Life stages
Preparing a dog for a kennel stay
A kennel is loud, unfamiliar and full of other dogs' smells, and your dog has no idea you are coming back. The better prepared they are for confinement and a new rhythm, the easier the first night tends to be. This guide covers the home skills, a trial night, and the questions to ask before you hand over the leash.
Last reviewed October 4, 2026
Home groundwork
Build crate comfort and a routine that travels.
If the kennel uses runs or crates, a dog who already rests calmly behind a door has a head start. Feed meals in a crate or pen, add short closed-door rests while you move around the house, and open up calmly if your dog becomes distressed. Practise with a radio or a recording of barking playing quietly nearby, so kennel noise is less of a shock.
Then make your routine portable. Write down meal amounts and times, walk times, toilet habits, cue words and anything that worries your dog, such as men in hats or the vacuum. Shift your home schedule toward the kennel's hours a little before the stay so the day does not change all at once. Pack a familiar-smelling item if the kennel accepts it.
- Calm rests behind a door
- Written feeding and walk schedule
- Cue words listed for staff
- Trial night booked first
Trial run and questions
Ask first, then book a single night.
A short trial stay shows how your dog copes before a long trip depends on it. If the kennel offers one, book a single night and watch the pickup. Loose and tired is encouraging; not eating, frantic behaviour or lingering worry deserve a conversation with the kennel and, if it continues, your vet or a trainer. Beforehand, ask about the daily routine, outdoor time, how dogs are introduced, and how updates reach you.
Kennel rules on paperwork, food and belongings are the kennel's to set, so ask rather than assume. If your dog has finished one of our board and train programs, graduate boarding is available at $65 + GST per night for graduates and existing clients, with optional refresher work. For dogs who struggle with confinement, Private Training at $150 + GST per session builds a written plan first.
Asked and answered
The questions people ask us.
How do I get my dog ready for boarding?
Practise calm rest behind a door at home, write down your dog's routine and cues, and book a single trial night if the kennel offers one. Ask the kennel how their day runs so you can shift your schedule toward it.
Is a trial night at a kennel worth it?
Often, yes. A short stay shows how your dog handles the noise, the routine and your departure before a long trip depends on it.
What should I ask a boarding kennel?
Ask about the daily routine, outdoor and exercise time, how dogs are introduced or kept apart, and how you will get updates. Ask about their rules on food, belongings and paperwork rather than assuming.
Do you offer boarding?
Graduate boarding is available at $65 + GST per night for dogs who have finished one of our programs and for existing clients. It can include optional refresher work to keep the training sharp.
Keep reading
Boarding without the backslide
Book a consultation to work on crate comfort before the trip, or ask about graduate boarding for our grads.
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