If you’re going on a trip or having your home remodeled, you may be considering putting your dog in a kennel while you’re gone or while workmen are traipsing in and out of your home. And that’s a good call, because in general, going on a trip or having work done in the house – complete with people in uniforms stomping around in heavy boots making all manner of hammering and sawing noises – can stress out your dog more than spending a few days relaxing and playing in a boarding facility.

Boarding your dog as opposed to having a friend or family member stay at your place while you’re gone or keeping her in a crate while workers are present can have distinct benefits. First, Fefe gets to avoid the stress of construction or traveling. She’ll receive much more loving attention at the kennel than she would at home alone or in her crate. She’ll also be well supervised, unlike the dog who’s left at home to be checked in on a couple of times a day. Boarding your dog offers you peace of mind that she’s safe and in good hands, and not getting bored and shredding the quilt your grandma made for you before she passed into to the Light.

But there are some down sides to boarding your dog. For one thing, the cost can be prohibitive, depending on how long you need to board him. For another, he’ll be in close proximity to other dogs for a few days, and if you have kids in daycare, you already know that they tend to catch every little bug going around, and dogs are no different. You may be picking up a sniffling, sneezing dog when you come back to town. Or maybe not.