Has any one had any experience of this as I'm thinking of it for later in the year. Any feedback would be appreciated.

P.S. Thrilled  to see posts from John & Tohme I've missed your common sense  feedback.

No experience of it personally, just wanted to say make sure you check it out first!

Find out everything about how your dog(s) will be looked after - walk times, whether they'll be let off lead, so on and so forth.  Check out the place they'll be staying - is there anything that could injure them or harm them in any way (chemicals out of reach, etc).  Other dogs?  Children (if yours don't like them)?  Other pets?

Good luck with it if you do go down that route - it can be a much better experience for the dogs than kennels IMO, I'm planning to open my own dog hotel for this reason in a few years.  I'd love to hear what you thought of it if you do do it!

Our dog trainer does this and Abby has stayed there and loved it she got long walks slept in the guest room and was treated very much as she did at home. Make sure they have insurance and ask if your dog can stay for a trial run before you go away.
Mary

Thanks for advice. Will let you know how we get on in June

Our dog trainer also does this, so Copper will be with faces she knows and home from home, also the training will carry on while we are away.
i am  trying for a weekend before we go  as suggested.
aly

I wouldn't allow anyone else train my dog. I have contacted some people previously about home boarding (not this agency, though), and one of them didn't take dogs larger than labs as she was afraid (not impressed with that, either you are good with dogs or you aren't) , one was going to have something like 6 "guests" at once plus her own dogs, one was a vegan and wouldn't feed my dog BARF, and one of them told me how useful it is to take dogs for boarding so they feel homeless for a while and appreciate you more when they get home. Needless to say, we noe  pay the charges for an  Animal Aunt, but know that while we are on holiday, our dog gets a holiday at home with an amazing person who will do everything just as I do, including getting up at the same time as I normally do and sticking to all daily routines. One of them even drives around with my dog to take her to play with friends' dogs!

Good grief!  I can't believe the first one, about the big dogs.  I think maybe she's in the wrong job - especially as often the smaller dogs can be the worst.  I've been bitten by two dogs when i worked in kennels - one was a JRT X, the other a lab.  Wonder what she'd think of that?

Nikita, quite agree with you on that! Give me the rottie or the GSD from down the road to look after any day, but the two nasty westies and a collection of mad BC's around here I should fight off with a stick! :D

Nikita

        I happen to own a boarding kennels and cattery and I cannot understand how you can come out with

quote "  it can be a much better experience for the dogs than Kennels" unquote

Boarding kennels are the best place for most, not all, dogs and cats to be. the kennel/cattery owners have far more knowledge and experience about pet care away from home than nearly anyone else ,and work in close association with local vets.

I would strongly suggest if you are planning to open a "Dog Hotel"  I hope you will do it through the proper channels and be licenced by the local council and inspected regularly. The licencing authorities are tightening up on people suitable to have a boarding licence.There is a vast difference between working and owning a licenced boarding establishment.

Nikita  have you ever had to stay up all night if there is a thunderstorm to comfort the animals if they are frightened, then carry on the next day no sleep for 48 hours, Worry about a clients pet if they are ill, its far more stressful than looking after your own, don't have a holiday when others are having theirs, be on site 24 hours a day as per Boarding Regulations, work bank holiday including Christmas and New Year.
This is what kennels are all about. Pets first -second -and third.  I suspect not.

Then come back and say "it can be a much better experience for the dogs than Kennels"

A boarding kennels/cattery has to have standards or they won't get the business and have a bad reputation.

Bazza

Everyone please remember if anyone looks after a dog/cat for financial gain, where ever it may be, ie in the home they must be licenced by the local council. If they are not, your dog/cat can be removed from that premises and the "Pet Carer" can be prosecuted.
There is no garantee that that person is there 24/7 looking after your pet. Think about if they go out shopping for the day who is there to look after your pet. Are they licenced and insured, if looking after a dog is the place secure -we have often heard of dogs escaping out the back gate by being left open by dustman ,children etc.
And finally are those looking after pets declaring their income to the tax man, I suspect in most cases the answer is NO.
As for pet sitters here again how can you be sure they will turn up to look after your pet or leave your pet for many hours while they go and do something else. The risks here are far more serious,they have no personal licence to look after other peoples pets,  they don't know the local vets, if the pet is ill they have no responsability as paying for vet treatment, and are only in some cases police checked, whatever that may mean which I suspect means very little.

Consider these facts first and compare that with the cost of boarding, at least 4 times the amount for a pet sitter.

Far Far better to seek out a reputable boarding establishment where you at least have a comeback if things go wrong.

Bazza

As a licensed dog minder I would just like to say that conditions of the license are that the dogs are NEVER left alone.

Sorry Bazza, I'm sure your kennels are marvellous and that you give your boarders every care, but it's a very unusual animal who'd not be happier and more relaxed in their own familiar surroundings.
:)

I agree about home environment, JG. Although I've no doubt my dog would take liberties with someone staying :), if they let her, at least I know the environment is secure for her.  The door between the kitchen and hall swings to, so not much danger of her accidentally getting out the front door but if the home required care with shutting door, watching in the garden because the fences were a bit rickety etc. I might not be so happy to put her in the care of others.  Certainly in a choice between another's home and kennels I would choose a well run kennels.  In the ones I use the security is better than Wandsworth, hygiene is patently good, my own vets are near by and being very experienced they know exactly when a vet might be needed and as they are fully insured, even I believe for a few days after, they would not have any incentive not to contact the vet if in any doubt.
Obviously some dogs would not take to that envornment but probably even some of the ones that owners feel wouldn't might in fact be fine in a good, understanding kennels.

            I have no problem with licenced pet carers as long as they are also insured to cover vet bills which I believe is hard to get. Its those doing it without authority that annoys me and why? purely for the sake of the welfare of the animal 
As for dogs being happier in their own homes, maybe some are, I don't dispute that, but what does worry me and why I would never have a complete stranger in my home to look after my pets ,is there is no guarantee they are there 24 hrs a day and the charges are exhorbitant , what £30/£40 per day +plus travelling + extras + providing own pet food + the costs involved if a pet sitter uses your house as home, against between £7 and say £12 per day including food -insurance bed heating secure exercising - trained staff  and local vet knowledge, depending on area for kennels.
We try to find out if there is anything we should know about regarding previous health matters to enable us to give the best care, how many pet sitters bother, if the pet goes ill I can't see a pet sitter taking the pet to the vets and paying the vet bill out of their own pocket if they are not insured.
Yes some kennels do need to improve there is no disputing the fact but if people avoided those kennels they would go out of business.
To many people are too ready to knock boarding kennels because they hear bad things about them, but as everyone knowns bad news get 10 times more coverage than good news whatever the situation.
As I say do try out a boarding kennels first before employing a pet sitter licenced or not then make your own decision

Bazza, for four dogs it's actually cheaper (at £35/day inc VAT all in) for me to get insured sitters in to my home to look after my dogs (and house, and do the gardening for nothing!) than it is to pay about £48/day in kennels. (That's always assuming that there's a kennels which could accommodate all four in the same kennel and run and still allow them room to move!) My vet has agreed that any vet treatment needed will be charged to me on my return. Plus they're happy in their home, and are at less risk of being disturbed by barking dogs and the risk of picking up illnesses.
:)

As the number of dogs rises I think the balance does swing more in favour of using own home.  The chances also rise that the home will be a very secure, dog friendly place that others will be able to manage the dogs easily.  I think the chances of it being successful in another's home, though, probably goes down :).  I would not be too worried about the point regarding someone always being there, I go shopping myself :) I think my neighbours would tell me if they had been left for upsettingly long periods.

Bazza,

I have every intention of opening my hotel via the proper routes.  I am well aware of the licensing issues involved, as well as the extremely high level of care.

I dislike your comments about suspectnig that I am unaware of what's involved; I have had to stay up comforting frightened animals, yes - my last dog was terrified of anything remotely resembling lightning, and one fo my current dogs is scared pantless of anything sounding like fireworks - so no new years' celebrations for me.  For me, as you pet it, it is pets first, second and third- they are my life as well as my livelihood, and when my hotel is up and running, that will not have changed.

I also stand by my belief that home from home type boarding situations can be better than regular kennels - and please note, I said "can be" - I didn't say they were always better.  I have known dogs that would fare better in classic kennel situations, but for many dogs, I believe that taking an animal that is used to being around its family a lot and placing it in a kennel where it can only receive a set amount of attention each day is, IMO, not a better option than some of the home boarding agencies that offer far more attention to fewer clients.  My hotel is specifically planned to provide stimulation through play (and training if requested) as the standard activity, not sitting in a kennel.  I have worked in kennels before, and had to watch many dogs bored rigid - and that is one thing I do not like above all else!

Rest assured, I will be doing my utmost to ensure the wellbeing, comfort and highest level of care for any and all dogs in my care.

hi Roughbaby,
yes i have used Home from Home (around 6 times in fact). I would highly reccommend them. i have been given 3 different dog carers all of who live within a few miles of where i live and all have been very suitable for my dog. I was very worried and caucious at first but they have come up trumps everytime and i have become very good friends with one of my carers who lives close by.
I found them on the internet on www.dog-boarding.co.uk and they only cover the Greater London area. The best thing that i found about this agancy is that they don't board dogs together unless they live together anyway (only ex dog owners) which is great because my dog fights with other dogs and the people they take on have to be at home duing the day (except for when they go shopping obviously) so they're not left alone for long. If you get a carer that is as good as any of the ones i have had you will be more than happy and end up using them again.

david