I hate leaving my sweet little dog home when I go away. Sometimes though, it’s just unavoidable. Still, it’s really hard for me, I always wonder if she’s going crazy when we’re not around. When we first got our new dog, who by the way is named Noreen, we knew this would be a challenge and spent a good deal of time sourcing the right doggie home for her during our travels. I spent a whole day wondering the best method of how to choose a boarding kennel. I came up with a checklist and managed to find our away from home-home for Noreen.
Checklist to Choose a Boarding Kennel
- Does the owner have a lot of experience working with dogs
- Is there a lot of room to play outside
- Where will my sweetie sleep when I’m away – comfy and cozy is important
- Is the facility clean
- Do they offer grooming
- How long have then been in business
- Are they nearby
- What is the cost
I managed to check off all these things and chose the best boarding kennel for Noreen, I am sure of it. Dog Stars of Bradenton, Florida was a win for us. The owner there, Anna, is AKC grooming certified and has years and years of experience with dogs. Her facility checked all the things on my list and only runs us $20 / a day which is amazing! She also only charges $20 to groom Noreen which is awesome. I always feel good about leaving Noreen there and I’m pretty sure Noreen does too.
Before you bring your dog to a boarding kennel, here are some things you want to pack for him / her:
- Comfy familiar bed
- Comfy familiar blanket
- A couple toys they love
- Their food *very important
- Their vet info
- Any medicine they are on
- Make sure they are up to date on all their vaccinations
Leaving your loved dog behind while you’re away is hard on you and the dog, but it doesn’t have to be the worst. Make sure you use this list to help to choose a boarding kennel and if you live in my area, Bradenton, I can totally vouch for Dog Stars. You can find them here . The grooming is amazing and the place is awesome. I hope you find the right place for your dog, I know it’s not easy.
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Whenever possible, when we travel, our dog stays with an old neighbor of whom he’s very fond and we take care of their dog when they’re away. For longer times away, he stays with a dog loving relative. The last time, during a 10 day trip, our dog stayed in our apartment with a travel blogger couple we know. In the past, we paid for him to stay with a family that would take a few dogs. They were “dog” people and he liked going there, but it was pricey.
That’s always nice. We live in an apartment so, we don’t have real neighbors. BUT we’re buying a home this year so neighbors here we come! Hope they love dogs lol! I mean, who wouldn’t love Noreen the Queen????