Introduction
When we leave our dogs at a boarding kennel, we tell ourselves that surely they will miss us terribly, as we miss them. However, unless your dog has a cognitive disorder, it is unlikely that he will forget you while you are away.
Helping Your Dog Cope With Your Absence
Anyone who has worked at a veterinary clinic or boarding kennel can attest to the fact that dogs miss their owners when they are boarded. However, with the increasing recognition that dogs are true family members in modern society, owners have increasing options for boarding. Many boarding kennels let owners leave mementos from home with their dogs, such as favored toys, blankets and a shirt or sheet that carries their owner’s smell. Many dogs mope a bit for the first day or two of their boarding, and they may not eat as vigorously as they normally do. Many of today’s boarding facilities offer a lot of individual attention and plenty of exercise and play time. Some cities have enormously fancy and luxurious doggy day care centers and overnight canine camps, which many people would find to be attractive accommodations. Some of these even have video monitoring so that you can watch your pet through the internet while you are away. Finding a facility that provides extra time with your dog is probably the best thing you can do for your dog’s, and your own, sanity.
The Reunion
When dogs are reunited with their owners, whether they have been boarding for one day or one month, they typically display an enormous amount of happiness and excitement. Dogs often recognize their owner’s voice or footsteps, and they begin to bark or try frantically to get out of their kennel. Once they are released, it seems to be all that the dog can do to reach its owner’s open arms.
Pet owners that have to board their dogs for an extended amount of time should not worry that their dog will forget them. Dogs that have been separated from their owners for years still remember them upon their reunion. This has been documented time and time again.