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Your Mastiff is part of your family, so you need to know that while you’re away for several days your Mastiff is well taken care of. When choosing a kennel for a Mastiff you’re going to have concerns that other dog owners don’t give a second thought to. So let’s make sure we pick the right type of Kennel so both of you can enjoy your time away from home.
Every kennel has a unique culture, so not every kennel is going to suit your Mastiff needs. The search may be a bit intense but in the end you’ll be happy you did it, because you’ll have peace of mind that you have a kennel you trust to take care of your Mastiff when ever you go out of town.
Your Mastiff is instinctively a guard dog, and though you might be going on vacation, that instinct is staying where it is. That means you need to consider how many different people and how many dogs your Mastiff is going to meet on a daily basis. You want your mastiff to feel comfortable in his temporary territory, and not stressed out by feeling like he needs to be on guard of strangers.
Mastiffs are incredibly loyal, so he’s going to miss you terribly. You’re Mastiff might just show signs of separation anxiety; don’t be surprised if he resists the good bye. So your mastiff may be sad to see you go, but before you do you got to decide if you mastiff will ‘survive’ the kennel. By choosing carefully you can boost the chance that your mastiff will have a pleasant experience.
Ask: Before you make any arrangements of boarding your mastiff, ask the staff if they have had experience boarding Mastiff before. If the answer is no, keep looking; your mastiff needs the quality only experience can bring. If you get a positive reply, put them on your list of kennels to visit.
When visiting the kennel, it should look and smell clean. Examine the bedding and ensure that it looks comfy. If the bedding looks a bit small for your mastiff ask if they have bigger bedding to accommodate your dog; you’ll need a positive reply on this one. Step into the sleeping area and ensure that it’s dry and has no drafts.
Take a look at the outside exercise area; if they don’t have one… Next! The outside exercise area should be clean as well, have exposure to sunlight as well as areas of shade. Ensure that water is accessible at all times.
Ask about the feeding schedule that your dog will be on, and what will be served. Ideally it should stay as close to his home schedule as possible. If your mastiff is on a special diet ask if they will accommodate this, as well as any medications.
Question the staff to find out how much they know about there kennel and dogs in general. Don’t expect them to be experts but do expect them to have a love for dogs and knowledge about them. This is probably the most important. Kennel staff that do the job “just to make rent” will not treat your mastiff as well (may even mistreat) as someone that does the job because they have a passion for animals.
Start boarding your mastiff while he’s still young. You can start as young as six weeks, to gradually become acclimatized to your chosen kennel environment. It’s best to stick to one Kennel, as the staff will begin to build a relationship with your mastiff and he’ll feel more at home and less on “guard”.
Consider this; a trial boarding at the kennel before you trip. Have your Mastiff Spend a day or so at the kennel, so (s)he becomes friendly with the surrounding environment and people without over exposure. This way you have covered all your basis, and you set your Mastiff up for a comfortable stay at a kennel while your take your trip with peace of mind.
Giving your Mastiff that needed extra attention, shows that you love him/her. So don’t be hesitant to put in that extra mile when it comes to your search for kennel that will match your Mastiff needs. You’re Mastiff will appreciate it; Finding the Right Mastiff Kennels can be fun |
