Boarding A Pet For The Holidays? Book Early

Austin Powers, Elvis, Georgia, Sampson, Pumpkin and Captain Greybeard are the names of just some of the dogs and cats who spent Thanksgiving holiday shut in cages in East Cobb.

On the surface it sounds like punishment without cause. However, boarding often is the least stressful option over traveling with your animal friends.

The has limited boarding ability and was full for Thanksgiving. Britta Patellis, a technician at the small practice, said, "We have dogs and cats who have been staying with us for years. We always book up for Thanksgiving and Christmas."

When asked if the economy has had an effect on business, Patellis replied, "This is East Cobb, our clients travel a lot and that hasn't changed. We have not slowed down."

Jamie Wade, kennel manager, said shortly after Thanksgiving, "We're already taking reservations for Christmas." Montrose has over 100 dog kennels and 10 cat spaces and was at about 93% of capacity.

Wade said, "We've recently added group play times as a service available to boarders. We'll put 10 to 12 dogs in an open area so they can run around and play with each other." The group time is moderated by a staff member and was a popular add-on during the holiday boarding swell.

Says Stefanie Roberts,  also of Montrose: "Don't drive your dog crazy before you take them in. Your dog watches you, reads your face, your emotions. If you're feeling guilty about leaving them, they will be anxious."

A good way to ease your guilt at taking your dog to a kennel is to be confident that the animals are treated well in your absence.

Just as dogs read human body language, they communicate to us with their bodies.

Roberts has been training dogs and studying dog behavior since 2000. Body language to look for when you pick up your boarded pet, "The signs of a happy dog are head held high, tail up and a smile on the face," Roberts said.

"If it is usual for your dog to great you with enthusiasm and instead ignores you and goes straight for the door, something is wrong," Roberts shared.

"Ears back and down. Closed mouth or panting. Tail tucked. Are indicators that your dog is not happy and you should be concerned," Roberts said. Check your dog for cleanliness and injury.

When you get home, if your dog now flinches at loud noises, and didn't before boarding, or acts "off" for a couple of days after boarding, the facility may be a bad match for your animal.

An obvious indicator of a stressful experience, according to Roberts, is "if the next time you bring your dog to the kennel or animal hospital and your pet cowers and does not want to go in. Be concerned."

This is based on a dog that is confident and well socialized. Also, the dog feels what you're feeling because they look at you for nonverbal cues on what to expect.