German Shepherd Kennel – How to Choose the Right One Part 2
German Shepherd Kennel
You may find yourself in a situation where you need to separate from your pet for a bit, whether it’s just a few hours, a few days, or a few weeks.
There are several reasons for this coming up:
1. going on vacation
2. moving
3. busy with work or family
Whatever the case may be, it’s important you choose the right kennel, so you and your dog can be at ease.
The first thing to do is check your local listings, via phone book or Google search, and locate as many nearby kennels as you can.
If they have a website, check it out, look around, and see what they are all about.
Some things to look for and/or ask:
1. how much do they charge?
2. how long can they keep your dog?
3. how are the dogs treated and where do they stay?
4. how often are they fed?
5. how often do they play and/or walk?
It’s always a good sign if they make a big point, whether on their website or in person, about making sure your German Shepherd gets pelenty of exercise.
The last thing you or your dog wants is to be caged up in a tiny space with little attention other than a feeding or two throughout the day.
Exercise is vital for your pet’s overall health, so a great german shepherd kennel will provide at least two walks and/or play sessions per day.
Also, be sure to bring your own food, because even if the kennel provides it, a sudden change in food could disrupt your dog’s digestive system and lead to diarrhea or vomiting.
FInally, make sure you can visit at least a few of your top picks in person before deciding.
It’s one thing to read a website or talk on the phone, but you need to go and see in person what the environment is like and see if the dogs seem happy and tired, or do they seem anxious and full of nervous energy?
It’s also a good idea to bring your dog along on these visits, so they get introduced to this environment a few times, before having to stay right away, so they will be much more comfortable when it’s time to leave them there.
Don’t hesitate to ask any and all questions you have, as leaving your dog in the care of someone else is a big deal, so it’s vital you choose the best possible German Shepherd kennel.
Jul 30, 2010 | 10 | german shepherd kennel
July 30th, 2010 at 1:07 pm
[...] Shepherd Kennel How to have a happier, healthier German Shepherd German Shepherd Kennel – How to Choose the Right One Part 2 [...]
August 25th, 2010 at 10:01 pm
This is great timing since I’ll be heading out of town next month and need to find a place to leave my dog for the first time.
August 28th, 2010 at 9:59 am
There’s a lady in my neighborhood that watches dogs for up to a few weeks, and she’s been great whenever I needed her.
She only has one to three dogs at a time, so she really gets to interact with each one on a regular basis.
August 29th, 2010 at 1:26 am
My german shepherd is so smart, I’ve actually left him for up to 5 days before with an auto-feeder and water bowl, and he even lets himself out through the doggy door to the back yard.
Of course, I had a friend check on him each day just to make sure he was ok, but he’s done it several times now with no problem.
September 2nd, 2010 at 4:42 pm
I met someone at Petsmart who has a professional small business taking care of dogs and I’ve used her 4 or 5 times with great success.
September 3rd, 2010 at 4:40 am
I usually try to just bring my black shepherd with me by finding pet-friendly hotels when I go on vacation, so I haven’t had a need for a kennel yet. I don’t know if I could leave her in one to be honest.
September 3rd, 2010 at 11:54 am
I’ve tried a few different ones in my area, because I’m always going out of town, and I haven’t found a bad one yet.
I always come back to a happy healthy black German Shepherd, so I’m thankful and lucky, but I definitely recommend these tips to anyone starting out just to be safe.
September 3rd, 2010 at 3:53 pm
I agree with the idea of having a license, because I tried a “homemade” type kennel with a woman, and I learned after I got back that she sometimes scolds the dogs and is a little too harsh with them.
Luckily for my white shepherd, and the woman, there doesn’t seem to be any negative effects, but I certainly won’t be taking him back there!
September 5th, 2010 at 6:58 pm
There’s actually a place in Richmond, Virginia called Beast to Best that will not only keep your dog, but they have these things called boot camps where they will even train your dog while you’re away, and their prices are very affordable too.
September 15th, 2010 at 5:26 pm
That sounds really neat!