Summer is almost here and for many of us that means a vacation trip without our favorite canines. We normally have a sitter who comes to stay while we are gone and provides our two retrievers with as normal an environment as possible. But this year, our usual sitter is not available. So, we are investigating kenneling as an alternative to trying someone we don’t know.

Once we started looking, we found everything from expensive dog resorts to basic bare-bones (no pun intended) facilities. So, what makes a good boarding kennel? Our minimum requirements were a clean facility with indoor protection and outdoor runs. We wanted well trained staff that seems to be enjoying their job and a veterinarian on call 24/7.

Our dogs are quite large, so the kennel must have enough room to allow our dogs to get up, turn around, and shift positions when sleeping. Because our dogs are older and tend to be a bit arthritic, we also wanted soft beds, not a concrete floor.

During the day, we wanted our dogs to have play time either individually or in groups. I toured several facilities and I was pleasantly surprised at how well the dogs got along with each other during group play.

The facilities we visited provided lots of dog toys and a stimulating environment for investigating and exercise. We took our oldest to visit the facility and although he did not play with the toys, he seemed to enjoy watching the younger dogs romp.

Although we did not choose the doggie resort, it was an enticing place. If your pooch is used to the finer things in life - you can find it here. Most resorts offered special services such as bathing and grooming, pickup and delivery, obedience training (that almost sold me, right there), and surveillance cameras - so you could check on your dog via the internet while you are away.

I understand that some dog resorts even offer rooms, as opposed to cages or sleep areas, swimming pools, nature walks, color TV and massage. Hmm! Maybe I should stay at a doggie resort.

Posted by Barbara.