A first stay at a Worcester boarder or day care
Nine of Worcester's nineteen listed dog boarders and day cares are genuinely home-based, and the rest run day care or kennels from a dedicated site, so a first stay can mean quite different things depending which of the nineteen you choose. Either way, a little preparation makes the first booking easier on the dog.
Ask for a trial first
Many boarders and day cares, home-based or not, will offer a short trial visit or a single day before a longer stay so your dog can meet the household or the group before an overnight stay. Ask what a trial involves and how long it runs; this differs between businesses and is worth confirming rather than assuming.
What to expect from a home-based boarder
Nine of Worcester's listed businesses are home-based rather than run from a separate premises, so expect the first conversation to cover your dog's temperament and routine as much as your dates. Many home boarders limit how many dogs they take at once and want to know how your dog gets on with others before confirming a booking. It is reasonable to ask for photographs of where your dog will actually stay before a first visit, and a boarder willing to show you round in person is worth treating as the norm.
What to pack
Bring enough of your dog's usual food for the whole stay, plus any medication in its original packaging with the dosing written down clearly. A bed, blanket or toy that smells of home helps many dogs settle faster, whether they are going into a kennel run or somebody's house. Leave your vet's details and a second emergency contact with whoever is looking after your dog.
If your dog needs medication or has a health condition
Say so clearly when you first enquire, not on the day of drop-off, so the business can tell you honestly whether it can manage it. Ask how medication is given, whether it is included in the price or charged separately, and what happens if your dog's condition changes while it is in their care; this is a question for the business, not something the directory can answer on anyone's behalf.
A good handover
Use the handover to walk round wherever your dog will actually be staying, hand over a written note of feeding times and any quirks, and ask directly what happens if your dog needs a vet while it is in their care — arrangements differ between businesses and this is not something the directory can confirm for you.
Collection
Agree a collection time in advance and ask what happens if you are running late. If a business also offers a collection or drop-off service, such as a pet taxi round, confirm it covers your postcode and your dates rather than assuming it applies everywhere listed on this page.
See our Worcester vaccinations and licences guide for what to ask before the stay itself.