Boarding Newfs

Has anyone ever had to board their Newf? Unfortunately, I have to board Ella for 7 nights next month and I am sick over it! I have been doing my research trying to find the best place. What I came up with so far is a place that's called camp K-9. They do luxury suites for large dogs that are climate controlled and have nice beds. The dogs get to spend their days in doggie day care and then return to their suites at night. My biggest concern is that the staff leaves at night and the dogs are monitored on a camera. I keep thinking, I wouldn't leave my kids with someone who would leave them alone at night, so is this safe for my dog? I was just wondering what other Newf owners do as far as boarding is conncerned. Ella has never been boarded before and has only been left at home alone for a couple hours at a time. Is there anything I can do to make this more bearable for her, and myself?
 

Brandie&Maggie

New member
I've done it. The biggest things were climate control and other items you mentioned.

The first place we boarded had staff overnight, the 2nd place they were not on-site from midnight to 5am, but lived less than 1 mile away, so I was comfortable with that.

You can also look into getting someone to come to your home and stay? That's what we do now and it's wonderful.

If you do choose to board her, it will be fine. I recommend taking her for at least 2 days of the doggie daycare ASAP and if you can do 1 night of boarding before that week, do it. It will really help you both get a sense of the place and you'll be able to spot any red flags in advance. She will also be more comfortable than being randomly dropped off for a whole week. She'll know you are coming back.

It's great to have the option of someone to care for your dog when you need it.
 

Jeannie

Super Moderator
My husband and I have owned and operated a boarding kennel since 2002. There are not many kennels that have people there overnight. In all the years we have never had an incident happen overnight. We live on site so if we have a concern for a dog we check on them. I usually don't get to bed until 10 and my husband is up at 3:30. By 4 a.m. we are in the kennel for the day.

Some things to check: Is it clean? Does it smell clean? Can you take a tour? We allow prospective customer to tour anytime with out advance notice. Who is employed there? Do they all seem to care for the dogs and not just there for the paycheck. We have no employees so we know all the dogs will be treated great. Do the owners really seem to care for the dog or just telling you what you want to hear. Go with you gut instincts.

We also offer daycare. Taking them in for a few visits is OK since it eases the customer's mind. Between the dogs that have been here before and the ones that have not been here, I see no difference in the way the dogs settle in.

There are a few ways you can make your dog's stay more relaxing. First be sure to take something that smells of you: An old t shirt you have worn but not washed or you can put a towel in your bed for a few nights. Take his bed, favorite toys and so on. Be sure to take your dog's food. I suggest measuring it out with one bag per meal. That way there is not difference in the way you measure or the kennel.
 

shellyk

New member
I hesitate to post anything negative about boarding your Newf because I don't want to add any extra stress. We had a wonderful doggie day care that picked up and delivered and has a couple of acres for the dogs to play on. They also do over night boarding and have employees stay over night with the dogs. Our Newf Ziva had been going to the day care and loved it. Our older lab Gibbs had boarded there and we had had no problems.

It killed me when we go the call from them when we were across the country at our Daughter's college graduation that Ziva had attacked another dog (supposedly unprovoked) and drew blood. They said she was moody and not a "normal" Newf. They said they had it handled and there wasn't a serious injury but she had to be kept alone and no doggie day care... the perfect boarding place wasn't so perfect. We think it was the stress of daily doggie day care and missing her "people" that led to the problem.

For the same trip our Lab Gibbs who was still recovering from TPLO surgery was being boarding at a woman's house who supports herself by watching people's dogs. This worked great - he slept on her couch or at the foot of her bed! She also went to our house daily and fed our cats. When we have to board again I would either have someone come to my house and keep them in their own environment or have them stay at someone's house with lots of personal attention.
 

Bailey Boy

New member
I have never knock on wood had to board my pups. I have heard to many stories and just feel uncomfortable leaving them, thankfully I haven't had to yet.

We have in the past had a friends come and stay at the house when we have gone for a weekend. Or I just stay home, which has created issues at times with SO but I am not going to leave them with just anyone. We did that before with one of SO friends that didn't go well and that was just coming in and taking care of the cats. If you were close enough and your Ella didn't mind cats or other dogs I would pet sit for you. :)
 
Thanks for all the info, and Bailey Boy, if you lived a little closer, I would be taking you up on that offer. My trainer told me to be careful of places that have all the dogs out together during the day because the staff is not always trained to pick up on a dog's body language and this is when fights break out. He thinks that your setting dogs up for failure when you have several dogs that don't know each other in a confined space. This is definitely making me think about things a little differently. I just assumed Ella would be happier if she had other dogs to play with, but maybe that just making me feel better about leaving her and it's not necvessarily what's best for her. Anywho, thanks for all the great advice!
 

mcme

Member
They may have an alternative arrangement for dogs who can't do the group thing. Dublin isn't neutered. (Long story, I waited until he was 2, and he's very laid back, not at all aggressive, never unsupervised. I kid that he has low T. Anyway, decided not to neuter him). The place where I board him does the group thing, but since Dub isn't neutered he's not allowed. So instead they take him out in the yard alone five times a day and play with him. He loves it there. He's excited to go and loves the people who work there. If you prefer she not be put in a group, ask them what they do with dogs that can't do the group and see if that would be an alternative.
Another thought: Caesar, my first Newf, hated being boarded. Even though it was a good facility, he would get very depressed and wouldn't eat until they finally cooked him hamburger. He did better staying at home and having a pet sitter come in three times a day to feed, walk and play with him. Even though he was alone between visits, he was happier in his own home and was less stressed.
 

Jeannie

Super Moderator
We also put dogs out alone that cannot go with the group.

One thing about unaltered male dogs. The majority of the time they are fine temperament wise. The problem we have is how the other dogs react and treat them.
 

anya

New member
I board often and have for several years. I'm more comfortable with my dogs in the kennel I take them to than have someone come to the house to take care of them.
 

NinaA

New member
Our vet always has staff who dog sit. Check with your vet. We're lucky, because our next door neighbor cares for ours when we're gone and we care for theirs. We are very close, and we also care for each other.
 
We leave next week and I'm totally freaking out! Hopefully next year I can convince my family to let her come along. I did find a really good dog training facility that also has overnight boarding and a grooming salon on premise. They even have cameras so that owners can see their dogs while they are away. Thanks so much for asking!
 

Bailey Boy

New member
Wonderful you can check in on Ella with the cameras. Have a wonderful time hard I know without your baby but try.
 
We survived a long week of boarding. My 5 year old took it the hardest. He just couldn't understand where Ella was and he asked about her everyday. Ella got a report card from the kennel and I was so proud. She got great feedback about her temperment and outgoing personality, but that's a Newf for ya. The kennel also said that she had a good appetite during her stay, but she looks a bit thin. Is it normal for dogs to loose a little wait while being boarded due to stress and change in environment? Should I give her a little extra food at meal time or could that have a negative side effect? The kennel asked me to bring her back soon, but next year I'm insisting that she come with. My husband kept trying to make me feel better on the trip by saying, "isn't it nice to not have to clean up massive amounts of dog poop, hair and drool all day?" His words were no comfort at all. I was so relieved when I picked her up and couldn't wait to get her drool filled kisses and hair all over me, the poop I could probably live without. Lol.
 
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Bailey Boy

New member
I was just looking yesterday for an update on your vacation and glad that it went well for all of you. I would imagine Ella's weight loss is from playing the full week and a little bit of stress too.

Personally I would rather see them a little on the lean side then on the heavy but it is really up to you. We kept my Tootsie (choc lab) on the lean side because of her laryngeal paralyses. Of course most of the labs I see around here are obese.
 

CathyC.

New member
We also put dogs out alone that cannot go with the group.

One thing about unaltered male dogs. The majority of the time they are fine temperament wise. The problem we have is how the other dogs react and treat them.
This is so true. Obi has been attacked a couple of times because of this. I think he will have grown enough to be nutered now but we want to wait for the heat to pass because he loves swimming so much.

We havent had any huge issues with boarding. Sometimes he picks up a virus from other dogs. We always warn about overheating though. Obi cant be left alone in the house really. He gets too anxious and jumps up on walls damaging them etc so a pet sitter doesnt work for us.
 

NinaA

New member
Was hoping when we "started over" with our dog family we'd be able to board, but of course we adopted a little girl who lost 1.5 lbs in six days at the Humane Society. So, guess I will be back to staying home or relying on our wonderful neighbors.
 
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