Your four-legged friend on vacation: everything you need to know about pet boarding facilities

Vaccinations

Dogs and cats staying in a boarding facility must meet certain vaccination requirements. Often, these include at least the standard vaccinations, and the animals must be dewormed and treated for fleas. Depending on the facility, your dog or cat may need additional vaccinations. So be sure to check in advance what vaccination requirements your boarding facility has.

Note: At some boarding facilities, vaccinations must have been given at least 10 to 14 days before the stay. Check with the facility if your pet is vaccinated shortly before the stay so you can take this into account.

Visits for booking

Have you researched using the above points and found some boarding facilities that meet your requirements? Then it is wise to schedule a visit to these facilities in advance. This way, you get an impression of the atmosphere at the boarding facility and can see how the staff interact with the animals. Based on this, you can decide whether a facility feels right or not. After all, it is important that both owner and pet go to and return from the boarding facility feeling happy!

If you have doubts after visiting a particular facility or the atmosphere doesn’t feel quite right, always keep looking.

Prepare your pet

If you have found a suitable boarding facility with space for your four-legged friend during your vacation period, ask if your pet can come for a trial night. This way, your dog or cat can get acquainted with the new environment and the staff. Observe how your pet behaves when you pick him or her up. Keep in mind that animals need time to get used to a strange environment, but a happy and relaxed dog or cat says a lot. If your pet returns stressed, it might be better to choose another facility. When everything has gone well and the actual vacation period begins, you can give your pet a toy, bed, or blanket with the scent of home. This provides a more familiar feeling for your dog or cat at their vacation destination.

Keep in mind that staying in a boarding facility is always an exciting time for your four-legged friend. Being in an unfamiliar environment without their owner, surrounded by strangers, and often with other unfamiliar animals; all situations that are different from usual and that your pet is often not used to. It is therefore important to take the preparation and search for a vacation place for your pet seriously. Whatever facility you choose, make sure it suits both you and your dog or cat. When you know your best friend is in good hands, you can also fully enjoy your vacation.

We wish everyone, both owners and pets, a very pleasant vacation period!

P.S. want to treat your dog to a tasty snack when you get home? Then check out our snack assortment here!


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