Dog Boarding Question

[Bobsk8]

I am taking a few days off in October to visit Manhattan for some good food, people watching and Jazz clubs and have to board Smokey for the first time since I adopted her. Since she was in a shelter for about 10 months I decided that I didn't want to board her at my vet since all they have are the same kind of cages that the shelter had, and I don't want her to feel like she is back in the shelter again, it would probably really upset her. Petsmart has these pet Hotels, and I called them and the place where they keep the dogs looks like a small room.
http://www.petsmart.com/PETsHOTEL/landing/atlanta.shtml

There is someone there 24/7 and they have organized play time a couple of times a day. I am worried about the play time a bit, since she was bitten on the foot in the park a couple of weeks ago. I realize that something like that can happen really quickly and when she is running around in a room with a group of other dogs, I would hate for her to get injured by some dog that was less than friendly. For this reason, I was thinking of telling them that I don't want her to participate in the group play time since I would only be gone for 3 days. Do you think I am over reacting to the possiblity of her being injured by another dog? My vet said that he has had dogs that did come back from day care or overnight group play scenarios with bite marks on them......

I guess I feel guilty about leaving her for a couple of days and almost considered cancelling the trip ......

 

[Sweet72947]

I don't think you are overreacting..better safe than sorry! Maybe you could just schedule some extra cuddle time? Some places have it set up so you can pay extra for extra one-one-one playtime and things like that. Good luck!

 

[dr2little]

I don't think that you're overreacting either. Most staff that supervise dogs are not trainers and I don't believe that they are properly trained to manage multiple dogs. Especially given the fact that some dogs are stressed in a new environment. 3 days is not too long and there really is not a need for her to socialize with other dogs as long as she has the attention of loving people while your away.
Have you considered a pet sitter? I know that many clinics here have Vet Tech. staff who are doing pet sitting on the side. That way, your dog can stay in her own home and have someone overnight while she sleeps (in her own bed). Just a thought.....

 

[Lizmo]

I do not think you are over reacting either you always want to be safer than sorry!!!

Also I was looking at it and I think that you can have them put your dog up to a telephone and you can talk to them!!!!

 

[Zoom]

I might be biased, but I am not fond of Petsmart boarding setup. The rooms are quite small (just the ones you can see, they wouldn't let me take a tour)and the play times are very short, plus, the type of people who are hired by Petsmart are not the best of the best. Generally teenagers in the pet business are only there for the play time, and not the work time.

As far as the play concerns go, yes, bites do sometimes happen. It's the nature of the beast; no matter how carefully you are watching a group, just the fact that two dogs are playing means that one of them might get marked. Heck, Virgo came home with a slightly bloody ear the other day, and it was from Sawyer. Dogs have teeth and they play with their mouths.

But if you have overwhelming concerns about it, then by all means go with what makes you feel the most comfortable.

 

[Lizmo]

I agree with Zoom!!!

Some petsmarts are good and some are not you jsut have to use your judgement and see how the employes act around you and Smokey.

Good Luck!!

 

[Samson]

I work at petsmart’s pet hotel and we do the best we can to make sure the aggressive and extra rowdy dogs are in individual play time. Although there is always a possibility of an accident happening we keep a very good eye on them to make sure they’re not being aggressive and if they are we take them out. I hope this helps you out a little bit.

 

[PoodleMommy]

Any chance smokey could just go with you, or are you flying?

 

[bubbatd]

I never liked kenneling either .... but would rather be safe than sorry !! The one I've used here is a nice sized indoor with outside run . For another $5. a day, they will take your dog alone ( or in our case Chip went out with Hunter ) to run a huge field.

 

[Bobsk8]

Any chance smokey could just go with you, or are you flying?

I am flying. I think I am just going to skip the play time, since it will only be a couple of days.......

 

[SummerRiot]

I'm also not fond of PetSmart or Petcetera type boarding facilities.

If that place is anything like the Petcetera over this way, all the dogs are in one room - about the size of a regular bedroom. On non-rubber floors - which makes it hard to play on that type of floor with slipping all around, any dogs that dont get along with each other are kenneled and have seperate play times. At night all the dogs are put into a kennel or a crate or a Run In - providing availability.

The dogs aren't always monitored 24/7. I remember working at Petceteras boarding place and I would be the only employee who would try to spend their whole shift IN WITH the dogs instead of just watching them or doing other things. I always got into trouble for that for some reason b/c I should be circulating the floors to speak with customers blah blah blah - I thought it was a horrible procedure.

I'd look more into a personally owned kennel - check references as well!

 

[Sadie'smama]

I think I would just skip the playtime and I think Smokey will be just fine. The Petsmart hotel here is very nice and when I've been in shopping (the play area is by the shopping area and the play area is all glass) they dogs look like they're having a good time. But since your not going to be gone long, I would play it safe and skip play time. JMO

 

[ToscasMom]

I only had to board Tosca once so far, I opted to board her with her trainer. I had a hunch it was a better idea because she already knows and loves him. I also figured for sure that he would work with her properly when he walked her and spend time with her. I know that he socialized her with one of his own dogs, but he didn't do a group play thing. When I picked her up she wasn't the least bit stressed, and I had a feeling she would have stayed longer if I had let her. I kind of like those personal boarding situations.

 

[Buddy'sParents]

I also do not think you are over-reacting. Not all petsmart employees are trained, well, if at all, and thats bad business for them. But then again, given the choice of Petsmart Hotel or a petsitter coming to my home, I would def. go for the latter (or maybe a private boarding kennel, but that is still a maybe).

We had planned to take Buddy to Petsmarts Pet Hotel when my husband and I went on vacation earlier this year. We went and visited and the girl we spoke to was very nice and just loved Buddy, but just oozed inexperience.

I want someone to take care of my dog like I would and we found a lovely woman who runs a pet sitting business. If we were ever to have to go somewhere without the boys, we would def. call her and have her come to our home, where the boys feel safe, etc.. then take them to a boarding facility where they will be ignored and have to pee in their cages and possibly get kennel cough, stressed out, etc..

If you would like some help searching for pet sitters in your area Bob, I would be willing to help.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do and have fun on your trip!

 

[moxiegrl]

Im lucky when we have to leave and Katie can't come, she stays at my dads and plays with her buddy Bonnie She stayed for ten days and even though she was happy to come home, I was more stressed then she was the whole time Do you know anyone you trust that could watch him?