Dog boarding - Work Experience
Here is my account of my Work Experience at a Dog Boarding Kennels. This was more than a year ago, when I did not have this blog and so I am using some past notes to ensure that this account is as true to form as can possibly be.
Daily routine
In the morning , we would start with cleaning out - as many animal related fields often do. Where I worked it, there were around 20 spaces. My work experience took place in the Winter but in the Summer they had extra space which they could use to house more dogs (as more people were away on holiday at that time). Before cleaning out, the dogs would move into the outdoor pens, to allow them to interact and go to the toilet. I remember that there were a couple of dogs that had to go in individual pens due to them not getting on with other dogs due to being aggressive/scared of them. At some point around now, the day-care dogs would arrive and be placed into the pens with the other dogs.
After this, there was walking to do. Oftentimes, this would be done in considered groups. The owner would make up these groups to ensure that there was no fighting between dogs - these groups would often be the same/similar to the pen groups. We would then take these dogs - with some of them being rather pully - down to the field. Here, they would be allowed off the lead to play for around 30 minutes. It was interesting seeing the range of personalities between the dogs. Some of them would be sprinting down the other end of the field and others would be tottering alongside you as you walked through the field.
When they came back, they would rest for a bit. This was to ensure that the dogs were not ill by eating too soon after coming back from their walk. Then, the dogs were fed. The range in portion size between the smallest and the largest dogs was astounding to say the least! Each dog was given food that their owner had provided for their stay. This was to ensure that not too much was changing about the dog’s environment throughout the stay to minimise the stress on the dog.
The dogs then stayed in the kennels for about an hour. During this time, we completed tasks which mainly involved cleaning (for example cleaning out the food fridge) and cleaning some of the pens and tables inside.
After this, the dogs were then put back in the pens to let them go to the toilet and interact for a bit of time. We mainly watched them during this time. After about half and hour the dog were then put back into their kennels and the morning jobs were over
In the afternoon, the dogs were relet out into their pens. During this time, we could refill water and make sure that their kennels were not too dirty (there wasn’t a full clean out but there was just enough to ensure that the dogs weren’t going to be sleeping in dirty kennels. The owners would then come and pick the daycare dogs up.
The other dogs would then be placed back into their kennels and fed. Then the kennels would be locked and the dogs would go to sleep for the evening.
Learning
I think that one of the main pieces of learning I got was how a small business actually runs. This was my first work experience placement that I had ever done and so this was my first ever experience of a workplace environment. I remember being especially nervous for this placement - the kind of nerves that I don’t get now when going to these things. Thankfully, this kennels was quite small and so it was easy to get used to working with people as I constantly saw the same people every day. I was absolutely terrified of doing something wrong. However, quickly I realised that you are very unlikely to do something wrong if you simply ask questions. There is absolutely nothing wrong with not knowing something (especially when you are new!).
My confidence around handling dogs also grew. I am a dog person myself, but I had never really spent a lot of time with dogs. (I have tried to convince my parents to get a dog but unfortunately the answer is always no….) Now, I could confidently walk a pulling dog, pick up a smallish dog and even groom a dog and check them over (a skill that someone showed me whilst I was there).