A first stay at a Canterbury home boarder or kennels
Whether your dog is going into a home boarder's house or Canterbury's one boarding kennels, a first stay usually starts with a shorter visit first, so both sides can see how the dog settles. Ask whether a trial day or meet-and-greet is available even where a business's site does not mention one.
Before you book: ask for a trial
Muddy Pups, a day care near Blean, caps its numbers at eight dogs a day and administers medication where needed, both worth confirming at a trial visit; Whitstable Dog Care caps its own home boarding and day care at five dogs at a time. Ask what a trial covers and whether it is charged separately from a full stay.
What to pack
Take your dog's usual food for the length of the stay, any medication with clear written instructions, a bed or blanket that smells of home, and a lead and collar with an up-to-date tag. If your dog needs medication during the stay, say so clearly at drop-off: Muddy Pups lists a £30 charge for a vet visit if one is needed during a day care booking, which is the kind of cost worth asking about in advance rather than on the day.
Handover on the day
Give the person taking your dog a clear account of feeding times, any health issues and how your dog behaves around other dogs, since this is the point at which a home boarder or kennels can adjust its plan for your dog specifically. Barking Mad (Canterbury & Herne Bay) charges a one-off £40 registration fee before a first stay, which typically covers this kind of introductory meeting.
Collection, and what can add to the price
Ask what happens if you are early or late collecting, and whether a bank holiday or an out-of-area collection adds to the price. Muddy Pups charges £15 for every 30 minutes of late collection; Barking Mad charges £40 for collection or delivery on top of its daily rate, and £35 a day for a puppy aged six to ten months against its standard adult rate. Neither charge is unusual for this kind of business, but asking before the stay avoids a surprise when you collect your dog.
Longer stays
Pet Lodge Boarding Kennels & Hydrotherapy Centre, Canterbury's one purpose-built kennels, advises on its own site that it often runs at high capacity, so a week or a fortnight away, especially over a school holiday, is worth booking well ahead rather than close to the date.
Meeting a home boarder first
Because a home boarder's address is only given once you book, the first proper look you get at where your dog will stay is usually at a meet-and-greet, not before. Use that visit to see the garden, ask how many other dogs might be there at the same time, and find out what a typical day in the house looks like, rather than relying on a description alone.