A first stay at a Dudley or Stourbridge boarder or day care
Seven of Dudley and Stourbridge's twelve listed businesses are home boarders, so a first stay here more often means your dog moving into somebody's house than checking into a kennel block. Whichever of the twelve you choose, a little preparation before the first stay makes the handover easier.
Before you book: ask about a trial
Many home boarders and day cares offer a short trial visit or a single day before a longer stay, so your dog meets the household or the group while you are still nearby. Poppy's Pad, in Kingswinford, only takes dogs from one household at a time, which is worth knowing when you ask what a trial there involves; every business's own arrangement is worth confirming rather than assuming.
What a home boarder will ask you
Expect the first conversation with a home boarder to cover your dog's temperament and routine as much as your dates. Doggy Dayz, also in Kingswinford, takes a maximum of two dogs alongside the owner's own dog, so it will want to know how your dog gets on with others before confirming a booking; ask any home boarder the same question.
What to pack
Take your dog's usual food for the length of the stay, along with any bedding or a toy that smells of home, current contact details for yourself and your own vet, and anything your dog is on a schedule for. Label everything, and confirm with the business what it already provides so you don't duplicate or leave a gap.
Walks and extras
Doggy Dayz includes walks as part of its home boarding and also sells a stand-alone dog walk; Thirlmere House Dog Boarding, in Stourbridge, includes a daily walk with extra walks available to buy. Ask each business what's included in the price and what costs extra.
Collection
Thirlmere House Dog Boarding offers a drop-off home service within three miles; most other businesses here expect you to drop off and collect in person. Ask about collection options, and what a late collection costs, before the day itself.
Home boarders and privacy
The home boarders here are shown by area and town only, not by street address; the exact address is theirs to give you once you've booked. See our guide to choosing a boarder for how the twelve listed businesses compare.
Meeting the boarder first
Wollaston Dog Walking, covering Wollaston and Stourbridge Town, offers a free meet-and-greet consultation before taking on a new dog; treat this as the kind of first conversation worth having with any of the twelve, home boarder or kennels alike, so your dog and the person caring for it have already met before the day itself.
Ask what happens if your dog doesn't settle during a trial, and whether that changes the price of the full stay either way.