A first stay at a Hull boarder or day care
Hull's 13 dog day cares, boarding kennels and home boarders range from a purpose-built site with room for dozens of dogs, such as Prestige Boarding Kennels in Sutton, to a home boarder taking one dog at a time, such as Cockapoo Hotel, also in Sutton. The shape of a first stay differs with the setting, but the groundwork is much the same wherever you book.
Before you book: a trial or a meet-and-greet
Many boarders, especially home boarders, like to meet your dog before a first overnight stay, whether that is a short visit, a trial day or a trial night. Ask whether the business you are considering offers one, and treat any reluctance to do so as a question worth following up rather than a reason to assume the worst.
What to pack
Take your dog's own food for the length of the stay, plus a little extra in case you are delayed, and its usual bed or bedding if it has one, since a familiar smell helps settle a dog in a new place. Bring any medication in its original packaging with clear written instructions, your vet's contact details, and a lead and collar or harness with an up-to-date tag. Ask the business in advance what it supplies and what it expects you to bring; a home boarder and a larger kennels often differ on this.
The handover
A good handover is unhurried: time for the boarder to ask about your dog's routine, any quirks, and how it behaves around other dogs, and time for you to ask anything you have not already covered from our vaccinations and licences guide. Several of Hull's home boarders, such as Wright Dog Walker Hedon and Tailz 'n' Trailz in Cottingham, also offer collection, so ask whether that is available if a drive out does not suit your day.
During the stay
Ask how often you will hear from the boarder while your dog is away, and how you would be contacted in an emergency. A day care, such as Noah's Ark Dog Day School or Oakwood Dog Day School, both in west Hull, runs to a daily routine you can ask about in advance; an overnight stay at a home boarder or kennels is worth the same questions about walks, feeding times and where your dog sleeps.
Collection
Agree a collection time and ask how the last day is counted towards the price, since practice varies between a nightly rate and a twenty-four-hour period. Ask for a short handover on collection too: how your dog has settled, eaten and slept matters for planning the next stay, whether that is with the same boarder or a different one from our Hull listings.
If it does not go to plan
If your dog does not settle, say so plainly rather than assuming it will pass; a good boarder would rather know. None of this site's businesses have been asked to give a guarantee about how a dog will settle, and none should be expected to.