Should I Leave My 4-Month-Old Puppy In a Boarding Kennel?

enigma: Can I leave my 4-month-old pup in a boarding kennel?
I have to attend a family function. My 4-month-old pup has all the shots (Rabies, Distemper, and Bordatella). Is it ok to leave him in a boarding kennel? He will be with my other 2-year-old dog.

Answers and Views:

Answer by Sweetie
It should be okay but talk to your vet and one of the people at the kennel.

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Answer by BOSCO37
I work at a Veterinary Clinic and a kenneling facility. Bare in mind that I realize that a lot of vet clinics and kennels are different than the ones I work at.

First of all your dog will do fine at his age with all his vaccinations. Some vet clinics (ours for example) want young dogs to have been vaccinated for a while before we board them just because of all the different sicknesses that come into the clinic. Even when we bleach everything there's no 100% guarantee that your kiddo won't come in contact with something. As for kennels. It can be quite a shock for a dog to be left in a strange place, usually with cement floors, chain fence, and a WHOLE bunch of other dogs barking, etc.

At the kennel I work at, we check on the dogs every half an hour and clean up any messes we find. We do one large cleaning every 2 hours just to ensure that they are always in a clean space. We feed high-quality food (our kennel breeds English spaniels and is highly regarded for their dogs) and we feed the dogs the same food that the spaniels are food.

Owners are encouraged to bring their own food, toys, etc. Just be prepared that if you do bring your own toys, blankets etc they may not be coming home because all of a sudden your dog isn't getting the attention they're used to, and boredom sets in and they start tearing stuff apart. I think it will be more bearable for your dogs as well because you can most likely choose to have them kenneled together, this will at least give them something familiar around them. Also, check with the kennels, some kennels offer exercise programs while others don't.

Some dogs at the kennel I work with get two half-hour off-leash play sessions in a huge compound. While at the vet clinic because we're predominantly a hospital, the boarding animals only get a 7-minute walk/potty break in the am and pm and at lunch.

The kennels at vet clinics are often smaller than ones you would find at a kennel facility. So do your homework, and don't be afraid to ask questions, if they seem like they're hiding something they probably are. We have "staff only" signs at both places but if you ask for a tour we immediately give you one and show you EVERYTHING so that you know exactly where your pet will be.

These are your pets/kids, and you want the best for them! So check out your options and good luck!

Answer by AllyC
Caution!

I kept my dog at a kennel for a little while, and it was my first time so I just trusted the emplyoes.

Insist on seeing the actual area your dog will be in. Make all the decisions. Don't be intimidated by the staff. Don't let them tell you 'it's employes only' even if they say it's for your own safety.
DON'T leave your dog there then.

Mine had been sitting in it's own crap for hours at a time, had to pee like crazy when i took her out and crapped five times in an hour. They also feed cheap foods, so insist on having them feed food you leave for them.

Insist on having the dogs next to each other so they know they are together, because being in this environtment is VERY stressful for a dog. People highly underestimate that. Dogs focus on their territory, they will be in a strange place with lots of crying dogs and strange people, so make sure you make it as homey and loving as possible and naturally as SHORT a stay as possible.

Sorry, just learned from experience. My dog left terrified.

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Answer by boxmaker40
I think it should be ok. I just hope your not gone long.
Pups really need alot of attention and love, and they don't always take good care of animal when you board them.

They say they will, but that's not always the case. Also when you bring your dogs home, check for fleas, cause that is a common problem when pets have been boarded.

Answer by NINER ROSIE
it will be fine to keep him in a kennel, and as long as you had his shots done you are ok to do so. just make sure you take a copy of all the vacs to the kennel so they can see the proof and also look at the kennel to see what it looks like and ask all kinds of questions to make sure that they will care for your dogs the way you do at home. you want to always look at the facility before you leave your dog anywhere. but yes it is ok to leave your pup at the kennel with your other dog. good luck

Answer by ZONADIVA
I think the minimum boarding age for dogs is 4 months. It is generally recommended that puppies get their first round of "adult" shots at 12 weeks (including rabies), and the second round at 16 weeks. Additionally, in any kennel environment, a young pup could possibly be exposed to air-borne viruses it could not fight off. Most kennels recommendations are to board puppies at your veterinarian's office until they have reached our minimum age requirement.

Answer by egami_tnelis
He'll probably be fine if he's with your other dog
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