Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Finding Mastiff Kennels - The Inside Scoop

It really doesn't matter what breed of dog you own. You definitely want to know that your dog is well taken care of while you're on vacation or out of town for several days. But when you own a Mastiff, you have an additional concern. You want to know that those who staff the kennel know how to handle your baby. You want to be sure to find the right mastiff kennels.

Without a doubt, every boarding kennel has a unique personality. Not every kennel suits every dog owner. As an owner of a mastiff, you may have to search a little more than the average dog owner for one that you - and your dog - like.

Mastiffs are guarding breeds and whether they are in their own home environment or in a kennel, they are going to keep guarding. Because of the different dogs he is around and the strangers working in the kennel, this situation might be stressful for him. Your dog would obviously prefer not to have to be boarded at a kennel and not feel like he has to guard brand new territory.

Your mastiff is also going to miss you a lot. He might show signs of separation anxiety when you are gone. You have to be sure the kennel is going to be able to meet your mastiff's needs and care for him well.

Choosing the kennel is completely up to you. It is up to you to find a place your mastiff will experience the least amount of stress. You can increase the odds of this happening by choosing a kennel with great care.

Before you make any arrangements with the kennel, you should ask the staff whether they are experienced at looking after boarded mastiffs. If they have not boarded one before, you should seek a different kennel. When you find one where the staff have mastiff experience, you should visit that one.

The kennel should smell and look clean. The dog bedding should be both clean and look comfortable. The sleeping areas need to be draft free and dry.

Be sure that your Mastiff has access to an outside exercise area during the day. He should also have access to water at all times.

Don't be afraid to ask about the feeding schedule your dog will be on. It should, ideally, stay as close to his home schedule as possible.

In addition to this, find out how much the staff knows about their boarders. Not only that, but feel them out about how much they know about dogs in general. While you don't expect them to be experts, the staff should have a love of dogs and some type of knowledge in this area.

If you can begin boarding your dog while he is young, even six months old or so, he will be better able to acclimatize to the environment of the kennel. It is a good idea to stick to the same kennel each time. This means the staff will get to know him and your mastiff won't feel that the employers are strangers. He will feel more relaxed and less forced to constantly guard his territory.

You might like to think about a trial boarding. This is when your dog spends a day or two at the kennel. If it doesn't work out, you can pick him up again. Normally there shouldn't be any problems. This means that when you have to go away for a few days, you can rest assured that your mastiff will be happy in care.

Mastiffs often need extra attention. This is the way they are and the reason you love yours. You should always put extra energy and time into finding a kennel that is aware of the mastiff special traits and a kennel that is willing to give your dog the energy and time he requires.

Is your mastiff dog getting the best care? All of the stuff you need to know about raising & caring for a mastiff is revealed. Find out more about finding the right mastiff kennels here!