Dog Kennel Guide

Many people would argue that dogs are made for walking and that the phrase ‘walkies’ brings about a huge amount of excitement and bouncing around.  However, for some dog walking isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.  It may be that your dog is old and arthritic and, though he still loves to be outdoors, he can’t walk any distance any more.  Or it may be that you have a smaller dog but often go for very long walks which he can’t manage with his little legs.  In these cases you would be well advised to look into buying a dog carrier.

Believe it or not there is actually a large and varied range of dog carriers on the market today.  Most people are well aware of the dog crates which are used when carrying a dog to the vets or a boarding kennel.  These are made from plastic with a grate at the front to stop the dog from getting out.  If you are proud of your green credentials then a cardboard eco-carrier made from mostly re-cycled materials will stop you panicking about the amount of plastic you are using.

If you have a particularly petite pet then a small dog carrier in the form of a hand bag is all you will need.  These specially designed bags have reinforced handles which are slightly longer than those on a normal handbag so that the dog can sit up and poke his head out.  The bag is also well ventilated so that your pet is able to breathe even if the bag is done up.

Modes of transport for babies have also been used as a model for various types of dog carrier.  It is possible to get a front pouch style carrier for dogs up to about 20lbs.  These have padded bottoms and a lead and collar fastener at the top to stop the dog from escaping.  They also have lots of useful pockets for the dog owner to stash his or her belongings.  The other type of carrier is in the form of a stroller only the seat is completely flat and padded with a mesh front to stop the dog from jumping out.

The final type of dog carrier to discuss is a collapsible carrier.  These are made from a light metal frame which has a nylon cover stretched over it.  These are incredibly light weight and fold down very small and so don’t take up much space.  This type of carrier is ideal for journeys in the car.

So, next time you think that you will have to leave your pet at home in his dog kennel while you go out for a walk, think again!

Everyone knows that dogs need walking.  Their age, size and breed will determine how much walking they need but all dogs will need to be taken out at least once per day (unless they are ill or extremely elderly).  Of course for many people part of the attraction of owning a dog is to take it on lovely long walks in the countryside but in the modern age of everyone in a family working, often long hours, it is not always practical or possible to do this.  If you are someone who finds it hard to fit in dog walks on the days that they work then you should consider paying someone for their dog walking services.

Leaving your pet in his dog kennel all day is not just boring for him, it is also unkind.  Dogs like to run around and sniff at new and interesting discoveries.  If you leave him in the same place all day he is likely to develop behaviour problems and to become unhappy.  Even an outdoor dog kennel, which gives him access to outside space will soon become tiresome for him if he doesn’t get to go out as well.  Luckily there are many people up and down the country who are advertising their dog walking services.

Look on the internet or in the local papers for people advertising as dog walkers and then ask for references from some other people who are using them.  These people will come to your home as many times in a day as you would like, collect your dog and take him out for a walk for however long you have specified.  Often they will have more than one dog to walk and so your pet will be getting some social interaction and company as well as some much needed exercise.

You will need to make sure that they have specific instructions such as whether he can be let off the lead, any fears he may have and whether he should be returned to the house or his dog kennel.  It is also very important that they know whether he is disturbed by other dog or children as you won’t want them to get him into a situation where he ends up in trouble.

You may also find that someone advertising dog walking services is also willing to do some pet sitting for you if you need to go away for a night or maybe even longer.

When you make the decision to go away on holiday then one of the first things that you will need to think about once you have made the booking is what you are going to do with your pets.  Are you going to use a dog kennel, dog sitter or get a friend or member of the family to look after him?  For many people a dog boarding kennels is the only real option if he can’t stay with a member of your family.

Before you sign up your dog for a holiday of his own go and have a good look at the dog boarding facilities available at several different places in your town.  You will find that they can vary quite a lot in what is offered and how much is charged.  When you arrive for your visit ensure that each dog kennel is scrupulously clean with fresh water easily available.  Find out whether they provide bedding and how often your dog will be exercised.  If every dog pen that you look into has a miserable looking dog in it then keep well away.

A quality dog boarding kennels will be happy to answer any questions that you have and will demand that your pet is up to date with all his vaccinations.  This way you can ensure that he is not likely to catch anything from another dog.  If you own cats as well as dogs then be sure to look for somewhere that also does cat boarding as this will stop you from having to drive all over town on the day before you leave for your holiday when you have a huge list of other things to do.

Some boarding kennels for dogs are more like luxury hotels with hydrotherapy pools, treat times and the whole range of dog grooming services from a simple wash and brush to nail and coat clipping.  These places will give you a choice of group playtimes, where your dog gets to play with others who are staying, or individual attention, which is often better for more aggressive breeds or un-neutered males.  They will often also give your dog a bath on the night before he is due to come home so that you get him back smelling lovely and fresh!

Once you have decided which of the dog boarding kennels is for you ask a few people who you see out walking their dogs if they know anything about these kennels as word of mouth is often the best way to find out about the quality of provision.

Owning a dog is becoming more and more popular and dogs make fantastic pets.  However, the disadvantage over owning a cat is that they need more care and attention and can pine and get anxious when they aren’t with their owner.  While many dogs are happy to wait in their dog kennel for their owner’s return from work others bark and cause damage to the house or garden.

The answer to this is to put your pet into doggie day care while you are at work, or even if you are just going for a daytrip out where dogs can’t be taken.  This way they will be getting both company and exercise, two of the things closest to a dog’s heart!

Many doggie day care centres will collect your pet before you leave for work and take him to the centre.  Here the dog will be fed according to your wishes, regularly exercised by people employed especially for dog walking and washed if they get muddy when out walking.  If you are lucky they will even perform some of your weekly dog grooming chores such as brushing or clipping nails.

Your dog will be in safe hands as most centres have rules about not admitting violent dogs, though they may run obedience classes so that your dog can learn to behave well and then be admitted for day care.

One of the big advantages of doggy day care is that your pet will become very socialised after spending his days with dogs of every different size and breed.  They will also learn to respond to people, other than yourself, in an appropriate and trusting way.

When looking into the best centre for your dog, ensure that they have access to a vet at any time for emergencies and that they have facilities such a dog kennel and run for those that might want to spend a bit of time alone to chill out or sleep.  Some centres will even attend veterinary appointments with your pet if you can’t manage it due to work commitments.

If you are away on holiday then you may want to use a doggie day care centre which allows overnight stays or you may decide that dog sitting would be a better, where someone comes and stays in your house to look after your pet while you are away.  This way your pet can remain in the comfort of his own dog kennel while you are enjoying your break without worrying about him.