A first stay at a Tunbridge Wells or Weald boarder or day care
A first stay with a new boarder or day care goes more smoothly with some preparation on both sides. None of this is veterinary advice, and this directory cannot guarantee how any one stay will go — it is a walkthrough of what tends to happen, based on how this area's own listed businesses describe their process.
Meet-and-greets and trial sessions
Farm from Home requires an introductory meet-and-greet before any dog's first stay, and MONKI Dog Care runs new dogs through an assessment chat and trial session before offering a regular place. Snuggle and Cuddle Dog Boarding also offers trial days. Not every business here works this way, but building in time for an introduction, rather than expecting a same-week first stay, is worth planning for generally.
What to pack
- Your dog's usual food and treats, to avoid an upset stomach from a sudden change
- A lead, collar or harness with an up-to-date ID tag
- Any medication, with clear written instructions on dose and timing
- A bed or blanket that smells of home, if the business allows it
- Emergency contact details for you and, ideally, a second person who can be reached if you cannot
A good handover
A good handover works both ways: the business asking about your dog's routine and any anxieties, and you asking what a day or night there actually involves — feeding times, walk frequency, and how a dog that does not settle straight away is handled. This is also the moment to raise anything from our vaccinations and licences guide you have not already covered by phone.
A farm, a home or a kennels
Showpaws and Farm from Home both operate from working farms rather than a house or a kennels block, so ask what the outdoor space and supervision actually look like before your dog's first visit. Bell Reed Kennels and Cattery, the one purpose-built kennels listed here, is worth visiting in person first if your dog has never stayed in an individual kennel run before.
Collection
Bruce's Tunbridge Wells runs a doggy bus collection round, and several other businesses here offer their own pick-up arrangement; ask what a business's own collection area and charge is, since it is not the same from one business to the next, and a round that covers Tunbridge Wells itself may not stretch as far as Crowborough or Paddock Wood, and see our prices guide for what is actually published for it.
After the first stay
Ask the business how your dog settled and whether it has any notes for next time. A short conversation on collection is often more useful than a written report, and it is the point at which most businesses will tell you whether a longer or more frequent booking would suit your dog better. If your dog is unsettled, ask what the business would do differently next time before you book again.