Let’s get real – leaving your furry family member behind while you travel is stressful enough without worrying if they’re getting proper care. As someone who’s been on both sides of the kennel gate (running a traditional facility before creating our home-based Furbaby Haven here in Longmont), I’ve seen what makes the difference between a miserable boarding experience and one where your dog might actually have a good time.
Don’t just pick the first place that pops up on Google or the cheapest option down the street. Here are the five questions you absolutely must ask before dropping your precious pup off with strangers.
This is the boarding industry’s million-dollar question that most facilities hope you won’t ask. The uncomfortable truth? At most commercial kennels, your dog is completely alone from about 7 PM until staff returns around 7 AM the next morning. That’s 12 hours without human supervision or interaction.
What you should hear: Ideally, someone should be present 24/7, or at minimum, a staff member should remain on-site overnight. If the facility says something vague like “we have cameras” or “we do periodic checks,” ask specifically how often someone physically checks on the dogs overnight and what their emergency protocol is if something happens at 2 AM.
Why this matters: Most dogs experience peak anxiety during those overnight hours when they’re in an unfamiliar environment. This is also when emergencies like bloat, seizures, or facility issues (power outages, HVAC problems) can occur with no one present to respond. At Furbaby Haven, we never leave dogs alone overnight – not because it’s a luxury, but because we believe it’s a basic safety and welfare requirement.
Many facilities offer limited tours of play areas or show rooms while restricting access to overnight boarding areas. Some will claim it’s for “security reasons” or to “prevent stress for the dogs,” but often it’s to hide the reality of where your dog will actually spend 18-20 hours of their day.
What you should hear: “Absolutely, let me show you everything.” Any hesitation should be a red flag.
Why this matters: I’ve seen facilities with Instagram-worthy play yards and reception areas while boarding spaces consist of tiny concrete runs or stacked crates in back rooms. One facility in our area had gorgeous “suites” they showed to clients, but most dogs were actually housed in a separate building with chain-link runs unless clients paid triple the advertised rate.
Look specifically at:
The industry’s dirty secret is that high-volume facilities might have ratios as extreme as 1 staff member to 20-30 dogs during peak periods, with each dog receiving mere minutes of individual attention daily.
What you should hear: A clear, specific answer about their maximum capacity, staffing levels throughout the day, and how they ensure quality care during busy periods. Beware of vague answers like “it depends” or “we have adequate staffing.”
Why this matters: Even the most well-intentioned staff can’t provide quality care beyond certain numbers. At my previous commercial facility, I watched our service quality plummet during holidays when we’d hit our maximum capacity. Despite adding staff, dogs would still get short-changed on attention, exercise, and monitoring.
The math is simple – if one person is responsible for 20 dogs and works an 8-hour shift, each dog gets 24 minutes of attention IF the staff member does absolutely nothing else (no cleaning, feeding, answering phones, etc.). In reality, each dog might get 10-15 minutes of human interaction daily.
At Furbaby Haven, we limit capacity to 3-5 dogs specifically so each one receives hours rather than minutes of attention daily. We can immediately notice if someone isn’t eating normally, seems uncomfortable, or is showing subtle signs of stress that high-volume facilities would miss entirely.
All dogs are individuals, but most commercial facilities operate on a one-size-fits-all model for operational efficiency.
What you should hear: Detailed questions about your dog’s personality, preferences, anxieties, and routine. A good facility should want to know about food preferences, sleep habits, toy preferences, triggers, medication schedules, and any quirks specific to your pup.
Watch for: Facilities that can flexibly adapt to different dog personalities rather than forcing all dogs into the same schedule and protocols. They should be able to tell you specifically how they would handle your dog’s particular needs.
Why this matters: I remember a sensitive Border Collie at my old facility who was traumatized by our standard practice of moving all dogs to the play yard at once. The chaos and noise overwhelmed him completely. When I created Furbaby Haven, I designed it specifically to accommodate different personality types – from the social butterflies who thrive on interaction to the sensitive souls who need quieter, more predictable environments.
For reactive or anxious dogs, ask specifically:
For social dogs, ask:
In most states, someone can open a boarding facility with zero animal behavior knowledge, no certification, and no formal training whatsoever. The person caring for your beloved pet might have less training than someone who cuts hair or does nails.
What you should hear: Specific credentials, ongoing education requirements, and a clear training protocol for new staff. Look for certified professionals (CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA, Fear Free certification) or at minimum, staff with significant dog handling experience and some formal education in behavior.
Why this matters: Qualified staff can:
As someone certified through CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA, and IAABC, I’ve seen the critical difference proper training makes in keeping dogs both physically and emotionally safe during boarding.
Don’t be afraid to ask tough questions, and trust your instincts if something feels off. A quality boarding facility will welcome your concerns rather than becoming defensive. They should be transparent about their practices and genuinely interested in your dog as an individual.
Remember that the cheapest option often comes with hidden costs – stressed dogs, potential safety issues, and the emotional toll of knowing your pet might be suffering while you’re away. The peace of mind that comes from knowing your dog is genuinely happy and well-cared for is worth far more than saving a few dollars per night.
If you’re in the Longmont area looking for boarding options, I’m always happy to answer these questions (and any others) about our approach at Furbaby Haven. Your dog deserves nothing less than complete transparency and the highest standard of care while you’re apart.
