My baby boy is going to kennels for 2 days tomorrow. He is coming up 9 months and we want to get him used to it whilst he is still young. He is going to stay with a Briard owner who has a small kennels, so I know he will be well looked after by someone who knows and loves the breed. Also he will have her 11 month old bitch to play with. This aside, I am feeling quite sick about it, as I know I will miss him as much as he will miss us! I am sure that some of you will probably disagree with putting dogs into kennels, but I am hoping that there are some out there who will know how I am feeling, and perhaps be able to make me feel better about it.

Try not to feel too bad.  I have left all my dogs in kennels until last time I went to Belfast dog show and decided to leave Thomas and his mum loose in the house.  My friend came in and looked after them and walked them but Thomas totally trashed the house.  About 4 weeks later I was checking his teeth and found a spring wedged in the back of his mouth from a toy he had eaten.  He had to have it removed and has totally ruined one of his back teeth.  So at least you know your dogs will be safe in the kennels and not come to any harm.  It is only for a couple of days.

Yes I can wholly sympathise with you.  We put my eldest in when he was 8 months old.  He went in for a night and I cried my eyes out when we left him but all was well the next day and he went back for 16 days when I got married abroad.  Thats nearly two years ago and he is none the worse for wear for it.  All the kennels maids loved him and he seemed to have thoroughly enjoyed himself.  He wont be back in kennels again tho as my other youngest one cant cope with it. 

If you find good ones where you know the people and where they know your dog you are onto a winner.

I'm lucky I get friends or relatives to come when I'm away.  One of my friends though kennels her dogs and they literally run in wagging their little stumps and tails !!  They love going there so you never know you dog may begin to enjoy it too.

my 6yr old dalmatian went into kennels for the first time last year. I was worried how he would cope as he had never been without my husband or I. But when we arrived the kennel maid took him for him a walk round the exercise field while we talked to the owner. He stopped and looked back twice but then went on wagging his tail and enjoying the sniffs.

When she brought him past us to take him to the kennels he never even hesitated , just trotted on tail wagging.  Boy was I hurt!

He was fine, and when he came home you'd never know he had been away.

You will be more upset than he is.