Picking the Right Mastiff Kennels

Regardless of what breed your dog is, you clearly want to be confident that your pet is treated well while you’re on vacation or out of town for several days. Owning a Mastiff, however, you have unique concerns. You want to be positive that the staff of the kennel knows how to properly care for your "best friend". You will do what is necessary want to be certain you find the right mastiff kennels.

All boarding kennels have their own unique personality and therefore will not suit every dog owner. Being the owner of a Mastiff, it’s possible you may wind up searching a little more than the average dog owner for just the right mastiff kennel that suits you and your dog.

As a guarding breed, it’s realistic to think that your Mastiff will continue feeling and acting as though she is protecting or guarding. What this means for your Mastiff is that depending on the number of different people as well as dogs she is exposed to in this situation, it could be stressful for her. Clearly your Mastiff would prefer not to be placed in a situation where she feels she needs to continually guard her new territory.

There will also be the added stress of her missing you. She is part of your family and will think of herself as such. You shouldn’t be surprised if you Mastiff exhibits symptoms of separation anxiety. Certainly you will need to make certain that the kennel staff is capable of meeting the needs of your dog.

Deciding whether or not your Mastiff will "survive" being placed in a kennel for a few days can be stressful for you too. However you can increase the odds that your pet will board well and lower yours and her stress by choosing your kennel wisely.

Prior to making arrangements inquire about the staffs’ experience with boarding Mastiffs. Phone calls will suffice for this step. Should you find out that the staff has never boarded one of these unique dogs before, you will want to continue looking. Once you have contacted one or more that has specific experience with Mastiffs it’s time to go for a visit.

Kennels should not only look clean but they should smell clean also. Accept no excuses about "circumstances", there are always circumstances. All bedding for the dogs use must be clean and look "comfy and cozy" for your dog. You will want to check the sleeping areas to be sure they are dry, clean, and free from drafts.

Check on your Mastiffs’ exercise area to make sure it is safe and that she has access to it through out the day. She will also need to have constant access to water.

You shouldn’t be shy about asking about the feeding schedule your dog will be on. Ideally she will stay as close as possible to her home schedule and the mastiff kennel should respect this.

Another consideration is how knowledgeable the staff is about dogs in general. You can’t reasonably expect them to be experts but they should have a decent amount of understanding of caring for dogs. In addition, they should be very open to instructions about your Mastiff specifically. They should welcome you sharing your knowledge of the bred.

Lastly you want watch how the staff handles the boarders. They shouldn’t be yelling at them or handling them roughly. You want your pet in a loving environment that makes them feel safe.

Your best plan is to start boarding your Mastiff while she’s still young, as early as six months, then she will become some what acclimated to the kennel and it’s environment. Ideally you will use the same kennel each time. That way the staff will get to know your dog better and your Mastiff will feel closer to the employees as opposed to seeing them as "strangers". She’ll feel more comfortable and less like she must "guard" her territory.

We also suggest you consider a "trial" boarding. Take your Mastiff to spend a day, or even a few hours, at the kennel when you have some errands to run. That way you are close if there are any issues and you can pick her up. If you have done your research then most likely the arrangement will work fine. You also have the added comfort of knowing when you do board her while you’re away, you won’t be worried.

You know your Mastiff needs special care. That’s just the way the breed is. It’s part of what makes her unique and why you love her so. Go ahead and put that extra time and energy into your hunt for mastiff kennels that understands the special character traits of the Mastiff and is capable of giving her the time and energy she deserves.