Key to Symbols/ Icons

  
Less than 20 kennels in any one building
(yes/ no/ unknown)

Fewer kennels/dogs means less noise which means less stress. Caring dog owners will want to leave their pets in quieter kennels.

Also look at the total number of kennels: e.g, an exclusive business with up to 20 kennels will be much quieter than 100 kennels. (But 100 kennels in buildings of 20 kennels each will be quieter than one huge building of 100 kennels.

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Comfort Items from home
(yes/ no/ unknown)

The provision of dog's own bedding, toys and chews from home, and something that smells of you will help your dogs to relax. Being from home, they will be familiar and smell of home, you and themselves, helping the dog to settle more quickly. We recommend you seek caring, well-staffed kennels who DO allow this - as the benefits to your dog's welfare are enormous.

Be aware that larger or busier businesses won't have time to manage this, lose items, or just not give them, and some dogs will chew or destroy items while away.

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DAP Therapy: soothing/calming
(yes/ no/ unknown)

Promotes the feeling of safety and reassurance for dogs via a simple spray or plug-in diffuser.
This ground-breaking therapy can be used wherever dog anxiety is caused (a real and debilitating condition for dogs. Check it's really being used - ask to see the plug-in or spray.

What is DAP Therapy?

A caring and knowledgeable kennel owner or dog owner will use DAP (Dog Appeasing Pheromone). It calms & reassures dogs & puppies in stressful situations such as leaving the owner, being alone at home, travel, going to the vets & kennels. DAP synthetically mimics natural pheromones that female dogs provide for their puppies, giving them a sense of well-being and reassurance.

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Dogs are taken out of Kennels
(yes/ no/ unknown)

The most basic, simple and free way of improving the wellbeing of boarded dogs is to simply get dogs out of the kennels. Confining dogs to kennels denies their right to 'be dogs' and express natural behaviours. Think how your dog would react to being confined at home for 2 weeks, never leaving the house - it causes a build up excess energy and pent-up frustration.

Why getting out of the kennels is SO important

It is important that dogs get out of kennels for play, exercise & walks with company whenever possible to reduce depression & stress. Away from the kennels dogs can be themselves, play with friends, have a chance for a run, stretch, sniff and play, and importantly, human company on a one-to-one basis.

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Exercise/play/walks with Staff
(yes/ no/ unknown)

There is a world of difference between staff leaving your dog in a small boring exercise area on their own, and interacting with staff.

Dogs are sociable and love having company. Spending time with a member of staff they know (playing, stroking, grooming, walking) will have a big impact on the wellbeing of your dog.

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Crown Award

A kennels which has this icon listed has been awarded www.BoardingKennels.org's Crown Award for excellence. Highly commended.

Is it really a 'Luxury Boarding Kennels' or a Dog Hotel - or not?

The use of words like ‘hotel’, ‘luxury’, ‘deluxe’ and even ’state-of-the-art’ are used by all kennels, even by appalling ones.

This makes life very confusing for dog owners looking for better kennels on the web. Not only do you have to look through a lot more websites - but just finding something that meets the highest standards can be time-consuming.

We make it easy for you to tell the difference for yourself - Dog Hotel or Boarding Kennels - how to tell the Difference.. FAST!.

Kennel Fees

Cheap fees come at a cost to your dog's wellbeing.

Cheap fees are always low for a reason.

It could be down to old buildings, no heating/ ventilation (causing extremes of hot and cold), not insulated (dripping with condensation, too hot or cold) cheap dog food, and most likely high numbers of dogs and not enough staff or time to care for them or walk them.

There will probably be a lack of interest by the kennel owner in the appearance of their business... after all, if they charge low fees they won't earn enough to pay for improvements and may 'bodge' kennel maintenance and safety issues. They may well be running the business into the ground until they come to sell.

Find out why you shouldn't just choose the cheapest or nearest kennels...

The Importance of Good Staff

Staff should be welcoming, interested in, and like animals! Dogs are social animals and fare best when kind, empathetic & professional staff care for them. Find kennels where staff are friendly, polite and interact easily with dogs & customers, and where there is sufficient staff to give individual care.

Good staff are expensive, especially if they are well trained, so expect to pay more for a better service - the cost won't be much more than the price of a cappuccino or two - but will make a HUGE difference to your dog's wellbeing. If you only see very young, inexperienced staff this indicates employment as cheaply as possible.

Kennel quality

Don't make the mistake of thinking all kennels are the same... we promise you they're not - no two kennels are ever the same!!

GOOD = Relaxed & Calm:

• New & maintained
• Light & bright
• Hygienic (no smell)
• Ventilation/heating
• BIG sizes - Fewer kennels

BAD = Stressful & Noisy:

• Old and unmaintained
• Dark and dingy
• Unhygienic (smelly)
• No windows/ small windows
• No heating in the kennel
• Small sizes
• Lots of kennels

Walks & Exercise

If the kennels claim to walk all able dogs, look at how long, and then do the sums to see if there are enough staff to make this possible. When you visit are dogs being walked/ exercised?

'Ambles' might be more suitable for elderly or special needs dogs - remember to tell them.

For quality walks and time playing with your dog - you really want to find a higher quality service with fewer kennels (20 or less) - and for a little more expense know your dog's wellbeing is important to the kennels. At such caring places, your dog will be out in the fresh air enjoying walks, just as they do at home. Learn more about how to tell the difference in kennel quality

Why comfort items are important

Providing your dog's own bedding, toys and chews, plus something you have worn & smells familiar, can help your dog to relax & settle in much faster.

Good kennels who care deeply about dog welfare will ALWAYS use the comfort items you provide - and will prompt you to bring them!

Kennels that are very busy and have high numbers will not usually allow your dog to bring comfort items. They do not have the staff numbers or time to manage, clean around or remember your dogs items.

Unknowledgeable or just plain uncaring kennels will leave your items unopened and unused - so there is nothing that will give dogs the comfort of their home or owners smell, so they take much longer to settle in, or don't settle well at all.

We all know what an amazing sense of smell dogs have - don't deprive them of such a simple, free comfort factor.

Special Needs & Care

Special care is needed for vulnerable dogs, such as puppies, elderly dogs, disabled dogs, dogs on medication, nervous/fearful dogs, or dogs with a high activity level. These dogs will need special care and will require extra time to ensure that all their needs are met.

You may be surprised to discover that different kennels specialise in different types of dogs.

Larger or very busy kennels may have a policy not to take on dogs with certain characteristics or requirements. This may be because their kennels are too stressful for dogs with special needs, it takes too much time, does not fit in with their core clientelle or policies etc.

It is particularly important to search carefully for the best kennels for your dog if they have special needs.

Why room types matter

Solid walls help provide a quieter, calmer atmosphere which will be more enjoyable to stay in. They make it easier for staff to attend to dogs one-on-one, giving them full attention. The walls should be at least 4ft/1.2m high - but full height walls provide the most privacy and reassurance.

Why kennel height is Important

Full height (6ft/2m) kennels are best because they make dogs feel more secure, more like a room at home AND it's easier for staff to clean the kennels thorougly if they don't have to bend.

Why runs should be attached

Attached exercise runs allow dogs freedom to move between sleep & toiletting/outside areas. Choices and views are much better for dog welfare and stress levels. Being able to look at a garden or wildlife is ideal. Avoid kennels where dogs can see into another run (e.g facing another row of runs in a building opposite). Facing lots of other dogs, or seeing dogs come and go, or get out is frustrating, stressful and therefore very noisy.

NEVER use kennels that force your dog to stay in one area for sleeping, eating and toileting (i.e the sleeping area only if there is no attached run). Being confined to just one area gives dogs no choice about where to be, what to look at, or to hide away if they want to.

Why runs should be covered

Covered runs protect exercise runs & dogs from bad weather (you don't want your dog to be in a constantly open or damp environment)

The Golden Rule:
Go for no-smell!

Easy-to-clean modern materials that are also well maintained mean hygienic kennels with no smell at all. Go for lovely, easy to clean and well cared for kennels with no smell.

Avoid if it smells!

That's because any absorbent material (eg timber or unsealed concrete) soaks in all the dog wee. Don't subject your dog to the smell or lack of hygiene! If it smells... it's unhygienic!

Exercise/ walks/ time with staff

Many 'old style' kennels sadly don't walk or exercise the dogs with company, but just let them out into a concrete or paddock exercise area and leave them.

This isn't the same as having one-to-one time with humans, is less fun for your dog - but means cheaper kennel fees & not enough staff.

Getting out of the kennel

Avoid kennels who don't get dogs out of their kennel at all - they will lead to depression, stress and illness (and most probably a vet's bill, and enormous distress & guilt on your part!

Nose-to-nose contact

If dogs have nose-to-nose contact it puts them at greater risk of stress, damage and disease. You should avoid kennels where dogs can touch each other through open areas (e.g mesh between kennels instead of a solid wall) as this can result in injury & disease.

Trial Visit

We strongly recommend you visit prospective kennels to see if they really do match your expectations. Once you're happy you should try 1 or 2 days boarding before leaving your dog for longer periods. Please explore all the tips and advice we have to offer on this website and LEARN what to look at for yourself. Find out more about how to choose the BEST kennels for YOUR dog

Licensing

Sadly, having a kennels licence is no guarantee of quality. Do not think "it must be OK if it's licensed". We've seen kennels no better than derelict sheds licensed. Some counties may not have agreed to abide by the basic requirements, and some countries (such as Ireland) don't even license kennels.

More quality kennels to come

We help people start up new boarding kennels worldwide every day.

Dog owners who have a free account with us will get early notification of new, high standard kennels and dog hotels opening.

But until there are at least 3 good kennels in every county, we will make it easy for you to find the best kennels, even if they are further afield than you had originally planned.

Consider travelling further

Many dog owners are now travelling much greater distances to find the high standard of kennels they want. If you haven't found what you want locally, try looking in surrounding regions for good kennels.

We find this happens mostly with dog hotels and luxury kennels because they are so rare - their customers want the best for their dogs and are prepared to travel a few hundred miles.

Working pet parents

Daycare or dog creches will be suitable for owners who work long hours and don't have suitable pet sitters.

Holidaying pet parents

A new trend is for owners who want to go on holiday and have their dog near them, and to be able to take days together at dog-friendly places, allowing 'pet parents' evenings out and visits to non-doggy places too.
Look at kennels in your favourite {Kennel.Country} holiday hotspots