I am attending a week-long event outside of the state, and I will have to keep my dog in a kennel for the duration. Can anyone offer any advice on choosing a good kennel? Obviously, I will investigate the kennel thoroughly, but is there anything in particular I should keep an eye out for? I would appreciate any advice.

A tour is a must. An actual staff is a must, talk to the actual staff about dogs and see what their knowledge level is. Do you feel comfortable leaving your dog with someone with this knowledge level? If you can watch them feed and clean (this can take a couple hours at large boarding facilities) are they following feeding instructions? Are they really doing a good job cleaning pens? Does the place smell like a bad barnyard or a normal tolerable level of doggy smell?

Look at the dogs already boarding there. Do they look clean and healthy? Where are they forced to spend the majority of their time? Are they exercised or simply contained?

Finally look at the facility. Is it secure? Do they have cameras? Are the yards escape proof? Do they allow dogs to run together dog park style?

Lastly find out who their vet is. With the facilities permission call that vet and ask for information about why dogs from that facility come see them. A normal thing for a vet to see from a boarding kennel is gastric upsets, uncommon would be sutures from dogs trying to scale chainlink or toenips from fencefighting, and red flag rare would be dog fight wounds, broken limbs, parvo, distemper.

Finally, my favorite is the in home sitter option. I did some serious screening with background and reference checks and found two people who I can trust to house sit, watch and exercise my dogs, and not burn down my house.

Avoid PetSmart PetHotel's. If you need further details PM me. Pet sitters are the way to go. If you're in Scottsdale, AZ I would be able to do it.

I know that kennels are necessary at times but I still do not like leaving my dogs at one, no matter how good they are. The dogs either come with me or I have a friend that will come over and house sit and take care of the dogs for me.

I definately agree with the home sitter or pet sitter as previously mentioned. Do you have a friend or neighbor you trust that knows your dog that would be willing to come over to feed, exercise and play with your dog? Will your dog do OK if left alone all night?

Thank you for the offer, Cathy. That is extraordinarily kind of you. Ironically, I am leaving town to visit Scottsdale. Also, thanks to everyone else for the advice. I will investigate the dog-sitter tip farther. This site is such a great source for a first time dog owner like me.

One other thing, if you do have to kennel them, ask if the place takes the dogs out. When I have to kennel my three dogs, the place I take them will walk them twice a day (not as often as they are use to going potty, but it helps because my male will pop before he goes in his kennel) Now, you may not want your dog to be walked by these people, you may not trust them with your dog, but something to think about. Happy hunting.