A first stay at a Bath area dog boarder or day care
A first booking with a new boarder or day care in Bath and north-east Somerset works better with a bit of groundwork before the day itself. None of the fourteen businesses listed here run to a fixed script, so treat the sections below as things worth checking rather than a process every one of them follows.
Before you book
Ask whether the business offers a trial day or a short introductory stay before a longer booking; several of the day cares and home boarders listed here, including Bailbrook Dogs, Doggy Daycare Bath and Doggy Doos, take dogs on a day basis, which is a natural way to see how your dog settles before an overnight stay is discussed. Ask what happens on that first visit: whether you stay for part of it, what the business wants to know about your dog's routine and temperament, and how it decides whether a group setting or a solo one suits your dog.
What to pack
Most boarders and day cares ask for your dog's usual food, since a sudden change of diet can add to the upset of somewhere unfamiliar, plus any medication in its original packaging with clear instructions. A lead, a collar with an ID tag and a bed or blanket that smells of home are commonly welcomed too. Ask each business directly what it wants brought, since kennels and home boarders do not always ask for the same things, and some home boarders prefer to supply bedding themselves.
Handover and collection
Agree a drop-off and collection time before the day, and ask how the business prefers to be contacted during the stay if you want an update. For a home boarder, ask whether your dog will be collected from your address or whether you bring it to theirs; several listed here, including Midsomer Mutts and Wags & Walks Pet Service, mention dog walking alongside boarding, which can mean more flexibility on collection than a fixed-site kennels. For boarding kennels such as Hyver Boarding Kennels or Woodborough Gardens Kennels & Cattery, ask about set arrival and departure windows, since several dogs often come and go on the same day.
Settling in
A dog's first stay away from home is usually more unsettling for the owner than for the dog, but it is fair to ask how the business handles a dog that seems anxious or off its food for the first day, and how it lets you know if something seems wrong. None of the businesses listed here can promise a smooth first stay, and this site cannot promise one on their behalf, but asking these questions in advance is the best way to reduce the number of surprises on the day.
See our guide to what to ask for the vaccination and licensing questions worth adding to this list before you book.