Is your little friend going away from home for a few days? As you take a vacation, or a weekend getaway, or visit family across the state, you might have decided to leave your doggy friend at the nearby dog boarding service. Wonderful decision. As you take a vacation and go on a fun trip, so should your dog!
Most pet owners either hesitate going on trips entirely because their dog would have to stay alone or hire a pet sitter for the duration of their vacation. Both of the two ways are bound to make your dog lonely, miserable and anxious. A dog isn’t meant to be on his own for so long.
A much better alternative is to board him with a reliable and responsible dog boarding service, where your dog will be sufficiently looked after and will have plenty of other friends and activities to keep him occupied so he doesn’t notice your absence too much.
As you pack to go away, you must pack for your dog too. There must be some essentials that your dog cannot live without. As a good dog parent, you must hand the necessary possessions to the dog boarders so your dog can have a comfortable and enjoyable stay at the boarding.
If you’re unsure of what to pack for your dog’s stay at the boarding, here we have compiled a list of things that must make it to your dog’s bag.
Collar and Identity Tag
A collar with the dog’s name, and owner’s name is always a must, but when dropping off the dog to a daycare center it becomes more of a necessity. There are tens of dogs at a boarding at a time, and your dog’s identity tag is what helps the staff and dog carers keep a track of your dog, recognize him, and tend to his needs. In case of an emergency, the name tag will allow the staff at the boarding to help your dog the way he needs.
Medication
If your dog is on any medication, it is crucial that you inform the staff at the dog boarding facility of the medical condition of the dog. You must inform them of the dosage of the medicine, and the method of administering it. You must provide the prescription slips and vets’ notes about the dog’s illness or condition so the dog boarder is sufficiently knowledgeable about it and can care for the dog as is required. You must also always include extra packets of the medication in case it runs out in your absence, and must provide your vet’s details to the boarders to contact in case of any complications.
Favorite Treat
Each dog has its own preferred treat that they are crazy about. Be sure to include a small bag of his favorite treat so that he can still have these little joys while being away from you and home. No matter how fun, staying in a new place without you must be tough, and a few treats could cheer him up significantly.
Special Food Item
If you are a health-conscious dog parent, follow a specific diet for your pet as prescribed by the vet and feed your dog only specific foods, such as organic food, or strictly homemade food, you must take that along to the dog boarding. Make inquiries beforehand about what kind of food the boarding provides to pets and if that does not sit well with you, provide the food that you want the boarders to feed your dog.
Toothbrush and Brush
Among other things, you must include necessary grooming tools for your dog as well. Sharing brushes can enable the transfer of fleas and ticks among dogs, so it is best to provide brushes of your own for the boarders to brush your dog regularly with. Also, hand over the toothbrush and tell the dog-carers how many times to brush your dog’s teeth.
Favorite Toy
Does your dog have a special toy that he takes with him wherever he goes or one he can’t sleep without? A ragged doll maybe? Or a chewable ball? Whatever your dog’s choice of toy is, if he is attached to it, you must pack it along with his other possessions. Whenever he feels lonely or bored at the boarding, he will have something familiar to cling on to.
Required Documentation
Inquire about the necessary documentation that is required by the dog boarding and include it in your dog’s bag. This could include complete information about yourself, and contact number in case of emergencies. This would also include your vet’s contact information and a full medical history of your dog.
You can include anything else you want in your dog’s bag to make his stay better. You can perhaps include a clothing piece of yours so the dog can derive comfort from it when he misses you, or include something that reminds him of home.
With everything your dog needs neatly packed up in his bag, his stay at the boarding facility will just get easier, comfier and happier. Make sure to check out the boarding you are leaving him at and get all the necessary information about the place so you can have a stress-free vacation and your dog can have a safe and happy stay.
Our Canine Boarding program at Twissted Whiskers appoints and trains dog-loving carers who are responsible for monitoring and caring for the pets. We have designated times for the dogs to eat, play and exercise so your dog will be getting a healthy lifestyle while also getting enough time to play and mess around with other dogs in the boarding till you come back and take him home.
