? for those that board your doggies

[AMClvsMKY]

We boarded our dog at Thanksgiving for the first time. They offered to give him a bath, for an additional fee which I declined - huge mistake. They give the dogs baths but they have to be there a certain number of days for it to be included in the fees. Anyway, he smelled soooo badly of urine we put him in the shower the second we got home ( good thing it wasn't a long ride).

Is this normal?? He is 3 years old and totally trained. He is left home all day so he is use to not going out often.

 

[Blondie]

We always have to give our dog a bath after boarding he smells really dirty, and yes, sometimes of urine.

 

[Pin Wizard]

I always have them give my dogs a bath just before I pick them up. I don't want them bringing fleas home with them!!

 

[ahutton]

We found a kennel we really love, they treat the animals very well. However, they have indoor/outdoor kennels. And no matter what, she comes home smelling like "potty" because she spends some time in the outdoor part of her run. We always do the bath, and have then trim her nails too, right before we get her. Saves a lot of trouble. Even if she doesn't smell like potty after a kennel visit she ALWAYS smells like "outside" dog, and I hate that smell just as much.

 

[DisneyObsessed]

Eewww! Now I know why I really don't want to have to kennel my baby.

 

[goofy4tink]

We always have our golden bathed at the end of his kennel stay too. I have to say that he can get that urine smell right here at home too! We have a cement slab with 6' chain link around it..about 10'x12'. If my dh leaves the dog out to do 'his business' then the dog smells like dog pee. I watch him do his thing and then let him in. THey tend to step in the puddles if you don't watch 'em!!!!! The dog, not the dh!!

 

[wdwnutze]

I boarded my pupy for the 1st time last week(she is 6mos old). I couldn't believe the smell when I picked her up. It was awful! It was made worse because she had been spayed while at the kennel(the kennel is in the basement part of the vet she goes to) so I couldn't give her a bath right away when she got home. I did give her a "sponge bath".

 

[DocRafiki]

IMO, they should have another option that the dog will be bathed if it soils itself, at a charge, of course.

 

[adamak]

I board my dog twice and he smelled so bad each time. I have to take him to my groomer the next day immediately. Though I am kinda glad I didn't have him washed during the stay last time. He was covered with **** when I picked him up. Apparently he either has bad stomach or they don't let him out of his cage to release himself. I think it's the latter, and I'm never going back to that place. If they cleaned him, then I'd never know. It's so horrible.

 

[TEENEE]

OMG, I have boarded my dog many times and he has never come home smelling bad. I think I would look for another kennel.

 

[msdznyduck]

We always board our dog when we go away, cause we just have no- one to leave him with.

Depends on the kennel.......the first one we used, he always came home stinky........but then found one where he doesn't smell as bad. I think it depends on if your dog is a nervous type also, if he gets upset by your leaving and soils himself. Find out what kind of food they feed the dogs, or send your own. When we send our own food, it is what he is used to, and is more "regular", . You don't want to upset their stomach as well as being upset you are leaving him in an unfamiliar setting, with other dogs barking, etc.

 

[jsmith]

Our groom works at the kennel where we board our dog and she always checks him out and grooms him the day we will be picking him up so I have never experienced the "kennel" smell problem-although my mom-who raises goldens-says it is a problem for her when she travels with dogs.

 

[Snowysmom]

If we leave our dog for longer than a few days, she does smell and usually her rear end is dirty. I like to bathe her myself when she comes home. Our kennel offers a going home bath for an extra charge but I really don't care for the groomers they have there. The people who run the kennel are great with the pets but the people who run the grooming side are not so great. It may be with my dog because she is a hyper westie so maybe they just don't appreciate her the way we do.

 

[MJTinNH]

I board Minnie and Mickey (my dogs) whenever I am away from home. I always schedule a "kennel Bath" for the day I pick them up.

They have really clean kennels, however, it's all concrete flooring inside and outside. Dogs are not as careful about stepping around messes as we are. I do know that the kennel cleans twice a day. Before I signed up with them I made a surprise visit and insisted on checking the kennel. There was doggy order, but nothing obnoxious. Runs and raised beds very clean.

 

[Tuffcookie]

I really like the kennel I take Hunter. It came very highly recommended. Although it's a little drive from here (It's in Sharon Center) it's worth the peace of mind. He does not come home with any bad smells.

TC

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Our first kennel would send Sandi, our dog home smelly. I just hated it so much. Then we found Kennelwood and it is so nice. The dog gets her own room with a toddler bed and a TV set. They walk her 5 times a day and of course we can pay for extra play time. It is a little bit more expensive, but not much! They also have someone with the animals all the time. As much as we spend on our trips it is worth it to know the animals are well cared for. I hope everyone finds a Doggie Camp that they feel good about.

 

[mom2of2]

The first time I boarded our Newfoundland, Sassy I really didn't know any better and I boarded her in a non-AC kennel. She stunk sooo bad! OMG it was awful!!!! They didn't offer grooming as part of the boarding and being a new newfie mommy I didn't know to ask...she was only 5 months old at the time I also paid $12 a day.
Then I found a brand new kennel that is truly state of the art. I went there and took a tour. They had 2 play areas, one had a "puppy pool" and a sprinkler and an umbrella in it and the other had little doggie hammocks and all shade. They had elevated beds and it was a/c, the dog could go out whenever she wanted to. She got walked twice a day and had free play time 3 times a day. They played classical music all the time and it doesn't SMELL at all. A "goodbye" grooming was included. All this for $25 a day.
Yes, it's a little pricey but the money didn't mean a thing especially when my DH forgot her food and the owner of the kennel brought it over to my house. Sassy took one look at her and went nuts, wiggling and wagging and sloberin' something fierce. She really loved her which made me feel so much better. Now whenever I need a kennel we head to "Club Pet" and she runs to the door!!!