Questions To Ask Before Boarding Your Dog

Are you gearing up for a trip but anxious about finding the right pet sitter or boarding facility for your dog? Leaving your dog with someone else can be difficult, but being armed with the right questions for a new sitter or facility can give you the peace of mind that your dog will be in good hands.

Each facility is designed to meet a different clientele, and pet sitters have different specialities and levels of experience—which means there’s a lot to know before you sign on. To learn how to tailor your questions to your specific dog and needs, we asked certified professional dog trainer Paige Gordon (CPDT, PCTIA) of SpiritDog Training for advice.

1. Accommodations

The first thing to ask about is your dog’s environment. You’ll want to know whether your dog will have enough space, whether the space will be comfortable, and how the facility deals with emergencies.

Make sure you know:

• How many other dogs will be there, and how will my dog share space with them?
• Where will my dog eat and sleep?
• Does my dog have their own space or enclosure, and how big is it?
• What kind of outdoor access will my dog have?
• Is the indoor space temperature-controlled?
• How many people are present at any given time?
• What kind of certifications do you have?
• Do you have business insurance?
• How close is the nearest vet, and how would you get my dog there?
• How can I get updates on my dog’s stay?
• Can I take a tour and see the space?

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all right answer to these questions. For example, some dogs will be just fine being left alone by their sitter for a few hours—but for other dogs, it might be important to have someone present on site at all times. The biggest green flag when it comes to accommodations is transparency, especially the ability to visit the space. Gordon recommends touring all the spaces if possible, not just the public-facing ones.

Red flags are things like small kennels, low staff-to-dog ratios, and vague emergency procedures. Anything that makes it hard to give dogs their own space or separate them by age, size, and energy level can signal a problem.

2. Schedule

It’s important to know what your dog’s day will look like. Even if some options cost more, the answers to these questions can give you a lot of information about the facility and their operating philosophy.

Make sure you know:

• What will a typical day look like for my dog?
• How long will my dog be alone, and where will they be when they’re alone?
• When and where will my dog be fed? Do you leave food out if they don’t eat right away?
• When are play and walks scheduled?
• Are nighttime potty breaks and/or walks available?
• Can my dog’s medication schedule be accommodated?

A good schedule doesn’t have to be rigid—but it does need to match your dog’s general needs. Great kennels and pet sitters will be able to keep your dog relatively close to their home routine, from the number of meals to the amount of exercise.

Having alone time to decompress in their own space isn’t a bad thing for many dogs, but a lack of supervision or long absences can be. Other causes for concern are feeding dogs in shared spaces (which can force competition for food) and the inability to accommodate any extra feedings, walks, or potty breaks—that speaks to a kennel or sitter that’s overwhelmed.

3. Exercise and Activities

Ask questions to make sure your dog will get enough exercise and mental stimulation while you’re away—and ensure that exercise is supervised and safe.

Make sure you know:

• What kind of exercise will my dog get every day?
• What kinds of activities will be scheduled or available?
• Are any dog play groups separated by age, size, or energy level?
• How are dogs supervised during exercise and play?
• What kinds of games or enrichment do you offer?

A menu of activities and ideas for enrichment shows that your kennel or sitter has thought through their approach to exercise. Good answers will leave you feeling comfortable with the types of activities and the level of supervision, confident that your dog will have the interaction and stimulation they need—whether with humans or other dogs.

Red flags when it comes to exercise are a lack of regulated activities, no games or puzzles, and low levels of interaction. If a facility can’t accommodate your dog’s play style—whether that’s exuberant or more sedate—this likely isn’t a good fit for your pet.

4. Preparation

One of the best ways to ensure your dog’s stay is a happy one is finding out how to prepare your pup for a sitter or a boarding facility.

Make sure you know:

• How should I prepare my dog’s food and medication for their stay?
• Can I bring a comfort item?
• What vaccinations do you require?
• Can I leave a list of emergency contacts if I’m not available?
• Can I bring my dog by for a visit before their stay?
• Can we schedule a one-night trial run?

Many places will ask you to prepare daily food and medication and may have specific instructions about how to package and label them. These are good signs, because it means they have thought through the best way to feed and administer medicine. If the facility or sitter lets you bring a comfort item, even better.

Many places will also want you to leave additional emergency contacts who will be local—a good sign of careful planning. Lastly, a reputable place should allow you to visit beforehand so that your dog will be more comfortable with familiar surroundings during their stay.

If a facility won’t allow you to bring your own food, consider this a warning sign. Many dogs have specific dietary needs that a generic food cannot meet, or they could have a stomach too sensitive to switch foods on no notice.

Though requesting that you leave toys at home isn’t always a red flag—after all, toys can trigger resource guarding—great kennels and sitters will make sure your dog has a space all their own for comfort items. If you’re not allowed to see that space ahead of time, that’s always a red flag.

Viktoriya Telminova via iStock

5. Is This a Good Fit for My Dog?

Some dogs need special consideration before they go to stay with a sitter or at a kennel. Here’s what to ask about puppies, seniors, dogs with health issues, and more.

Puppies

Before boarding your puppy, make sure you know about age requirements, energy levels, social activities, and rest times.

• How old do puppies need to be to stay here?
• Do you have specific food and rest times for puppies?
• What vaccinations do you require? Are all other dogs on the premises vaccinated?
• What types of activities can puppies do?
• Will puppies share space with older dogs?

High-energy dogs

Dogs with high energy levels that don’t get met can become destructive or suffer from increased anxiety. A few questions of your prospective new sitter can help to alleviate concerns.

• Will my dog be able to play with other high-energy dogs?
• Can I purchase extra playtime or walks?
• Can I bring toys for my dog to keep them occupied?
• Will there be the opportunity for games like fetch or frisbee?

Reactive dogs

Dogs who are reactive to noises, easily overstimulated, or don’t respond well to other dogs may have some very specific needs at their new boarding facility. As you talk to the operator or to the sitter, be sure to be honest about your dog’s needs and get answers to some important questions:

• Can my dog have a stay with lower sensory stimulation?
• Can my dog have a single accommodation?
• Can my dog be fed without other dogs around?
• Is the staff trained to handle reactive dogs?
• What techniques will the staff employ with a reactive dog?

Anxious dogs and dogs with separation anxiety

If you have a high-anxiety dog and/or one who experiences separation anxiety, leaving them with a sitter or at a facility can be stressful for you too. Gordon notes that for high-anxiety dogs, you might consider asking whether your dog can do a trial night just to be sure. As you talk with your prospective sitter, here are some good things to consider:

• Can my dog have a stay with lower sensory stimulation?
• Can my dog have more interaction with humans/dogs if that helps with their anxiety?
• Can my dog bring comfort items and toys?
• What activities are available for anxious dogs?
• Can my dog have a longer test visit?

Shy or dog-selective pups

Not all dogs love other dogs. If you have a dog who is shy or dog selective, be up front with the new sitter or boarding facility. Talk about your dog’s specific needs and ask questions about how the facility might best accommodate your dog’s personality. Gordon recommends that you ask for references, especially if you have a shy dog. See how other pet parents of shy dogs felt about the experience.

• Can my dog have minimal interactions with other dogs?
• Can my dog have more interaction with the staff?
• Can my dog have a stay with lower sensory stimulation?
• Can my dog have interactions only with certain types of dogs (quiet, low-energy, confident)?

Dogs with health issues

If your dog has temporary or permanent health issues, be sure to talk to the prospective facility about your dog’s specific needs and how they can help to make sure that your dog is comfortable while you are away. This could include special bedding, medications, or exercise needs.

• Can you meet my dog’s health needs? (Be specific!)
• Can you administer medications on my dog’s schedule?
• Can you make accommodations to help keep my dog comfortable?
• Can I bring items that will help my dog be more comfortable (e.g., an orthopedic dog bed)?
• Will my dog be able to be isolated from specific allergens?
• Is there a vet on call?

Seniors

Senior dogs can have some very specific needs. Getting the answers to some key questions from the sitter or facility can help to give you confidence that this boarding option is right for you.

• Is there flexibility with the schedule?
• Can I provide soft foods (e.g., wet or fresh food)?
• Can my dog have designated rest or quiet times?
• Can you administer medications throughout the day?
• Can you make accommodations to help keep my dog comfortable?
• Can I bring items that will help my dog be more comfortable (e.g., an orthopedic dog bed)?
• Can my dog only play with similarly-aged dogs?
• Is there a vet on call?

Asking the right questions can not only help you find the right sitter or the right facility for your dog, but also give you and your pup peace of mind while you’re away. You can even ask for a phone number you can reach out to if new questions occur while you’re away. A good sitter will always be happy to help.