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Choosing a Kennel For Your Dog
By Friends of the Dog
By Friends of the Dog

Below you will find some tips on finding a good kennel. However, do bear in mind, that the really good one’s are booked up months in advance, often as long as a year, so don’t leave this to the last minute.
Additionally, as behaviourists, we do recommend that if your dog is going to be a visitor at a shelter, that you start training from puppyhood, by way of visiting often and letting your pup stay the odd night. This ensures that the place and the people are known to the dog and staying will be something the dog enjoys.
This may sound a bit strange – but go with your gut feeling – if something does not ‘feel’ right, rather look elsewhere.
If you have more than one dog will be staying, find out if they can be kennelled together.
If your dog is not sterilized, find out if the shelter will accept it – not all of them do.
If a tour is not allowed – walk away.
Find out is there is somebody at the kennels 24/7 so that is there is a mishap, or a dog is not coping, there is somebody there to deal with the situation. Ensure that somebody will be there to both drop off your dog and also collect it, as some shelters only allow this at specific times.
Talk to the owners and the staff.
You want to find a kennel that really cares about dogs – don’t just presume that just because this is their business, that they automatically love your dog. Don’t be shy to ask questions – they should be able to supply details about the dogs in their care, and the ideal situation is that the owner will find out from you what your dog is like, its individual needs etc.
Medication and Health
The kennel should be aware if your dog needs medication and any other pertinent health info. Find out what happens should your dog become ill, develops a runny tummy, breaks a toenail or perhaps not even eat. If your dog has any disabilities, ensure that the kennel can cope with these – if not, it may be better to speak to your vet about having your pet stay there.
Find out if you bring your own food or if the kennel prefers to supply same. If the kennel is supplying, find out what type of food is supplied.
How Clean are the kennels?
In addition to not having more than one stool in the runs (may have been recent), and should not smell, also look at the general appearance – should be neat and in good repair. . If in any state of disrepair, would suggest walk away as this could be an indication of the care awarded to the residents. Look if the surrounding areas are overrun with weeds and grass and ensure that the kennels are not overcrowded.
Look at the individual runs – is shade and shelter supplied? Is the bedding that you can see, clean and dry and see if the area the bed is in the shelter will be dry if it rains.
Have a look at the enclosure for bent or broken wire or jagged edges.
Vaccinations
When you have multiple dogs in one area, any contagious diseases can spread like wildfire. All kennels should require proof of vaccination before considering your dog. Check with the kennels which vaccinations they require and ensure that your vacs have not expired. If the kennel does not request same, walk away.
Personal Items
Most dogs have favourite toys and some love their beds more than other. Find out if these are allowed, as not all kennels will allow. Remember your dog is going to be spending hours without its normal companions, and in our opinion, favourite toys and chewies should be allowed, but do find out if supplying a chew toy, if this will be supervised ata
Exercise and Play area
Does the Kennel supply your dog with at least one daily walk? Have a look at the area where the dogs are exercised and even played with and if a play area where the dog is allowed to run around by itself, is shade supplied.
How often are the dogs checked and how much time is spent with them
It is impossible for the staff to be with your dog 24/7, but do see how often time is spent with them.
Booking-In and Collection
Find out the working times of the shelter so that you can both drop off your dog and also collect it when they are open.
Separation Anxiety
This is a situation which the kennel must be aware off. Not all kennels will take a dog with separation anxiety, as it is simply far too stressful for the dog and it may not cope. In a situation such as this, it would be better to have somebody stay in your home to look after the dog, additionally many kennels will simply not accept dogs with this behaviour.
Additionally, as behaviourists, we do recommend that if your dog is going to be a visitor at a shelter, that you start training from puppyhood, by way of visiting often and letting your pup stay the odd night. This ensures that the place and the people are known to the dog and staying will be something the dog enjoys.
This may sound a bit strange – but go with your gut feeling – if something does not ‘feel’ right, rather look elsewhere.
If you have more than one dog will be staying, find out if they can be kennelled together.
If your dog is not sterilized, find out if the shelter will accept it – not all of them do.
If a tour is not allowed – walk away.
Find out is there is somebody at the kennels 24/7 so that is there is a mishap, or a dog is not coping, there is somebody there to deal with the situation. Ensure that somebody will be there to both drop off your dog and also collect it, as some shelters only allow this at specific times.
Talk to the owners and the staff.
You want to find a kennel that really cares about dogs – don’t just presume that just because this is their business, that they automatically love your dog. Don’t be shy to ask questions – they should be able to supply details about the dogs in their care, and the ideal situation is that the owner will find out from you what your dog is like, its individual needs etc.
Medication and Health
The kennel should be aware if your dog needs medication and any other pertinent health info. Find out what happens should your dog become ill, develops a runny tummy, breaks a toenail or perhaps not even eat. If your dog has any disabilities, ensure that the kennel can cope with these – if not, it may be better to speak to your vet about having your pet stay there.
Find out if you bring your own food or if the kennel prefers to supply same. If the kennel is supplying, find out what type of food is supplied.
How Clean are the kennels?
In addition to not having more than one stool in the runs (may have been recent), and should not smell, also look at the general appearance – should be neat and in good repair. . If in any state of disrepair, would suggest walk away as this could be an indication of the care awarded to the residents. Look if the surrounding areas are overrun with weeds and grass and ensure that the kennels are not overcrowded.
Look at the individual runs – is shade and shelter supplied? Is the bedding that you can see, clean and dry and see if the area the bed is in the shelter will be dry if it rains.
Have a look at the enclosure for bent or broken wire or jagged edges.
Vaccinations
When you have multiple dogs in one area, any contagious diseases can spread like wildfire. All kennels should require proof of vaccination before considering your dog. Check with the kennels which vaccinations they require and ensure that your vacs have not expired. If the kennel does not request same, walk away.
Personal Items
Most dogs have favourite toys and some love their beds more than other. Find out if these are allowed, as not all kennels will allow. Remember your dog is going to be spending hours without its normal companions, and in our opinion, favourite toys and chewies should be allowed, but do find out if supplying a chew toy, if this will be supervised ata
Exercise and Play area
Does the Kennel supply your dog with at least one daily walk? Have a look at the area where the dogs are exercised and even played with and if a play area where the dog is allowed to run around by itself, is shade supplied.
How often are the dogs checked and how much time is spent with them
It is impossible for the staff to be with your dog 24/7, but do see how often time is spent with them.
Booking-In and Collection
Find out the working times of the shelter so that you can both drop off your dog and also collect it when they are open.
Separation Anxiety
This is a situation which the kennel must be aware off. Not all kennels will take a dog with separation anxiety, as it is simply far too stressful for the dog and it may not cope. In a situation such as this, it would be better to have somebody stay in your home to look after the dog, additionally many kennels will simply not accept dogs with this behaviour.