Start With the Night, Not Just the Play Yard
A boarding kennel can look cheerful at midday and still be a poor fit at 2 a.m., so ask first who stays on site overnight, how often sleeping dogs are checked, and what happens if one dog barks, paces, or becomes ill after the day staff leave. Ask where your dog will sleep, whether that space is indoors, how bedding is handled, and whether nervous dogs can be placed away from heavy traffic and doors. A kennel that walks you to the actual sleeping area and answers plainly is giving you more useful information than one that only shows a bright reception and a play yard.
Ask How Dogs Are Grouped and Let Out
Ask how many dogs share a run or play session, how groups are chosen, and whether size, age, and play style all matter or only size. Find out how often dogs are let out to toilet, whether walks are on lead away from the building, and what a rainy or very hot day changes. If your dog plays roughly, guards toys, or prefers people to other dogs, say so during this conversation and ask how staff would separate, rest, or redirect him. Also ask whether intact dogs, dogs in season, or reactive dogs are accepted, because that policy changes the mix your dog will live alongside for the whole stay.
Health Proof, Food, and the Unwell-Dog Plan
Ask exactly which vaccination records they need to see before arrival, whether copies are enough, and when they must be sent. Then cover the ordinary details that often get skipped: will they feed your dog's own food, how is it stored and measured, can they give food at your usual times, and what do they do if a dog skips meals for a day? Ask which veterinary clinic they use in an emergency, who decides to make that trip, how quickly you are contacted, and whether you or a named backup person can authorize care if you cannot be reached while travelling.
Updates, Trial Stays, and What Comes Home
Ask what updates are included, how often they arrive, and whether they are photos, written notes, or calls. A daily photo proves little about appetite or sleep, so ask whether staff will tell you honestly if your dog is not eating, is toileting indoors, or seems unsettled. Ask if a single trial night is possible before a long holiday booking, what it reveals, and whether the same sleeping area and group would be used later. Finally, ask about drop-off and collection windows, what happens if your return is delayed, and what belongings may come with your dog rather than being turned away at the desk.
Write the Answers Down Before You Pay
Do not rely on a friendly tour conversation once several kennels blur together. Note staffing, group size, sleeping arrangements, emergency arrangements, and any promise made about updates, then compare kennels on those points instead of on price or décor alone. If answers were vague on overnight cover or illness, treat that vagueness as an answer in itself and keep looking. Pack your dog's food in labelled portions, add one familiar-smelling item if the kennel allows it, and make sure your emergency contact knows the dates and the clinic arrangements you agreed.
For the handover itself, KinsLe's Care Pass lets you give the kennel temporary access to your dog's feeding routine, comfort notes, and owner contacts for the dates of the stay.