Finding A Boarding Facility For Your Dog That’s Afraid Of People
You have to go out of town, which means boarding your best friend: your dog. It’s never easy leaving your dog, and it’s especially difficult if your dog is afraid of people. Finding a boarding facility for your fearful dog may take time but will be worth the time spent.
Be Honest and Upfront
Your first contact with a boarding facility will probably be via email or phone. This is the time to start explaining your situation. Let the people know that you have a dog that is afraid of people and will need special attention. Any hesitation on their part may mean it’s time to move on to the next potential facility.
Let the Facility Tell You Their Plan
If the person you are in contact with tells you that they have experience with fearful dogs, ask them for some specifics on how they handle these dogs.
- Do they mention letting the dog adjust to the new environment and people at its own pace? Fearful dogs don’t do well with strangers who want to dote on them. Most fearful dogs will do best with minimal contact with strangers.
- Will they assign one person to be the one who cares for your dog? More than one person may be too much.
- Ask them to tell you how a typical day for your dog would go.
- Make sure you are comfortable with the plan the facility explains.
Take Your Dog for a Visit
Once you feel you have found a boarding facility that may be suitable for your dog, take your pet for at least one visit. This way you can observe not only how the people respond to your dog, but also how your dog reacts. You know your pet better than anyone. You’ll get a feel for whether or not they will be comfortable in the environment.
Here are a few things to watch for:
- While your dog may be leery of the environment at first, they should start to relax after awhile. If they can’t relax with you present, will they be able to relax while you’re gone? Most dogs will ease up and begin to explore a new place in a relatively short period of time.
- Your dog probably won’t love, or even like, the caregiver at first. You are going to have to use your intuition to determine if they are right for you and your pet.
- Is the caregiver giving your dog the space it needs?
- Is the caregiver speaking kindly to your dog, yet backing off when it appears to be too much?
- Does the caregiver seem to be at all nervous or frightened? Some fearful dogs, especially large ones, sometimes give off the impression of being mean or aggressive. A professional boarding facility should have employees that can distinguish the dogs fear from anger.
Boarding your dog can, and should, be a good experience for you and your pet. Once you have found the right place, your dog will likely end up having a pleasant experience. You, in turn, will have peace of mind while you are away from your best friend.
For more information, contact a business such as Marquette Animal Hospital.
