Deciding What to Do With Your Dog While You're Away

What kind of holiday should your dog have?

Just as we all look forward to an annual break, a change of pace and scenery does your dog good too, and since they can't choose their own holiday, that job falls to you. The two main options are pet sitters and boarding establishments, each with genuine pros and cons worth researching properly before deciding.

Pet sitters

Good pet sitters are licensed and inspected by the local authority, often with a dedicated "dog room" in their home for beds and crates, plus daily walks or garden time depending on the service. Some take only one dog at a time, letting them live as part of the family for the stay. It's worth checking their knowledge of spotting when a dog is unwell, and the security of their home and garden, dogs often try to find their way back to their owners, especially if bored, so an insecure garden or open door is a real risk.

Boarding establishments

These vary hugely in quality, visiting in person, viewing facilities, meeting the team and checking reviews all help you get a genuine feel for a place. A high-end boarding establishment like Royvon means daily updates are possible too, we invite guests' owners to join our Facebook group where we post daily photos, and rooms with a webcam let you check in via live stream whenever you like.

What to look for: knowledgeable, active, social

Royvon has been doing this for over 50 years, primarily as a dog training school where guests often stay for 21-day training holidays, with guaranteed standards of training and care. Our Dog Welfare team is trained to spot when a dog is under the weather, anxious or low, and dogs are welcome to bring their own belongings, an old t-shirt or fleece carrying a familiar scent from home helps them settle. We don't believe dogs should be couch potatoes, days are filled with running, chasing, exploring, sniffing, chewing and plenty of downtime too, across secure indoor and outdoor space. Socially, we tailor activity to each dog: playground time with friendly dogs, pack walks, ball games or zoomies for the social ones, and one-on-one activities with a person for dogs who prefer human company. Training sessions can be added to any stay, with owner training included on departure to help you maintain the progress made.

Choosing what's right for you

Whichever option you choose, visiting in person, asking plenty of questions, and asking about a trial stay all help you find somewhere that's genuinely transparent and willing to build a relationship of trust with you, not just take your dog in for the duration.

Getting the right support

See also our guide on the UK's top dog-friendly holiday destinations. Get in touch to find out more about boarding your dog with us. Learn more about our boarding programme and our emotional enrichment hub and Finding the Right Boarding for an Anxious Dog and How to Become a Pet Sitter.