08/19/2022
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐จ ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ
Written By Achelle Ashby
Boarding your dog may cause anxiety, even for a single night. Both for you and your dog, it can be a disagreeable experience and cause your dog stress.
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ค๐๐ง๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ?
Kennel stress is when a dog undergoes mental/emotional strain during or after their kennel visit. Symptoms can include pacing, aggression, shaking, fear, barking, anxiety, body language, hair loss, panting, and more that this article will touch on later.
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ ๐ค๐๐ง๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ?
- ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. Your dog relies on you for love, food, and shelter. They may worry you have abandoned them for always, and their perception of time differs from ours.
- ๐บ๐๐๐๐
๐/๐บ๐๐๐๐๐. The scent of other dogs and the (sometimes) loud unfamiliar barking can overwhelm your pet. Even though your dog is not exposed physically to the other dogs, they still may feel a potential threat and need to solidify themselves in the new hierarchy.
- ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. Some dogs, especially those who donโt spend time with other animals or new humans, may cause your pet upset. Frequently, kennel staff will change, and this can cause another layer of stress.
- ๐น๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. Dogs rely on habits and when their routine changes, they may become anxious. It is unavoidable when boarding. Their exercise, feeding times, and sleep will be interrupted.
- ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. Time of day, frequency, and length can contribute to your dogโs stress. What you provide at home cannot be met in a kennel environment.
- ๐ซ๐๐๐. It is very important to supply your dog with the exact food theyโre fed at home. Not only can the sudden change in food cause your pet to be ill, but they may not like it. It is uncommon, but sometimes a dog will refuse to eat during their separation from you. When appetite is lost, their immune system can stop functioning properly.
๐๐จ, ๐ก๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐๐ง ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฉ ๐ซ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ โ๐ฌ ๐ค๐๐ง๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ?
- ๐๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฒ. Arrange an overnight stay for your dog. Ensure you give your pet lots of positive reinforcement. Pick them up in the morning and award them with a special treat. The process will teach them it is a happy experience and reiterate that you have not abandoned them.
- ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ . Your dog has habits; perhaps sleeping on your bed or a comfy couch. Many have never experienced a crate or separation from their owner at night. Though often times, a kennel is much larger than a crate, it can help prepare your dog for a smaller environment. (3 weeks before their first stay.) If this isnโt done, you may find your dog tired and d***y after their stay. They will be tired from lack of sleep.
- ๐๐จ๐๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ . Younger dogs may not have interacted with other animals who can be bigger/smaller and aggressive or playful. It isnโt often your dog will encounter another face-to-face within our kennel environment. However, teaching your dog about the behaviours and characteristics of others can go a long way to help relieve their anxiety.
- ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ฌ. You may want to purchase a small package of dog calming chews/aids. In case your dog needs them to relax. You can purchase these at most pet stores or online. You can administer one on the day they arrive and may help once he/she returns home.
- ๐๐ฑ๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐. Exercise is a natural stress reliever. Itโs important to return your dogโs daily activities to normal after their kennel visit. Some dogs may appear uninterested, but it is imperative, even slowly, to get them exercising.
- ๐๐๐ซ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฉ-๐จ๐๐. Late-afternoon/early-evening drop-offs can further lead to kennel stress. It doesnโt give your pet the necessary time to familiarise itself with the new noises, smells, strangers, or other dogs before lights out. A first nightโs rest may be unachievable and snowball into further anxiety throughout the course of their stay.
- ๐๐จ๐ ๐ ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ . Your dog will miss you, and providing familiar things and something with your smell may help greatly with their stress levels. Do NOT provide new items to the kennel. This can lead to further feelings of abandonment. By supplying the following, the kennel can work to make your dogโs stay as comfortable as possible. Here is a great list of things to include in your doggy bag:
๐๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ค:
o Used blankets/bedding.
o Clothing which smells like you.
o Favourite used toys, balls, and chews.
o Normal brand of food and snacks (provided in an air-tight container.
o Familiar food and water bowls.
o Collar with tags.
o Vaccination certificates with proof of:
๏ง All annuals
๏ง Bordetella
REMEMBER, having their vaccine doesnโt
prevent your animal from getting sick.
Only the severity of the illness.
o Current medication (with written schedule and dose)
o Include a few extra days in case your trip is unexpectedly extended. They will be returned to you upon pick up.
o Up-to-date flea/tick treatment.
๐๐๐ญ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค:
o Flight information, including duration.
o Hotel information.
o Emergency contact with phone number.
o Your vetโs contact details.
o Food quantity and feeding routine.
o Petโs allergy list.
o Petโs normal sleeping/exercise routine.
o Petโs commands or any other useful words you use to communicate.
o Petโs behavioural quirks/characteristics.
- ๐๐๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ฏ๐๐ญ. If your dogโs stress doesnโt resolve within 48 hours, you should book a vet appointment. Your vet may refer your pet to a trainer or dog behaviourist who will help them overcome their anxiety.
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐ค๐๐ง๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ?
- ๐ท๐๐๐๐๐/๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. These are caused by adrenaline and many animals shake when they are nervous.
- ๐ท๐๐๐๐๐๐/๐๐๐๐๐๐๐/๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. Another way to show their stress is to vocalise it. It can soothe them when they are unhappy.
- ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐/๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐/๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. Long yawns, drooling, and licking are behaviours of nervousness.
- ๐ฉ๐๐
๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. Shying away, shifting weight, tucking tails, and cowering are signs that your animal is suffering from kennel stress.
- ๐ฏ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐. After stress, pets can lose hair or even get bald patches. It can be caused by pawing or scratching when your animal is anxious.
- ๐ป๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. Very common after boarding, your dog may experience diarrhoea (a tablespoon of pureed pumpkin twice a day can help fix this). He/she may mark their territory with urine or faeces. They want to re-establish their authority after being away.
- ๐จ๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐/๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
. A stressed animal can become introverted. They may want to be alone. They may avoid petting, playing, and eye contact. It should pass. Provide your dog with his normal spaces and a calm environment to recuperate.
- ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐๐/๐๐๐
๐. Pets may hide behind your legs or glue themselves to you because you are someone they get comfort from and donโt want to lose it again.
Itโs important to recognise pets have feelings, and stress can manifest in very different ways. Itโs imperative as an owner you attempt to reduce the likelihood of kennel stress. If you have concerns after your visit, please contact your kennel provider to discuss signs and treatments.
