Our pets become very much like our loved ones and take up a special place in our families. This is particularly true for dogs. Their larger than life personalities and loyalty to us as their family means that it can be hard when it comes to leaving them at a Dog Boarding Surrey way like https://nestledownboardingkennels.co.uk even though we know that the staff are all highly trained.
If you are worried about how your dog is going to settle or if they have separation anxiety there are some things that you can do to help relieve some of the stress and worry both for yourself and your beloved canine. Your dog will pick up on any tension and worry that there is in the house and so it is important that you try to remain as calm as possible in the days running up to their kennel stay otherwise you may find that you are accidentally adding to their anxiety and worry.
One of the best things you can do before you leave for your trip and take your dog to the boarding kennels is to spend as much time as you can with them and maybe have a few extra cuddles with them on the sofa of an evening in the run up to the holiday. It is also a good idea to make sure that you have visited the kennels before your trip and met the staff who are going to be looking after your furry friend. Taking your dog with you to these meetings is even better as they will start to become familiar with the surroundings and also the people which helps to take away some of the fear that they will naturally be feeling.
If you have any particular concerns about how your dog is going to settle in your absence, in particular if separation anxiety is an issue, you need to make sure that you take the time to explain this to the staff. You should also discuss if there are any particular things that you do to help your dog in these situations. This may include taking with you, for their stay, some items that they love from home. Such as a favoured blanket or soft toy or perhaps an old jumper of yours that will smell of you and comfort your dog if they feel upset or anxious.
For other ideas on what to do before your trip take a look here