Boarding at Fur Seasons Pet Resort & Spa
A Pet Parent’s Guide to Comfortably Boarding Your Dog
The idea of leaving your dog behind while you go on vacation or take a trip can be nerve-racking. You want to ensure your furry friend is not only safe, but also comfortable and happy while you’re away. Boarding your dog at a reputable facility is a great solution, but preparing your pet (and yourself!) for the experience is crucial to ensure a positive outcome for both you and your dog.
Here’s a guide to help you navigate the process of ensuring your dog’s vacation stay is stress-free.
1. Making Your Dog Feel Comfortable Before Boarding
The transition from home to a boarding facility can be stressful for some dogs, so it's important to make the experience as smooth as possible. Here are some tips to help your dog feel more at ease:
Trial Run
Before your dog’s actual boarding experience, consider doing a trial run. Many facilities offer a day-boarding or daycare option to familiarize your dog with the facility. Fur Seasons offers both! We recommend daycare for dog-social pups and day-boarding for the less social ones. This visit will help both you and your dog get accustomed to the environment and allow the staff to assess your dog’s behavior and needs. A shorter duration visit to start will be less stressful for your pup, and will get him comfortable and prepared for longer stays.
If day-boarding or daycare is not an option, visit the boarding facility with your pup before their stay. Spending a little time exploring the space will help your dog feel more familiar with the surroundings and reduce their anxiety when the time comes for their extended stay.
Pack Familiar Items
To help your dog feel more at home, pack familiar items such as their favorite chew toy or a t-shirt with your scent on it. This can help reduce anxiety by providing a sense of familiarity in an unfamiliar environment. (We recommend forgoing your favorite blankets or beds for this stay as we have our own on premises that we use without any risk of losing yours!)
Stick to a Routine
Try to keep your dog’s routine as consistent as possible in the days leading up to the boarding. This includes regular feeding schedules, playtime, and walks. Whenever possible, try to avoid making any major changes in your dog’s environment to avoid adding to their stress.
2. Communication with Fur Seasons
Keeping open lines of communication with the boarding facility staff will help ensure your dog’s well-being, and give you peace of mind to enjoy your own vacation. Here’s what you should communicate to the boarding team:
Medical Information
Ensure that the staff is aware of any medical conditions your dog may have, as well as any medications they require. Leave clear instructions for administering any medications, and provide enough medication for the entire stay. It’s also helpful to provide an emergency contact number, in case anything unexpected arises. We will go over all this prior to your booking or at drop-off!
Dietary Preferences and Restrictions
Let the boarding staff know if your dog has any food preferences or dietary restrictions. If providing your own food, be sure to pack enough food for the duration of their stay. Fur Seasons offers a complete House diet if your dog doesn’t have any restrictions and prefers a “vacation diet!”
Inform the staff if your dog has any allergies - our dogs receive snacks and “bedtime” cookies every night!
Behavioral Notes
If your dog has specific behavioral tendencies, inform the staff in advance to allow them to tailor their care to your dog’s unique needs. For example, if your dog has separation anxiety, is not social with other dogs, or has certain quirks, make sure the staff is aware so we can expertly handle these situations.
3. What to Expect During Your Dog’s Stay
Once your dog is settled in, rest easy that your dog is in the best of care during their vacation at Fur Seasons. We always welcome emails or phone calls to check in on your pup, and be sure to check our social media pages for live updates on all the pups!
Playtime and Exercise
Fur Seasons offers many short outings and potty breaks throughout the day to allow your pups to relieve themselves, get out, and stretch their legs. For our younger and more energetic dogs, we offer add-on playtime for an additional 30 minutes of playtime with our staff outdoors (weather willing) or indoors in our large playroom.
Staff Interaction
Our knowledgeable staff are expertly trained to safely handle pets, assess emergencies, and keep the dogs’ comfort and wellbeing first and foremost. We genuinely care for your dog and believe in treating every dog lodging here as our own pets.
Socialization
At Fur Seasons, we customize your dog’s stay to best suit him. Dogs will be housed near other dogs for some companionship and may be let out in small-groups. If your dog is NOT canine friendly, please let the staff know and your dog will enjoy plenty of 1:1 human time with our loving staff! Selectively social dogs can be tended to solo, or paired with 1-2 buddies. We will work at your dog’s pace and do whatever makes him most comfortable!
Mental Stimulation
Explore our mentally stimulating options such as add-on training services supervised by our CDTK certified dog trainer on staff, or brain games and snacks to enjoy while they’re boarding. Add on our seasonal flavor frozen Kong, licky mat, or enrichment toy.
4. Bringing Your Dog Home
After your dog’s stay at the boarding facility, they may exhibit some changes in behavior. Some dogs may feel tired or a bit withdrawn due to the change in routine, while others may be extra affectionate and happy to see you after the separation. This is normal and typically fades within a few days.
Re-establishing Routine
Once you bring your dog home, help them settle back into their regular routine. Keep things calm and quiet for the first few days and ensure they get plenty of rest, as a boarding stay can sometimes be overstimulating.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right boarding facility for your dog doesn’t have to be stressful. By choosing our dedicated facility with a knowledgeable staff, you can ensure that your pet’s time away from home will be safe, comfortable, and enjoyable. We can’t wait to take the best care of your furry friend while you travel!
