If only all boarding facilities were run by people just like you!!

Of course, the operative word as far as finding someone to stay with your dog is finding someone you trust. I sure don't have a relative I'd trust, and they don't live near me anyway. Also don't have any friends I'd actually trust with my dog. While I've not done the whole interviewing thing, I doubt there are local pet sitters I'd trust, either.

So, I tend to end up using a kennel. So far, I've only had one not-so-great experience with that.

Also, I think it's important, if you're going to be using a kennel at some point, to have a young dog stay there for one nite, just to have the experience, while they're fairly young. My new pup will most likely have an overnite before she's a year old. I'll hate every minute of it, I know<g>.

leih

I've had to board my dog two times. First time was at the vet's office.(I've since changed to a different vet) Very small kennels and two outings a day to a small fenced area. She seemed fine when I picked her up, and the conditions were OK, but the small confines made me rethink leaving her there again.

This time (last month) I did more research, asked my current vet and got a recommendation for a kennel that accepts titers. I thought it was a great place. Large indoor/outdoor kennel (air conditioned on the inside) and 1 play session a day in a large, fenced grassy area, just her and a kennel person. Nice website, and webcams available for the common areas (no common areas for us, though ).

I guess you just have to look at a few places to see what you are comfortable with.

It really is about comfort after you get through checking that it is not run by morons and there is heat and common sense being used. It is not rocket science but it is definitely work and about caring.
I really like that all those years of useless information is now something of value to me.
Personally I would not ever be able to
go on vacation. I would need two or three people minimum. Someone to do the dogs and cats and maybe the fish and birds though there are only a handful I am comfortable with with my Congo. And then you have the reptiles and exotics. Rare to find someone to do all of them. Other than my kids. And much of my beasts are dealt with "by feel" . It is, as a friend said, my bliss. Passion, talent, curse...call it what you will but I deal with most of the beasties by feel. When I was in the hospital I came back to some troubles, included drowned snake eggs from too much humidity and a couple odd infections, sick lungfish... Then there were the overfed rodents and couple escapees. My kids did a great job, but they don't have my feel or just don't trust themselves. Experience is sure a help.

Here locally I have one other kennel that I refer to and she to me. We are both on top of the same hill. She has done it for years and years. Now the trouble is when we both get full and people want recommendations. We are like....if they have room at this late date...you don't want to go there.

 Quote: leih merigian

Lucille, I think you're fortunate to have a family member you trust to do this!

I hate using kennels unless I absolutely have no other choice.

Me too. Usually my parents and my dogs stay with my young sister and her husband if we had to go somewhere. Their dogs get to stay with ours too. Lucky our dogs get along pretty good. We used to have a huge pack about 5 dogs together, but it had split into two and three after my sister got married.