Choosing the right kennel for your dog

Ahh it's good to be back.
My father took my family and I on a little trip over the weekend, and it was a weekend packed FULL of activities! More on that tomorrow.

I was inspired to write this post today due to not having a dog sitter over the weekend when my family and I were suppose to go on our trip.
Any other time we have had to go somewhere, my mom has always came to the house to watch the huskies for me. Well, my mom is in Florida keeping nice and warm during this Canadian freezing cold weather we have been having, so I didn't know what I was going to do with the dogs.

I wasn't even going to go on a trip, until checking out some local kennels was suggested to me.
I have never wanted to leave my dogs in a kennel as I have heard some horror stories about them, but in those stories, the people have also said that they failed to check into them properly before leaving their dogs there.


To me, leaving my huskies was like leaving my children for the first time, it is hard! They are my kids....with a little more fur than the human ones.
I began searching the web for local kennels. There were a few that I found, but one in particular stood out to me. It just gave off a warm, happy caring vibe.
I decided to phone them.

The lady I spoke with began by saying how much she loved huskies. At first I thought she was just saying that, and she probably says that about every breed, but she went on to say certain things about their behavior. She knew all about the breed. She knows they wouldn't do well in her one outdoor area because the fence would be too low, and huskies can jump them easily. Just little things like that already made me feel more comfortable. She had asked if they had any special needs she would be tending to, told me to feel free to send something of mine that has my scent on it, and she was just super friendly. I was invited out to meet her and see the place after she learned that I was a concerned paw-rent. So out I went!
The place was nice and clean, there were several other dogs staying there. There was no poop in the yards. (meaning she cleans it well.) I saw how she interacted with the other dogs there. They loved her! She gives them treats, and they were all happy to see her when they saw her face. Also, she lives right there on site. I was convinced.

I decided this was the right place for my babies.

When I dropped them off, she made sure to ask if they had allergies or anything she should know, as well as making sure I had my vet papers.
She let me know it was ok to give her a call to check on them while I was away.

Long story not so short short, when we picked them up Sunday, the second they heard my voice, they started to howl, she let them out, and the joy and smiles on their faces was just beautiful!!
I was thrilled to see that after they greeted me, my dogs went over to the lady and they were wagging their tails and asking for her attention, so I knew they liked her too!

What do you take out of this?

-Go with your gut! If it doesn't feel right, it's not right.
-Talk to the owners of the kennel, are they friendly? Do they seem like legit dog lovers?
-Visit the facility. Is it clean? Are you welcome to visit the facility?
-How do the other dogs react around the owners?
-Do they ask if your dog has allergies or other things they should be aware of?
-Do they require vet papers?

All of these things are huge!
A kennel that requires vet papers, want to make sure the dogs coming in are healthy.
Otherwise, dog knows what your pets could catch while they are there.
Make sure to check that the kennel is clean.
Checking to see how the dogs who are already at the kennel act when the owner goes near them is huge as well. If they are happy to see them....good sign...if they seem scared or just not thrilled to see them....bad sign.

Bottom line, a gut feeling tells you more than you think.
Trust yourself. If you don't feel comfortable, that means you should keep checking for a better kennel.

My girl Lexus, and my kitty Winter snuggled up to me all night when I came home from the trip.

That's all for now, come on back tomorrow to see some photos of our weekend trip!