Macy Moore
Owner, MoorePetLove · Oakville, ON
The first night away from you is the hardest one. That's just true — for your dog, and honestly for you too. But there's a lot you can do in advance to make it go as smoothly as possible. These are the things I've seen actually make a difference.
Don't book the meet and greet for the day before the boarding stay. Do it a week or two ahead so there's a buffer. That way, if anything comes up — your dog seemed really stressed, you have questions, you want to drop off something they missed — there's time to sort it before the actual stay.
Don't suddenly change their feeding schedule, their walk times, or their sleep arrangements in the days before they go. The more consistent their routine leading up to the stay, the more settled they arrive. Dogs pick up on our stress too — so if you can approach drop-off calmly and matter-of-factly, that helps. Quick goodbye, don't linger. I promise you, they settle faster than you'd think.
A recently-worn t-shirt, their regular blanket, a pillow from their bed — something that carries your scent is genuinely comforting. I always make sure the dog has it nearby when they settle in for the first night.
Don't assume any detail is too small. If your dog sleeps on the right side of the bed, if they need the TV on to settle, if they get weird about the vacuum, if they've had a rough week — tell me. The more I know, the better I can anticipate what they need and meet them where they are.
This one's for you, not your dog. The photo updates are there so you can check in and see that your dog is fine — and they usually are. I've had dogs who made themselves completely at home within an hour of drop-off. Your dog is more adaptable than you think, especially with the right preparation.
Let's get the meet and greet on the calendar now so there's plenty of time to prepare. Free, 15–20 minutes, and it genuinely makes the whole thing easier.