When choosing a boarding kennel or hotel accommodation for your dog, it's important to ensure that it meets your dogs needs and your expectations. It’s important to plan in advance to make sure your dog is well looked after while you’re away.
Here are some key factors to consider:
Cleanliness and Hygiene
Check if the facility is clean and well-maintained. Ensure that the kennels are regularly cleaned, and waste is promptly removed. Does it smell ok?
At Happy Little Howlers we pride ourselves on keeping our facility clean and fresh with daily cleaning routines and deep cleaning procedures. This helps keep our facility fresh but also prevents to transmission of disease and sickness.
Staff Qualifications and Attentiveness
Look for staff who are experienced, trained, and genuinely care about dogs. Ask about staff-to-dog ratios to ensure your pet will receive adequate attention.
As we are a small facility, we keep our dog to staff ratios low and therefore have the capacity to give your dog the special attention it requires. All our staff are dog lovers who all own dogs themselves. We treat our guests like our own dogs and they all become part of our family.
Safety and Security
Make sure the facility is secure enough to prevent dogs from escaping. Check for safety features like secure fencing, locked gates, and supervised play areas and security cameras.
Safety and security is our number one concern at Happy Little Howlers. Our facility is equiped with cameras, lots of fencing and large play areas.
Accommodations and Comfort
Inspect the size of the kennels and make sure your Dog will have plenty of room to move around when inside. Can you fit all your dogs belongings in there? Will they be safe at night? Is it shared accommodation or will your dog have its own space? Consider if your dog will have access to indoor and outdoor spaces? You should also ask if they can accommodate any special needs your dog might have.
All our boarders have their own space overnight. Only family members are allowed to share sleeping spaces. We believe that Dogs who do not know each other should never be left alone overnight. Our cubbies are big enough for you to bring everything from home, yet small enough to provide a den like cosy feeling for your Dog.
Exercise and Socialisation
Ensure that the facility provides regular exercise and playtime. Ask how often dogs are taken out for walks or allowed to play with other dogs. How will you know that the playtime you have paid for is being given to the dog? How will they communicate with you about your dogs holiday while you’re away.
At Happy Little Howlers, all our boarders have access to ALL DAY daycare at no extra charge. They are only in their sleeping spaces to eat or sleep. All boarders participate in our daily daycare activities which keeps them stimulated and reduces stress. It also gives them plenty of time for human interaction with our staff.
Communication with owners is key while your Dog stays with us. We do daily stories on our social pages and provide daily updates when requested. You can see your dog on our socials everyday so you know that are actually out playing, socialising and being mentally and physically stimulated everyday.. they are not just locked away and let out for short periods at a time.
Emergency Preparedness
Inquire about the kennel’s emergency procedures, including access to a veterinarian. Check if the staff are trained in pet first aid.
Emergencies are well prepared for at Happy Little Howlers. We have trained staff on site all day and our local Vet is close by who provides valuable support if needed.
Reviews and Recommendations
Look for reviews from other pet owners and people who have used the facility before. Ask for references or recommendations from friends or your veterinarian.
We have a great reputation at Happy Little Howlers which is a testament to our commitment to caring for your Dogs. Most of our boarders have come to us via word of mouth or reviews. Check out our reviews on Google.
Choosing the right boarding hotel for your Dog involves doing some research and visiting the facility in person. A good kennel will be happy to answer your questions and will provide a safe, comfortable environment for your dog during their stay. We do tours on Sunday by appointment as it’s less disruptive to the Dogs in our care. Get in touch with us to make a booking.
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