Boarding kennels cause significant stress in many dogs, and choosing appropriate facilities and preparing dogs for boarding are important welfare considerations for owners who travel.
Boarding causes welfare compromise in a significant proportion of dogs, yet owner awareness of this is often limited. Dogs that appear to cope in kennels may still show physiological stress indicators invisible to operators and owners. Choosing an appropriate boarding environment that minimizes stressors and ensures adequate individual attention is a welfare responsibility for owners. Home boarding with trained sitters provides a genuine welfare alternative for many dogs. Preparing dogs for boarding through familiarization visits and positive conditioning before their first stay substantially reduces boarding stress.