It’s a common problem among dog owners; you’re going away for a few days or weeks and you can’t take your beloved puppy with you. You don’t have any nearby friends or relatives who are in a position to take in your pup, so you ask the question; what age can puppies go to kennels?
In the UK, boarding kennels are unlikely to take puppies under the age of five months. There might be some instances where this does happen, but those would be rare and typically in exceptional circumstances.
This article will give the full details explaining what age puppies can go to kennels.
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At What Age Can I Send My Puppy To A Kennel?
Boarding kennels in the UK will typically accept puppies over the age of five months. Kennels are not likely to accept puppies under five months for a range of reasons.
Firstly, puppies under five months are still very much in their developmental period and still getting used to their surroundings and their particular corner of the world, including your home etc.
Secondly, they’re also still forming their bond with you and learning to increase their trust in you. They’re not likely to easily take to having new people feeding them and handling them etc.
Thirdly, their immune system hasn’t fully developed. Sending very young pups to kennels could result in them catching viruses or infections that they would have been less likely to catch if they had fully developed immune systems.
These are the main reasons why kennels in the UK are not likely to take puppies under five months old.
Should Young Puppies Go To Kennels Or Home Boarder?
Young puppies should go to whichever environment is best suited to their personality. This means some puppies would do better a kennels, and others would fare better in home boarding.
Which Puppies Do Better In Home Boarding?
Home boardings means that a puppy will remain in a home setting which would be more familiar to them than a kennel setting. It also means the dog would get a lot more attention and have more of a fuss made over them.
If you have a puppy that can become distressed outside of your home, then home boarding would be a good idea. It would also be worth considering home boarding if you have a dog that likes to explore their environment or who is more sociable.
Which Puppies Do Better In Kennels?
Being in a kennel is very different to a home setting. Generally speaking, dogs get less individual attention in a kennel, and they are of course more confined. But when let out for play and walks they will socialise with a lot more other dogs.
If you have a puppy who’s more independent and not so ‘clingy’ then you should consider sending your dog to a kennel.
Even if you’re not sure just how independent your puppy is, you can always gradually get them used to staying at boarding kennels. Let’s say that you go on an overnight trip, or a long weekend, and you’re able to take your puppy with you. You could consider putting your puppy in a kennel instead, just to get them familiar with the setting and the process.
Ultimately, whether your puppy should go to a boarding kennel or a home boarder all depends on your pup’s personality and inclinations, and your own personal preference.
The Pros And Cons Of Kennel Boarding Vs Home Boarding
There are various advantages and disadvantages that apply to kennels and home boarding. Read on to discover what these are.
Advantages And Disadvantages Of Kennel Boarding
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Can often take puppies and dogs at short notice compared to home boarders. | Placing your dog into kennel boarding causes more stress and anxiety in your puppy compared to home boarding. |
| Typically costs a lot less than home boarding. | Your puppy won’t receive that one-to-one attention that they’d get at home boarding. |
| Your puppy gets to socialise more with other dogs (when outside for walks or play). | If given food that differs from usual diet, could cause an upset stomach. |
| Trained dog care professionals with requisite qualifications will be looking after your puppy. |
Advantages And Disadvantages Of Home Boarding
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Your puppy gets one-to-one attention as housed with only a small number of other dogs. | Can cost notably more compared to kennel boarding. |
| Much lower stress placed on your puppy as they stay within a home setting. | |
| Many home boarding operators do it for love and passion so often go the ‘extra mile’ for your puppy. | |
| Home boarding operators are more likely to accommodate special requests you might make. |
Recommended – If you’re thinking about putting your dog in kennels, you might also be thinking about hiring a dog walker. Read this article to find out UK prices for dog walking.
How To Prepare For Kennel Boarding
Make sure you leave contact details for you and your vet that actually work! Seems obvious, but a typo in a phone number or email address could cause issues if the kennel just needs to check some information with you or your vet about your pup.
If your puppy is on medication then it’s recommended that you provide enough for the duration of their stay in the kennels plus one week. This means if you’ve book 6 nights at the kennels, then provide enough medication for 13 nights. Why? Because you never know if your puppy may require extra medication for any reason, or if some medication is accidentally spilled or lost.
Ensure you provide some items and toys from your home. This would be things like a blanket and a toy or two. These items should have the scent of your home. Why? The scent of your home provides comfort and security to puppies during their stay at the kennels. The toys give your dog entertainment and excitement during the day.
FAQs About What Age Can Puppies Go To Kennels UK
Here you can read some answers to questions often asked about kennel boarding and puppies.
Can You Board A 3 Month Old Puppy?
It’s unlikely that any kennel boarding facility will accept a puppy under the age of five months. This is because dogs under five will not have a fully developed immune system and could be susceptible to diseases and infections from other dogs at the kennel facility.
Can You Board A 12 Week Old Puppy?
It’s not at all recommended to board a 12 week old puppy. Pups of that age simply don’t have their immune system fully developed. This could result in them catching infections from other dogs in the kennels. Not only that, but a puppy that age is stell getting used to their home surroundings with you, so transferring them to brand new surroundings could cause your puppy emotional problems.
Can You Board A 4 Month Old Puppy?
Most kennel boarding facilities would be reluctant to board a puppy of four months. At that age, a puppy’s immune systems are still in the developmental and they can easily be infected with diseases from other dogs in the kennels. Further, very young pups find it stressful to be taken away from their home environment and placed in kennels. This can cause high levels of anxiety in pups and result in behavioral problems.
Final Thoughts On What Age Can Puppies Go To Kennels UK
In the UK, puppies under the age of five months are unlikely to be accepted into boarding kennels. The reasons include concern over the puppy’s weaker immune system, attachment issues and the anxiety and stress caused by being placed in a non-home setting.
That’s not to say that puppies older than five months wouldn’t have any issues or stress being placed in kennels. However, any such issues are typically of a lower impact, and it’s easier to get older puppies used to being away from their owner and in a kennel boarding setting.