5 Important Points When Choosing a Minder For Your Dog

There are a lot of services that offer dog boarding in Newcastle. As pet parents, choosing the best environment for our pooches when we’re not there to take care of them is the biggest concern. Advertisements always look good when you check websites and posts online. However, it’s just all too easy to fall prey to bad business practice—and it’s not just about not getting value for money.

When you entrust your dog to a dog minder, it pays to be assured of compassionate, knowledgeable and dedicated treatment for your furbaby. Your dog won’t be able to give you a verbal rundown of what happens to him while you’re gone. But there are signs that some dog boarding is not at par with the kind of home environment you want your pet to have.

A very important factor to check is ‘does the minder have backup should a personal emergency occur for them’.

1. Dog boarding should be like home

There is a difference between dog boarding kennels and house-based dog boarding in Newcastle.  Good dog minders will welcome your pooch into their home, and the environment will be similar to home.  Dog boarding kennels are often an unfamiliar environment for dogs. In busy kennels the noise, smells, and presence of other dogs can create a high-stress, high-stimulation environment. This type of environment may overwhelm even the most sociable canines.

This is why many furparents opt for house-based dog boarding in Newcastle.  Professional house-based dog minding provides a secure, yet homely place for your four-legged buddy to stay while you go away. A good dog minder will never set up anything that does not resemble a home environment for your pup and that means no unnecessary caging. They should never board multiple dogs as this can result in some dogs not getting along. This can cause some dogs to miss out on their food.  They should also not be planning to retain them in structures outside of the house.

It’s imperative that you know what the minder’s home looks like.  A visit to the minder’s home will give you the assurance that your beloved buddy will be holidaying in the right type of place.

2. Your dog minder should bond with your dog

 The business of dog boarding in Newcastle is currently highly unregulated. Dog boarding services should always make it a policy to carefully screen their minders and the minders’ homes. Professional services that involve handling animals 24/7 should only engage people who have the right experience as well as the right attitude.  They should also have systems in place to support them round the clock.

Since your dog will be relying on another human being for pretty much everything, your pooch and your chosen minder should definitely get along. Is the pet sitter unsure or uncomfortable with your dog? Time to look for another minder.

3. The boarding home should never be unsanitary

 It’s crucial that our pets live in a clean, healthy environment and dog boarding should live up to that standard. Accidents can happen, even with toilet-trained pooches, but it’s no excuse to let any odour or mess go unnoticed.

Observe what the feeding areas, toys, bedding and even the furniture are like when you do a home check with your minder. In a place that houses other people’s dogs everything should be clean, safe and maintained properly. If your senses tell you otherwise, pack up your pooch and hightail it out of there.

Here’s a report from a client who came to us after first trying another service providing dog boarding in Newcastle: “The minder was lovely but the house and yard were putrid.  She was a sole minder so not required to meet any standards like your minders have to.”.  So, it is definitely worth checking out a minder before leaving your dog with them.

4. Guaranteed safety and security

 If there’s one thing that dog lovers would never ever want to see it would definitely be their dogs in pain. Entrusting your beloved canine to a dog minder can come with some apprehension and worry.  The service you pay for should guarantee safety and security for your dog.

The dog minder should report on any mishaps or accidents that may happen. They should also be able to cope with emergencies, especially ones that require veterinary attention.

5. Your dog minder should be happy to provide you with updates

Regular verbal or written communication from the dog minder is of utmost importance when you can’t physically be there for your furbaby. Dog boarding is like extended sleepovers with a friend. Your pooch should be relaxed and feel at home. As keen dog parents, you’ll be able to tell if the minder is making the effort to make your pooch feel comfortable.

A dog minder who seems sketchy and hesitant to provide any communication regarding your dog’s condition should raise a red flag. If this happens, a call to a friend or relative who can physically go and check in on your pooch is in order.

Conclusion

As responsible pet parents, it’s our duty to make sure that our dogs are well cared for when we are away. Travelling can be onerous—especially the preparations.  To save us from a lot of worries, heartaches, and pain (both humans and canines), it is absolutely crucial to do your research.  Doing this research will help you to determine which service for dog boarding in Newcastle you should use.

For a stress-free, totally relaxing holiday for your dog (and so that you can enjoy your holiday more) see more information on our professional dog boarding service.