hi guys,

going away for the fisrt time since we bought our weimaraner (our baby), but we're abit worried about putting him in kennels as we've never done it before, he will be 12 months old when we need to put him in but we are going to "trial" him long before we need him to go in.

what do we need to look for when we go to see the kennels in our area, (chester) what injections does the dog need to have, and how do you tell a bad kennel home from a good one?

thanks all and merry christams

Ask around for recommendations from fellow dog-owners in your area. I have not had to put my dogs in kennels so far but I have still asked around to determine which ones i should consider should the need arise.

Also, always turn up to visit a kennel unannounced. A good kennel with 'nothing to hide' will welcome visitors at any time. If they tell you to make an appointment to view, avoid them.

You will need to provide evidence of your dog's vaccination record and most kennels insist on a kennel cough vaccination too.

Your idea of trialling the kennels is a good one; whether or not you plan to use kennels in the future it is, IMHO, an excellent idea to have prepared for the enventuality that you MAY have to use one at some time in the future (you never know what emergencies may come up which may mean you need to kennel your dog at a moment's notice).  Think how much of a shock it will  be to the dog then, not to mention you may not have the time to suss out the good places.

I start all my dogs off with a half day visit, followed by a full day, followed by an overnight stay, followed by a weekend. (The kennels will not generally give you a cheaper rate as of course each kennel needs cleaning daily no matter how long/short the stay).

This way the dog always knows that you will be coming back and it is not such a shock to the system.

You need to consider what is the most IMPORTANT point for you and your dog when looking for kennels.  For me it is security, I have to be convinced that my dogs are in the canine equivalent of a maximum security wing prison, so that I can relax when I am away. :D

I would ask around your vets, dog clubs and others in your area.

Weimaraners do not always kennel well, and often come out looking like ex PoW! Not because they pine or because they do not eat, they just don't always cope well in kennels. I say this to prepare you for the fact that your Weimaraner may not come out the way he went in but that is not necessarily anything to do with lack of care etc it is a breed thing. Having said that only one of mine has been very bad, the other 3 have coped well.  There are some kennels in various parts of the country that specialise in the care of HPRs which can be helpful. 

If you have a shortcoat then I would recommend that you ensure that heated kennels are available; licensed kennels will require proof of vaccination and some, not all, kennels make KC immunisation a requirement (however that will not necessarily protect your dog from contracting it, in or out of kennels).

I always recommend boosting the immune system  before the dog goes in and providing extra Vitamin C and Echinacae if the kennels will give it.  Also ask the kennels if they will feed your choice of food (some SAY they do, but this does not always happen).

Be wary of any establishment that says they walk all the dogs twice a day (again think how possible this is); personally I do not want my dogs walked, I would rather they had access to a secure paddock once a day where they can run around.  If this is the case ascertain if the dogs are exercised singly (or with their roommates if families have more than one dog); It is not acceptable in my opinion to put two strange dogs in together.

Some kennels do not have the facilities to have visitors at ANY time, again it is practicalities, no one is going to welcome you turning up at feeding time etc; it is usual, as in hospitals etc, to have certain times where it is convenient, especially where dogs are concerned as lots of visitors during the day can be stressful.

I actually travel 2 hours to my preferred kennels, they are by no means the nearest but they have a vested interest in the care and welfare of my dogs................

Hi
You mention some kennels that specialise in HPRs.......which would be the nearest to me in Rugby, Warwickshire please?
Tx.