Choosing a dog boarding facility or dog hotel can be overwhelming for pet parents who want to ensure their dog's well-being in their absence. Whether you're planning a family vacation, a business trip, or facing an unexpected emergency, selecting a reputable facility that offers quality animal care, comfort, and safety is essential. This guide will walk you through the top ten considerations when choosing a boarding facility, helping you make an informed choice that aligns with your pet's needs. At Petropolis, we understand the challenges of finding the perfect fit for you and your dog. If you are in need of a quality pet boarding facility, you can always book a reservation at one of our locations.
What is a dog boarding facility?
A dog boarding facility is a specialized accommodation service where pet owners can leave their dogs for temporary care when they're unable to look after them. Dogs typically need boarding services during vacations, business trips, or emergencies. These establishments provide secure housing, regular feeding, exercise, and supervision by trained staff. Unlike simple kennels of the past, modern boarding facilities often offer various amenities not available to the average pet sitter, such as play areas, socialization opportunities, and different housing options to meet your dogs' needs and your personal preferences.
Top Ten Considerations to Choose the Right Boarding Facility
1. The Difference Between Dog Kennels and Dog Boarding
Dog boarding facilities provide much more comprehensive care than a dog kennel. Many kennels typically are meant for short-term boarding and only provide basic care in a more confined space. Dog boarding establishments provide the opportunity to give more individualized care to pets. This can be through enrichment, exercise, socialization, or even grooming and training. It's important to note this difference when choosing a dog boarding facility.
Petropolis offers one of the largest dog boarding facilities in St. Louis and has always placed an emphasis on the overall health of the pet. When your dog stays at Petropolis, not only do you get upscale accommodations with personalized care, but dog daycare is included at no additional charge.
2. The Location of the Pet Boarding Facility
When choosing the right boarding facility, it's important to consider where the facility is located. The more convenient, the better. If you plan to drop your dog off on your way to the airport, then it's also important to consider your route. Then, you don't have to go out of your way before your trip. Petropolis has two different locations: one in Chesterfield and one in St. Charles, MO. However, we service customers from all over the entire greater St. Louis area, so a wide range of residents can readily access our services.
3. Activity, Enrichment, and Exercise Regimens
This leads us to the next consideration: exercise. Pet hotels should prioritize daily enrichment and exercise to maintain your dog's physical and mental well-being during their stay. Quality establishments offer structured playtimes, supervised group play sessions when appropriate, one-on-one interaction with staff, and various enrichment activities. The best facilities understand that each dog has unique needs based on age, breed, and personality, while taking note of your pet's participation and enjoyment throughout their stay. At Petropolis, dogs receive six hours of play per day at dog daycare, where they get plenty of physical activity and socialization with other animals.
4. Indoor vs Outdoor Boarding Facilities
Diversity within facilities helps keep pets comfortable depending on various factors like weather. For example, if the weather is nice, dogs should be able to play outside and get some sunshine. However, suboptimal weather means pets need an indoor solution that will still provide the opportunity for exercise.
Petropolis offers both indoor and outdoor play areas to meet all of our guests needs. Our condos and villas are exclusively inside, where dogs and cats enjoy climate controlled and spacious living quarters. When the weather allows, dogs go outside to play and socialize. If it is too cold or rainy, dogs get to use our large indoor play space.
5. Cage vs Cageless Options
Some facilities offer "cageless boarding" to encourage socialization and physical activity. However, this approach isn't optimal for many pets. As much as dogs love to play, they also need rest and privacy. This is harder to achieve when dogs aren't allotted their own space. Additionally, some dogs need accommodations and don't play well with other dogs or other clients.
For these reasons, we do not offer cageless boarding at Petropolis. We will always prioritize comfort and safety without compromising dogs' time to play and socialize. Dogs who board with us go to dog daycare from 9am to 12pm, and again from 1pm to 4pm. When they are not playing, we have our pet care associates monitoring their needs, taking them on potty breaks, and making sure they're happy and healthy.
6. Comfort and Cleanliness
Whether the facilities are indoors or outdoors, considerations like sanitation practices and temperature control are key. Petropolis' indoor pet boarding facilities are climate controlled for the comfort of our guests, and spaces are cleaned on a daily basis. Our condos have raised floors in case pets have an accident, so that they don't have to sit in discomfort until clean-up. Then, any accidents are removed and the area is sanitized immediately. All of our boarded pets get their own sphere to reduce anxiety and increase comfort.
7. What if my dog has special needs?
A facility that can't understand a dog's need for accommodations is a huge red flag. When it's time to choose a dog hotel, be sure to research different boarding options that offer customized or personalized care. From separation anxiety to behavior issues, a proper facility will always appreciate the nuances of animal care. At Petropolis, you can work with staff members to decide what can be done to lower stress, ensure pet health, and make a plan that is the best fit for you and your pup.
8. Emergency Procedures
A good dog boarding establishment should have protocols in place in the event of an emergency. Running regular health checks and proper pet supervision should also be enacted to prevent these emergencies where possible. Every staff member at Petropolis is trained using an emergency and disaster preparedness guide that was custom written for our facility. Our managers each have responsibilities to oversee, ensuring that risk and harm are kept to a minimum.
9. Check-Ins with Your Dog
Whether it's an overnight stay or a week-long vacation, clients should be able to check in with their dogs. Maybe that means coming in for a visit (if applicable) or setting up a webcam to view your dog virtually. At Petropolis, we use webcam access to keep pets in touch with pet parents. Petropolis is the first facility in the nation to use Skype for two-way automated calling between pets and their owners. That means that you can see and hear your pets, and they can see and hear you.
10. Does the boarding facility really care about my dog?
This question is highly personal, and it is best addressed directly with the boarding establishment you want to use. Don't be afraid to reach out via call or email to inquire about their practices. The best boarding facilities will welcome your questions and be eager to give advice or provide reassurance. At Petropolis, we know that pets come in all different shapes and sizes. The care we provide for another customer may not be the same for you. That is why Petropolis takes personalized instructions for the care of your pets, feed your food (if requested), or even administering medication–all at no additional charge.
Key Takeaways for Choosing a Dog Boarding Facility
Choosing a dog boarding facility that you can trust is crucial for ensuring your pet's safety, comfort, and happiness while you're away. By considering various factors such as exercise, amenities, cleanliness, and emergency procedures, you can find a facility that meets your dog's unique needs.
Remember to research thoroughly, visit potential options, and ask questions to ensure you're making an informed decision. Ultimately, the peace of mind that comes from knowing your furry friend is in good hands is invaluable. That's why Petropolis always prioritizes not only the pets' trust, but the trust of the client. If you have any questions for us, please do not hesitate to call our Chesterfield office at 636-537-2322 or our St. Charles office at 636-537-3634.
Frequently Asked Questions
Book 1-2 weeks ahead for regular periods and ASAP for holidays or peak seasons. Popular facilities fill quickly, so making reservations early ensures you won't be left without options. This is what we recommend to our customers at Petropolis.
Ask your chosen establishment what paperwork they require. They may require proof of vaccination records, emergency contacts, a signed boarding agreement, and detailed care instructions including feeding schedule and medication requirements. Having a medical release form and veterinarian contact information is also good for emergency situations.
Schedule a short test run before longer boarding periods and bring familiar items with your scent to comfort your dog. Keep goodbyes brief and positive to minimize stress during drop-off. If you want a trial run at Petropolis, please don't hesitate to reach out.
The facility will provide it, but if you want, you can bring your dog's regular meals to prevent digestive upset caused by sudden diet changes. Pre-portion meals in labeled containers and include slightly more than needed in case your stay is extended. At Petropolis, we are always open to feeding your dog your own food if you prefer.
The pet hotel will follow their emergency protocols, contacting you about minor issues or transporting your dog to a veterinarian for urgent situations. Most facilities require signed consent forms authorizing them to seek veterinary care if needed, with you covering any medical costs incurred.
