Finding quality overnight dog boarding doesn’t have to be a daunting task. With a few simple steps, you can find the best dog boarding near you and ensure they are safe and comfortable while you’re away.
This post will discuss the best ways to locate excellent dog boarding facilities near you.
Let’s get right to it…
Ask your friends and family.
You will be surprised at how much you can learn from a friend, family member, coworker, and even a stranger!
Yes, that’s right – a stranger.
Don’t worry. We will explain 😉
Asking for recommendations from friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors is a great way to start your research. They may have personal experience with a particular dog boarding facility and can give you an honest review.
There’s no better review than one from individuals who know you and your dog the best.
If someone in your circle has been pleased with the care their pup received while they were away, there’s no doubt you will receive the same caliber of service.
Ask a vet.
Recommendations from friends and family are fantastic, but we must remember our trusted vets. A veterinarian’s advice is another excellent way to continue with your search.
Often, veterinarians develop solid partnerships with other pet care businesses in the area.
Most likely, a vet would only recommend a partnered dog boarding business if they felt their services were worth it.
Pet forums, Facebook groups, and more
Remember we mentioned taking suggestions from strangers?
Well, keep on reading ⬇️
You might ask, how can I trust a stranger’s recommendation?
Easy!
Places like a public dog park, group dog training classes, pet-focused Facebook groups, or local pet forums can serve as excellent resources as you research nearby dog boarding in your area.
With anything, take these reviews and recommendations with a grain of salt. Receiving this information is one thing. Trusting your gut is another. In addition to word-of-mouth suggestions, reading blog posts, articles, and other publications on if pet boarding is excellent and safe, is another crucial piece of the puzzle.
🦴🦴Stay tuned for a future post covering the essential steps a dog owner should take to narrow down their preferred pet boarder or pet sitter list. 🦴🦴
As you continue your search for the best dog boarding near you, platforms such as dog forums, dog-focused Facebook groups, and dog boarding directories can be just as helpful as recommendations from friends and family.
You can even ask around your favorite dog parks. More likely than not, the dog owners there also travel and can be a great resource. Some popular forums to perform your research are Quora, Reddit, Facebook, and Pet Sitter’s International, to name a few.
Think about it.
Nine times out of ten, those who contribute to and are highly active on these platforms are huge dog lovers. These communities aim to inform, educate, and uplift like-minded dog owners.
Here is where you’d expect transparent, compelling, and honest reviews. We highly recommend pet owners utilize these platforms during their research process.
Online research: Google, YELP, and more.
So far, we’ve discussed two beneficial ways of conducting research for the best dog boarding places near you. Both recommendations are sufficient, but why not take it further and perform your search online?
We are fortunate to live in a booming era of technology. You no longer only need a desktop computer to perform these searches.
Nowadays, you have mobile phones, tablets, voice search assistants, social media, and more!
Start by researching local pet boarding businesses online and reading customer reviews to ensure they provide quality care and services: Google Maps, Yelp, or Angie’s List.
Pay close attention to facilities that have consistently high ratings and positive reviews. At times, you may find a negative review sprinkled throughout. Again, go with your gut and decide based on your experience with the pet boarding business from the moment you make your first inquiry.
One or two negative reviews should not make or break your decision to move forward with a dog boarding business. Instead, follow up with questions, a facility tour, or a meet-and-greet, and research the company’s history.
After all, dog boarding businesses are not one-size-fits-all. What works for one dog owner may now work for the next.
We always use our best judgment and follow this philosophy when narrowing down the best dog boarding businesses for our pup, Sammy.
The takeaway
Leaving your dog with someone other than yourself, friends, or family can be stressful, intimidating, and scary, especially for those who are entirely new to this process.
To be sure all bases are covered, perform thorough research.
It does not have to end with personal recommendations- there are many other platforms and avenues to explore.
Consider our suggestions above and discuss them in the comments section below.
Don’t be shy if you are local and looking for affordable and reliable dog boarding services…
Drop us a line and contact us today!
Until next time 😊
