Realspeed, I believe it is you that owe us an apology by lumping all dog owners into your low opinion category. The reason I have paid for the vets treatment and examination to get a passport for our dog is because I will not put her into kennels, she is part of our life and will holiday with us. I did not get a dog to farm her out to some strange kennels.

I am only 10 minutes from the ferry but would not kennel her aboard or leave her in the car. That is why we travelled down to Folkestone and took the Eurotunnel, because her care and well being is paramount. Also we protect her as much as is possible by using 'advantix' as recommended by our vet against ticks and sandflies, and inspected each evening for the same.

Mine are docked and chipped as well they were done as pups

I'm with MM here. I've never put my dogs in kennels, never will.
However, I've visited a few with a good reputation and yes, they do look like prisons.
Out of curiosity I did ask one about exercise and they said the dogs were walked twice a day.
Really? Horrifying.
Not much use to our Welsh Collies who (present hot weather excepted) who need at least 20 miles day.
Running that is. Young healthy Collies don't do walks. It's not natural to the breed except when working.
And they need an awful lot of space; miles of it.
Not to mention hours of mental stimulation.
I suspect that in conditions like kennels that my Collies would soon become so bored that it could affect their mental inbalance. Another member of the failed FL2 clutch/DMF club, twice.

How is or use to be puppy of yours Greg ?

Dave,
He's big. Very. ad23345756856 was here last week and was surprised at his size (the dog that is, not himself )
I have to be very careful with him as he is only 28 months and copies our fully grown bitch who can cover up to 40 miles in a day. So I have to bring him into the garden so he doesn't overdo it. Then I play games with him and the mental concentration really tires him out.
He's become very popular with the local farmers but he shows little interest with sheep.
But he does chase birds away from crops!! Another member of the failed FL2 clutch/DMF club, twice.

Dave, our Millie, is five this year, alongside Stanley she would look a pup, Stanley is one big muscle of a dog, but gorgeous. Stanley's front legs are nearly as thick as Mrs AD's wrists

Haha, brilliant
Stanley must have been about 4 months old when I last him, if you get the chance post a pic of him.

Dave,
Here he is! Shot taken at 14.25 today.


Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated  Another member of the failed FL2 clutch/DMF club, twice.

Oh wow ! changed so much and what a good looking dog

That bone at the bottom is not the remains of Mrs AD's wrist I hope

I do wonder why ad223455 has such a fascination with Mrs ad's wrists  Another member of the failed FL2 clutch/DMF club, twice.

As I am usually on the receiving end of the back of what is attached to them

Not much use to our Welsh Collies who (present hot weather excepted) who need at least 20 miles day.

20 miles a day at an average walking speed of 4 miles an hour=5 hours . Nice to have that amount of time to spend 7 days a week.

I notice how owners are so quick to defend themselves as to how they look after their pets, but the issue raise was about dogs in kennels. All I ask is how many dog owners here introduced their puppies to boarding kennels within the first say 4 months? Not many if any is my bet and that is the time when a dog should spend say a weekend in kennels to get used not only to being in kennels but also away from the owners.

I have owned dogs for well over 40 years and have more experience than anyone else here I expect. Yet I keep hearing the same old arguements"- never put your dog in kennels they are terrible- badly treated-never walked-not fed or watered and the owners and staff don't give a toss as long as they are making money"

I ask how many dog owners spend a fortune on building accomodation for their dogs-how many are up for 48 hours during a thunderstorm making sure the dogs are not scared- How many take out health insurance and at the first sign of illness take the dog to the vets- how many have vets on 24 hour standby- How many leave their dogs all alone to go shopping. kennel owners by law have to have someone on the premises all the time a dog/cat is being boarded-how many dog owners have an annual inspection of their homes to see if the accomodation is suitable???? answer NONE. Kennel owners do!!!

So no way am I going to say sorry I have seen too many dog owners when a dog gets older try and push responsibility onto kennel owners because they can't be bothered to look after their pets in old age due to wanting their 2 week summer holidays.

Ok not all pet owners are like this but there is no difference when statements are made about concrete prisons for dogs. Kennel owners have to put up with such statements but owners don't like it when the tables are turned back on them as some members have said

THINK ABOUT IT Ex 2010 Freelander2 GS-e Diesel manual Silver owner

Of course I don't expect kennel staff to walk 20 miles.
Not much use if they did. Collies don't like 4mph.
More like 20mph.
Collies run. All day long.
Which is precisely my point.
Kennels cannot fulfil a fraction of my dogs daily needs at your own admission.
They'd go bonkers in a very short time. Another member of the failed FL2 clutch/DMF club, twice.

You ask how many dog owners spend a fortune on building accommodation for their dogs, well me for one, she lives in a house about £180 grand and she loves it.
She has not one but two to comfort her if thunderstorms develop and it is the two people she loves, not a stranger.
As soon as we got her from the animal welfare centre we took out insurance for her wellbeing, that also will cover ongoing treatment if ever needed.
She holidays with us, we took on the responsibility of dog ownership and that means going everywhere with us and she helps keep us healthy.
Why would I want to introduce her to kennels, she is not something that I would discard for a week or two while I galavant somewhere on holiday. No, keep your kennels, I'm not interested if it was 4 star with gold plated bowls with sky tv showing dog porn, I just feel sorry for any animal that is left in any kennels.