Tips, boarding my dog for the first time

It's only for 2 nights (Saturday morning until Monday afternoon) as we are going out of the country, but I've never been away from him like that before :( I am a total stay at home mom. Can someone offer advice? He is staying with a reputable boarder recommended by our breeder. Simba is 14 months old. He is my baby :rolleyes:

I will bring his food (special gastro food for his tummy troubles), his crate, his blanket, his ducky, what else??? :(

It's so hard for me, LOL. We flew him to Quebec in cargo last summer and I refuse to do it again. It was way too hard for him (frightening experience).

Any existing separation anxiety or other neuroses? If not and if he is used to crating, he should be fine.

A tip I can recommend: I have found sending dawgs with a pair of worn (read:stinky :D) T-shirt (or panties :laughing:) can be calming and reassuring to an dog who may be nervous in a new situation.

No anxiety! I don't exist unless I have some chicken or a leash :laughing: That's a good tip, thank you. He seems to prefer my husbands boxer shorts :confused::eek: but for the sake of the boarder, I'll give him a t-shirt.

anything smelling of you and to snuggle with is good.

I'm the same as you, by the way--I hate leaving my fur kids!!

No anxiety! I don't exist unless I have some chicken or a leash :laughing: That's a good tip, thank you. He seems to prefer my husbands boxer shorts :confused::eek: but for the sake of the boarder, I'll give him a t-shirt.

:laughing::laughing::laughing: I think someone's going to need to do their calming yoga breathing the entire time. Come on now, find your inner Buddha :laughing::laughing::laughing:

Did you get to tour the boarding kennel, shibamom? Might set your heart at ease about leaving him there if you see it. :grouphug:

Another tip: I recently cat sat for friends who had never left Twiggy alone before and although they know I'm reasonably competent and occasionally sane :D, they were still quite apprehensive about going on their cruise as they hadn't left her alone before. So, each day, including the very first day, I sent them series of emails The Twiggy Scandals (she's a femme fatale!) with pix attached. Now I doubt very much the kennel would be willing to be quite that nutty but I'll bet they would email you if you asked them!

A tip our trainer gave is to make sure the kennel does not enclose the dogs in high walled "rooms" where they cannot see the other dogs. She said it's like being in solitary confinement for them. Now, that is exactly the kind of kennel our Lab girl went to and as she was quite submissive it worked wonderfully for her. She could use the doggy door to access the outside portion of her run any time she wished.

Our Vet recommended this kennel because it has painted concrete walls and floors and is the only nearby kennel that can truy disinfect between doggy clients. A concern because at one time we thought our girl was susceptible to catching gastro disorders.

Our current boy is pretty confident and sure of himself so we have switched to a kennel that has high walled sides but a wire front. He can see out but there will be no fighting or intimidation along the sides.

I like to board for just one night the first time. And I second the T-shirt idea, I have always left one. Or a worn sock. I mean worn by one of us, not worn as in holey. :) It might be holey when it comes home though. :)