Who can board my dog?

Do you want to have someone take care of your dog while you’re away? That’s an excellent idea. It’s a very flexible dog sitting solution and has lots of benefits compared with kennels. You might wonder who can board your dog? Here are some answers.

Dog Boarding: asking someone close

If you can, why not turn to someone close to you? Your family, friends or a neighbour may be happy to keep an eye on your pet while you are away. Dog boarding with a relative of friend is usually the easiest option: no need to worry about a stranger coming into your home. It also makes things easier for your dog as it probably already knows the person.

Turning to someone close allows you to have a pet sitter at a lower cost, in most cases. As a matter of fact, your friends or your family will usually not ask for financial compensation to look after your dog. Just don’t forget to provide enough dog food. Not changing your pet’s habits is one of the major advantages of in-home dog boarding. Your dog keeps his environment and is in the presence of someone he knows: everything is in place for your dog and yourself to enjoy a quiet holiday!

Unfortunately, calling on a friend or a family member is not always possible. Don’t worry! There are alternatives.

Find and book dog boarding services online

If you do not have the possibility of having someone close to pet sit your dog, don’t worry. A lot of companies offer in-home dog boarding services provided by pet sitters who meet all your requirements. Holidog, the number one pet sitting platform, is the go-to place.

Their system is very simple: all you need to do is to contact several pet sitters in your city, county or region. You will be able to find the best pet sitter in just a few clicks. There are solutions to every problem and rates for every budget. You have two choices: either the dog boarding happens in your own home or it happens in the pet sitter´s home.

In-home dog boarding

If it takes place at your home, it is very important that you completely trust the person who will come and take care of your dog. Talk to the pet sitter, ask questions (what experience do they have in dog sitting? Do they have pets of their own?). Your goal is to leave with complete peace of mind, knowing that your dog is in good hands.

Dog boarding with a host family

If you do not wish or cannot have a stranger come into your home, dog sitting services also offer boarding with a family. In that case, your dog stays in the pet sitter’s home. There again, a few precautions are required. First of all, favour families closer to your place. There is no need to add a long car voyage or your dog.

It is essential to visit the host family before you leave in order to see in what type of environment your dog will live during your absence. Does the house have a garden? If it does, is it secured and fenced in order to keep your dog from running away? Are there other pets in the home? Does the family have lots of experience in dog sitting? Where will your pet sleep?

Do not hesitate to ask as many questions as possible: you need to ensure that all conditions are met so that your dog will have the best stay possible. If there is the slightest doubt, decline the pet sitter and look for someone else.

What you need to know before booking a dog boarding service

Whether you entrust your dog to someone close or a pet sitter, whether your pet is being looked after in your home or not, there are a few precautions to take so that your absence is dealt with in the best possible way. Not only is it about your peace of mind but also your pet’s safety.

Plan as early as possible

First, think about your absence ahead of time, if you are going away for a holiday. Nothing is more stressful than having to find someone to look after your dog only a few days before you leave. During the holiday season, pet sitters and dog boarding houses are often completely booked. Anticipate and start looking for a pet sitter several weeks ahead of time.

Don’t entrust your pet to someone who does not seem trustworthy. You must ensure that the pet sitter will take care of your dog just like you would. This person must, therefore, take the necessary time to walk your dog, play with it, feed it, etc.

Give plenty of details about your dog

Think about giving as many details about your dog as possible in order to facilitate the dog sitter’s task. For example, if your pet is in the habit of running away, don’t forget to mention it. Be precise in describing its character traits. If it is sociable, it will be happiest with a host family that has other animals. If not, select a family where he will be the only master of the home. If he is shy, a family with noisy children will not be ideal either.

If your dog needs medical treatment, explain as precisely as possible how to proceed: timelines, dosage, etc. Do not hesitate to talk about your pet’s condition so that the dog sitter can spot any potential problem early and act accordingly.

Do not forget to leave your dog’s health records. You may also leave your vet’s phone number if you’ve chosen in-home dog boarding or if the dog sitter lives in the same city. Your practitioner, who knows your dog well, will be able to act very quickly in case of a problem.

Do not forget to provide enough dog food for the whole of the sitting. Do not hesitate to regularly ask for updates on your four-legged friend, via pictures or videos! You will feel reassured knowing that your dog is in good hands and seeing that everything is running smoothly.