Dogs feel your stress so remember when you are planning your vacation to think about what your dog might be experiencing.

Here at Annie’s Ruff House, we have been doing this for over a decade and we have it down to a science. Here are 8 tips to make your dog’s boarding stay a smooth success.

  1. Have an ongoing relationship with the boarding facility. We have found that dogs have significantly lower stress when they have come to our facility prior to boarding, or have attended daycare on a regular basis. We get to know their personality, their likes and dislikes, and they get to know the routine well in advance of spending the night with us, which comes with also missing your family and your routine.

  2. Choose a facility that has lots of opportunity for exercise. Exercise and play release dopamine in the brain that aid in lowering stress. Just like humans that get tired while traveling, dogs get tired while boarding and a tired dog is a happy dog. This helps them sleep well through the night.

  3. Make sure you have all the necessary items for boarding. Here’s a quick list of necessary items we need for your dog to have a great stay.

    1. Up to date shot records.

    2. Food from home in a sealable container … staying on their diet helps them feel at home.

    3. An item to sleep with that smells like home. We suggest a t-shirt. But a favorite toy works well too. Be mindful to alert staff if the dog might consume said item, so they can be on the lookout for excessive chewing.

    4. Quick release collar (side clasp collar), and a static leash.

    5. Medications, and a current list of emergency contacts.

  4. Know the facility schedule, how to access webcams if applicable, and how to contact the facility should you have questions. It can be stressful for pet parents to not be able to get in touch with someone at the facility. So,knowing the hours of operation, and the best times to talk to staff is helpful. Watching the webcams is a great way to settle your mind as you start worrying about your pet while you are away.

  5. At Annies we encourage you to check our social media page for live videos, and photos. Friends request your facility or follow your facilities page on social media. This will allow you to see the facility staff engage with other clients.

  6. Load your car the night before, this removes the act of going and the act of packing as one and the same in the dog’s mind. This will help you have a calmer exit the house and enter the care experience.

  7. Take some practice car rides if your dog isn’t well versed in riding in the car. This is another reason why going to doggy daycare is helpful in reducing stress. Some dogs only ever experience the car when they go to the vet. That creates a sometimes-negative experience for them with the car rides. Some dogs like the car rides so much that they become crazy in the car. We suggest getting a good restraining device like a Click IT harness system to keep them safe in the car.

  8. Remove your emotion from the situation. It’s hard to not act stressed when you are indeed stressed about travelling, about leaving your dog, about leaving your house, etc. But try to act fairly bored, or ho-hum about the experience. And maybe take your dog on a walk and to potty before they get into the car. This eliminates accidents and the stress around that for you and them. Also, wait to feed your dog until you get to the facility, or feed them several hours before leaving to reduce car sickness.

We hope this helps you have a smooth boarding stay and ultimately a stress-free vacation. Follow along for additional content around your dog’s care. - Sereta Wilson, Owner Annies Ruff House