Boarding Your Dog? Here’s How to Make It Less Stressful

I worked for a dog daycare and boarding facility for over two years, and in that time, I saw a wide variety of behavioral issues as well as just plain stressed out dogs. It’s a hectic environment, and while mostly everyone who works in the industry is trying their best, the comfort and contentment of the canine clients is not always a priority. The reality is that these jobs are extremely fast-paced and chaotic more often than not, and the employees have to mitigate these problem behaviors as best as they can while keeping up with all their other duties.

Stressed out dogs tend to stay stressed out during their time boarding, and nasty habits and behaviors can crop up as a result of this. There are, however, fundamental skills you can work on with your dog to alleviate some of the stress of boarding and set them up to have a much happier time while you’re away.

Crate training

One of the most severe behavioral cases I saw during my time at the facility was an energetic young Pitbull mix whose anxiety about being in closed spaces cost the business hundreds of dollars in repairs. She would get herself so wound up that she would scratch and chew any kennel we put her in with such fervor that she bloodied her nails and gums. She destroyed doors, pieces of siding, and anything she could reach. We tried putting her in a large playroom by herself overnight to see if it would help, and she did the exact same thing to the walls and doors. When talking to the owners about what to do, we found out that she had free reign of her house and had never been crated in her life. No wonder she couldn’t handle being in a kennel – she had no concept of being within a safe enclosed space.

People will fight back on crate training because they don’t want to be “cruel” to their dogs, and they think shutting them away in a crate is “punishment”. This is a human-oriented way to approach the concept, but we must remember dogs are not humans. Of course, if someone put you in a darkened enclosed space for an indefinite amount of time, you would not find it comforting or relaxing. But this is not a like-for-like comparison. Dogs can be trained to truly enjoy their time in a crate, and when handled right it can become a safe haven for them to rest and feel secure. If you have plans of boarding your dogs at any point, getting them used to being in an enclosed space is the best thing you can do for them.

Build up a strong positive association with the crate, and don’t use it as a means of punishment. A great way to encourage a healthy relationship with the crate past the initial training phases is by feeding your dog in it and having them sleep in it at night.

Intentional separation

Do you have a “velcro” dog? A furry shadow that can’t stand letting you out of their sight? Do you eat, sleep and breathe together? While it may be cute on the surface, and make you feel very loved and appreciated, this is not a particularly healthy way for a dog to act. Your dog should be comfortable being alone, and if they’re not, they will have an extremely rough time when they go away for boarding.

It is important to have times of intentional separation to teach the dog that they are capable of being alone for periods of time, and that nothing bad will happen to them when that occurs. Crate training, as mentioned above, is a great way to let your dog get used to being separated from you while feeling secure. If your dog displays destructive behaviors when they can’t get to you, then it is time to take an inquisitive look at the way you operate together and the routines you have established.

This may be painful to hear, but if your dog cannot handle being without you, they should not be sleeping in your bed. Nighttime is a great time to practice that intentional separation, and it will help your dog feel more secure about being alone. When you practice being apart during the day, it is a great idea to give your dog an enrichment toy like a stuffed Kong to keep them busy as they get used to the concept. If you have a power chewer on your hands and don’t want to come back to a shredded Kong or snuffle mat, learn how long it takes them to finish it, and come back and remove the item before they get the chance. If your dog is too anxious to engage with food while you are gone, there is more work to be done behaviorally in order to set them up for success.

Practicing obedience in a variety of environments

Think about the first job you ever had. You had to learn and get used to juggling tasks and doing things under pressure before it became easier. Soon, you were able to problem solve and breeze through your responsibilities like it was nothing, no matter who was watching.

We can look at our dog’s obedience in a similar light. They might have an immaculate sit or down while inside the house, but what happens when you step outside and are suddenly competing with a plethora of exciting smells and sights? Are you sure you could get the same results? We have to intentionally teach our dogs to use their brains in distracting environments in order to tone down their excitement levels and stabilize their behavior in public. While your dog is most likely not going to be asked to perform obedience commands while boarding, the purpose of working on this is to create a more well-balanced dog overall; a dog that knows that a stimulating environment does not equate to a behavioral free-for-all.

Dogs that have been exposed to a variety of places and situations will find boarding much less intimidating than a dog who never makes it out of the backyard.

Eliminating door-dashing

This skill benefits the kennel attendants just as much as it benefits the dog. While I became proficient in lassoing door-dashers with a slip lead, it was always a breath of fresh air when the dog was capable of waiting to exit their kennel. This is a very simple skill that increases self-control and decreases stress all around.

Practice with your dog at home and in public, and teach them to sit before going through a door or entrance. Release them and walk through together, no dashing necessary. This also applies to crates – if your dog bolts out as soon as you open the door, spend some time working with them to facilitate a calmer exit.

In conclusion

These skills will help prepare your dog for spending time in a boarding facility, and in turn can give you some peace of mind that you have helped them become more secure and stable in times of environmental change. Working on these skills will help your dog become more well-rounded in general, and allow them to experience new things with less stress and apprehension. Imagine how much more relaxing your next vacation will be when you’re not worried about how your dog is doing without you!