comfort and a sense of security for your dog. At Pet Palace, we provide blankets and anything else your dog needs to be comfortable during their stay, but you are more than welcome to bring along a toy or blanket as well!
• Drop Off Your Dog in the Morning: Dropping off your dog early in the day allows them time to adjust to the new surroundings before nighttime.
• Visit Your Dog’s Veterinarian: Ensure your dog is free of fleas, is de-wormed, and has updated vaccinations at least two weeks prior to boarding, as these are typically required and considerate to other dogs. Pet Palace requires dogs to have the following vaccinations: DHPP, rabies, Bordetella, and CIV (H3N2 & H3N8).

Vacation is your time to unwind and escape the stresses of your busy life. Why not make your time away just as enjoyable for your dog? They deserve a vacation as well (though if you’re thinking of traveling with your dog, be sure to check out our guide on that too)!

Boarding your dog when you’re out of town is a great way to ensure that they are thoughtfully cared for while you’re away. To keep both of your vacations as stress-free as possible, our team at Pet Palace wants to provide you with five things that you can do to prepare your dog before boarding!

1. Consider a Boarding Trial

If your dog is particularly nervous or prone to separation anxiety, it’s a good idea to plan a trial boarding stay. A trial stay of at least 24 hours eases your dog into a new environment and a new daily routine. You may find that your dog will adjust much better when it comes time for a longer stay in the future.

2. Adjust Your Dog’s Sleeping Habits

If your dog sleeps with you in your bed each night, you can expect him or her to be upset with sleeping alone at the boarding facility. Do your best to get them adjusted to sleeping alone. If they cry when sleeping alone, you can expect them to cry when they’re boarded, so getting them used to the idea will be best.

3. Keep Your Dog Comfortable

Regardless of the creature comforts your chosen boarding facility provides, there’s nothing like the comfort of home. Bring a familiar rug for your dog to sleep on, as it will help them feel more secure. The facility may allow you to bring your dog’s bed, so ask in advance.

Does your dog have a favorite toy? If so, bring that as well! Any little reminders of home can help your dog feel less stressed and more comfortable while you are away.

4. Drop off Your Dog in the Morning

If your schedule permits, drop your dog off at the boarding facility early in the morning. This gives them the entire day to adjust to their surroundings before it’s time to bed down for the night.

5. Visit Your Dog’s Veterinarian

It’s important, and considerate to the other dogs, that you de-flea and de-worm your dog. You should also update your dog’s vaccinations at least two weeks prior to boarding. Both of these precautions are typically required before boarding.

Follow these tips and you’ll help your dog have a much more pleasant stay, and you can enjoy peace of mind while you are on your vacation!

FAQs About Preparing Your Dog for Boarding

Wondering about other elements of your dog’s stay with Pet Palace? We’ve got you covered! Here are some of our most frequently asked questions and our responses. Check them out!

What should I pack for my dog’s boarding stay?

You’re welcome to bring a blanket or a couple of your dog’s favorite toys to make them feel totally comfortable while they stay with us. We find that this helps ease the transition for your dog and gives them a solid connection to home.

Additionally, some owners will also bring food for their dogs when their pet has special dietary needs or is a picky eater. We totally understand and only want the best for your pup! If you do opt for this, we do ask that your food is in premeasured and premarked baggies because it makes everything simpler for you, us, and your dog.

Otherwise, know that we provide premium Iams and Eukanuba dry food for the pets staying with us, so food from home is totally optional.

How do I choose the right boarding facility for my dog?

The right facility for your dog will be one dedicated to their care, staffed by fully trained animal experts, with convenient locations, and showcasing a track record of success. We may be a bit biased, of course, but we’re confident Pet Palace is the best boarding location for your dog as we can fulfill all of these aspects and more.

Am I able to take a tour of your facilities?

Of course! We are open for tours any time during our regular hours. We encourage you to drop by or let us know in advance and we can let you view our operations in full. That way, you’ll be able to see just how well your furry friend will be treated by our team and how much they’ll enjoy their stay!

I’ve heard about “kennel stress” during boarding. What are some signs of it and how can it be mitigated?

Some dogs experience kennel stress when they are placed in new environments. They can begin barking or whining, pacing, panting, or shedding, or could begin to feel ill or exhibit other negative behaviors.

Major sources of this stress can come from lack of exercise, changes in diet, being in an unfamiliar space with unknown people, and undergoing a change in routine. Thankfully, Pet Palace’s approach to pet boarding significantly reduces the chances of kennel stress because our techniques and structure address these known sources of stress.

We ensure your pup gets regular exercise while in our care, our trained staff gets to know your dog and spends time with them to put them at ease, we permit and encourage familiar toys and blankets to be brought to our facility, and our option for pet owners to bring food from home, as mentioned above, allows there to be a continuity in your dog’s diet.

All of these aspects help to reduce stress and make the change in routine less impactful, ensuring a happier, healthier pup.

What are the vaccination requirements for boarding my dog?

To keep both your dog and other dogs at our facility healthy, we require the following vaccines: DHPP, rabies, Bordetella, CIV (H3N2 and H3N8).

If you opt to have your cat stay with us as well, they will require basic vaccines for FVRCP and rabies.

About Pet Palace

If you are looking for a comfortable and inviting environment for your dog to stay in, our facilities are the ideal place to meet your dog’s needs.

Our caring and fun-loving staff is dedicated to providing your pet with unwavering love and support while you’re away, all in the form of playful days, peaceful nights, and plenty of luxurious accommodations.

Where to Find Us

We have the pleasure of offering pet boarding, day care, and grooming for all of your furry friends! To take advantage of these services, you can find us at the following locations:

Contact Us Today for Your Dog Boarding Needs!

At Pet Palace, we want to ensure that your dog’s stay with us will be anything but “ruff,” as we specialize in treating your pets like royalty.

If you have any questions about how you can best prepare your dog for a fun boarding experience, reach out to us today. We look forward to hearing from you!

Categories: All Posts, Pet Boarding