someone said research and I can not stress that enough. I have VERY VERY seldom borded my dogs I rather stay home if we cant bring them, BUT sometimes you just dont have a choice. The very fist time I borded here in the US I had done the research and thought I had found a real good place it looked very good and all, BUT when we picked them up one had the runs BAD and one had an infection on his neck, I confronted them and asked how in the world that could happen, and I finally found out that they had used a prong collar on him, he was a bullmastiff, big heavy but very very well trained and behaved. I had to take both dogs to the vet and after that I did my very best through the contacts i have to black list that kennel (hmmmm did that sound mean lol)
The advice I can give is. go there in advance look at the facilities you want a place where they have a good sized indoor area and an outdoor run aswell, now in the summer you want the indoor facility to have central air and that should be kept at no higher than 74 degrees. Ask if they EVER close the door between the outdoor and indoor area so they have to stay out in the heat. Aks if they walk the dogs if so, do they do that in a fenced in area, if not, what do they do if one (god forbid) should escape. How often do they feed, can you bring your own food. I pack the food in ziplock bags one bag per portion and write the name on it, so they just have to give it, in there I add all the supplements and all they need, some places charge extra for meds and supplements if they have to give it. If they say they feed one time (which is not uncommon)ask if they feed more when a dog is used to it. Ask how many times a day the clean the pens and runs. Ask if the facility is alarmed and if they have ever had any break ins or such things. Aks if it is okay to call every day (I am a pain in the butt, I call several times a day, but hey....I pay these people)
Vaccinations usually required are the rugular parvo, distemper, hepatitis, corona, rabies and kennel cough. If it is a kennel that does NOT require these, well I would question what else they dont keep up with.
Well sorry for this being a long post, and I hope I didnt scare you but it is better safe than sorry and to do the homework before rather than having to pay the vet bill later (I have been there, done that and it is no fun)
Good Luck
marit