Whether you are an experienced dog owner in Bristol, or new to the joy of having a dog as a family member, you will give a lot of thought to who looks after them when you are away. When they are with you, they have the bliss of long walks, snuggles on the sofa and their favourite treats when they are hungry. When you are away on business or on a holiday not suitable for them, you wouldn’t be alone in feeling that twinge of guilt leaving them behind. No doubt you’ll ask yourself “how can I make sure my dog is as happy as possible while I’m away?”
How can I make sure my dog is as happy as possible while I’m away?
At Walks with the Pack we are huge fans of Home Boarding and wouldn’t have it any other way for our dog Tandy, but what are the differences between kennels and home boarding? Here is our helpful list……
Home Boarding vs Kennels for Dogs
Staff to dog ratios in home boarding are far better
Home boarding tends to be with far fewer dogs, (we only board up to 3 dogs at a time, despite having capacity and being licensed for 5 dogs) but kennels can have dozens.
Staff to dog ratios in home boarding are far better. At home it’s often 1 person to 2 dogs or better, whereas in kennels the ratio is often 1:15.
Your dog has the freedom to roam, like at home!
Kennels have individual enclosures with limited space, whereas home boarding is just that, your dog will be able to roam around in a familiar environment to your own home.
Flexibility to suit the individual needs of your dog
Routines for feeding in kennels are usually quite fixed, whereas home boarding allows more flexibility to suit your own dogs individual needs and may suit dogs who are used to their own schedule.
Lower stress levels in a home environment
Stress levels: Dogs in kennels often exhibit higher levels of stress and owners occasionally report distress in their dogs and changed behaviour once they return. This may be due to the environment being noisier and aesthetically different to a home environment.
More nervous dogs can be distressed by a stay in kennels. The greater number of dogs and dog smells around them and be better suited to a home environment. This could particularly apply to rescue dogs who may not cope well and who’s progress could be set back by a bad experience.
Long walks and limitless play!
Home boarders often include longer walks out of the home area, whereas in kennels, opportunities for exercise may be limited to an exercise paddock.
Whichever option you choose, it’s always good to turn up in person to check out the facility or the persons home and get a feeling for yourself. At Walks with the Pack's premium home boarding in Bristol, we always ask that your dog comes for a trial night before your trip, so we can assess if home boarding is suitable for them and to ensure they can settle at night.
Get in touch to arrange a meet and greet, we look forward to meeting you and your dog!
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