What you should know before
leaving your pet
By Gail Fisher
Preparation Means a Happy Pet
We know even thinking about boarding your pet can be stressful. Our goal in this
primer is to reduce or eliminate your stress. While this primer talks primarily
about dogs, many of the recommendations apply to cats, too.
At All Dogs Inn, our focus is on your pet's mental and physical well-being. With
over 125 years combined professional experience as pet behaviorists, trainers,
and caretakers, and even more as pet lovers and owners, our staff want your
pet's stay to be as easy as possible for both you and your pet
Here's some information to help you and your pet make the transition from home
to kennel to home again with as little stress as possible.
Before you leave
Mental - Your Attitude
Some people feel guilty leaving their pet. If this
is you, take our word for it, your pet doesn't feel nearly as bad being left as
you do about leaving. Honest!
It may help to understand how your pet doesn't feel. Your pet won't feel
abandoned. Not that your pet won't miss you - but if he has boarded before, he
knows you'll be back. (If he hasn't boarded before, our All Dogs Acclimation
Special will start your pet off right with a positive experience.)
At All Dogs Inn your pet has a staff of caring professionals watching out for
her needs and desires. While she won't have your furniture to sleep on, she will
have ours. And while he won't have your companionship, he will have ours. You
see, your pet has us to make his stay enjoyable. We hope knowing this helps make
your pet's boarding experience less stressful . . . for you.
Physical - What to Pack
Most owners bring:
- Leash and collar
- Medications, vitamins, etc. (with
written instructions)
- Veterinary information (inoculations,
etc.) (Follow your veterinarian's recommendations about inoculations.)
- Other special instructions
Some optional items to pack:
- Special diet - If you want your pet to
eat her same diet, we're happy to feed it. We don't charge extra as long
as it's packaged as individual meals.
- Bed - Washable and portable, please. We
move and wash bedding when we clean, so if it's too big, we won't take
it.
- Toothbrush/toothpaste - if you want us
to brush your dog's teeth.
- Toys - if your dog has a favorite. We
give every dog a chew toy while she's with us.
- Something that smells of home - but
remember, dogs chew. Even dogs beyond the chewing stage, may chew when
they're away from home. So we can't guarantee you'll get things back in
the same condition as they came in.
Leaving Your Pet
Even before you leave home, you activities and emotions are affecting your pet's
transition to the kennel. Here are some things to keep in mind:
Leaving home with your pet
Some pets get anxious at the first sign you're going away. If preparing for a
trip is stressful for your pet, consider bringing your pet to us before you
start to pack - even before the suitcases come out. The less stress your pet
feels before leaving home, the faster he'll adjust. You know your pet best, so
consider this when booking your pet's time with us.
Your pet's arrival at the kennel
Arrive as early in the day as possible - preferably by 2:00 p.m. The more active
your dog's first day with us, the quicker he'll settle in to our routine before
"lights out."
Leave-taking
Avoid emotional goodbyes - no guilt-ridden hugs. Your dog doesn't know why
you're feeling emotional, but your feelings will affect her. Just hand us the
leash with a smile and a happy word to your dog. She'll be fine. You will, too.
While You're Away
A typical day at the Inn
At All Dogs Inn, your dog's day starts with a "good morning" walk. Then a hearty
breakfast, after which we clean and sanitize the dog's quarters. Dogs signed up
for Doggie Daycare or training go to those activities. After cleaning and
refreshing your dog's bed and toys, there's a rest period, followed by
one-on-one time with each of our guests - a walk, playtime in one of our yards,
a brushing, a second meal or whatever your dog needs. We clean again, and by now
it's the end of the day - time for bed - a final walk, a "goodnight" snack and
cuddle, then lights out.
Making the transition
Most dogs adjust beautifully to our Inn. Some, however, are sensitive to dietary
changes or the heightened activity level. Our staff watches for signs of stress,
and knows how to lessen the impact.
Just in Case
If your pet needs veterinary attention, we'll call yours. If we aren't able to
take your pet there, we'll go to ours. There are many good vets in our area, and
in off hours we are just two miles away from the Veterinary Emergency Clinic. So
rest easy. Veterinary care is close-by 24 hours a day. If you leave us a number
where you can be reached, we'll try to contact you. Alternatively, we'll call
the name and number you leave as your "emergency contact".
Homecoming - Welcome Home!
Greeting your dog
We keep your dog (and his quarters) as clean as possible, but we recommend
having your dog groomed by our outstanding staff of professional groomers.
Arrive home to a happy, healthy, and beautifully groomed dog that is thrilled to
see you, too.
Arriving back home
It is not unusual for dogs to try to drink lots of water when they get home.
It's not that your dog didn't have enough to drink in the kennel, but dogs often
react to excitement by guzzling water. Uncontrolled drinking is not good for
your dog, so supervise your dog's water consumption at first. Let him drink for
15 or 20 seconds, then take the bowl away. After 20 minutes or so, give him
another drink. Repeat this for an hour or two, then he should be fine.
Getting back to "Normal"
Depending on how long your dog was away from home, occasional loose stools from
water or dietary changes and a different activity level are perfectly normal. If
your dog's after-boarding behavior is puzzling, call us. In rare cases there's a
transitional period of adjustment, and we're happy to give you advice to help
you both.
Sharing Information
When you pick up your pet from All Dogs Inn™ you'll get a "report card" telling
you how your pet did. If you have any questions about her boarding experience,
please ask us. And we welcome your feedback. We continuously strive to make our
services the best. Your input and feedback are critical to our success.
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