There usually comes a time when you must consider boarding your dog. Whether it’s an old or young dog doesn’t matter––you must prepare your pet for the experience of being away from home and being handled by strangers. One of the first steps is, of course, getting your pet accustomed to being confined, and the best tool for that is a crate or carrier.

An animal should become accustomed to being fed in different locations. For instance, move the feeding bowl about once a week to a different place in the house or yard. Sometimes, feed near a washer or dryer while it is running, or out in the middle of the back yard, or in the entryway near the front door, or near the back door that everyone uses most. If you do this, it is much easier for the animal to eat when in strange surroundings. Occasionally, feed the animal while it is in the crate. Have three or four different feeding bowls and pans so the animal doesn’t get attached to a specific container.

Make sure your dog wears a collar with its name, your name, and your phone number on it. If you don’t have a tag, use waterproof tape––wrap it around the collar, and print this information on it with a laundry marker.

Check the locks at the boarding facility to make sure the pet can’t open them when no one is around. Take your dog in to meet the staff of the boarding facility in advance, so they can make friends in a low-stress situation. If you have a nervous dog or a terrier that hates cats, ask that its pen be located away from cats and in a quieter area.

If your dog is afraid of other dogs, ask that it be placed in the middle of cats and away from the barkers. If you are planning to board your dog, call your vet and make sure all vaccinations are up to date. If you are going to leave your leash, make sure it’s labeled with your name and the dog’s name.

The best person to call for a good boarding kennel is your veterinarian. He or she knows the best ones, because of comments from clients. Request that the kennel groom and check over your pet before it comes home.

A word of caution if you plan on boarding your dog at a veterinary hospital or clinic: All boarders are not given medical exams every day. If you expect to get medical treatment for your dog when it’s being boarded, it’s a good idea to inform the vet, in writing, that you would like your pet to have a physical exam when it is admitted for boarding and any illnesses treated, and that you want it checked over before you pick it up. It’s also a good idea to request that your animal be bathed and dipped the day you pick it up––any time you put a number of animals together, there is a chance that a flea or tick may get on your dog.