According to one study reported in the Daily Mail, dogs enjoy kennel stays as much as their owners like to take a holiday. In fact, research reveals that canines find that the change to be exciting. The research, which measured a range of stress symptomatology in dogs, discovered that our canine friends experience higher levels of excitement in a kennel environment and the feeling is not related to stress or anxiety.
A Holiday for a Dog
So, if you believe you will feel pangs of guilt if you leave your dog in a kennel, those feelings may not be justified. In fact, British researchers suggest that dogs like spending time in a kennel much in the same way that people enjoy travelling abroad.
The latest study, which was published in the journal Physiology and Behaviour, measured physical stress symptoms in 29 dogs, both in private boarding kennels and at home. The measurements included nose temperature, skin dryness, the amount of food consumed, and core body temperature. Researchers also reviewed spontaneous behaviour patterns, such as paw lifting, yawning, restlessness, lip-licking, or shaking. Research showed that dogs were more active in a kennel environment than they were at home.
A Positive Experience
Therefore, housing your dog or cat in Wiltshire boarding kennels and catteries can be a positive experience, especially if the facility is devoted to the overall care of a pet. Kennels should be heated and feature runs as well as enough space to house two to three dogs at one time. Owners should also be able to bring a pet’s bedding and toys to a facility. Kennels that receive good reviews also exercise guests individually. Secure grass paddocks are often used for this purpose.
If you choose to have your dog or cat kennelled, then be advised that he or she needs to have the necessary inoculations. Canine guests must also be inoculated against kennel cough at least seven days prior to entering a boarding facility.
Guests at top-of-the-line kennels are given individual meals as well, prepared in accordance to each pet’s specific nutritional needs. The only exception are those pets who are on a prescription diet from their veterinarians. Dogs that need medication also receive their medicines per the instructions of the owners.