Dog boarding kennels can be a great option for your dog when you’ll be traveling and can’t take him with you. However, many pet parents have misconceptions about dog boarding that keep them from taking their furry friend to a boarding facility. At Fon Jon Pet Care, we always make sure that our campers are happy and healthy and feel like our facility is their home away from home. This is why we’re taking some time to debunk some of the most common myths about dog boarding.

Myth #1: Dogs Always Get Sick at Dog Boarding Kennels

While dog boarding kennels do care for many dogs at a time and these dogs share community spaces as part of their stay, this doesn’t mean your dog will definitely get sick. Of course, a dog can potentially get sick and no boarding facility can promise you that this will not happen, but it’s not something that always happens.

There are many steps that dog boarding kennels, such as Fon Jon Pet Care, take to avoid having any of their campers get sick. The first step is requiring the pet parents to present documentation that proves their dog is up-to-date on required immunizations. We require proof of vaccination for rabies, bordetella, DHLPP, K9 Influenza, and Leptospirosis. We also thoroughly clean our facilities on a regular basis, and all bedding provided to our campers is clean. Our facility is also equipped with good ventilation, air conditioning, and heating so that our doggy campers are always comfortable and safe.

In addition to all this, our campers are always monitored and supervised during their stay so if we notice any symptoms of potential illness or injury it can be addressed as soon as possible.

Myth #2: Dog Boarding Kennels Stick Dogs in Cages All Day

It’s a common misconception that dog boarding kennels tend to place their boarders in cages, where they are left for all or most of their stay. However, this simply isn’t the truth. When a dog is taken to the vet and left there overnight for a procedure, they are likely kept in a cage during their time there, but dog boarding is very different from a trip to the vet’s office.

At Fon Jon Pet Care, our doggy campers are provided with a spacious private den where they will sleep at night. This den is connected to an outdoor patio where your dog can spend some private time outdoors. We also have large dog runs, where our campers have plenty of space to play and run, getting the exercise they need for the day before going back to their den and their comfy bed. We always make sure your dog is taken out plenty of times a day to relieve himself and socialize with supervised playtime.

Of course, if your dog does better on his own, you can sign up your pup for private playtime, during which one of our pet technicians will escort your camper to a private play yard, where he will play with our technicians.

Myth #3: Dogs Do Not Get Adequate Attention During Boarding

Dog boarding kennels generally provide their boarders with more than enough love and attention during their stay. It may actually be easier for your dog to get the attention he requires at a boarding facility with multiple pet technicians available.

At Fon Jon Pet Care, our pet technicians always make time to interact with each of our campers, making sure they’re healthy and comfortable as well as simply providing the attention they need.

In addition to attention from our pet technicians, your dog will also get attention from his fellow campers during his social playtime!

Myth #4: Your Dog Will Miss You So Much That She’ll Suffer

While we’re not trying to argue that your dog won’t miss you, we’ve found that our campers don’t miss their pet parents so much that they suffer while in our care. Your dog may also be less likely to miss you to the point of suffering at dog boarding kennels, where she’ll be surrounded by caring pet technicians and fellow campers. In fact, the time she spends away from you may not feel as long when she’s spending her days playing with other dogs!

In addition to this, our goal is to make our boarding facilities feel like a home away from home for your dog. Her every need will be met and we will do everything we can to ensure that she won’t suffer while away from you.

However, it’s important to note that there are some dogs who simply aren’t compatible with boarding. Some dogs are so anxious and easily stressed by new situations that boarding may be too difficult for them. Most dogs do not fall into this category, but you can bring your dog to us for a half or full day of daycare and see how she reacts to being away from you and in our facility.

Myth #5: Completely Cage-Free Dog Boarding Kennels are Best for Dogs

Some dog boarding kennels offer a “cage-free” experience where dogs are never on their own, even while sleeping. This may sound like a great idea to pet parents worried about their dog feeling lonely, but keeping many dogs that don’t know each other together at all times can do more harm than good.

Socialization is important, and while we always make sure that your dog gets time with other campers and our staff, dogs need independent rest as well. This is especially important at night when being able to rest in the privacy of their own den allows our campers to get better rest, so they’re ready to get back to playing the next day!

In addition to this, even dogs who enjoy spending time with other dogs may begin to feel overly tired or stressed if they’re not given any independent rest. This may make them less tolerant of other dogs, leading them to act out aggressively. Eating around other dogs can also lead to aggression in some dogs, so allowing them to eat in private will prevent this and make all of our campers’ stays safer.

Finally, it’s important to note that at Fon Jon Pet Care, we don’t keep dogs in cages at all! We do have private areas for each of our campers, but these are in the form of private indoor dens that include a private outdoor patio. Your pup will have plenty of space to rest, relax, and unwind!

Myth #6: Every Dog is a Good Fit for Boarding

We do our best to make sure that our boarding program is safe and fun for any dogs that are brought to our facility, but some dogs simply aren’t meant for this environment. As we mentioned when debunking myth #4, some dogs find boarding too stressful to enjoy. Group play may not be enjoyable and being in a new place surrounded by people they don’t know may be stressful, making it too difficult for some dogs to find any enjoyment.

In these cases, we can’t recommend dog boarding, as we want all dogs to be as comfortable as possible when they must be away from their pet parents. Of course, we will work with you to determine if boarding or daycare is a good fit for your dog, but if it’s not, we completely understand. We want our campers and your dog to be safe, healthy, and happy!

Dog Boarding in San Diego County from Fon Jon Pet Care

At Fon Jon Pet Care, and all quality dog boarding kennels, boarding programs are designed to treat your dog with just as much love, compassion, and care as you would. We also have a throughly trained staff who are dedicated to their jobs and have plenty of experience caring for dogs. We’ll work hard to make sure our facility feels like home for your furry friend!

Our unique boarding facility is perfect for your camper to spend his day outside running around and playing with other dogs! Dog boarding campers are monitored all day so we can maintain an active and safe environment. Our outdoor play yard is very spacious and has a park-like setting, offering a variety of ramps, kiddie pools, and other fun-filled activities available for them all day!

We have more than 70 years of experience providing top-quality dog boarding, grooming, daycare, and training in San Diego County. Visit our website or call us at (858) 490-2117 to learn more about our dog boarding packages. You can also make an appointment online!