Dog At Grange Retreat Kennels

What Is Classed As A Kennel?

There are two different types of kennels in The UK: breeding kennels and boarding kennels.

  • A breeding kennel is a place specifically designed for breeding puppies and then selling them to owners for profit.  A kennel that is specifically a breeding kennel will not board dogs from members of the public.  Instead, their kennels are designed to house breeding bitches and the puppies they birth.
  • A boarding kennel on the other hand will house and care for dogs while their owners are away or busy.  There are many different reasons why owners may use a boarding kennel; some typical reasons are – home renovations, house move, holidays, and work.  Kennels are licensable premises, so always look for a valid, in-date license when looking at different kennels.  This license means that the kennels have been checked and approved by the local council and have been deemed to meet all animal care needs required to open for business.  All dogs boarding in a kennel should have their five freedoms.
Dog At The Grange Retreat Kennels

Do Dogs Like Kennels? Or Are Kennels Bad For Dogs?

To be completely honest, whether dogs enjoy their time at a kennel will depend a lot on the care and stimulation they are given.  Kennels can be very good for dogs if you choose the right place for your pet.  Below are some advantages of using kennels:

  • Kennels that allow for group play and socialization can help your dog to become more sociable.  Dogs that enjoy group play can engage in play between friends and this is a tiring activity.  We all know that tired dogs are generally happy dogs!
  • Kennels that have additional enrichment plans, such as The Grange Retreat mean that dogs have a lot of their species-specific needs met.  Enrichment plans mean that your dogs will have different treats (if allowed), different activities such as agility and paddling pools in the summer, and of course the all-important group play.
  • The amount of time and care your pet receives from the staff at the kennels you choose will also impact whether your dog enjoys their time away.  We recommend that owners ask the kennels they are viewing how many walks their pet will receive and what other daily activities they can expect.
  • To ensure that your pet is comfortable during their stay at a kennel, it is always advisable to visit the kennels for a tour; this will put your mind at ease that your pet will be safe, clean, and warm while away from home.  The Grange Retreat has an open-door policy for tours, allowing any prospective customers to turn up, any day of the week for a tour between the hours of 11 am and 2.30 pm.  This is to avoid our busy check-in and check-out times.

How Much Are Dog Kennels In The UK?

The cost of boarding kennels in the UK can vary for a number of reasons.  There are some reasons why price may change between kennels:

  • Some kennels charge per day, others charge per night.  The Grange Retreat charge per day; the reason for this is that charging per day allows us to give owners the flexibility of collecting their dog at any time during our open hours on the day of collection.  Kennels that charge per night, may need your pet collected at a specific time to allow for the kennel to be free for incoming boarders.  For more information on our prices, follow the link.
  • Some kennels charge per kennel used, others charge per dog.  If you have a number of dogs, the price may not vary too much depending on this structure, as you may pay a premium to have a family unit.  The Grange Retreat charges per dog, but offer a discount of 15% for any additional dogs sharing a kennel.
  • Some kennels may charge more simply because they offer more; this may include more walking, more activities or enrichment plans.
  • Location and standard of facilities can also affect the price a kennels charge.

Price is of course important, but perhaps more important is the value of the service, so as suggested previously, we always recommend asking your kennels exactly what the service includes.