Dog Kennel or Pet Boarding: Which is Best for Your Pet?

Even under ideal circumstances, you won’t be able to look after your pet 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Errands, vacations, business trips, your daily work schedule, and other situations can force you and your best friend to spend some time apart. If you wonder who should care for your pet during these times, you may have run across two main options in your research: kenneling and pet boarding. Let's examine what each of these options has to offer, and which makes more sense for specific scenarios, so you can make a more informed decision.

Different Types of Pet Boarding Options

Before you started looking into your pet boarding or kenneling, it may have occurred to you to engage a pet sitter. This could be anyone from a generous friend or neighbor to a professional pet sitter. However, in many cases pet sitters may do little more than check in on your pet and put out food and water a couple of times a day.

This relative lack of attention can have a negative impact on your pet, especially if it's already prone to separation anxiety. Worse case scenario, your pet may act hostile to the pet sitter, hide, or run away.

If your pet needs a more controlled, more social experience than a pet sitter can provide, you're left with two options: kennel or pet boarding facility. Both can house animals for 24 hours or more, offering basics such as shelter, food, and water. However, there are some important differences in what else you can expect.

What to Expect from a Kennel: Best as a Short-Term Solution

Kenneling typically works well as a short-term pet boarding measure. For instance, animal hospitals may provide kennels for dogs and cats recovering from anesthesia or surgery, or simply as a means of holding your pet safely until you can come and pick it up. (Grooming centers sometimes have kennels available as well.) You might even consider a dedicated kenneling facility when you only need safe lodgings for your pet for a few hours at a time.

Unfortunately, a kennel makes a less-than-ideal choice if you prioritize long-term comfort for your pet. The enclosures tend to be relatively small and cramped, which can make larger animals feel claustrophobic. Pets usually have to lie on a bare concrete floor without much to do except wait for the next meal, with little opportunity for human interaction, exercise, or playtime with other pets. If you've seen the kennels at your local pet store, you have a good idea of what your pet will experience.

What to Expect From a Pet Boarding Facility: Long-Term Comfort and Convenience

If you think of a kennel as a cheap motel for pets, you can consider pet boarding something closer to a luxurious hotel and spa. Pet boarding goes beyond the basic services you'd expect from kenneling. Instead of lying on a bare floor, animals usually get to lounge or sleep comfortably on soft bedding. You can also expect such amenities as:

• Spacious, climate-controlled enclosures.
• Regular affection from experienced caregivers.
• Opportunities to run and play outdoors, in a fenced space, with other pets at the facility.
• Indoor exercise areas for when poor weather makes outdoor fun impossible.

At some pet boarding centers, you may be able to leave your pet's favorite toys, blankets, and snacks with the staff to help your four-legged family member feel at home. These extras make pet boarding a far more humane choice than kenneling when you need to be away from your pet for days or weeks at a time.

Veterinary Pet Boarding: The Best Option of All?

Some pets may benefit from more specialized care than standard pet boarding facilities can provide. For example, elderly pets or pets with medical conditions may need close monitoring and regular treatment with prescribed medicines, while others may need both a medical procedure and a long-term place to stay simultaneously. In these cases, veterinary pet boarding offers the best possible solution.

Veterinary pet boarding facilities are often connected to or associated with leading animal hospitals, which means that they have ready access to skilled veterinary technicians. These experts can make sure that your pet gets its necessary meds on schedule, monitor its vital signs, watch for any signs of worsening health, and administer emergency care in a crisis. You may even be able to schedule grooming, bathing, or minor surgery for your pet during its stay at this deluxe type of facility.

Check With Your Vet Before Going Forward

Pet boarding facilities often require their tenants to be up to date on their vaccinations before a stay can be booked. If you haven't kept up with this important preventative care, you'll need to schedule a visit with your local veterinarian at least a couple of weeks ahead of time. If your pet has a pre-existing medical condition, ask your vet whether you should insist on a veterinary boarding facility that can address any special needs. With the right knowledge and preparation, you can make your separation from your pet a happy, healthy one!