Boarding
Boarding Your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
There may be times when your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel cannot travel with you and needs to stay somewhere else while you are away.
Choosing the right boarding environment is an important decision. Cavaliers are affectionate companion dogs that often form strong bonds with their families, and individual dogs can respond very differently to being separated from their people and placed in an unfamiliar environment.
A good boarding experience should provide more than food and somewhere to sleep. Your Cavalier should receive appropriate supervision, exercise, enrichment, rest, veterinary care when required and plenty of attention to their individual needs.
Whether you are considering a traditional boarding kennel, a boutique dog hotel, in-home pet sitting or care with family or friends, the most suitable option will depend on your Cavalier's age, health, temperament, socialisation and previous experiences.
Choosing the right boarding option
There is no single boarding arrangement that is right for every Cavalier.
Before making a decision, consider your dog's individual personality.
Some Cavaliers are highly social and enjoy meeting people and other dogs. Others may be more comfortable in a quiet environment with fewer dogs and less activity.
Consider:
Your dog's age
Health and medical requirements
Temperament
Anxiety levels
Experience away from home
Experience around unfamiliar dogs
Socialisation
Exercise requirements
Sleeping habits
Feeding routine
Medication requirements
Whether your dog is comfortable in unfamiliar environments
Whether your dog prefers human company or enjoys interaction with other dogs
The best boarding arrangement is one where your Cavalier can be cared for safely while their physical and emotional needs are understood and respected.
Types of boarding and alternative care
There are several options available when you need someone to care for your Cavalier.
Traditional boarding kennels
Boarding kennels generally provide a dedicated space for each dog, with scheduled feeding, exercise and supervision.
When considering a kennel, ask about:
The size and design of individual accommodation
How often dogs are exercised
Whether dogs are exercised individually or in groups
How dogs are supervised
Sleeping arrangements
Noise levels
Temperature control and ventilation
Cleaning procedures
Staff numbers
Overnight supervision
Emergency procedures
Veterinary arrangements
Medication administration
Vaccination requirements
How dogs are introduced to one another
Visit the facility before booking whenever possible.
Dog hotels and boutique boarding
Some facilities offer a more personalised style of accommodation, with smaller numbers of dogs, additional enrichment, individual attention and more flexible routines.
This can be an appealing option for Cavaliers that benefit from a quieter or more individualised environment.
Don't judge a facility by its name alone. Whether a business describes itself as a kennel, boarding facility, dog hotel or pet resort, assess the actual standard of care, supervision, accommodation and welfare provided.
In-home pet sitting
Another option is having a trusted pet sitter care for your Cavalier in your own home. This can be particularly suitable for dogs that are strongly attached to their familiar environment or become unsettled by changes in surroundings.
Your Cavalier can maintain their usual:
Bed
Feeding routine
Walking routine
Toilet routine
Household environment
Sleeping arrangements
However, the quality of care depends heavily on the individual sitter. Ensure the person you choose is experienced, reliable and capable of responding appropriately if your dog becomes unwell.
Family or friends
A trusted family member or friend may be an excellent choice, particularly if your Cavalier already knows and likes them.
Ideally, your dog should have opportunities to spend time with the person before you leave.
Don't assume that someone who loves dogs necessarily understands the specific needs of your Cavalier.
Provide clear instructions about feeding, exercise, medication, behaviour and emergency care.
Visit the facility before booking
One of the most important things you can do is visit a boarding facility before committing to a stay.
A website can look wonderful, but seeing the environment in person allows you to assess what your Cavalier's experience will actually be like.
During your visit, observe:
How staff interact with dogs
Whether dogs appear relaxed or highly stressed
Cleanliness
Ventilation
Temperature
Noise
Sleeping areas
Exercise areas
Security
Fencing
Access to shade
Availability of fresh water
How dogs are separated
How staff manage different temperaments
Whether there is adequate space for dogs to rest
Pay attention to how staff answer your questions.
A reputable provider should be willing to explain their procedures and discuss your dog's individual needs.
Ask questions before you book
Don't be afraid to ask detailed questions.
Useful questions include:
How are dogs supervised?
Ask how often staff check the dogs and whether someone is present overnight.
Are dogs mixed together?
Find out whether dogs interact in groups, individually or according to temperament and compatibility.
How are new dogs introduced?
A responsible facility should have a considered process for introducing dogs rather than simply placing unfamiliar dogs together.
Where will my Cavalier sleep?
Ask to see the sleeping accommodation.
How much exercise will my dog receive?
Ask what exercise looks like rather than simply asking whether dogs are “exercised”.
What happens if my dog becomes unwell?
Find out which veterinarian the facility uses, how emergencies are handled and whether you will be contacted.
Can you administer medication?
If your Cavalier takes medication, confirm that staff can administer it correctly and ask how medications are recorded.
What vaccinations are required?
Reputable facilities will generally have vaccination requirements designed to reduce the risk of infectious disease.
What happens if my dog becomes anxious?
Ask how staff identify and respond to stress or anxiety.
Can you accommodate individual dietary requirements?
This is particularly important if your Cavalier eats a specific diet.
Vaccinations and preventative healthcare
Before boarding your Cavalier, check that their vaccinations and preventative healthcare are current. Boarding facilities often have their own vaccination requirements, and these may need to be met before your dog arrives. Ask the facility which vaccinations are required and how far in advance they must be administered.
Your veterinarian can advise you about an appropriate vaccination program based on your Cavalier's age, health, lifestyle and exposure risk.
Also discuss:
Flea prevention
Tick prevention
Worming
Heartworm prevention
Any other preventative healthcare appropriate for your dog
Do not wait until the day before boarding to discover that your dog's vaccination records are not current.
Health checks before boarding
If your Cavalier is elderly, has an existing health condition or takes regular medication, consider speaking with your veterinarian before arranging a boarding stay. This can be particularly important for Cavaliers with cardiac, neurological, orthopaedic or other chronic health conditions.
Provide the boarding facility with accurate information about your dog's health. Never conceal a health condition because you are worried that the facility will refuse the booking.
The provider needs complete information to determine whether they can safely care for your dog.
Prepare your Cavalier before their first stay
If your Cavalier has never stayed away from you before, consider arranging a shorter trial stay before a longer holiday.
Depending on the facility, this might be:
A short introductory visit
A few hours
A daytime stay
One overnight stay
A weekend stay
This allows your Cavalier to become familiar with the people, smells, environment and routine. It also gives you valuable information about how your dog responds to the experience.
If your Cavalier becomes extremely distressed during a trial stay, discuss this with your veterinarian and reconsider whether the particular boarding arrangement is appropriate.
Don't wait until your holiday to introduce boarding
A first boarding experience should ideally not coincide with your first major holiday. If your dog has never spent a night away from home, being left for the first time while you are overseas for several weeks can be a significant change.
Gradual introduction allows you to identify problems while you are still nearby and can adjust the care arrangements if necessary.
What should you pack?
Your boarding provider should tell you what they require, but your Cavalier may benefit from having familiar items from home.
Consider providing:
Your dog's usual food
Treats
Medication
Medication instructions
Familiar bedding
A favourite toy
Lead
Harness
Collar
Identification tag
Veterinary records
Emergency contact details
Feeding instructions
Care instructions
Some facilities provide bedding and bowls, while others encourage owners to bring familiar items.
Ask before packing bulky or valuable belongings.
Keep your Cavalier's diet consistent
Avoid changing your Cavalier's food immediately before boarding. A sudden dietary change combined with the excitement or stress of a new environment may contribute to gastrointestinal upset.
Provide enough of your dog's usual food for the entire stay, plus some additional food in case your return is delayed.
Clearly label food with:
Your dog's name
Feeding amounts
Feeding times
Any dietary restrictions
If your Cavalier eats a prescription diet, make sure the facility understands that it is medically necessary.
Provide clear medication instructions
If your Cavalier takes medication, provide written instructions.
Include:
Medication name
Dose
Frequency
Time of administration
Method of administration
Reason for medication
Storage instructions
What to do if a dose is missed
Keep medication in its original packaging where possible.
Make sure the facility understands whether your dog requires medication with food or at a particular time.
Tell the carer about your Cavalier's personality
Don't only tell the boarding provider what your Cavalier does. Tell them who your dog is.
For example:
“My Cavalier loves people but becomes nervous around unfamiliar dogs.”
“My dog needs a quiet place to sleep and doesn't like being disturbed.”
“My Cavalier is very food motivated and enjoys scent games.”
“My dog becomes anxious during thunderstorms.”
“My Cavalier is accustomed to sleeping indoors.”
This information can help staff provide more appropriate care.
Tell them what is normal for your dog
Your knowledge of your Cavalier is extremely valuable.
Provide information about:
Normal appetite
Normal drinking
Normal toileting
Normal energy levels
Normal sleeping patterns
Normal breathing
Exercise tolerance
Behaviour
Any known triggers
Any signs that indicate your dog is becoming stressed or unwell
This creates a baseline against which the carer can identify changes.
Separation anxiety and boarding
Some Cavaliers cope extremely well with being separated from their owners, while others can experience significant distress.
Separation-related anxiety can involve behaviours such as:
Excessive barking
Whining
Pacing
Destructive behaviour
Attempts to escape
Toileting indoors
Inability to settle
Excessive attachment to a particular person
These behaviours should not be dismissed as your dog being naughty. If your Cavalier has significant separation anxiety, speak with your veterinarian before arranging boarding.
A veterinarian can help determine whether your dog is experiencing separation-related anxiety and recommend an appropriate management plan.
For severe anxiety, a qualified veterinary behaviour professional may also be appropriate.
Helping your Cavalier feel more secure
There are several ways you can make a boarding experience easier.
Use familiar bedding
A familiar bed or blanket can provide reassuring smells from home.
Maintain their normal routine
Ask the facility whether your Cavalier's normal feeding and sleeping schedule can be maintained.
Provide familiar food
Keeping their diet consistent can reduce unnecessary changes.
Bring an appropriate familiar toy
A favourite toy may provide comfort and enrichment, provided it is safe for your individual dog.
Practise short separations
Before boarding, give your Cavalier opportunities to spend short periods away from you.
Gradually building their confidence can be preferable to making their first separation a lengthy one.
Should you leave something that smells like you?
A familiar item carrying your scent may be comforting to some dogs. A small, safe item of clothing can sometimes provide familiarity, but only provide something that your dog is unlikely to chew or swallow.
Ask the boarding provider whether they permit personal items.
Should you call your Cavalier while you are away?
This depends on the individual dog and the care arrangement. Some dogs may benefit from hearing their owner's voice, while others may become more unsettled when they hear their owner but cannot find them. Ask the carer what they observe and follow their recommendation.
Regular updates and photographs can reassure you while allowing the carer to maintain your dog's normal routine.
Boarding multiple dogs from the same household
If you have more than one Cavalier, you may wish to have them stay together. This can be comforting for dogs that are strongly bonded.
However, don't assume that dogs from the same household must always share accommodation.
Dogs should have enough space to eat, sleep and retreat from one another when necessary.
Discuss the arrangement with the boarding provider and consider your dogs' individual personalities.
Other dogs and socialisation
A facility that allows dogs to interact with one another should have appropriate procedures for managing group interactions. Your Cavalier should not be forced to socialise.
Some dogs enjoy playing with other dogs, while others prefer human interaction or quiet companionship. A good boarding environment should recognise these differences.
If your Cavalier is uncomfortable around other dogs, tell the provider before the stay.
Exercise and enrichment
Exercise is important, but more is not necessarily better.
Your Cavalier should have an appropriate balance of:
Physical activity
Mental stimulation
Social interaction
Quiet time
Sleep
Ask how the facility provides enrichment.
Activities might include:
Sniffing and scent activities
Food puzzles
Training
Gentle play
Individual walks
Supervised play
Exploration
Appropriate chewing activities
The amount and type of exercise should be adjusted according to your Cavalier's age, health and individual abilities.
Rest is just as important
A busy boarding environment can be stimulating. Dogs need adequate opportunities to sleep and rest, particularly after exercise and social interaction.
Ask the provider how they ensure dogs have periods of uninterrupted rest.
This is particularly important for puppies, senior Cavaliers and dogs with medical conditions.
Cavaliers with health conditions
If your Cavalier has a diagnosed health condition, carefully consider whether a particular boarding facility is capable of meeting their needs.
This may be particularly important for Cavaliers with:
Mitral valve disease
Chiari-like malformation or syringomyelia
Patellar luxation
Arthritis
Seizure disorders
Eye conditions
Chronic skin conditions
Other ongoing medical conditions
Provide the facility with complete veterinary information and clear instructions. For some dogs, in-home care or a facility experienced in caring for medically complex dogs may be more appropriate than a standard boarding arrangement.
Your veterinarian can help you determine what level of care is appropriate.
Emergency veterinary care
Before leaving your Cavalier, make sure the boarding provider has permission to seek veterinary treatment if necessary. Ask how they handle emergencies.
Provide:
Your veterinarian's contact details
An emergency veterinary clinic
Your contact details
An alternative emergency contact
Relevant medical records
Your dog's medication information
Details of any health conditions
Make sure the carer knows what to do if they cannot contact you.
Give written instructions
Never rely entirely on a verbal handover. Prepare a written care sheet.
Include:
Your Cavalier
☐ Name
☐ Age
☐ Sex
☐ Microchip details
☐ Registration details
Feeding
☐ Type of food
☐ Amount
☐ Feeding times
☐ Treats
☐ Dietary restrictions
Health
☐ Medical conditions
☐ Medications
☐ Allergies
☐ Current preventative treatments
☐ Veterinary details
Behaviour
☐ Temperament
☐ Fears
☐ Triggers
☐ Behaviour around other dogs
☐ Behaviour around people
☐ Separation concerns
Routine
☐ Exercise requirements
☐ Toilet routine
☐ Sleeping arrangements
☐ Favourite activities
☐ Enrichment preferences
Emergency
☐ Owner contact details
☐ Emergency contact
☐ Regular veterinarian
☐ Emergency veterinary clinic
☐ Permission and instructions for veterinary treatment
What to do on drop-off day
Try to keep the handover calm. Bring everything the facility has requested and provide the written care instructions.
Tell staff about anything that has changed since you made the booking. Avoid creating an extended, emotional farewell.
If your Cavalier becomes distressed when you leave, follow the facility's advice. Staff who regularly care for dogs will generally have strategies for helping dogs settle after their owners depart.
Once you have said goodbye, allow the carers to begin establishing their routine with your dog.
What if your Cavalier cries after you leave?
Some dogs may vocalise, pace or appear unsettled when their owner initially leaves. This does not necessarily mean that the entire boarding experience will be unsuccessful.
Many dogs settle once they become familiar with their surroundings and the people caring for them. The important question is whether your Cavalier is able to settle, eat, sleep, interact appropriately and participate in normal activities.
A reputable provider should contact you if they have concerns about your dog's wellbeing.
When your Cavalier comes home
Your Cavalier may be excited, tired or temporarily unsettled when they return home.
Allow them time to rest and return to their normal routine.
Avoid overwhelming them with excessive activity immediately after collection.
Return to their usual:
Food
Feeding schedule
Exercise
Sleep
Medication
Household routine
It is not unusual for a dog to be particularly tired after an active stay away from home.
However, if your Cavalier appears unwell or you notice concerning changes after boarding, contact your veterinarian.
What should you look for after boarding?
Monitor your Cavalier after they return home.
Contact your veterinarian if you notice persistent or concerning signs such as:
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Coughing
Difficulty breathing
Significant lethargy
Loss of appetite
Excessive thirst
Lameness
Pain
Skin problems
Eye problems
Behavioural changes
Signs of injury
If your dog has been exposed to many other dogs, also monitor them for signs of infectious illness during the following days.
If you have concerns, speak with your veterinarian.
A boarding checklist for Cavalier owners
Before your Cavalier goes into boarding:
☐ Visit the facility
☐ Meet the carers
☐ Ask about supervision
☐ Ask about overnight staffing
☐ Ask how dogs are exercised
☐ Ask how dogs interact with one another
☐ Ask about emergency procedures
☐ Confirm vaccination requirements
☐ Check preventative healthcare
☐ Discuss your Cavalier's health
☐ Arrange a trial stay where appropriate
☐ Prepare written care instructions
☐ Pack your Cavalier's usual food
☐ Pack medication
☐ Pack familiar bedding
☐ Provide veterinary contact details
☐ Provide emergency contact details
☐ Check microchip details
☐ Check identification tag
☐ Explain your Cavalier's temperament and routine
Choosing care that is right for your Cavalier
Boarding should never be a one-size-fits-all decision. The most important consideration is not how luxurious the facility looks or how many activities it offers. It is whether the environment is appropriate for your individual Cavalier and whether the people caring for them understand their physical, behavioural and emotional needs.
Take the time to visit potential facilities, ask questions and observe how the dogs are treated.If your Cavalier is anxious, elderly, medically complex or uncomfortable around other dogs, look for a care arrangement specifically suited to those needs.
For some Cavaliers, the ideal holiday is an exciting new adventure. For others, it is a quiet stay in familiar surroundings with someone they trust.
The right choice is the one that keeps your Cavalier safe, comfortable, appropriately stimulated and well cared for while you are away.
A little preparation before you leave can make a significant difference to your Cavalier's experience, and give you greater peace of mind while you're away.