The boarding kennel environment is different from that of you and your dogs home, so it is natural for them to undergo some stress during their stay, however it is possible to minimize this stress and make the boarding experience a good one by following some simple advice:

• Take time find a good boarding kennel, to learn how go here.
  
  
• Bring your dogs own food to the boarding kennel, a sudden change in diet can possibly lead to diarrhea and stress a housetrained dog. 
  
  
• Notify the boarding kennel of the quantity of food and times they should feed your dog, changes in this could also cause stress.
  
  
• Dogs are very social animals, in the wild they are pack animals so they are keenly adept to reading your body language. If you are upset, anxious or stressed yourself, your dog will immediately pick up this and also become anxious and stressed also.
  
  
• Leave yourself plenty of time to drop your dog off at the boarding kennel, so you are not in a last minute panic and pushed for time. 
  
  
• When you do drop your pet off, try to be happy and matter of fact instead of being upset and consoling your dog. 
  
  
• It is a good idea to leave contact details for someone who you trust to make decisions about your animal on your behalf should you not be contactable in an emergency. Alternatively, let your vet know that you are boarding your dog and inform them of how far your wish treatments to go should your animal become ill. 
  
  
•  Think about booking any extra services on offer, e.g. grooming, extra walks, massage, and swimming – if these are available, it is worth booking in a few treatments for your dog as these can go a long way towards curing boredom. 
  
  
• If you have a young dog he/she may actually benefit from staying in a boarding kennel every so often early in life, so they get used to the experience and thus making it easier to cope with longer stays later in life. However of course dogs who are too young, boarding will not be beneficial for, boarding kennels will usually have a policy on age criteria.
  
  
• Remember to leave items made of natural fabric that smell of you and retain your comforting scent for a few days while your dog settles in. You may want leave your pet's own bed & bedding with them so that the pet has a familiar smell of home. Some people prefer to use the kennel's bedding, knowing the bedding may get chewed or muddied. You might want to send a piece of old clothing that hasn't been washed, or a rag you have handled so that the pet has your scent. 
  
  
• It is awful when your pet is sick while you are away. Make sure your pet's inoculations are up to date before you go on holiday. Take their inoculation certificate with you to the boarding kennels. 
  
  
• Don't send bones or chews to a kennel. Your pet may choke on it, or might find its way into another dogs mouth to choke on. 
  
  
• When you book, make sure the boarding kennel has your up to date contact details, your regular vets contact details, someone to contact in an emergency if you are unreachable and your dog’s needs including any special feeding or exercise requirements and medical conditions.
  
  
• Take the phone number of the boarding kennel with you on your travels just in case there is any change in your date of return.
  
  
•  Avoid the temptation to give as treats unfamiliar foods to your dog before he goes to the boarding kennel. He may vomit in the car, or have an upset stomach which will get him off to a bad start.
  
  
• Dogs should be put on a lead going into a kennel, as it can be a new experience when he arrive and may do something unexpected.
  
  
• Check with the boarding staff what other items you will need to provide. These may include your pets favourite toys, treats, bedding and a collar/lead. Familiar toys and bedding help your pet feel more at home. 
  
  
• Christmas and Easter are the busiest times in any kennel. They are likely to be fully booked, so book your pets in as soon as you know the dates you will be away. Remember to let the kennel know if you have to cancel or change the dates so that other animals can be accommodated. If your pet has never been in a kennel before, book it in for a one-night practice BEFORE the busy season, so that the pet has time to adjust when things are quiet.