How to Choose a Dog Kennel Without Making a Mistake (and What You Should Always Demand)
- lafinquilladogsitt
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
Choosing where to leave your dog is not a simple decision.
Many places call themselves a "dog hotel," but in reality, they are kennels with cages, stress, and little real supervision. And unfortunately, many families don't discover the truth until it's too late.
At La Finquilla, we have spent years receiving dogs that have come back:
Nervous
Stressed
Anxious
Without having rested
With social conflicts
With bad experiences
All because they were in places that looked "nice" in photos. That is why we have created this guide to help you choose the correct dog kennel, based on what truly matters to your dog: welfare, safety, cohabitation, and human treatment.
1. The Kennel Must Show You Where Your Dog Sleeps
If they do not want to show you:
The rooms
The resting areas
Where they sleep
The condition of the facilities
...it is not a good sign. Many places use beautiful photos of gardens, but then the dogs
SLEEP in:
❌ Cages
❌ Cold kennels
❌ Unsupervised rooms
❌ Individual plastic crates
❌ Closed spaces where they cannot move
At La Finquilla, the dogs sleep inside the house, in a real, safe, and supervised environment.
2. Ask for Real Photos or Videos of Cohabitation, Not Just Walks
Anyone can film a nice walk. What matters is:
How the dogs are indoors
How they live together
How they rest
How they interact
What the real energy of the group is like
How the day-to-day is managed
Kennels that do not show this are usually hiding stress or poor facilities.
3. Ask How Many Dogs There Are at Once
This is KEY. If there are:
20
30
40
or more dogs at the same time…
it is IMPOSSIBLE to guarantee:
❌ Real supervision
❌ Peaceful cohabitation
❌ Control of dynamics
❌ Conflict prevention
❌ Safety
At La Finquilla, we work with small, balanced groups to ensure welfare.
4. Ask How They Manage Insecure, Rescued, or Reactive Dogs
This is a part that almost no kennel explains. If a place tells you:
❌ "Everyone gets along here"
❌ "We just put them together"
❌ "We don't do evaluations"
❌ "Everyone sleeps together in cages" Run.
Insecure dogs or those with special needs require:
🟩 Progressive socialization
🟩 Correct distances
🟩 Professional introductions
🟩 Stable groups
🟩 24/7 supervision
🟩 A balanced pack
Only a center that understands behavior does this.
5. Ask How They Handle the Nights
This is where most fail. Many places:
Leave the dogs alone
Lock them in cages
Have no human supervision
The dogs spend 10 to 12 hours locked up
This generates anxiety, stress, vocalizations, and problems when they return home.
At La Finquilla:
❤️ The dogs sleep with us
❤️ There is real human presence
❤️ There is constant supervision
❤️ There are no cages
This COMPLETELY changes the experience.
6. Ask About Their Working Philosophy
A professional kennel should be able to clearly explain:
How they manage groups
How they integrate new dogs
What they do if there is a conflict
What atmosphere they want to create
How the dogs relate to each other
If they don't have a clear philosophy → they don't know how to work.
7. Trust How Their Own Dogs Behave
The best sign of a well-managed kennel is its own pack. If the center's dogs are:
🟩 Calm
🟩 Balanced
🟩 Secure
🟩 Tranquil
🟩 Stable
🟩 Sociable
🟩 Respectful
...you are in the right place.
If they are:
❌ Overexcited
❌ Barking non-stop
❌ Tense
❌ Invading spaces
❌ Stressed
...that is what your dog will learn there.
8. The Facilities Must Be Safe, But Not a "Zoo"
It's not about having:
10,000 m²
Swimming pools
Parks
Giant structures
What is important is:
✔ Safe space
✔ Healthy cohabitation
✔ Calming areas
✔ Shade
✔ Supervision
✔ Real rest
✔ Correct dynamics
Dogs don't need theme parks. They need stability.
9. Demand Transparency
A good kennel:
✔ Explains everything to you
✔ Shows you everything
✔ Clearly tells you if your dog needs habituation
✔ Doesn't promise miracles
✔ Doesn't hide anything
Transparency says more than pretty pictures.
10. If They Don't Give You Good Energy, It Is NOT Your Place
Your instinct is important. If something doesn't feel right:
You don't like the facilities
They don't explain the method well
You notice tension in the dogs
They don't answer you clearly
They don't show you where the dogs sleep
...don't leave your dog there. Your dog deserves a place where they genuinely feel safe.
Conclusion
Choosing a dog kennel is choosing who will care for someone you love. It's not about pretty gardens or Instagram photos. It's about:
🌿 Welfare
🏡 Safety
🐾 Cohabitation
💛 Tranquility
👩🏫 Professionalism
🐶 A balanced pack
At La Finquilla, we work from the heart and from experience, so that your dog has the best possible stay: without cages, with real supervision, and living inside the house.
Would you like to see if La Finquilla is the ideal kennel for your dog?
Write to us on WhatsApp, and we will organize an evaluation.
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