What to Expect When Boarding Your Dog for the First Time

Are you looking to go on a trip and can’t be your furry family member? If you’re looking into boarding your pup for the first time, it can feel a little overwhelming. That’s why we at Prestonwood Kennels wanted to help you out by creating this “What to Expect” guide for boarding your dog for the first time! If you’re in the Houston area, give us a visit for an in-person rendition!

Expectation 1 – Testing

The first thing you should expect is that the staff will do some sort of temperament testing for your dog, just to see what their personality is like and make sure there’s nothing to be concerned about for the safety of your pup and others. This is also part of the process to see which other dogs they may best get along with.

Expectation 2 – Visiting

A good thing to expect (of yourself) is to visit your top options in person with your dog. Once you’ve narrowed it down to two or three places, set up site visits. This will allow you to let your dog get a sense of the space, as well as allow you to see if they’d be comfortable there.

Expectation 3 – Updates

Another thing to expect is that you’ll need to make sure that all of your pup’s health info is up to date. The facility will ask for all of this updated information for their vet staff. You’ll also want to make sure that your contact info is correct, and that you keep a current list of your dog’s meds and schedules (food, meds, activities). All of this will help the facility you choose to keep your pooch happy and healthy.

Expectation 4 – Packing

When you board your pup, especially for the first time, you should expect to pack some items that remind your furry friend of home. Most facilities will allow you to pack personal items for your pet, like a favorite toy or blanket, or even a shirt that smells like you. This helps keep your pup calm and at ease while they’re there. Some facilities will also allow you to pack your dog’s food from home, especially if your dog is on special food for their health.

Read more: The Advantages of Boarding Your Dog with Professional Caregivers

Expectation 5 – Pickup and Drop-off

One of the big things that you should be prepared for is the pickup and drop-off of your pet for their stay. When dropping off your pup for their stay, you need to remember to be calm and act like things are business as usual. This will keep your dog calm as they transition from your care to the dog boarding facility. As for picking up, you’ll need to remember to allow your dog time to decompress when they get home. They may be a bit disoriented from their stay and the change, and they’ll probably take a day or two to be back at full energy. Don’t take it personally, though, your dog will be excited to see you again, no matter how fun their stay was!