Tips for Prepping Your Pooch for Boarding
The decision to board your dog can be a hard one for a lot of pet parents. It’s the guilt associated with leaving their pet behind while they travel coupled with the unknown. But boarding can actually be a rewarding experience for your pet, especially if you take the necessary steps to prepare them for the experience. Here are some tips to keep in mind!
Medically: Make sure your dog is up-to-date on all of their vaccinations prior to making your boarding reservation. These include Bordetella bronchiseptica, which is longhand for Kennel Cough. Most boarding facilities will require proof of a Bordetella vaccination within the last six months, in addition to a Rabies vaccine. Be sure to call your boarding facility and inquire about their guidelines for vaccinations.
Flea Prevention and Deworming: In addition to vaccines, it’s important to have your dog on a flea preventative and worming preventative as well. Being in close quarters with other dogs, your pet will be much more likely to come home with a flea bite that can turn into a flea allergy. April, May and June are the worst seasons for fleas, however, you need to do your part at all times of the year. Consider a topical monthly flea preventative like Frontline or Advantage, and Trifexis is a once-monthly oral tablet given to prevent three kinds of worms.
Keep them Calm: Anxiety can be a big issue for dogs who are dropped off at the boarding facility unprepared. Take the necessary time to prepare your pup mentally by keeping them calm. It shouldn’t be a big deal at all, so don’t linger with your goodbye and certainly don’t let them feel your anxiety. Make it a fun experience and correlate it to dropping off the kids at grandma’s for the weekend. This will help ease their stress and hopefully they will return having had a lovely time!
To learn more about doggy daycare in St. Louis, please contact us. We’re a local company who offers daycare, boarding, and elite canine training programs in the St. Louis and St. Charles areas.