A first stay at a Leicester boarder or day care
Whether your dog is going into one of Leicester's five boarding kennels, a day-care site or one of its thirteen home boarders, a first stay usually starts with a shorter visit first, so both sides can see how the dog settles before a longer booking.
Before you book: ask for a trial
A trial day or meet-and-greet is common practice across this niche, even where a business's own material doesn't say so, so ask about it wherever you call. K9 Home Boarding, in Market Harborough, offers day care, half-day care, overnight boarding and holiday boarding as separate options, which is worth discussing at a trial so you and the boarder agree what a typical booking will actually look like.
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. Dog Nanny Leicester, in Glenfield, asks about vaccination requirements ahead of booking and limits its day care to small and medium breeds, so check that against your own dog before arranging a visit.
Handover, fees and deposits
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 boarder can adjust its plan for your dog specifically. Furry Friends Pet Care Services, in the Glen Parva part of Leicester, asks for a 25% non-refundable booking fee before confirming a place; ask any business you're considering whether a deposit applies and whether it's refundable if plans change.
Meeting a home boarder first
Because a home boarder's address is only given once you book, the first real look you get at where your dog will actually stay is usually at a meet-and-greet, not before. Thirteen of Leicester's thirty listed businesses are home boarders; use that first visit to see the garden, ask how many other dogs might be there at the same time, and ask what a typical day looks like in the house.
Prices, where they're published
Furry Friends Pet Care Services publishes £30 a night for one dog, £55 for two, and £13 for a one-hour walk. Porter's Paw Patrol, in Market Harborough, publishes £18 for a one-hour group walk, £30 for a full day of day care and £38 for 24 hours of boarding Monday to Thursday. Dog Nanny Leicester publishes £26 for day care, £14 for a walk, £35 for training and £45 for a behaviour session. Ask any other business for a like-for-like quote against your own dates before comparing.
Opening hours and getting there
Debdale Grange, between Smeeton Westerby and Gumley, opens Monday to Saturday 8:30am to 11:30am and 2:30pm to 6pm, and Sunday and bank holidays 8:30am to 11:30am, and asks customers to book by phone since it says its email is currently unreliable. Check the exact drop-off and collection hours of whichever business you choose, since these vary and a kennels' gate hours are usually narrower than a home boarder's.