Boarding Kennel Recommendation for large dog?

dogsdogsdogs

Hi there,

I need to find a boarding kennel for a large belgian shepherd dog. My problem is that the dog in question isn't always the friendliest to strangers. He's being trained as a protection dog at the moment and needs to be handled by people who are experienced in that area.

Any suggestions around the Dublin area?

Thanks.

ISDW

dogsdogsdogs wrote: »

Hi there,

I need to find a boarding kennel for a large belgian shepherd dog. My problem is that the dog in question isn't always the friendliest to strangers. He's being trained as a protection dog at the moment and needs to be handled by people who are experienced in that area.

Any suggestions around the Dublin area?

Thanks.

Do the people who are training him not have kennels he could stay in?

dogsdogsdogs

Yes, they do but they're out in the country and I don't have time to make the trip. It's actually my partner's dog and he's going away for a few days at very short notice. I can go and walk him myself in the evenings but can't have him stay in my house 'cause I'm renting and working long hours.

Knine

A correctly trained "protection" dog should be no different to any other well trained and socialised dog. Even a large Belgian is not that large of a dog either.

Most of the really good kennels will be filling up very quickly at this time of year so you will need to find somewhere quickly. Also he needs to be up to date on his vacinations including kennel cough.

andreac

dogsdogsdogs wrote: »

Yes, they do but they're out in the country and I don't have time to make the trip. It's actually my partner's dog and he's going away for a few days at very short notice. I can go and walk him myself in the evenings but can't have him stay in my house 'cause I'm renting and working long hours.

How far are these kennels from you?

Can the kennels not come and collect him, even at a fee maybe?

Either way you have to bring him to kennels and you need to find the right one by the sounds of it, so if the place that are training him have kennels then i highly suggest you use those ones as they will be experienced with your dog.

dogsdogsdogs

Knine wrote: »

A correctly trained "protection" dog should be no different to any other well trained and socialised dog. Even a large Belgian is not that large of a dog either.

Most of the really good kennels will be filling up very quickly at this time of year so you will need to find somewhere quickly. Also he needs to be up to date on his vacinations including kennel cough.

I know what a large Belgian looks like, thanks. I also know what a correctly trained protection dog should be - and he's a fantastic dog. However, I also know that I need a kennel that can handle this particular dog so I'm not just sending him into a place who's used to dealing with little terriers & docile labs.

I asked for a recommendation on a kennel at the last minute.. which would point to the fact that I realise I need to find somewhere quickly. In the event that I can't get him to the trainer's kennels, I'll need a backup. He's up to date on all his vaccinations and kennel cough.

All I'm asking for is a last minute recommendation for a kennel who can handle this particular type of dog. Unfortunately, I realise that not all of them can. I'd like to avoid putting him in somewhere that's unsuitable.

Thanks to those of you who have been helpful.

Knine

dogsdogsdogs wrote: »

I know what a large Belgian looks like, thanks. I also know what a correctly trained protection dog should be - and he's a fantastic dog. .

Well in that case he should not be too much trouble for any of the more reputable kennels as they will be used to dogs of all shapes and sizes and will be experienced in handling all types of dogs Just make them aware of his training.

I was trying to be helpful, a dog that is of unsound temperment should never be used for personal protection and I have lots of experience training dogs

Here are some kennels I have heard good reviews of but some may not be in Dublin but may do pickup/drop off but you may want to travel out to see the facilities yourself.


http://www.wendenkennels.com/

http://www.irps.ie/kennels.html

http://www.athboykennels.com/

tk123

Put a muzzzle on him and arrange a pet taxi to the trainers kennels? I'm assuming he has/is used to a muzzle if he's not friendly towards strangers btw.

dogsdogsdogs

Thanks Knine, that's helpful. And don't worry - he's been selected from strong working lines and is being trained for the Belgian ring and not just personal protection. His trainers are highly experienced. As I said, he's not my dog - he belongs to my partner who adores him and is giving him the best training and care. He's only about 18 months so isn't fully a mature adult yet and although he doesn't bite random people, I'd rather be very careful until his training is more developed.

And yes - he's muzzled when in public.

Thanks again.

tk123

dogsdogsdogs wrote: »

Thanks Knine, that's helpful. And don't worry - he's been selected from strong working lines and is being trained for the Belgian ring and not just personal protection. His trainers are highly experienced. As I said, he's not my dog - he belongs to my partner who adores him and is giving him the best training and care. He's only about 18 months so isn't fully a mature adult yet and although he doesn't bite random people, I'd rather be very careful until his training is more developed.

And yes - he's muzzled when in public.

Thanks again.

You should have no probs then with having a pet taxi take him then if he'a used to a muzzle if they want one on him - not like one is being thrown on him for the first time and stressing him. He'll be more relaxed at his trainers i'd say. Just be warned - you'll feel guilty no matter where you leave your little baby!!

Knine

Since its obvious an awful lot of work has gone into him, you don't want anybody undoing all the training either so yes you do need to be very careful where you put him as it also costs an awful lot to train these dogs to such high levels.

Wenden Kennels specialise in GSD's so they might be the first port of call.

There have been other kennels mentioned here before and the reviews are not so good but it is definitely better not to mention names. I'm sure you will be able to find them by searching.