Your dog’s first night away from home can be just as nerve-racking for you as it is unfamiliar for them.
You know they will be looked after. You have checked the place, spoken to the minder and probably asked more questions than you expected. Still, when it comes time to walk away, there is often that little bit of worry.
Will they settle?
Will they eat?
Will they sleep?
Will they spend the whole night staring at the door waiting for you to come back?
The good news is that most dogs adapt far better than their owners expect, particularly when they are staying somewhere calm and homely rather than in a completely unfamiliar kennel environment.
A little preparation beforehand can make their first overnight stay much easier.
Your dog’s first introduction to a new minder should ideally not happen when you are standing at the door with a suitcase and rushing to the airport.
A meet and greet gives your dog the chance to explore the surroundings without immediately being left behind.
They can sniff around the house, investigate the garden, meet the person who will be caring for them and, if relevant, become familiar with any other dogs that may be there.
For the owner, it is useful too.
You can see how your dog responds to the environment and talk through their normal routine.
Some dogs walk into a new house as if they own the place. Others take ten or fifteen minutes before they feel comfortable moving away from their owner.
Neither reaction is unusual.
The important thing is giving them that introduction before the actual overnight stay.
If your dog has never been away from you before, going straight into a week-long stay may be a big jump.
A shorter visit can help.
This could be a few hours of doggy daycare or perhaps a full day with the minder before an overnight booking.
It allows your dog to learn something very important.
You leave, but you also come back.
Dogs are very good at recognising routines. After a couple of visits, the minder’s house can begin to feel less like an unfamiliar place and more like somewhere they have been before.
For nervous dogs in particular, this can make a considerable difference.
When they return for an overnight stay, the smells, rooms and people are already familiar.
Dogs love routine.
They might not understand the concept of 7:30 in the morning, but they certainly notice when breakfast normally happens after you get out of bed.
The same applies to walks, dinner, toilet breaks and bedtime.
Before your dog’s first overnight stay, tell the minder what a normal day looks like.
You do not need to provide a minute-by-minute timetable.
Simple information is enough.
For example:
Breakfast around 8am
Morning walk after breakfast
Dinner around 5pm
Short evening walk
Final toilet break before bed
Usually sleeps downstairs in their own bed
If your dog normally eats twice a day, suddenly changing them to one large meal is unnecessary.
Likewise, if they normally sleep downstairs, encouraging them to sleep in a bedroom during boarding may create a new habit you have to undo when they return home.
Keeping things familiar generally helps dogs settle.
A dog’s first night away from home is not the ideal time to experiment with a completely different dinner.
Changing food suddenly can upset a dog’s stomach, especially when combined with the excitement of being somewhere new.
Pack enough of their usual food for the entire stay.
It can be useful to separate meals into individual bags or containers, particularly if the portion sizes are important.
Tell the minder exactly how much your dog normally receives.
Saying “one scoop” can be confusing because your scoop at home might be completely different from someone else’s.
If possible, give the amount in grams or include the actual measuring cup you use.
Also mention any foods your dog cannot eat.
This is particularly important if your dog has allergies, intolerances or a sensitive stomach.
Dogs experience the world largely through smell.
Something carrying a familiar scent can therefore be comforting when they are settling into a new environment.
Their normal dog bed or blanket is often ideal.
Some owners also leave an old T-shirt that smells like home.
You do not need to bring half the contents of your sitting room.
Actually, too many belongings can make things awkward.
One familiar sleeping item is normally enough.
Check with your dog minder beforehand about what they recommend bringing.
This can be harder for owners than dogs.
When dropping your dog off, it is tempting to kneel down, hug them repeatedly and keep saying goodbye.
The problem is that dogs are extremely good at reading our behaviour.
If you suddenly become emotional and start acting unusually, your dog may think something is wrong.
A calm handover is usually better.
Bring them inside, allow them a moment to settle, give them a normal goodbye and leave.
You are trying to communicate one simple message through your behaviour.
“This is fine. I will see you later.”
If you appear relaxed, it helps make the situation feel normal.
Every dog has quirks.
Maybe yours barks at the hoover.
Perhaps they hate having their paws touched.
Maybe they try to steal food whenever someone’s back is turned.
A good dog minder would much rather know these things beforehand.
Do not worry about making your dog sound imperfect.
There is no such thing as a completely perfect dog.
More importantly, withholding information can make the stay unnecessarily difficult.
Tell your minder if your dog:
Guards food or toys
Becomes nervous around particular dogs
Pulls strongly on the lead
Tries to escape through open doors
Is frightened by traffic or loud noises
Has separation anxiety
Dislikes being picked up
Sleeps in a particular place
Needs frequent toilet breaks
Has previously shown aggressive behaviour
Even something seemingly small can be useful information.
For example, a dog that becomes frightened when someone opens an umbrella may behave completely differently during a rainy Dublin walk.
The more the minder knows, the easier it is to manage your dog’s stay safely.
Before leaving your dog overnight, make sure the minder has a reliable phone number for you.
If you are travelling abroad, provide an alternative emergency contact as well.
This could be a family member or friend who will be staying locally.
You should also provide your vet’s details.
Hopefully they will never be needed, but having the information ready is far better than trying to find it during an emergency.
If your dog has insurance, medication or an ongoing veterinary issue, make sure the minder knows about that too.
If your dog takes medication, do not simply put tablets into their bag and assume everything will be obvious.
Explain exactly what needs to be given and when.
Written instructions are useful.
For example:
“One tablet with breakfast at approximately 8am.”
That is much clearer than saying, “He gets one in the morning.”
Medication should also stay in its original packaging wherever possible.
If your dog needs anything more complicated, such as injections or treatment for a medical condition, discuss this with the minder before making the booking.
Not every dog minder will be comfortable administering every type of medication.
A sensible walk before the stay can help take the edge off your dog’s excitement.
The goal is not to exhaust them completely.
You simply want them to arrive feeling relaxed rather than bouncing off the walls with stored-up energy.
Allow them time to sniff and explore during the walk.
Sniffing is mentally stimulating for dogs and can be surprisingly tiring.
Afterwards, give them a little time to calm down before travelling to the minder.
If your dog becomes nervous or suffers from car sickness, a large meal immediately before the journey may not be a great idea.
Stick reasonably close to their normal feeding routine.
If the drop-off time clashes with dinner, ask the minder whether they would prefer you to bring the meal so your dog can eat after settling.
That may be more comfortable than feeding them and immediately putting them in the car.
Check that your dog’s collar and ID tag are secure and that the contact information is current.
Microchip details should also be kept up to date.
This is important all year round, not only when using dog boarding.
However, whenever your dog is staying somewhere unfamiliar, correct identification provides an additional level of security.
Dogs sometimes behave differently during their first overnight stay.
A dog that normally finishes dinner within thirty seconds might initially ignore their food.
Another may spend more time sleeping than usual.
Some dogs become very playful because they are excited by the new environment.
Minor changes are usually nothing to worry about.
Excitement and unfamiliar surroundings can temporarily affect appetite, sleeping patterns and behaviour.
Once the dog realises they are safe, they generally start behaving more like themselves.
Wanting updates is completely understandable, particularly during the first stay.
Photos and videos can be reassuring because you can see that your dog is relaxed and getting on with their day.
However, constant messages can become stressful for both owner and minder.
Agree beforehand about updates.
For example, you might receive a couple of photos during the day and another message in the evening.
Once you see your dog stretched out on a sofa looking completely unconcerned about your absence, you will probably relax too.
For a first overnight stay, your dog will generally need:
Their usual food
Any medication
Lead and harness
Collar with identification
Bed or blanket if requested
Feeding instructions
Emergency contact details
Vet information
Any important medical information
Ask the minder before bringing toys.
Some dogs can become possessive over favourite toys when other dogs are around, so the minder may prefer to use toys already available in the home.
Being nervous does not automatically mean a dog cannot stay with a minder.
Some dogs simply need a slower introduction.
A nervous dog might benefit from several short daycare visits before attempting an overnight stay.
They may also settle better in a small, home-based environment where there are fewer dogs and less noise.
The right arrangement depends on the individual dog.
An elderly Chihuahua that has spent its whole life sleeping on a sofa may have very different needs from an energetic young terrier.
This is why meeting the dog beforehand matters.
Owners sometimes spend days worrying about how their dog will cope.
Then the first photograph arrives.
Their dog is asleep upside down on a sofa.
Another photo comes later and they are happily walking in the park.
By the following morning, they look as though they have been staying there for years.
Dogs are remarkably adaptable when they feel safe.
Careful preparation helps, but so does choosing an environment that suits your dog’s personality.
If you are arranging dog minding in Dublin for the first time, do not focus only on convenience or price.
Think about the environment your dog will actually be staying in.
Ask how many dogs are normally cared for at once.
Find out where dogs sleep, how walks are handled and what happens during the day.
If you have a smaller dog, you may also prefer an environment where they are cared for alongside dogs of a similar size.
A calm home environment can suit dogs that would find a busy commercial kennel overwhelming.
The first night away from home is a new experience for your dog, but it does not need to be a stressful one.
Visit the minder beforehand.
Keep food and routines familiar.
Provide clear information.
Bring something that smells like home.
Most importantly, choose somebody you trust.
Once your dog has completed that first successful overnight stay, future visits normally become considerably easier.
They recognise the house.
They recognise the minder.
They may even recognise the road on the way there.
And instead of wondering why you are leaving them, they start remembering what happens next.
Walks, attention, naps, new smells and, eventually, you coming back to collect them.