Leaving your pet in a kennel or pet lodging facility for the first time can be stressful, both for you and your furry friend. However, with some preparation and care, you can ensure your pet has a comfortable stay while you’re away. Follow these tips to help your pet adjust to lodging for the first time from Pawhootz (https://pawhootz.com/).
Do Your Research
Before booking any facility, thoroughly research the options in your area. Look at reviews, check licensing, ask for references, and request a tour. Make sure the facility is clean, secure, and the staff seem caring. Watch how staff interact with the animals. A good facility will allow and encourage visits beforehand to meet staff and see the lodging space. You’ll feel better leaving your pet somewhere you’re confident they’ll receive good care.
Consider a Trial Run
See if you can book your pet for a short 1 or 2 night trial stay before a longer booking. This allows them to experience the lodging, meet the staff, and become familiar with the space. Starting with a brief stay can make adjusting easier when you eventually need to board them for a longer time. Most facilities will allow trial runs for new pets.
Bring Comforts From Home
Bring your pet’s bed, a worn t-shirt that smells like you, their favorite toys, and any other comfort items from home. Having familiar items helps ease anxiety and makes them feel more secure in a new place. Check the facility’s policies on outside items beforehand. Some may not allow beds or toys for safety reasons.
Follow Their Normal Routine
Keep your pet’s routine as close as possible to their schedule at home. Make sure they’re up-to-date on vaccines and flea/tick preventatives. Ask the facility to follow your normal feeding times and amounts as best they can. Trying to maintain their home structure helps minimize disruption from the lodging change.
Get Them On The Facility’s Food
If your pet has a sensitive stomach, slowly transition them to the food served at the facility over a week or two before dropping them off. Sudden food changes can cause digestive upset. Check for any diet restrictions too. This small change ahead of time prevents tummy issues while they’re away from you.
Time Their Drop-Off Carefully
Try not to lodge your pet immediately after a stressful event like a vet visit. Give them a day or two to recover first. Don’t board them the day after you return from a trip either. Let them re-adjust to home before leaving again. Timing their stay in between stresses gives them a mental breather.
Keep Goodbyes Brief
When dropping off, keep goodbyes brief and upbeat. Prolonged emotional departures can increase separation anxiety. Give them a happy “see you soon” and don’t drag out the leash hand-off. The calmer you are, the more comfortable they’ll feel being left. Save the big homecoming hellos for pick-up day!
Lodging your pet for the first time takes some preparation, but following these tips will help your furry friend feel comfortable and content while you’re gone. Do your homework to find a good facility, ease them into it with a trial run, bring familiar items from home, stick to their routine, time it right, and keep goodbyes low-key. With some care on your part, your pet’s first lodging experience will be stress-free.
