What Do You Bring When Boarding Your Dog?
 

I'm lucky enough that my vet hospital also has a lodging center. While I hate leaving the boys anywhere, I feel they are very safe and well cared for.

With that being said, I'm going to Las Vegas next weekend for the first time ever. I've never kenneled Max but Cooper has gone there several times.

For Cooper, I've always brought his ball, a nylabone, his blankie and his bell and I imagine Max will be content with those personal items as well. He'll also need his medication. They'll have their harnesses and leashes as well.

What do you bring when you board your dogs?

Its been a few years since I boarded mine with our groomer but I remember taking food, food and water bowls, their harnesses and leashes, potty pads, a bed for each and treats and toys

Oh I forgot about bowls. I don't think I ever brought bowls for Cooper. I also forgot to list food, but that's a definite. My boys don't use potty pads but are trained to ring the bell. The staff puts the bell in Cooper's kennel and he rings it all day long for attention :D The vet told me that her cell ringtone is just like the sound of his bell and he was making her nuts!

We only board Sophie once a year for two weeks while we are out of the country on vacation. The rest of the time she goes everywhere with us. She stays with her groomer in her groomer's house. Our groomer has a chi and her daughter helps look after Sophie. She only charges us $10.00 a day because she loves Sophie. I bring her doggie den so she'll have her "own" place, three blankets, her coat, hoodie, toys, bone, treats, leash & harness, her bowls, food and her brush (her daughter brushes her everyday :)) This year she will go trick or treating too, so she'll have to have a costume as well :p. Have fun in Vegas!:D

I use an in home sitter so mine already have all their stuff with them. I just always make sure to have plenty of food, water (mine only get bottled), meds, and pads for her.

OMG you are going to have a blast in Vegas!!

Have fun in Vegas! I have never been -- friends want me to go for my 21st bday. We shall see. :)

I have been lucky that I've never had to board Jackson. I'm not sure he would take to it well at all. But if I did have to, I'd probably bring a shirt of mine so he had my scent with him (he likes to lay on my stuff when I'm not home already) and his own bed from home. And then, just like the things you said... I can't think of anything else. Jackson won't chew on anything while he's by himself so I think bringing a bully stick, etc, would be pointless but I'd probably do it just in case.

Good luck :)

I'm sure every boarding facility is different, so I'd check with them and see what they recomend/allow. The vet I worked for also did kennel boarding with 3x daily 10 minute walks on the property. Some owners would haul everything but the kitchen sink in to stay with their dog lol, but the vet had a strict policy about what was allowed in the kennel with the dogs for safety and loss prevention reasons. We had a ton of washable beds for all boarding dogs and we always used those instead of what the owner brought because sometimes when a dog is away from home, they get a little nervous (understandably) and would have "accidents" on their bed and alot of those weren't washable. Also, the only toys allowed with the dogs where ones that were indestructable like Kongs or Nylabones. Food and water bowls from home weren't used either because when feeding 10 - 20 dogs and washing all the bowls, they would get mixed up in a heart beat, so we had many different sized bowls to use instead of the pet's from home. Honestly, food, any medications, a sturdy toy, and for a Yorkie, a harness for walks is all you really need to take (unless of course they tell you otherwise:)). We did allow treats too, they were just kept in a bag with the dog's name on it and given after walks. Of course every place is different, just don't want to see you haul a whole bunch of stuff unnessesarily. And trust me, dogs do way better boarding than we do leaving them there lol. Enjoy Vegas:D, I'm jealous:)

Oh, I forgot - written feeding instructions and anything else brief the staff should know about his habits (eating, walking, pottying, quirks) that will help them to make his stay as close to his home routine as possible:D

Good post. I am going to have to leave Moka and Mylee at our vet's next month too. It will be the first time ever and I am very nervous about it, but this post helps to know what to take. Have fun in Vegas!

Where we bring my dog all we really bring is his food. They don't allow toys, leashes, or harnesses. He absolutely loves going to this place too. He generally is only there for a night or two once a year sometimes twice. Last time we went away for a weekend we brought him to my neighbors instead because thebplace we normally go to is under construction. There he had food, treats, his crate, his blankets, and his runner so he could stay outside for the majority of the day with their two dogs.
If they allow you to bring tons of stuff then go for it. They will feel more relaxed and at home with toys and blankets.

I've never had to board Princess, as my parents will steal her for me.

I just wanted to say "yay!" to going to Vegas! It's awesome, and I highly recommend a buffet in the Mirage, I believe it's called Cravings:confused: but it is soooo good!

I think I'll just bring everything. I don't believe they have any rules about toys or belongings, but I don't think my boys would play with anything except the bells while kenneled. And although they love bully sticks I'm not comfortable giving them edible bones because I don't really know how often they are going to be watched.

Our vet lodges too but they keep them in cages. I just can't do that to my crew. We have a great boarding place called Wee Tuck 'Em Inn. It is combined with the Village Groom Shoppe where I take them for grooming. They have little rooms with 4 foot high walls. You can get a window room, even a TV room. They have little toddler beds & room to play. I had two at the time & they were kept together. They have a very large room that will be perfect if I need to leave all 3 of mine. They will have plenty of room & still be kept together. It is also the TV room -- so I guess they will get to stay in style. ;) They only got a window room last time.

They will feed them the food they have there but I took my own food, even had a separate baggy for each day & a bag of treats already broken in little pieces. They take them outside 6 times a day and mine are used to getting a little treat each time they go potty. I know that sounds like a lot, but I break regular treats up in several pieces or use tiny treats like the Yorkie Yummies. So, it does not interfere with their regular eating.

I took a couple of toys each, their own food and water dishes, and a blanket for each of them. Since they had the toddler beds, I did not take their beds but you can if your dogs prefer their own bed. I made a little folder with a copy of their most recent shots that had the vet info on the bill too; and a contact sheet with all of my numbers, my mom & one of my son's numbers. (Then I had to redo all of that info on their form when I got there :) )I took leashes & put their harnesses on with rabies tag -- just in case.

I have only used them the one time but it was a good experience. I even had them groom them right before pick up so they were looking FINE when I came to get them. I usually leave mine with my mom -- she LOVES them as much as I do. But it is nice to know that I do have an option if needed. For instance, I am taking my mom to Illinois soon and I will probably need to board the crew for a few days. I will worry a little but I will also know they are in good hands. :)

Oh that sounds like Yorkie Dreamland! I'm in a very rural area and it's super slim pickens here. There's nothing even remotely close to that in my area, but I'm hopefully going to be relocating back to Florida soon. I also don't have family in this state or friends that I trust so I'm stuck with boarding at my vet. They may not be very happy, but as long as they are safe it'll be ok. I'm only going Thursday ---> Sunday, but I have to drop them off Wednesday and pick up Monday.