BS: Dog Kennels UK. Anyone Use Them

Subject: BS: Dog Kennels UK. Anyone Use Them
From: Owen Woodson
Date: 04 May 10 - 03:43 PM

I'm going to be away for a few days and the person I usually leave my dog with has been taken ill. There's no-one else who can look after him and I can't take him with me.

Therefore, I've no option but to put him in kennels. This is something I've never done before and I want to make sure I put him in good accommodation.

Are there any UK based 'catters who could advise me about what to look out for and how much I'd need to pay to be reasonably certain of having placed him with somewhere decent?

BTW., he's routinely vaccinated, so I probably don't need any advice in that direction. Also, that he will need to be be vaccinated against kennel cough.

Many thanks.

Subject: RE: BS: Dog Kennels UK. Anyone Use Them
From: kendall
Date: 04 May 10 - 04:45 PM

Ask around, don't pick a name from the yellow pages.

Subject: RE: BS: Dog Kennels UK. Anyone Use Them
From: Sorcha
Date: 04 May 10 - 05:09 PM

Oh, THAT kind of kennels. Boarding places...thought you meant 'crate' type kennels.

I'm a FIRM believer in 'crate training' but no experience with boarding dogs, esp in UK

Subject: RE: BS: Dog Kennels UK. Anyone Use Them
From: Leadfingers
Date: 04 May 10 - 05:36 PM

Where are you Owen ? A location (Other than just UK) would be useful

Subject: RE: BS: Dog Kennels UK. Anyone Use Them
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 04 May 10 - 05:49 PM

Might help to change the thread title to Boarding Kennels

Subject: RE: BS: Dog Kennels UK. Anyone Use Them
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 04 May 10 - 06:52 PM

I will ask my mate - his dogs live in boarding kennels all summer while he goes to Canada and they love it - three walks a day, good nosh - and indeed are reluctant to come home.

Subject: RE: BS: Dog Kennels UK. Anyone Use Them
From: kendall
Date: 04 May 10 - 07:53 PM

That's the place to put a dog. My Seamus loves the kennel on the rare occasions that I take him there. He walks away with the woman who owns the place and never looks back.

Subject: RE: BS: Dog Kennels UK. Anyone Use Them
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 04 May 10 - 08:27 PM

Ideally you'd find some trustworthy person who could come and stay in your home while you are away, look after the dog and keep of the burglars while they are doing it.

There are agencies that provide this (for example) - I don't know how the cost would compare, but it might be worth finding out.

Subject: RE: BS: Dog Kennels UK. Anyone Use Them
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 05 May 10 - 02:18 AM

Here are the details of the kennels my mate uses - near Maidstone Kent

http://www.ikent.co.uk/profile/33490/Maidstone/Sapphire-Kennels-and-Cattery/

Subject: RE: BS: Dog Kennels UK. Anyone Use Them
From: Wolfhound person
Date: 05 May 10 - 05:15 AM

Ask dog-owning friends in your area for recommendations. Avoid anything that provokes remarks like "well...we had to bath him / her when we got him / her back.

I know a good one in Northumberland, and several not so good ones we tried before we found the good one.
As to costs, expect around 10-12 pounds a day. There's usually a discount for several dogs.

If your dog came from a breeder it could be that they would house it for you.

Good luck
Paws

Subject: RE: BS: Dog Kennels UK. Anyone Use Them
From: kendall
Date: 05 May 10 - 05:53 AM

I've had a dozen dogs, never used a crate, never would.

Subject: RE: BS: Dog Kennels UK. Anyone Use Them
From: romanyman
Date: 05 May 10 - 06:06 AM

also make sure your dog has kennel cough jabs before (if you have to)you put the dog in kennels

Subject: RE: BS: Dog Kennels UK. Anyone Use Them
From: theleveller
Date: 05 May 10 - 09:02 AM

We sometimes have to put the Whipstaff into kennels and have one we always use - very clean, 3 walks a day in the countryside and costs £7.50 a day. She's not a great traveller but we'll be taking her to Ryedale this year, travelling in the car in a dog crate which is safest for her and us, although she'll probably sleep with us in the caravan (better give her a bath first).

Subject: RE: BS: Dog Kennels UK. Anyone Use Them
From: Owen Woodson
Date: 05 May 10 - 02:40 PM

Thanks to everyone for the advice. I've now found a kennels very close to me which sounds ideal. Who knows, he might not want to come home.

Subject: RE: BS: Dog Kennels UK. Anyone Use Them
From: Sorcha
Date: 05 May 10 - 05:44 PM

leveller...you have a Whipstaff? Friend of mine does....!! He has a 'Weimerener tail' now tho. He wagged it SO hard and beat it on so much stuff it ruptured a blood vessel. Had to 'double dock' it!

He is a total sweetie!

Subject: RE: BS: Dog Kennels UK. Anyone Use Them
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 06 May 10 - 03:53 AM

I only use one when I'm too late back from the blues club and want to avoid the rolling pin.**BG**
RtS

Subject: RE: BS: Dog Kennels UK. Anyone Use Them
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 06 May 10 - 04:59 AM

We always use Barking Mad who are excellent.

http://www.barkingmad.uk.com

Subject: RE: BS: Dog Kennels UK. Anyone Use Them
From: theleveller
Date: 06 May 10 - 07:00 AM

"leveller...you have a Whipstaff?"

Yes - she's a softie, too, and gets on well with our cats. And we've called our duo Whipstaff after her, with a picture of her as our logo. We got her from a rescue home and assume she must have been a 'gypsy' dog as she's very good at...er, how shall I put it....bringing us wild food!

Subject: RE: BS: Dog Kennels UK. Anyone Use Them
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 06 May 10 - 11:47 AM

Ask your veterinarian for a suggestion. A vet's staff is likely to hear reports about the kennels in your region.

Subject: RE: BS: Dog Kennels UK. Anyone Use Them
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 06 May 10 - 12:18 PM

you will need to have vaccination certificate for your dog and kennels require kennel cough vacine up to date as well as the usual distemper, parvo, leptospirosis, etc. bring some familiar bedding & maybe a chew toy. For longer stays, ideally the dog will have had an introductory visit beforehand of just 1-2 nights. As everyone else says, best to get a recommendation. Otherwise, it's best to visit the kennels beforehand, see that they are clean and secure and the people okay to deal with. A friend said the kennels I use depressed her, reminded her of the pound, but I know my dogs are okay there even though they don't have home comforts. Prices vary, rarely below £7 a night - again you'd need to find out what's the norm in your area.

Subject: RE: BS: Dog Kennels UK. Anyone Use Them
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 06 May 10 - 01:32 PM

Slight thread drift, but there's a roadside advert beside the A35 in Dorset (UK) for "dog and cat boarding", which somehow sounds like a cruel sport......

Kitty