What are the best ways to look for a dog care facility? Ask a dog? Look online? Ask friends? Yellow Pages? However you determine that, here are some ideas of things to look for and what type of questions you may want to ask a prospective boarding facility.

Asking for references from a trusted friend, family member, your vet or groomer can go a long way. Always do your part and checkout the company for yourself. Look at their photos and info they list on their website or other pages. Read their reviews and what people are saying about them.

Call or message the facility. If they don’t answer, do they get back to you in a reasonable amount of time? Do they seem up front and answer questions clearly? Do they offer you to come by and visit? If not, ask them you could come by. Better yet, just stop by (during normal business hours of course) and see if they’ll let you check it out. If not, run the other way.

Notice how the facility not only looks but how it smells. Does it have a pleasant smell? Is there a TV or radio or something in the background to help calm dogs? How do the individual dog suites look? Do they have privacy between the dogs next to them to help prevent stimulation barking and spreading of illness? Are they constructed with something solid like welded metal or concrete? Chain link and chicken wire don’t hold up to destructive dogs. Is the inside climate controlled with both AC and heat? Are the kennels being cleaned daily?

Check out the yard and/or play areas. Are they taking measures to prevent dog escapes and injuries? Do they have just one play area or several areas? Do they have shady areas and fresh water for warm weather days? Secure fencing?

Ask questions as each facility has its own way of running things. Questions you might want to ask but are not limited to include:

*Do you put similar dogs/temperaments out together?

*Can your dog go out by him/herself?

*How often are dogs let out during the day?

*What vaccines do you require? (if they don’t require vaccines, run)

*Have a vet on stand by for emergencies?

*How much time do dogs spend playing/potty breaks?

*How much training does the staff have and are they true dog lovers?

There are many various aspects to deciding on a facility. What is important to you may not be so important to the next person. Go check out the facility in person, get a feeling for their place and if it lines up with your values and culture. Does your dog like going back there?

This is obviously just a very basic at what you should be doing when looking for a dog kennel and boarding center. Here at Ruby’s K9 Corral we love to meet new people and their pets and to show you around our facility so you see just what you are getting! Come see for yourself!