Doggy Hotel/Boarding Recipe

There are a few reasons why some Latinas might need a place to board their dog, somewhere for their dog to go when you’re away or sick. For example:

• What if no one in your family and your best friends are not around during a specific season?

• What if you don’t like your neighbors so you can’t ask them to keep an eye on your dog?

• What if you have a puppy or a dog with specialized needs?

• What if you’re bougie and you want to know that your dog gets two walks a day and there’s a camera where you can micromanage everything? 

Here’s the recipe for you: 

• Do an internet search for dog boarding in order to find an option close to you.

• Read the websites of the options and call them with core questions. Your dog might not be eligible so ask questions like:

• • • My dog is not spayed. Is that okay?
  • • My dog is on psychotropic medication. Can you handle that? 
  • • I don’t have a bunch of money to dish out. What’s the cost? 
  • • I don’t remember what immunizations my dog has and hasn’t had. What’s your requirement? 

• Start freaking early. A lot of upper middle class families have their vacations scheduled and took a lot of spots at your local boarding option. Get in there as early as you can!

• Be prepared to select additional services that the boarding place has to offer. Imagine going by a cafe and ordering your favorite drink with a bunch of specifics (e.g. almond milk latte with three shots of whatever and light creme, like that matters). You might see these sorts of situations:

• • • Choose three services a day that go with boarding your dog. For example, a walk, a 20-minute cuddle, and a play group with other dogs for 30-mins.
  • • Choose from various types of sleeping spaces like a kennel vs. a bedroom vs. a staff member’s office (i.e. some dogs do better being around a human so some boarding places have their staff work spaces also include dogs…). 
  • • Opt in for daily treats, a weekly bath, etc. 

• Your dog may or may not like the boarding, no matter how fancy you make it. Some of our dogs come back to us somewhat traumatized. After picking-up one of our dogs from a one-week boarding, she wouldn’t make eye contact with us for more than a day. So sad! You might plan to board for as short an amount of time as possible and/or make time for cuddling upon pick-up. 

BACKGROUND INFO