I can see your concern with kennels and home boarders always seem a nice solution, but the kennels are safe. If the dog's recall is not as good as it might be, what if it runs off. What if it tries to get home.
I have more that one dog so they share a kennel and they did have a half day there first. (Heidi took one look at the footballs in the field and never looked back.)
If I just had one dog I might think again, but I would worry more if they weren't in kennels.
You can take her blanket.
Overall, the home situation is better, but the safety isn't

 

I put my rescue dog in kennels for a week 6 months after i got him- he was safe, warm, walked, fed, fine.

I know many who would never dream of putting a dog in kennels fullstop........ but think us humans do place too many human emotions on our animals, which they simply dont have.

 

I have exactly the same dilemma, we are going to Spain for a week in the summer for my son's wedding. The rescue I got Tango from offers boarding and initially I thought, ideal, but as you say I'm sure Tango will think she's been dumped again.
We have kennels locally that a couple of friends use, the dogs love it there, so I think I'll introduce Tango to them gradually before we go away.

 

Thank you for your replies. I do wonder whether I put too much of my emotions on to Nell.

I have to agree that the safety of home boarding with a dog already in the property is something that worries me. I am sure a lot of home boarders are trained/insured/experienced but accidents can happen.

I think I will work her up to staying in kennels, at least then it's always an option for the future, whereas the same home boarder may not be available.

 

I have a rescue dog and I would never put him in kennels. That is my choice for a number of reasons. If an emergency arose, I would prefer him to be with friends or home boarded.

Kennels do not guarantee safety. There have been occasions when a dog has escaped from kennels or out on a walk. This can happen no matter where the dog is or who is looking after it. If it is only walked on lead by whoever is looking after it then the risk is minimised.

 

One of mine has lived in kennels in the past but not necessarily a very negative experience. I never really thought about it like that.
If we went away I think all of them would have a bit of seperation anxiety but that should calm. I personally would pick the one that gives the longest walks and most interaction. One near us has lots of optional extras, play, agility and long walks all with a photo album of what they did during the week.
I would take a blanket but I think for ours the best they could hope for was to be very tired everyday until we came back.

 

If I had a rescue dog I don't think I'd put him in kennels. I'd feel that it'd be too stressful considering the past experiences of the dog.

Some dogs adjust to being in kennels when in rescues so maybe in that case I'd consider it. But if they were stressed in the rescue there would be no way id ever consider it. Like with most things, it depends on the individual dog. Maybe if you could just leave her in kennels for a couple of hours and see how she reacts? Then as you said you can build up to leaving her for longer.

I can't leave Finlay in kennels. He goes to a lovely couple who absolutely spoil their dogs it makes me much happier leaving fin if I think he's having his own little holiday

 

I'm in the same situation as you. Having recently got another rescue, I'm going for a dog sitter. I prefer her to be with people in their home, rather than in a kennel. I've only had negative experiences with kennels in the past, my dogs hated it, and would pine endlessly. I did find one where the kennel manager let my dog stay with her in her on-site caravan (or so she said), but for me, I'd just rather know my dog had company during the day.

I'm sure there are many great kennels out there, I'm just a worrier like you.

 

I have a rescue dog and I would never put him in kennels. That is my choice for a number of reasons. If an emergency arose, I would prefer him to be with friends or home boarded.

Kennels do not guarantee safety. There have been occasions when a dog has escaped from kennels or out on a walk. This can happen no matter where the dog is or who is looking after it. If it is only walked on lead by whoever is looking after it then the risk is minimised.[/QUOTE]

Thats why its so important to check out Kennels first.

Personally I would only ever use ones which have their own secure field which is used for exercising.

The idea of kennel staff going off for 'walkies' with Millie when they do not know her - in a public place would terrify me.

Its all about researching and findind a kennel which your happy with

 

So true MP- I went as far as finding one that had experience of Bull breeds so i knew he'd be in good hands! Tis also on their own farm so no bumping into the public!!

 

MILLIEPOOCHIE

Yes, it's impossible to be 100% sure, whatever way you go. Everything is based on a risk assessment and then a decision has to be made, one way or the other.

 

MILLIEPOOCHIE

Yes, it's impossible to be 100% sure, whatever way you go. Everything is based on a risk assessment and then a decision has to be made, one way or the other.

Definately - Just shows the importance of research. Personally I would prefer a dog in a kennel with enclosed sercure 6ft high fenced in fields for exercising than a home boarder who walks out with the public 3 times a day. To me its not about the miles Millie covers in the time or the socialisation as I am not senidng her to be socialise dbut how secure it is.

I know how stressful it is though - I am really lucky to have some good friends and in the past family who have been able to help us with Millie. Its reassuring to know how they treat their own dogs and that they KNOW Millie. (The good and the bad hehe :lol

I know I would really really struggle to leave her with a home boarder and definately more than a kennel environment.

Have to say a few years back when researching kennels I was shocked at the amount who dont own any land and rely on walking dogs out in public and off lead! Made me run a mile!

 

I've spent a lot of time looking at kennels the last few weeks and finally settled on one that I think is the best place for my rescue collie, but I do understand how you feel, it really is a nightmare trying to choose the right option and part of me really just wants to stay at home.

There's so much variation in kennels I was actually truly surprised, one who didn't let the dogs out of their runs (cage opening onto small outdoor run) at all, one who let dogs offlead in a 'secure field' that really didn't look very secure to me and even if the hedgerow that went along one side was obscuring a sold fence, Grace could easily have got over it as well as the gates. Even worse when she was in her kennel she would be able to see any other dog exercising and being played with while she was shut in. These were the worst, but there were so many things that made me uncomfortable with many of the kennels we visited.

I considered home boarders and did look at a couple, but I had visions of Grace escaping out doors when people are in and out and not being appropriately careful. Let alone the chance for disaster while being exercised. I just couldn't trust anyone else to take proper care and consideration with her in a public environment. I know her, I know her quirks and how she is going to react in most situations and no matter how much the home boarders tried to reassure me that she would be happy and content with them I just couldn't see it working.

In the end we found a lovely kennels that have some proper rooms with a raised bed and decent heating. Excellent secure exercise facilities and really friendly confident staff. It's more expensive than I would like and a lot further to travel than I originally hoped for, but it's peace of mind for me and my family. Grace might have been ok in some of the other places we visited, but I know she will be absolutely fine in this one.

Basically what I am trying to say is really make sure you check out where she will be staying and do your best to make sure you are comfortable that she will be safe and happy there. Gradual introductions are a fantastic way to go about that as you can see how she feels about the place each time you visit.

 

We only boarded Amber twice once for a few days when she was 9 months old while we went to France for a wedding, four weeks after the kennels lost 2 of the dogs they were looking after, so the next time we took her back to her breeder when we went on holiday. Then the pet passport came out and we never left her again, haven't had a holiday yet with Dillon but I would leave him any way.

 

Thank you all, I really appreciate all the replies and advice.

Understand that it would depend on each individual dog and the kennels/boarders available. I have emailed the kennels that I am thinking of using with my concerns about putting Nell in kennels and will await their reply.

Nell was only at the rescue centre for about a month and I don’t think it was a particularly stressful time for her, in fact she probably loved being around all the other dogs! I would just worry because she is quite attached to me (as I am to her obviously!), not quite the Velcro dog she was when I first got her – I can now go to different rooms without her following me all the time, but I wonder sometimes if she displays signs of mild SA.

If I leave her for any length of time, I put the radio on, give her a frozen stuffed kong and shut her in the kitchen using a stair gate and she seems absolutely fine. Sometimes when I’m getting ready for work in the morning, it’s like she can’t wait for me to leave so she can have her kong, which is also echoed by the dog walker who says that when she gets home she runs straight to the freezer (she is such a foodie, just like her mum!).

Anyway, that’s all fine, however if I’m just popping out to the car for 2 seconds to get something or pop round the back to take something to the bin, I can hear her barking and whining and when I come back in, her reaction is like I’ve been gone forever (when I come back from work, she’s still pleased to see me, but she’s much calmer and generally stays in her bed!).

Not sure why I’ve rambled on about all of that, but I think I’m just thinking it’s all about building her up to whatever I decide – kennels or home boarders, to reassure that for however long she is left, mummy is coming back

 

We use an excellent kennels. Secure paddocks and yard for exercise and play.
Jackson is a rescue with issues round socialisation with other dogs and also goes to day care there so he has the opportunity to meet and play with selected dogs in a secure paddock. The owner is also heavily involved with local dog rescue and very used to staffies in all there guises!! I lean towards kennels from a security point of view.

 

We'll be leaving Buttons for the first time in July, and I'm currently in the process of checking out home boarders to find the most appropriate - I'm using an agency who 'match' dogs with the best environment, and arrange visits in advance to ensure he's introduced to the surroundings and sitter beforehand.

To be honest, my main hesitation in using kennels is the lack of one-to-one attention the dogs receive. I'd feel a lot happier leaving him knowing he's in a home environment not unlike what he's accustomed to, won't be left alone for any prolonged period, and will be the only dog in their care. He's used to having company more or less 24 hours a day, so I think a stay in kennels would be a bit of a shock to the system in this respect.

I think it mostly comes down to what's available in your area though - if there's a reputable kennel nearby, and you know he's accustomed to a kennel-type environment having come from rescue, I wouldn't necessarily worry too much? If you're concerned, it might be worth booking him in for a night or two as a trial run before you go to see how he handles it?

 

If you got her from a rescue centre and she was in kennels there, do you know how she was in kennels? if she was happy and relaxed in the rescue kennels, then she could well be OK in a boarding kennel.

Some dogs though dont do well in rescue kennels, and will be vocal and pace and get kennel stressed, often with these types if ones available they sometimes put them in foster homes if they cant cope in the kennel environment.

Depending how she was in the rescue kennels I think I would probably use that to influence my decision personally. If you dont know how she coped then the rescue may still have her notes or information and maybe able to advise you.

If she did cope well in the kennel environment before, then you could also do as you say try her in a boarding kennel for a day and overnight and see how she is first. If shes happy then at least you should know she will be OK, if she really isnt then you may have to re-think on the home border.

 

I had a knee operation last year, and home-boarded my dogs for 48 hours. The boarder is also a dog walker, and she walked them too until I was back on my feet (only a week). I'd been most worried about Ziggy as she was a rescue, but she settled straight in, and it was Kite that howled all night!

If you can find a home boarder that also does walking and daycare (many do) you could ease in that way. I don't think kennels are necessarily safer - a neighbours dog had what seemed a minor accident at a kennels (a door shut on her tail) but the infection spread to encephalitis and she had to be PTS. That was a very reputable kennels with good facilities.

 

Depends entirely on your dog's character and how good the kennels are!
I've got no experience of home boarding so can't really comment but the vast majority of dogs settle well in kennels.

I thought my ex-puppy farm bitch would fret in kennels but home boarding wasn't an option for my other dog so we took the plunge and booked them in. She pulled me into the kennel and didn't glance back at me as I left, too busy investigating her new pad!
I work in the kennels I use and last year we had a rescue dog come in whose owners were a bit worried about how he settled. He was one of the most content boarders I've ever seen and spent most of his time playing on his own with his toys

Of course some dogs don't take well to boarding kennels but these are far outnumbered by those who do, and include dogs bought from breeders as pups.

Good luck in your search for finding somewhere to leave your boy.