Dog Boarding Lessons for Your Pet

Many dog owners focus on making sure the kennel they choose to board their dog at is appropriate for their animal. It is important to visit the kennel before allowing them to care for your pet. It's also important to bring a supply of your dog's food to help their sensitive stomach make the transition to boarding easier. But, it's just as important that your dog be trained to behave while they are away from you. The more time spent improving their manners, the better their dog boarding in NY experience will be. Sit and Stay Sit and stay are two basic commands that every dog should know before they are sent to a boarding facility. With as many as 20 dogs in a play yard at a time, those who follow voice commands will have an advantage over those who don't. The better trained an animal is, the less effort it will take on the dog handler's part. While a kennel employee would never hurt a dog, they need the animals to obey. Having to drag a pet into or out of a pen is hard on both the handler and the dog. Another command to teach is €come.€ This can be easily taught with dog treats and can become a game the whole family participates in. Have each member of the family take a different corner of the yard. They all have a small number of treats in their hands. The dog can run around for a few minutes, and then once person says the dog's name and tells them to come. When the dog obeys, they get a treat. After a brief waiting period, someone else says the dog's name and tells them to come and the process starts all over again. Not only does this teach the dog to obey the voice command but it teaches them to obey it from even the smallest member of the family. Discourage While it may seem funny the first couple of times your dog jumps over a fence, escaping from a boarding facility can be a dangerous situation. Do not encourage your pet to jump over their enclosure. Some larger dog breeds can climb chain link fences. Discourage this behavior. Often, if they are taken for walks throughout the day and are given plenty of free-play time, they will not resent being penned up. Bored dogs will often dig to entertain themselves. If your dog is a digger, try distracting them by providing toys that stimulate. Most dogs will work for hours on a rawhide bone. Others enjoy stuffed animals or chew toys. Make sure your dog has plenty of stimulating activities inside their pen to distract them from digging. Make Friends Just as small children need socializing opportunities to learn how to be a good friend, dogs need to be around other dogs to learn how to behave. Though they have instincts, they may need to learn some of the finer points of canine interaction. This knowledge can be gained by taking them to dog parks where he or she can get off-leash and socialize. With practice, your pet will be an excellent candidate for dog boarding in NY.