🐾 We All Want the Best for Our Dogs — That’s How This Happens
Let me guess.
You did the right thing:
-
Checked the reviews
-
Toured the facility
-
Asked if they had playtime, cameras, staff on site
Everything looked great. Maybe even fancier than your apartment.
But then your dog came home:
-
Shaking
-
Hoarse
-
Sick
-
Or… just not the same
And the worst part?
The front desk smiled the whole time and said everything was fine.
It wasn’t fine. You just missed the red flags they won’t ever say out loud.
Let’s change that.
🚨 Red Flag #1: “Oh, We Group Dogs by Size!”
This sounds responsible. It’s not.
Grouping by size means zero consideration for personality, energy, fear levels, reactivity, or age.
You can end up with:
-
A 13-year-old dachshund with arthritis in a room of bouncing poodles
-
A timid rescue stuck with high-drive, unneutered males
-
Dogs being overwhelmed, bullied, or constantly corrected — silently suffering
Size ≠ safety. Ask about behavioral grouping — or walk away.
🚨 Red Flag #2: “We Offer 24/7 Surveillance!” (But Don’t Say Who Is Watching)
If they tell you there’s 24/7 surveillance — ask this:
“Is there a human physically onsite and awake overnight, or just cameras?”
Because “surveillance” often just means cameras no one is watching until it’s too late.
A fight can break out. A dog can have a seizure. Kennel cough can spread.
And if no one is there?
Your dog is alone with their stress — and the consequences.
🚨 Red Flag #3: “We Don’t Use Crates — We’re Cage-Free!”
This feels humane. But let me translate it:
“We don’t give your dog a safe place to rest or decompress. They’re stuck in a group 24/7.”
Dogs need structured downtime and a personal “den” to regulate their nervous system. Crates are not punishment — they’re protection.
Cage-free with no backup = chaos.
🚨 Red Flag #4: “Our Reviews Are All 5-Stars!”
This one stings — because we want to trust reviews.
But here’s the truth:
-
Some places offer discounts for 5-star ratings
-
Many boarding injuries don’t show until days later
-
Pet parents are often guilted or gaslit into silence
Check for:
-
Consistent mentions of sick or injured dogs
-
Vague praise (“staff is nice”) with no detail
-
Any review older than 6 months — what changed since then?
🚨 Red Flag #5: “We Clean Our Facility Daily”
Cool. But how?
-
Are feces cleaned up immediately?
-
Are shared water bowls sanitized between groups?
-
Are kennels disinfected, or just rinsed?
You’re trusting strangers with your dog’s health, not just their comfort.
Ask:
“What do you clean with, how often, and do you have a separate quarantine space?”
If they hesitate? Run.
🚨 Red Flag #6: “We Offer Social Play All Day!”
Sounds amazing — in theory.
But all-day play:
-
Exhausts dogs
-
Elevates cortisol
-
Increases chances of reactivity, fights, and injury
Even at the best facilities, dogs need naps (2–3 hours in the middle of the day) and behavioral monitoring.
All-day play is marketing. Not science.
Ask:
“What are your nap and decompression protocols?”
If they blink twice and say “uhh... we let them chill whenever they want”? Big no.
🚨 Red Flag #7: “We’ll Let You Know If Anything Happens”
Nope.
If they “let you know,” it’s usually:
-
Hours after
-
Minimizing what happened
-
With zero documentation
You deserve immediate communication about:
-
Vomiting
-
Diarrhea
-
Lethargy
-
Aggression
-
Any incident, even minor
Ask:
“How do you notify pet parents about medical or behavioral incidents — and how soon?”
You’re not overprotective. You’re a good dog parent. Be assertive.
🧠 Real Talk: You Won’t See These Things on the Tour
The lobby is clean for a reason.
The dogs you’re shown are on their best behavior.
The front desk staff are trained to be kind, not candid.
What you don’t see:
-
The overnight staff shortage
-
The corner-cutting with sick dogs
-
The undertrained 19-year-old separating a fight
You’re not looking for perfection. You’re looking for preparedness and honesty.
🐶 Here’s What a Good Boarding Facility Actually Looks Like
-
Trained staff with real dog behavior credentials
-
Enforced nap/rest periods
-
Separation for incompatible dogs (not just by size)
-
Transparent policies and incident logs
-
A willingness to say “Your dog might not be a good fit — and that’s okay”
💬 Final Word: You’re Not Paranoid — You’re Protective
If you’ve ever walked into a facility and gotten a weird gut feeling?
Listen to it.
Most pet parents only find out about the red flags after something goes wrong.
You don’t need to be scared — you just need to be informed.
Your dog can’t speak for themselves. You are their voice.
Choose loudness over politeness.
No comments:
Post a Comment