If you have a dog and plan to take a vacation, chances are you’ll need to find a kennel that will care for your four-legged friend while you’re away. You want to choose a good kennel that will take the best possible care of your dog and there are a few things to consider when selecting a kennel.

Ask family and friends which kennel they use. This may be the best way to choose a kennel, but if that’s not possible, you can start by calling local kennels and asking them a few questions. Even better, go to the kennel yourself and ask for an appointment. You want to know what kind of environment her dog will be living in and whether he is clean and gives your dog plenty of room to roam.

You should ask how much exercise the kennel provides. Does she walk the dogs herself and, if so, how often? She should ask where the dogs can relieve themselves and find out if there is a large fenced in yard available for her dog to roam. You certainly don’t want to leave your dog in a kennel that never walks the dogs or lets them play outside.

Be sure to find out what the kennel does in case of illness. Do they contact you or seek treatment for sick dogs? Many dogs become very stressed when taken out of the house and placed in a kennel, so illness is a real concern.

Ask the facility about costs and make sure there are no hidden fees when getting a price. Most kennels ask owners to bring their own dog food to the kennel, so you don’t want to pay for the food when you provide it yourself.