I have written this information with the first time boarder in mind knowing that if you are prepared in advanced, it will reduce stress and anxiety and will allow you to enjoy this well-earned break!

Going on holiday can be an exciting and equally a stressful time. One minute it seems like months to the holiday and then all of a sudden there are just a few days to go, so a little preparation now will save time latter!

At Four Paws Hotel Dog Boarding Kennels, we provide superior care and personalized attention to all of our doggy guests, so you have peace of mind that your pet is safe and happy while staying with us. Yet, any time pets are away from home, they may feel and exhibit signs of stress.

Thing to do before you board your dog!

1. It is necessary for you to read and understand the Terms and Conditions for boarding your dog at the particular kennel you are going to use.

2. Make sure that you're dogs vaccinations are up to date for the period of boarding your dog. Certificate of vaccination will be needed to be produced every time the dog is boarded.

3. At Four Paws Hotel Dog Boarding Kennels we supply the new boarding clients with a Dog Boarding Education Pack, which makes it an ideal place to put all your dog documentation including Vaccination Certificates, Pedigree papers and or adoption papers, keeping them in a safe place at home until needed.

3. If at any time before boarding you're dog becomes ill or unwell, please visit your Veterinarian and then contact the kennel immediately with the results of the examination.

4. We may refuse entry to Boarders if this procedure is not carried out.

5. We need to contact your Veterinary Surgeon to make sure that they we can cater for your dog's stay.

6. You may then be asked to pay a small additional charge for any special care needs, as the advice given by your Veterinarian must be adhered to.

7. As far as medication or tablets for administering to your dog, Four Paws Hotel  would require a few days extra supply of medication just in case you are delayed on your return from your holiday, especially if the medication is prescribed as an ongoing treatment for your dogs well-being.

8. Talking about "prevention is better than cure" we have often seen people driving around with the dog's head hanging out of the window. This habit is dangerous in more than one way. Any flying objects thrown up by other cars or flying insects may cause severe damage to the eye; it may also lead to the eye becoming infected, conjunctivitis.

Things you need to do on the day of boarding!

1. Check that the collar is fitting correctly i.e. two fingers tight and then try to pull the collar over your dogs head, if it comes off you need to adjust is so that it does not come off.

2. Please also make sure that the identification tag is firmly attached to the collar.

3. For your dog to settle into the kennel more rapidly, as a suggestion, please do NOT feed your dog, as a meal will be waiting for him/her on arrival.

4. Take your dog's favourite toy, a small piece of bedding/old tee shirt/ old sock/hand towel with your scent on. To do this, hold the piece of material between both your hands and move your hands backwards and forwards, which will release your scent onto the material. By putting the towel in the dog's bed this helps to acclimatise your dog to a change in sleeping arrangements. This preliminary step greatly facilitates the systematic desensitisation, which follows.

Please follow these tips to help ensure a comfortable and happy homecoming

For your dog.

Things to be prepared for on collecting you're dog!

Your dog will be highly excited to see you and depending on the wind direction your dog maybe able to scent you before he/she sees you. There for it is a good idea NOT call your dog when standing at the gate, wait until the pet care assistant brings the dog to you.

In no circumstances do you open the gate for any reason unless you have been asked to do so. This measure is necessary for Health and Safety and site security.

When collecting, once your dog has quietened down, please check your dog over with the help of the Four Paws Hotel Care assistant making sure that you are happy with the dog's condition. At this time it may be necessary to remind the Care assistant to return any personal effects including any medication etc.

At Four Paws Hotel you will be given a Customer Care Survey with a prepaid addressed envelope to be completed when you get your breathe back, but hopefully within seven days, so that we can assess the quality of the service that you received as a customer.

Relief

Give your dog a chance to relieve himself outside before getting into your vehicle for the ride home. If your dog has loose motions when you return home, offer bland foods like boiled chicken and rice. Or, you can try withholding food for 12-24 hours to give his system a chance to rest. Call your veterinarian to discuss whether an over-the-counter anti-diarrhoea medicine is appropriate.

The best advice is not to over compensate by taking your dog for a TWO-HOUR RUN over the park, but to take your dog home to settle back into his/her normal routine.

After the excitement of being away, it's normal for your dog to sleep more than usual for the first few days after returning home.

Our own dogs which are boarded at Four Paws Hotel from time to time, even a weekend booking come back so tired and want to sleep a lot, but within a couple of days are back to their normal way of life. So for the first couple of days keep the exercise to a minimum

When you get home, many dogs tend to crave water and or food, so you may find that your dog is very thirsty, this does not mean that we have not given your dog any water or that they have not fed your dog. What it may mean is that like any person anticipating seeing some member of the family that they haven't seen for some time may cause an emotional response, a surge of adrenaline during the excitement, which would have the effect of drying up the mouth or the dog feeling hungry.

This is easily remedied by Food & Water

Wait at least four hours after returning home to offer your dog any food. This will give him time to settle in and calm down. After four hours, start by offering small amounts of food, and give him water or maybe even ice cubes if he seems very thirsty. And then ignore your dog until his/her behaviour has calmed down, then make a fuss!

By the second day, give the amount you normally feed your dog.

Coughing

If your dog starts coughing within a week of coming home, he may have tracheobronchitis, a contagious condition in dogs similar to the common cold in humans. The condition is not contagious to humans. Symptoms include:

• Dry, hacking cough
• Discharge from the eyes or nose
• Lethargic behaviour
• Loss of appetite

If you notice any of these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian

All dogs staying at Four Paws Hotel have the option of having the Kennel Cough vaccine, or not as the Bordetella vaccine does not provide protection against all of the viruses that can cause this disease, so a dog may become ill even if he's been vaccinated. Four Paws Hotel follows strict cleansing and sanitation procedures. However, no amount of supervision, sanitation or personalized care by any boarding facility can prevent a dog from catching an airborne virus. Please consult your Veterinarian before boarding for further information.

Here's hoping that you have a happy holiday, whenever that is!

Besides when I go on holiday, what are some other occasions when I could use Four Paws Hotel?

• There are lots of times when Four Paws Hotel can help. Here are a few suggestions (but, we know after you try us, you'll think of more occasions to come visit)
  
• Business travel, Holidays, birthday parties, other special events when you don't want to worry about your four-legged friend getting in the snack bowl!
  
• Allergic house guests
  
• Work done to the house (i.e., carpets or pool being cleaned, sprayed for bugs)
  
• Showing the house for sale/moving
  
• A new baby in the house; your pet (and YOU) need time to adjust
  
• A new puppy that needs socialization with other dogs

Thank you for your interest in Four Paws Hotel! Please come visit us soon

What do Dog parents like most about Four Paws Hotel?

24-hour care, 7 days a week

The majority of our customers say they love us because we're on-site 24-hours a day, seven days a week, caring for their pets.

Veterinarians on-call, our customers cite the fact that we have a veterinarian on-call 24 hours per day. It's nice to know that we're prepared to care for your pet in case of an emergency. We know that's comforting to all dog parents.

Safe and Sound

Guest security is an issue taken seriously at Four Paws Hotel.

Four Paws Hotel Amenities

It's the little things that set us apart. Dogs have access to amenities such as lambskin blankets and Havaball interactive treat dental balls to keep them busy during the day.

I have never boarded my pet before. Should I worry?

Relax. dog parents can feel confident and worry-free about their decision to place their pet in the care of a Four Paws Hotel. As dog parents ourselves, we know boarding your dog is typically much more stressful for the parent than the dog. We've gone to every extent to ensure you have peace of mind that your dog will be safe, loved and have a great time while in our care.

To help your pet (and you) adjust to being away from home, we suggest first bringing her in for a few days boarding. This experience allows you both to get to know the Four Paws Hotel team and become familiar with the dog boarding itself.

Want to know how your dog behaved while at Four Paws Hotel? Each dog's daily activities are continuously monitored on activity sheets by Pet Care Specialists - providing you with a detailed record of your dog's stay.

What are the vaccination requirements?

For the health and safety of all guests, dogs must be current on their vaccinations prior to arrivals. All vaccinations must be given at least 48 hours prior to arrival, with the exception of the kennel cough vaccination, which should be given at least 21 days prior to arrival.

For dogs:

Dogs can only be accepted on condition they have been fully inoculated within the last twelve months against DISTEMPER, HEPATITIS, LEPTOSPIROSIS and PARVOVIRUS, prior to being boarded (CERTIFICATES TO BE PRODUCED EVERY TIME DOG IS BOARDED).

Arrivals and Departures

HOURS OF BUSINESS Monday to Friday 9.00a.m - 5.00pm. Saturday 9.00am - 4.00pm.

BOARDING TIMES
Monday to Saturday Arrivals - Mornings 9.00am - 12.30 - Afternoons 1.30 - 3.00pm.
Departures Mornings 10.00am - 12.30 - Afternoons 1.30 - 3.00pm.

Sunday (April to September ONLY)
Arrivals and departures 10.00AM to 12.00 NOON