Most dogs are perfectly happy to spend time in a boarding kennel; however, for nervous animals, the experience can be quite stressful. If you're planning a holiday and intend to put your pet in a kennel for the duration of your break, but are concerned about how they will cope with this, here are a few tips on how to make them feel more at ease.

Pack a few creature comforts

One of the biggest sources of stress for dogs staying at boarding kennels is the unfamiliarity of it all; not only are they surrounded by strangers, but also they're sleeping, exercising and socialising in different surroundings. This can make an already-nervous dog feel extremely anxious.

One way to handle this issue is to pack a few creature comforts for your dog, which will help them to feel more at ease during the course of their stay at the kennel. Things like their favourite blanket and toys, along with their bed and feeding bowls, are all good options. Additionally, it may be worth splurging on one or two 'puzzle' toys to keep them entertained whilst they are locked in their crates; toys of this kind usually have food hidden inside them, which the dog can only access after solving a simple puzzle. If they tend to get particularly nervous when they're left alone, these toys should help to distract and comfort them.

Inspect the Premises

Choosing a good boarding kennel will go a long way towards ensuring that your pet pooch feels relaxed whilst you are away. A high-quality facility will have the resources and the expertise required to handle your dog's anxiety and keep them healthy and happy until you return.

During your visit, speak to the staff about the level of training they have undertaken and ask them about their qualifications in animal care. Additionally, make sure to take a walk around the kennels, to see if the other dogs appear to be calm and well cared for. Throughout your tour of the facility, watch how the employees interact with the animals; they should behave in a gentle and affectionate manner.

Inquire about daily activities

Nervous dogs who experience a lot of separation anxiety need plenty of daily socialisation and exercise to keep their stress levels down. As such, it's important to ask the staff at the kennel about the types of activities the dogs participate in on a daily basis.

Ideally, they should be walking the dogs about one to two times each day. The kennel should also have a spacious, clean and well-supervised exercise area in which the animals can play together. If your dog is small and afraid of larger canines, you may want to ask if the kennel has an exercise area which is used only by smaller breeds.