Updated 10 November 2026.

A kennel visit is most useful when you ask how care works for your dog. Take the same questions to each shortlisted provider and write down the answers. That makes comparison easier than relying on photographs, a brief impression or the room name.

For the wider shortlisting process, see ten checks before booking. This guide is the visit and conversation sheet: what to see, what to ask and what to confirm afterwards.

Take a short description of your dog

Include age, size, normal routine, diet, medicines and relevant behaviour. Explain how the dog reacts to unfamiliar dogs, handling and being alone. Ask whether the provider can meet those needs in the accommodation actually available for your dates.

If a provider suggests a different arrangement, ask why. A clear explanation of a limitation is more useful than a promise to accommodate every dog without discussion.

Accommodation and daily routine

Look at practical access and surfaces. An older dog may need a low entrance or a different resting surface. Check whether the proposed sleeping arrangement is the one described in the booking rather than an example room.

Exercise, handling and other dogs

Ask who handles the dog, how often exercise takes place and whether the standard service includes individual time. If group activity is offered, ask how compatibility is assessed and whether dogs are separated for meals and rest.

Explain recall and escape risks. Ask how doors, gates and transfers between areas are managed. Off-lead exercise needs a suitable secure setting; an enclosure’s appearance is not enough to judge it from one photograph.

Discuss equipment. The provider may use its own leads or require specific items. Agree what will be used with your dog and how staff are told about fit or handling concerns.

Staffing, checks and cover

Find out who is present during the day and overnight, how monitoring works and who responds if a dog is unwell or distressed. Ask how staff absences are covered and whether the person showing you around will be involved in daily care.

Avoid assumptions about cameras or an owner living nearby. Ask how a concern is noticed and how quickly someone can physically attend. For a dog needing timed medication, confirm the actual administration arrangements.

Health and emergency questions

Ask for vaccination and health requirements in writing, including any timing before arrival. Discuss current conditions and medication in advance. Find out what happens if a dog develops a cough, vomiting, diarrhoea or another concern during the stay.

Establish the veterinary practice used, the procedure for contacting you and the fallback if you are unreachable. Check how treatment costs and insurance are handled. Ask how the provider manages fire, evacuation and an unexpected inability to continue care.

Our health-planning guide explains the preparation before arrival. The licence guide covers regulatory verification separately: a visit and a licence check serve different purposes.

What to observe during the visit

Look for suitable clean, dry resting space, maintained boundaries and staff who can explain care. Notice whether the answers address your dog’s needs. A moment of barking or a dog resting behind a barrier needs context; ask rather than diagnosing welfare from a brief snapshot.

If you cannot view an occupied area for a reasonable welfare or hygiene reason, ask what alternative evidence or visit arrangement is possible. If you cannot establish that the setting is suitable, continue your search before paying.

Confirm these details afterwards

Write a short summary of the agreed accommodation, routine, health requirements, total price and collection times. Ask the provider to correct any misunderstanding. Keep it with the booking terms and emergency contacts.

Arrange an appropriate introduction or trial if available, with a plan for collection if the dog struggles. After a first stay, ask about eating, sleep, exercise and settling, and use that information for future decisions.

Further guidance: RSPCA holiday-boarding checklist and Blue Cross boarding advice.