Dog Boarding: How to Find Boarding for a Pomsky
If you are planning on taking a trip or being away from home for several hours, you will likely want to have your pomsky stay with a family member or in a boarding or daycare facility. When choosing a dog boarding facility, there are many things to take into consideration such as how they treat their dogs, what the overnight sleeping arrangements look like, additional services you can request, and more. This blog post covers how to find the best dog boarding for your pomsky dog so you can feel confident that your dog is being cared for while you are away.
Searching for Dog Boarding or Daycare
When you start your search for a dog boarding facility, you will likely want to find somewhere that is close to your home. It is best to search online for “Dog Boarding near me” or ask your veterinarian, coworkers, friends and neighbors where they bring their dog.
Some important things to consider when starting your search include:
Hours of Operation: What hours is the boarding facility open? Are there early drop off or late pick up times that work well for your schedule?
Business reviews: Find out how long the company has been in business and read reviews online.
Immunizations: Do dogs require proof of required immunizations to stay there? These often include boardatella, distemper, rabies, hepatitis, parvovirus and parainfluenza.
Fees and Policies: How much does it cost to stay overnight and if boarding multiple dogs, is there a discount for them sharing the same space? It is also important to find out if the boarding center has a cancellation fee.
First Impressions
Before you decide whether you want to have your pomsky dog stay somewhere, make sure you visit the dog boarding/daycare facility.
Evaluate each of the following:
Safety and Security: Check if there are security measures such as access codes for doors or cameras to monitor who is on the property. It is also important that areas where dogs play or stay have double sets of doors to prevent dogs from sneaking in or out of areas in the building. Walk around the building and see if there is an outdoor play area, and if this is secured with a good quality fence. It is best if the fence is a solid 5-6 foot wall that goes all the way down to the ground to prevent dogs from jumping or people from looking in.
Atmosphere: Does the facility appear clean and organized? If you are able to see dogs playing, do they appear happy, or is there a lot of barking? The boarding facility will likely smell like wet dogs, but make sure it doesn’t smell like anything else such as dog waste. Also check if the facility is climate controlled with heating, cooling and good ventilation.
Accommodations: Learn about the kennel or room sizes for dogs that stay overnight. Some facilities offer standard kennels, while others offer full sized rooms with tempered glass doors. A climate-controlled room that fits your dog’s bed, food and water bowls, has space to walk around and a tempered glass door is the most ideal set up. Kennels or chain link fences will not be as comfortable for your pomsky dog, so make sure you do your research and find a good boarding facility with tempered glass doors.
Staff: Are the workers friendly and patient? If the staff members are patient with your dog and allow dogs to take their time when meeting new people, this is a good sign. It is also a bonus if the worker knows your dog’s name and recognizes them and recalls that they have a reservation/appointment without you needing to tell them why you are there. Find out how many staff are typically on site and if there is a specific dog to staff ratio so there aren’t too many dogs together without adequate supervision.
Dog Interactions: Are there separate areas for dogs based on specific factors? Some boarding centers might divide dogs by activity level, temperament, size or age. Find out how they prevent dogs from being aggressive towards each other, and what actions are taken if a dog becomes aggressive.
Red Flags
Your dog should not stay at the boarding facility if:
The facility does not require proof of immunizations
There are very few workers
All dogs are put together regardless of temperament, size, age, etc.
You are not allowed to bring any personal items (bed, blanket, food, water, bowls, etc.)
The staff pull on a dog’s leash and choke them, or force a dog to go somewhere when the dog is clearly nervous
There are not security or safety measures such as cameras, locks on doors or double doors to access dog play areas
There is no outdoor play area or there is an outdoor play area that has a broken fence, is muddy, or other flaws that could be a safety or health concern for your pomsky dog
Questions to Ask
Will they send you pictures of your dog? How often, and is there a fee?
Are there optional add-on services such as extra treats, one on one play time, spa treatments, walks, etc?
Can you get a full tour of the facility, or at least see where your dog will be staying?
What are the options for kennel or room sizes for overnight stays?
What time are the workers there throughout the day? Is there someone on site 24/7 in case of emergencies?
What is the cancellation policy?
Will they administer medications if needed?
Summary
It is important to find the right dog boarding facility for your pomsky dog so you know your dog is taken care of while you are away. Searching for a place to board your dog can be tough, so we have covered the most important things to consider. We hope this post helps you find a dog boarder or dog daycare that you can trust to care for your pomsky dog.