How to Pick Up a Dog From Boarding

You've arrived home from a vacation or business trip and now it's time to spring your best friend from the kennel. Some dogs enjoy the experience, whereas others, not so much. In any case, the following are some precautions to take and things to observe about your dog "post boarding."

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Arrive at the boarding facility during regular business hours. Employees stay after hours to tend to the pets, but normally won’t let you pick up your pet. A few kennels allow after-hours pickup, but it’s always best to find out ahead of time to save yourself a wasted trip.
2. Ask about your dog’s stay. If it’s a facility with cage free boarding during the day (such as a doggie daycare), find out how your dog interacted with the other dogs. Did he eat all his food? Was he active? Most boarding kennels keep records and some smaller, private facilities keep daily diaries for each “guest.” If there are no written records, someone who tended to your dog should remember.
3. Do not feed or let your dog drink water for a few hours after returning home. Dogs are normally excited to be back at their home sweet home, and will gulp a lot of food and water when they’re excited. This can trigger vomiting.
4. Contact the boarding facility if you have any concerns about your dog’s behavior. A lot of sleeping is normal for a few days after dogs return home, because they’re back in a calmer environment. But if there is any other behavior that seems out of the ordinary, such as your dog acting fearful or untrusting, don’t hesitate to call.
5. If your dog seems ill, call the kennel first to see what they know and then immediately call your veterinarian. Aside from kennel cough, which most boarding kennels require their boarded dogs be vaccinated for, a dog may contract an airborne virus such as canine influenza, which there is no vaccine for.

Tips & Warnings

• If the staff is friendly and says goodbye to your dog by name, that’s a good sign. If they seem cold or impersonal, you might consider another boarding kennel for next time.
• Some dogs are traumatized by boarding, no matter how well they are taken care of. In this case, it might be better to leave your dog at home in his own environment where he feels comfortable, and hire a pet sitter.
• Dogs are normally happy to be picked up from boarding. If your dog acts fearful or untrusting when you arrive, or on the ride home, this could be a red flag.