I have booked Red into our local kennels for a two day/night stay in September as we have an event which will take up all our time/energy locally but away from home. To prepare her for this, I have booked two separate days for her to go there just for the day. I have never used these kennels before but they are nearby and you have to book well in advance as they get fully booked. They give the dogs two off lead walks a day and they are happy for me to take kongs. I did go and visit before booking but since then I am getting increasingly nervous about her going. We rarely leave her alone (although she is fine in a room if I am elsewhere in the house, or I am out and DH is in his office). We are hoping to have a holiday later in the year and kennels unfortunately are the easiest option but it doesn't lay easily with me and I used to get very upset when Sky went into kennels when she was younger (she goes to friends now as they enjoy having her). Sounds daft but do other people get nervous about kennel stays and is there anything I can do to prepare for this? I think I am the one with separation anxiety!
I sympathise! In fact I think most people here will know how you feel and yes, it is us that suffer and worry more than the dogs I'm sure! First of all, and I know it is easier to say than do, don't worry. She will be absolutely fine. They sound like a good kennels, and will care for her. Let them know that it is her first time, and share with them the fact that you are nervous - they'll understand and be very familiar with all that! It's a great idea to let her have a couple of days day-care with them in advance. When you take her back for the second time, I suspect you'll find she is very keen to get in there....which will be a good sign and ought to reassure you! I was very reluctant to use kennels, and we used to put Pongo with a brilliant dog boarder who kept just a few dogs in her own house. He adored it and adored her. When that wasn't possible any more, we put him into kennels with a very heavy heart....visions of him pining and moping in a cage all day, my poor little boy...... But it turned out he was (if anything) even happier to go to the kennels than to the other place. Taught me how little I know my dog! Some kennels will take photos of your dog while they are there and either send them to you or post on a facebook page. I do not think that this is necessarily a measure of the kennel's quality, but it is a nice touch if they do it - definitely for the benefit of the human, not the pup!
Thank you @Rosie for your kind words. Yes they put lots of photos on their fb page and it is lovely to see the dogs 'free' - it's the time in the actual kennel though isn't it? I think a lot of my problem is letting go and trusting others to care as much as I do .
It's perfectly normal to feel as you do. My dogs don't do well in kennels and become very stressed, so I won't use them anymore, but most dogs are absolutely fine. Red seems like a pretty solid little character, so I'm sure she'll take it in her stride. Doing the trials beforehand is brilliant, because it will put your mind at rest if she's fine and, if not, will give you the opportunity to look at other solutions.
@Atemas, I think it's completely normal. Plum is going to stay with my folks when I go away for a week; she's stayed with them loads with me, they've visited me loads since I had her, she loves them, they love her, they've taken her for walks with me and without me, and I'm still beside myself! Your trial days are a great idea and I'm sure Red will be grand. But if you don't like the idea after the trial you could always try Pawshake.co.uk to see if there's anyone in your local area who offers boarding, this would be a home from home experience so Red would have more company. I've also thought about using holidays4dogs where dogs/pets are looked after in a family home. Might be worth checking out to give yourself options.
We did an overnight trial with Tilly and Cooper, at a Gun Dog kennel we used to use with Ginger. Just like Ginger they seemed to be very happy there, and now we use it once or twice a year. This particular kennel has acreage, and they let most of the dogs out together twice a day.
