Dog Boarding Options: Finding the Right Fit for Your Pet

Dog boarding, dog kennels, dog hotels, and dog daycare – what’s the difference?

Dog boarding is where you leave your dog overnight in the care of a professional dog care facility, in situations where you’re going away on a holiday, or you have important family commitments that mean you won’t be able to focus on your dog for a period of time. Dog boarding, dog kennels and dog hotels offer pretty much the same thing – your dog will have cosy and comfortable sleeping quarters, but won’t be confined to them for the entire day. Instead, they’ll have space to roam while they aren’t resting.

A dog boarding facility tends to have superior grounds to the average dog hotel or dog daycare facility (often these are indoors only) so your dog receives the benefits of outdoor adventure, while a dog hotel may offer a higher standard of accommodation options.

Dog daycare is obviously where you leave your dog only for the day—you drop them off in the morning and collect them in the afternoon. The dog enjoys the benefits of socialisation in a controlled environment but doesn’t stay overnight.

Some providers offer all these different dog minding services. For example Dogdayz offers dog daycare as well as overnight stays for dogs. We are a dog boarding kennel, however we fall into the category of ‘dog hotel’, due to the superior sleeping quarters we provide for our dog guests. And we call ourselves a ‘country club’ because we have wide open spaces for your dog to enjoy!

How to choose the best accommodation for your dog

When you’re looking for the best place to leave your dog, there are a range of important factors to consider. You should be on the lookout for the following features.

Experienced dog carers

When you go away, you need to know that your beloved dog is in the safest hands. Anyone taking on the job of caring for dogs for the day or overnight should be well trained and have a high amount of experience with dog handling.

How can you be certain that the provider has the right skills? For a start, see what they say about themselves on their website. Most dog boarding businesses will have an About Us page, that gives you an insight into the provider’s philosophy, expertise, and the level of experience of their individual staff members.

Also check online reviews or ask other dog owners in your area which dog boarding service they’ve used and would recommend. Don’t be afraid to call up the service provider to have a chat. You’ll get a good sense of how much they know about caring for dogs by talking to them. Ask plenty of questions, and see what questions they ask you.

Also, see if you can visit the facility with your dog to check out the grounds and accommodation, and get your dog familiar with the staff.

Convenient location

Obviously it’s most convenient when a dog boarding facility is close to home, however at the same time, you want to leave your dog in a place with plenty of space to run about. Mostly, the dog kennels with ample space are a little farther afield. So then it becomes a question of, how far are you prepared to travel?

Some dogs don’t like to be in the car for too long, so in which case it’s advisable to consider kennels closer to your home. Also, if you’re going on holiday, you likely don’t want to tack on a long drive to the kennel, when you already have plenty of travelling to do. Dogdayz dog hotels are all located within a 30-60 minute drive from Melbourne’s CBD, and we offer a transport service to save you the trip.

Facilities

Whilst your dog might not have high expectations about their accommodation, you likely will! That’s why you want to ensure facilities in the dog boarding establishment are well-maintained. For a start, you want plenty of room for your dog to get exercise. Importantly, you need to know the facility is well-fenced, so that you can rest assured your dog is secure at all times. You also want to see some enriching play equipment for your dog, as well as indoor and outdoor shaded areas to rest during the day.

Then, there is the dog accommodation. Make sure that the sleeping area for your dog has enough room for your dog to move around, and access to fresh water. Make sure the space has good temperature control, and also check that the bedding is comfortable for your dog.

Also find out if your dog will share sleeping quarters, or if they will have a space to themselves. Dog hotels will often offer private rooms for dogs who prefer their own space. It may cost a little extra, but it may suit dogs that don’t enjoy the company of other dogs.

Price

Obviously you need to factor in the cost of any dog kennel you’re considering. Make sure you contact the boarding kennel to get a breakdown of likely costs, bearing in mind that some extra requests, such as a luxury suite or dog transport, will cost more. Sometimes, it’s worth spending a little extra on superior dog boarding kennels, for the peace of mind you have on your trip. (See Dogdayz pricing information here. Note that prices will differ depending on the size of your dog, and on the particular Dogdayz location you choose.)

Communication

Peace of mind is everything, so you want to be certain that if any issues with your beloved dog arise, their carer will contact you promptly.

A dog boarding kennel that maintains contact with you while your dog is in their care is everything. At Dogdayz, we’re happy to update you in response to any enquiries you have during your dog’s stay. In saying that, we are also pretty busy monitoring our dogs, so you might not receive a response immediately! However if there are any health issues that arise with your dog, we’ll get in touch with you immediately, as well as seek rapid support from our on-call vet.

Cleanliness & care

It’s really important that a dog kennel is well kept. Sleeping quarters should be clean and tidy, and pose no safety risk to your dog. Dogs should have easy access to water at all times, and should receive clean bowls when meals are served. Messes should be promptly cleaned up, and bedding should be fresh for every dog guest. If you inspect dog boarding premises that don’t appear tidy or sanitary, steer clear!

Also, pay heed to the minimum requirements of the dog kennel in regards to vaccinations. If they aren’t confirming that your dog is vaccinated annually to the C5 level (C5 covers hepatitis, distemper, parvovirus, parainfluenza and bordetella bronchiseptica), then you should not consider them. Annual vaccinations are essential for the CRI (Canine Respiratory Infection) component of the C5 vaccine. Dogdayz will not accept any dog without annual C5 level vaccinations.

Why choose Dogdayz for your dog’s care?

Dogdayz is a preferred dog minding service for many pet owners across Melbourne, for the following reasons:

Exceptional care: We offer round-the-clock care for dogs. Our professional carers supervise your dog during social activities and daily exercise. Your dog’s health is monitored daily and a vet visits our centres regularly, as well as being on call if urgent health issues arise. We also offer special needs care for aged dogs, or those with anxiety, disabilities, and high medical needs. We also offer post-operative care should it be required. (To read about our combined experience, see our About Us page.)

Attention and affection: Our staff simply love dogs, so it’s easy for them to be kind to your pet, and give them plenty of cuddles while you’re gone. Your dog will also receive a lot of supervised exercise and enriching activities whilst you’re away.

Expansive grounds: Your dog will receive lots of fresh air, and can roam within our expansive country surroundings.

Secure facilities: All of our Dogdayz centres are securely fenced, so you don’t need to worry about your dog roaming beyond our grounds.

Private suites: Though all sleeping quarters at Dogdayz are comfortable and secure, there are some special rooms that are a little more spacious and quiet. If your dog prefers this dog hotel experience, ask about booking our private accommodation.

Important questions to ask when boarding your dog