So your guests have a pleasant stay: tips for kennel owners

Kennel owners should put similar sized dogs in the same enclosure

There are various dos and don’ts when it comes to running a boarding kennel business.

Although animal lovers may have the dog’s best interests at heart, being trusted to look after someone’s pet is a big responsibility and you need expertise as well as good intentions to run a reputable kennel. When a customer collects their pet they want to see a healthy, happy animal; if a dog shows signs of depression or distress the customer might complain and ask for a refund – at the very least they’ll use another kennels next time.

This article lays out some of the ground rules and offers useful tips on how to create a clean and pleasant environment for your canine guests.

Hygiene

One of the most important issues is cleanliness. If a boarding kennels for sale is unhygienic the dogs are more likely to pick up diseases. The main cause of bad odours is unsuitable flooring materials, so even if the floor and walls are cleaned regularly, a poorly designed kennel will emit unpleasant odours.

If you want to buy a kennels then the examining the materials used should form part of your due diligence. Common kennel flooring includes concrete, decking, rubber mats, gravel, pine shavings or grass.

Anything absorbent will soak up urine and wash down water, which leads to bad smells and contamination. The floors and walls should be easy to clean and washed down on a regular basis in order to maintain high sanitation standards.

Vaccination

Vaccination is a legal requirement to prevent the spread of disease. If you fail to conduct thorough checks on an animal’s vaccination records, you could be putting other dogs in danger and your business may be forced to close. If it’s discovered that your kennel has dogs without proper vaccinations then unless you can prove you were deceived by fraudulent vaccination records then you could be liable for legal sanctions.

Persistent and loud noise is stressful for dogs – sometimes even fatal for old dogs with heart problems

Noise and stress

Persistent and loud noise is stressful for dogs – sometimes even fatal for old dogs with heart problems.

The main way to reduce noise and stress is to board fewer dogs in an enclosure. It is recommended to board fewer than 20 kennels in any building, depending on the kennel size, while as a general rule dogs should not directly face one another. Regular exercise of course is absolutely paramount, so consider the size of the space set aside for exercise in any kennels for sale.

Friendly staff

How many staff does a kennel for sale have and how many will stay under the new ownership? And how friendly and conscientious are they?

SUnsupportive and rude staff can make customers feel apprehensive about the quality of care and treatment that will be given to their pet. It could ultimately ruin their vacation and make customers think twice about using your services in the future.

Accommodation

It is good practice to show customers where their dog will be staying, as it reassures customers that their pet will be in good hands. Alarm bells will ring if the kennels appear overcrowded, if dogs are kept in cages instead of secure enclosures.

Another problem is placing dogs from different households in the same kennel. The last thing you want to do is explain to an owner why their dog has bite marks on his body.

Bedding

Dogs should be provided with soft, comfortable bedding within their kennel and also in an outside run. Forced to stand or sit for long periods, dogs will become restless and tense, barking more, thereby agitating other dogs.

Repairs

It is good practice to repair damage as soon as it becomes apparent. Regular maintenance also prevents the kennels from looking old and dilapidated.

While people generally don’t care much about the condition of a car park, so long as it’s secure, they certainly do care about the environment their dog will live in for a week or more. A pet is often almost like a family member and many dog owners feel guilty about leaving their dog, which is a highly social animal that yearns to remain with the pack.

Reassuring people therefore that their labrador or Yorkshire terrier is in good hands is paramount. A vacation is the high point of many people’s year and among their most expensive outlays – so they don’t want it compromised by worrying about how their beloved pet.