How to Choose Pet Boarding in Frisco, TX

The toughest decision you'll have to make being a dog owner is where to board your dog when you go out of town. Not all of us have the luxury of leaving our dogs with a neighbor or friend who has pets. So when we leave town for vacation or a last minute meeting across the country, we all have to decide what boarding facility or kennel is going to be the best fit for our furry family member. The following are key elements to look for in your dog boarding facility and what to do if you feel your dogs health and well being are at risk.

Cleanliness

Many dog owners walk into the pet boarding facility and automatically judge the boarding by the cleanliness. Take a look around at the floors and the counters, do they look like they have been cleaned or wiped down recently? The outward appearance of the facility can give you a quick glimpse of behind the scenes, so more than likely your dog is going to be sitting in much worse than a dirty counter. Don’t be afraid to request to see the kennel area and the cages the dogs are kept. More importantly don’t be afraid to grab your dog and walk out, even if you have placed previous reservations. A sick or unhappy dog is not worth the slight embarrassment of you scurrying out the door.

The Staff

One major quality to look for in the boarding staff is an engaging attitude with your pet. Does the front staff welcome your dog and say hello or ask for his name? If the staff asks the minimal questions and are trying to rush you out of the facility take this as a warning. Miserable staff and unloving technicians will not keep your dog’s best interest at heart. There are plenty of boarding facilities in the Frisco area who love and adore animals, more importantly love their job. If you receive a strong vibe this is not a safe place for your animal, request to speak to the supervisor and if still hesitant take your family member and walk out immediately.

Do they walk the dogs?

This should be exhibited on all boarding information and included in all boarding packages. It is extremely unhealthy for any animal to be forced immobile for a long period of time. Look around to see if there is either a large play area or enough staff to properly walk the amount of dogs in the facility. It’s your right as a paying consumer to evaluate their services, if the boarding facility refuses to show you the grounds and is avoiding the dog walking requirements please leave with your dog.

Indoor vs Outdoor

Some boarding facilities are half in door and half out door, this allows your pet to lounge inside in the shade and has the freedom to run around with other dogs. This has pros and cons. Pros, your dog will get to play and have the freedom to run around. Con, you will get your dog back dirty. Covered in dirt the way dogs should be but shouldn’t be in your car or in the house. Half indoor/outdoor kennels are for larger breed dogs, small dogs should be kept in indoor only.

Happy and Healthy Doggie

The last thing to check for is if your dog comes back happy and healthy. The boarding facility should employ a on-call vet or have a full time veterinarian on staff. This ensures your dog will be seen by a veterinarian in case any unforeseen sickness or illness. We all can read our dogs and like one of our children we can tell if something is wrong. If your dog is lethargic and is a bad mood for the next couple of days call the boarding facility and see if they noticed any peculiar in his/her behavior. If the next time you take your dog to the facility if there is a huge struggle and whimpering, your dog is trying to tell you something is wrong. Take the warning and walk out the front door and never return.



If you have had a bad boarding experience please share and list the name of the boarding facility so other dog owners can save their pet from miserable boarding. Feel free to contact me at megan@seota.com to share your pet boarding story!