Stafford Dog Boarding kennels

flossietoo

Well-Known Forumite
It wasn't Homes & Gardens.

It was Heat magazine.

The first I knew was when a friend, who had bought a stash of such magazines at the airport, spotted my dog as she tutted her way through the pages on a beach somewhere.

There was a very real possibility that my husband might have realised how much the dog boarding was costing.

I don't take them there now. The owners retired to Hawaii.

Now I use the wonderful Ange Reeves (Google K9 in Penkridge) who boards them in her own home. She gives them loads of exercise, lots of fun and time on the sofa. No pool parties though. Or pupparazzi.

* Just seen your comment above about K9 Carole. What a shame you weren't happy. It is the only place where I feel I can leave my dogs without worrying.
 
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Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
It wasn't Homes & Gardens.

It was Heat magazine.

The first I knew was when a friend, who had bought a stash of such magazines at the airport, spotted my dog as she tutted her way through the pages on a beach somewhere.

There was a very real possibility that my husband might have realised how much the dog boarding was costing.

I don't take them there now. The owners retired to Hawaii.

Now I use the wonderful Ange Reeves (Google K9 in Penkridge) who boards them in her own home. She gives them loads of exercise, lots of fun and time on the sofa. No pool parties though. Or pupparazzi.
I apologise for misrepresenting you.

Flights are available to Hawaii.

dog-airplane.jpg


I'm sure at least one of them would send you a postcard.
 

Carole

Well-Known Forumite
It wasn't Homes & Gardens.

It was Heat magazine.

The first I knew was when a friend, who had bought a stash of such magazines at the airport, spotted my dog as she tutted her way through the pages on a beach somewhere.

There was a very real possibility that my husband might have realised how much the dog boarding was costing.

I don't take them there now. The owners retired to Hawaii.

Now I use the wonderful Ange Reeves (Google K9 in Penkridge) who boards them in her own home. She gives them loads of exercise, lots of fun and time on the sofa. No pool parties though. Or pupparazzi.

* Just seen your comment above about K9 Carole. What a shame you weren't happy. It is the only place where I feel I can leave my dogs without worrying.


Oh This is great.....so how did your dog end up in "Heat"?

Or was it Hawaii?

And why was your husband not realisng how much Angelas Reeves dog boarding was costing even though she is very cheap)?

Or was it another person gone to Hawaii?

And why were you, your friend, your husband and the dog on a beach reading a magazine ...or were you at the airport?

Was it you dog or your house that was in the magazine?

I think I need to go to bed, I am confusing myself.:)
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Oh This is great.....so how did your dog end up in "Heat"?

Or was it Hawaii?

And why was your husband not realisng how much Angelas Reeves dog boarding was costing even though she is very cheap)?

Or was it another person gone to Hawaii?

And why were you, your friend, your husband and the dog on a beach reading a magazine ...or were you at the airport?

Was it you dog or your house that was in the magazine?

I think I need to go to bed, I am confusing myself.:)
If you could throb properly you wouldn't be having these problems.
 

flossietoo

Well-Known Forumite
When pictured, my dog wasn't with Ange in Penkridge. She was in Worcester. Her holiday accommodation included two swimming pools (one heated, one cold) and an individual carer for the duration of her stay. She had the run of a secure site with fields, ponds and woods. I could log on to a video diary to see how she'd been enjoying her day and she came home with a basket of cookies bearing her name.

Unsurprisingly, she loved going there. She used to jump out of the car and not look back. My husband was less impressed, especially when we flew from Manchester and had to detour via Worcester. By the time we had two dogs, their holidays cost more than ours. (I can only tell you this because the forum is anonymous and because it is very late. If you ever meet me, I will deny it. I obtained a copy of Heat but I have it hidden, in the attic.)

Heat sent a photographer to accompany a story about the luxury boarding. Meg was pictured on a sun lounger, by a pool.

The people in Worcester retired to Hawaii. I tried somewhere similarish (to the dog hotel, not to Hawaii) near Lichfield but Meg was unhappy there. So for a while, I didn't go away. Then I found Angie who I trust and is also very reasonably priced.
 

Carole

Well-Known Forumite
I tried somewhere similar) near Lichfield but Meg was unhappy there. So for a while, I didn't go away. Then I found Angie who I trust and is also very reasonably priced.

I am curious as to the place you tried near Lichfield?

I take my dog to The Grove near Lichfield but it cant be the one where Meg was unhappy?

The reason that I didnt like Ange from Penkridge was that her house was tiny and she had 3 massive dogs of her own...so when she had to go out to do her own shopping etc she cages the dogs. I know she was doing it for safety but i dont want my dog caged for hours at at a time.
 

flossietoo

Well-Known Forumite
Oh Carole (isn't that a song?) we seem to have completely different boarding experiences!

The place near Lichfield was indeed The Grove. They opened just as the lovely place in Worcester closed and when they wrote to say that they were retiring, the couple from Worcester suggested that their customers try The Grove. I took the dogs over for a look one Sunday and liked it. We were going away for a weekend that New Year, so I booked them in and also booked extra walk/contact time.

I don't know what upset her but Meg was incredibly anxious when I collected her. She was off her food, crying in the night and her behaviour was really odd - she even snapped at me which she's NEVER done. She spent days 'hiding' and it took a while to get her back to normal.

I was nervous about Angie's big dogs, too, especially as Meg isn't keen on larger dogs. The strange thing is that when she is there, she treats the big dogs as her personal protection officers when they go out - no sign of nerves at all when they meet ither dogs. Meg also ruthlessly bullies Angie's dogs, stealing their toys and treats.

When Meg leaves, Angie's dogs probably don't eat, cry in their sleep and hide
 

funkyfin2000

Well-Known Forumite
Just to catch back up on this - the Sandon Road Kennels are the new ones that opened a year or so ago - http://oaklandsboardingkennels.co.uk/

I've booked Henry in now for Easter so looking forward to giving it a go, we tried the one at the top of Weston Bank about 3 years ago and we weren't impressed at all.

Will update if no-one else has any reviews of the place...

Rich
 

Alesto

Well-Known Forumite
I'm really interested in what you have to say about this place so please update after your dog stays there?
 

kyoto49

Well-Known Forumite
The first bit...
"dog is dog" ..I agree and they are NOT child substitute for me.
BUT they ARE part of the family and deserve to be treated as such.

The second bit....
Where on the website does it show LARGE kennels? I just saw somthing the size of a broom cupboard.

Mine is treated as a dog in a family. He's not allowed on the sofa, upstairs or in our front room. He's happy, he's well looked after, gets plenty of attention, and hours of exercise, but he isnt allowed to get above his canine station! Actually dogs don't deserve to be treated as part of the family, they earn the right, look at how any pack of dogs works. Dogs need to know their place and treating them as human family is one of the biggest problems modern dogs suffer from.

The website, as far as I can tell, has only one picture of the actual kennels. How about instead of judging on that and criticising it you go and actually see what they do offer so you can make an informed judgement rather than making an ill-informed judgement!

Finally, why you wouldn't want your dog near other dogs is a bizarre. Dogs are social animals, they need to interact with other dogs to stay emotionally healthy. How anyone can see being near other dogs as a bad thing for their dog is baffling really :/.
 
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Carole

Well-Known Forumite
Mine is treated as a dog in a family. He's not allowed on the sofa, upstairs or in our front room. He's happy, he's well looked after, gets plenty of attention, and hours of exercise, but he isnt allowed to get above his canine station! Actually dogs don't deserve to be treated as part of the family, they earn the right, Dogs need to know their place and treating them as human family is one of the biggest problems modern dogs suffer from.

How about instead of judging on that and criticising it you go and actually see what they do offer so you can make an informed judgement rather than making an ill-informed judgement!

Finally, why you wouldn't want your dog near other dogs is a bizarre. Dogs are social animals, they need to interact with other dogs to stay emotionally healthy. How anyone can see being near other dogs as a bad thing for their dog is baffling really :/.


Well we have to agree to disagree about dogs.

I just feel really sorry for your dogs that are not even allowed in your front room.

My dog doesnt go on the main sofa, she lies by our feet, although their is a chair and another sofa that she is allowed on.
My dog doesnt go on the bed, she goes beside the bed.

Dogs by nature are sociable creatures and need to be with humans.......why have a dog if you dont want them with you in the lounge?

I have no problem with my dog interacting with other dogs .....we walk with other dogs frequently....I just dont like the idea of the cages being in such close proximity to each other.

I dont need to visit Holme from Home to know that (by looking at the pics ) that there is no way I would put my dog, who is used to a home environment , into a tiny cage for , well not even for a day.

All those poor dogs, in tiny cages , next to each other, night after night.

I personally could not enjoy my holiday if I had to leave my dog in a cage......but if you are happy to do it then thats up to you.

I am not doubting for a minute about your dogs being happy....I am sure that they are, especially as they know no difference, but I diasgree about the bit where you say "Dogs dont deserve to be treated as part of the family". I think that they do.
 
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kyoto49

Well-Known Forumite
Mine is treated as a dog in a family. He's not allowed on the sofa, upstairs or in our front room. He's happy, he's well looked after, gets plenty of attention, and hours of exercise, but he isnt allowed to get above his canine station! Actually dogs don't deserve to be treated as part of the family, they earn the right, look at how any pack of dogs works. Dogs need to know their place and treating them as human family is one of the biggest problems modern dogs suffer from.

The website, as far as I can tell, has only one picture of the actual kennels. How about instead of judging on that and criticisng it you go and actually see what they do offer so you can make an informed judgement rather than making an ill-informed judgement!
Well we have to agree to disagree about dogs.

I just feel really sorry for your dogs that are not even allowed in your front room.

My dog doesnt go on the main sofa, she lies by our feet, although their is a chair and another sofa that she is allowed on.
My dog doesnt go on the bed, she goes beside the bed.

Dogs by nature are sociable creatures and need to be with humans.......why have a dog if you dont want them with you in the lounge?

I have no problem with my dog interacting with other dogs .....we walk with other dogs frequently....I just dont like the idea of the cages being in such close proximity to each other.

I dont need to visit Holme from Home to know that (by looking at the pics ) that there is no way I would put my dog, who is used to a home environment , into a tiny cage for , well not even for a day.

All those poor dogs, in tiny cages , next to each other, night after night.

I personally could not enjoy my holiday if I had to leave my dog in a cage......but if you are happy to do it then thats up to you.

I am not doubting for a minute about your dogs being happy....I am sure that they are, especially as they know no difference, but I diasgree about the bit where you say "Dogs dont deserve to be treated as part of the family". I think that they do.


I rescued my dog from a Spain, paid for him to be pet-passported and brought to England, (see here for info of the type of place he came from http://www.galgonews.com/2009/11/mairena-seville-what-is-a-killing-station-progalgo-explains-.html).

We take him running, he comes when we go cycling, we take him camping with us, he gets top quality food, he gets training classes, and he gets lots of love and attention, and you're questioning whether I should have a dog just because I don't allow him in the lounge? When you say my dog knows no different to not being allowed in the lounge, then all I can say to you is ... Have a word..........

For the love of god, they aren't tiny cages, they are approx 7/8 feet wide and about 20 feet long, centrally heated and with an outdoor area. In addition the dogs get free running twice a day. So what if other dogs are nearby? Do you think the police, army, RAF, customs, should also give up having dogs because all of these live in keenels in far worse conditions than most boarding kennels, and in the main for most of their lives.

Dogs, like humans are social creatures, but they don;t need to be with other dogs or humans all the time, They are quite happy with some time on their own, note the use of the word SOME.

Finally please quote me correctly, I never said dogs don't deserve to be part of the family, not anywhere, but it's a dog not a human, and some would do well to remember that.
 

Carole

Well-Known Forumite
Actually dogs don't deserve to be treated as part of the family, Dogs need to know their place and treating them as human family is one of the biggest problems modern dogs suffer from.

:/.

Your quote is above...you did say it.
 

Carole

Well-Known Forumite
I am not ignoring your other points.

As I said before we disagree on what having a dog means and how they should fit in with family life.

I am not arguing with you, I just dont share your point of view.
 

kyoto49

Well-Known Forumite
I am not ignoring your other points.

As I said before we disagree on what having a dog means and how they should fit in with family life.

I am not arguing with you, I just dont share your point of view.

I don't give two sh*ts about whether you agree about what having a dog means or not, but you consistantly imply that our dog is in some way neglected and not treated correctly because I treat him as a dog, and I'm not having that. Go away and read how a dog should be treated with the human as a pack leader.
 
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