Traveling without my dogs - help choosing Kennel
Lots of people recommend this place -- which has a convenient shuttle van for pickup and drop off -- but in an abundance of caution, they don't allow group play and I think Maggie would go out of her mind: www.catndog.com. I've narrowed it down to www.applebrookinn.com or www.greatvalleypethotel.com I went to visit applebrook inn and maybe because it is memorial day weekend, it seemed pretty crowded and there was a fair amount of poop on the grounds -- not the fields, but in the walkways between the boarding area and the outer fields. The fields are gorgeous and the dogs looked happy -- especially on the daycare side (which costs $5 for boarders). Both the daycare and the boarders field is supervised. Another concern - the cages had no privacy between them - they were just metal enclosures -- will the dogs be able to sleep in a place like that? Great Valley says that they have privacy walls between the lower-run cages and that they are "clean as far as kennels go". They also will do extra things -- like you can sign your dog up for a long nature walk or a 20 minute cuddle session. But they don't have office hours when I could visit this weekend. I might just drive out anyway to take a look. . . Any advice? How do I choose?? Do you know of any other places near philly? |
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| I wouldn't want to use a big kennel or one that isn't really really clean. Too many things can be picked up from the other dogs when in close contact as it is, even in the best of situations, but if it's not super clean, it's just a goodie bag of disease and parasites to come home with. |
| How long is your conference? |
| five days. Of course, I don't want them someplace unclean either. So what should I do? |
| I would check out the great valley one I think.... (I tried the link but it said access forbidden) |
| Could you hire a pet sitter to come to your house? |
Willowsprite wrote: I would check out the great valley one I think.... (I tried the link but it said access forbidden)
Perhaps because there was a period at the end of the sentence and that got copied into the browser. I edited the link. . . |
| I think I would choose the great valley one.... |
| I am so conflicted. What is it about Great Valley that you like. I like the sound of it too - just wondering what in particular got your approval.
Sounds like fun but then I think maybe I should choose www.catndog.com because there is little interaction with other dogs and so less likelihood of catching anything? I know a bunch of people who use that place and the dogs seem to like it. . . This one looks really fun but it is farther in the wrong direction: www.mollyscountrykennels.com |
| Nobody you know can take your dogs in for five days? How many do you have, 17? |
Valerie wrote: I am so conflicted. What is it about Great Valley that you like. I like the sound of it too - just wondering what in particular got your approval.
I'm not really sure why Great Valley for me... a website cannot tell you everything, but I think how it is presented gives a feeling of what it means to them? It looks like the dogs are happy, having fun, and I don't know, from the site, it just looks like the owners/operators care about what their doing and really enjoy it. I'd want to check it out in person, but based on available info, I'd pick Great Valley. |
| Val, check out Allen's Kennels in Moorestown, NJ. http://www.allenskennels.com/ My neighbor takes her dogs there because she can board them in the same room and they have an indoor/outdoor run. You can bring their bedding if you want, toys, etc. The owner's house is right next to the kennel and she keeps close watch. This is the place I take the dogs for training and so far it seems to be very clean and they have a pretty regular following. |
| There is also a doggie hotel in Franklinville, NJ (50 minutes from Philly). Not sure what the name is but I remember seeing it on the news. I don't think Allen's lets them have group play. I'm sure there is a liability issue. There is a Best Friends pet facility on Rt 73 in Cinnaminson. The only reason I endorse them is because I used to take my dog to get groomed there and the people that work there are super nice. I don't know if there is a staff member there overnight. |
| OK. I will check those out. The other one that seems really great and fun for dogs is this one:
www.mollyscountrykennels.com They have everything (including webcams) -- it is just a bit farther away. And it all costs money. Re petsitters, seems like most people here will arrange multiple walks from a petsitter but it is hard to find someone to stay in the home. Their regular dog walker lets dogs stay in his home -- and dogs LOVE him -- but there are alot of dogs and I am not sure that is good for Chum (who likes to keep her distance). I'd like to find a place can use from time to time -- not have to search for someone who can stay here, get keys made, explain alarm, etc. every time. I want to find a place with supervised group play so that there is a hope of Maggie getting a bit tired. . . |
| Well, I learned that dogs can only enjoy the "playschool" at Molly's if they have a 3 day evaluation and come once monthly. You can't do the evaluation while they are boarding -- they want the dogs to go home each day. It is all very organized and sounds like a great system, but not for someone who just wants to use a place intermittently like me. Otherwise, all activities are on extra-fee, time-limited basis.
I talked to someone at my dog park who uses Great Valley and he was very enthusiastic, very pleased with the service and the cleanliness of the facility, so I am going to give it a try. I have them signed up for boarding with daycare and then a bath and blowdry on the last day. . . Chummie may not need the bath, but Maggie definitely will. |
| I'm late chiming in, but Great Valley and CatNDog both look like nice places. I like that they get supervised play time. Will they take Maggie & Chum out together "alone" or with other dogs? |
| At Great Valley, they can be in indoor/outdoor supervised day care with other dogs for about 6 hours (3 morning and 3 afternoon). I can also sign them up for some one-on-one time with a person, which could be a walk, petting, fetch, etc. I think Chummie would like that (not the fetch part). Catndog.com only lets them play with a person -- no doggie playgroups for safety reasons. Makes sense, but I think Maggie would go out of her mind. I want them to have a good time. . . |
Sounds like it is the best choice for your girls! They'll both have something fun to do while Mom's away.  |
| Just thought I'd mention that I ran across applebrookinn at the Better Business Bureau and they have a satisfactory rating. They've been a member of the Bureau since 2/2006 and have had no complaints.
http://www.dc.bbb.org/codbrep.html?ID=164207998&cons=y |
Sorry, just catching up with this now, Val. The Great Valley looks really nice..the sheepie on the web home page sure looks like he/she is having fun!  One on one cuddle time sounds very nice. Can I go too? |
| I found this neet place in franklinville, NJ called Halo House Animal Resort. It was so cool. My dog had his own television and a raised bed with a thick lambie on it. He also had playtime in this huge area that had tunnels and toys in it. He came home a happy boy. I'd recommend this place. Halohouseanimalresort.com
Marylou |
| I would recommend you not to use Halo House. I just left my dog to be boarded there for four nights. The day before she was to be picked up I received a call that they lost the dog. After I flyered and searched the entire area, I received a call from a person in the area who saw my dog who had been killed and was on the side of the road. Halo House lost my dog and now she is dead |
| The place in Franklinville is called Halo House Animal Resort. I take my dog there and I love it. His name is Bunker and he's not very friendly unless I am around. The people at Halo House are fine with him being aggressive and actually encourage him to come back. Since I started bring him there, he has calmed down a little bit and will sniff you before he growls at you. It's a great place if you're looking in South Jersey. |
Crazy_Bunker wrote: The place in Franklinville is called Halo House Animal Resort. I take my dog there and I love it. His name is Bunker and he's not very friendly unless I am around. The people at Halo House are fine with him being aggressive and actually encourage him to come back. Since I started bring him there, he has calmed down a little bit and will sniff you before he growls at you. It's a great place if you're looking in South Jersey.
And that would be the very reason that I wouldn't want to take my happy, non-aggressive, well balanced dogs there. Maybe you need a behaviorist more than a boarding house?  |
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