Boarding Kennel For A Puppy

[AyG]

Rather unexpectedly I've acquired a soi puppy. He's currently just over two months old. Unfortunately, I have a holiday booked and paid for next month (a long weekend), which gives me a bit of a problem. My questions are:

(1) Is 3 1/2 months too young to leave a puppy in a boarding kennel? (He'll have had all his vaccinations by then - the last one ten days before I want to go on holiday.) Will kennels even accept a puppy so young? I do worry that being surrounded by lots of loud, barking dogs will be very distressing for him. Until he's had all his vaccinations I don't want him to socialise with other dogs.

(2) Can anyone recommend a good boarding kennel in Bangkok, preferably somewhere in the Minburi/Khannayao area?

Edited June 18, 2011 by AyG

[Nawtier]

Look for a vet hospital or such that will keep her for the few days.....better than a big kennel with god knows what going on in there.

We took a pup to one recently as we also had no choice and she was accepted no problem and she was only 6 weeks.

Just do not go near the one in Thonglor.

[Nienke]

We accept such young puppies, but we are in Chiang Mai, so that's not much of help for you.

Just wanted to tell you about my experiences.

Currently having a group of 7 pups together, which sometimes mix with (well-socialized) older dogs.

Most of these pups came in pretty hyper, jumping on people and other dogs, playing too wild, and biting too hard. Some even were already very scared, and started with fear-biting, at the age of 4 months old.

They didn't know how to properly behave themselves. Puppies need to learn this; they need to learn at young age the bite inhibition, the dog language, and everything they may encounter later in life.

Behavioral wise speaking the most important part of a dog's life is the socialization period, which runs from approximately 3 weeks to 3 - 5 months of age, depending on the breed. The socialization window closes later in large (mix) breeds.

Many of the behavioral problems dogs show later in life are a direct result of lack of socialization during this important part of their lives.

I understand your worries about your puppy being so young and the risk on infectious diseases. However, isn't it that most boarding facilities ask for dogs being properly vaccinated or they will not be allowed in? Which will mean that your (vaccinated) puppy will be solely in between vaccinated dogs.

Personally I think it would be great for the proper behavioral development of your puppy to be with other dogs for this period that you are away. Of course, provided that the boarding facilities have sufficient knowledge about socializing puppies and will take special care that your puppy will gain positive experiences.

There is a boarding facility in Bangkok, that I've heard very positive feedback on, which is run by Patrick Bundock. http://k9bangkok.com/about_us.php