Dog Community

advice on the best short-term care for my dog?

Posted : 1/26/2007 9:15:27 AM

Hi -- we have a sweet almost-2-year-old poodle mix that we adopted from a shelter last September. She is the light of our lives! She is also very attached to us; to me in particular -- follows me around from room to room, etc. I work at home most days, but in March, both my husband I have to take a business trip for 4 days (the same meeting, in fact), and I am trying to figure out what would be the least traumatic experience for Josie. Our options are: 1) take her with us, but this would involve flying her across the country and basically leaving her in a hotel room all day, with her crate and with occasional visits from us through the day; 2) leave her at home and have the neighbors come in 3-4 times a day to walk and feed her; 3) board her at a kennel.

Having her with us might make ME feel much better than it will make her feel -- I don't like the idea of putting dogs in planes unless it's absolutely necessary, even if she would fit under the seat. The second option means she'd be alone most of the day and all night, and I'm afraid she'd get depressed with so little human contact for 4 days, when she's used to being with me most of the day; 3) if I found a good one this might be okay but I generally would like to stay away from boarding her when I can.

The option I wish I had was to leave her with family or friends that know her well, but the family / friends I have that I'd trust to take care of her live in other states.

I am trying to separate my own separation anxiety from hers as I am very anxious about leaving her. But I know this will come up on occasion, where she needs to be boarded / taken care of by someone else for a few days, so I need to find a good solution that works for the future.

Thanks in advance for your advice!!

Sherith Pankratz

Posted : 1/26/2007 9:15:48 AM

ps sorry for the huge picture!!

Debbie R

Posted : 1/26/2007 9:23:38 AM

Oh boy this is a tough one, she is too cute for words, I know how you feel. I think leave her home, can't someone stay at your house, or she at theirs though? I hate to see her stay alone overnight. Oh, I am a big old sap, so hopefully someone with some non mush brains will be along. I do agree the flight might be scary but Bunni when she flies w/ one of her poodles keeps them in a crate under her seat. And they seem to do well.

seashell

Posted : 1/26/2007 10:27:41 AM

I am going to have to leave my dog alone for the first time next month and I am very nervous about it- mostly how am I going to be okay with this. It will be 9 days.
I am having a friend of mine stay at our house for the first part of the week, but she has a work conference for part of the time we will be gone so I am unsure about what we are going to do the rest of the time.
Here is what I think of your ideas: If you bring her with you make sure that she will be allowed to be in your hotel room alone while you are at meetings. Many don't allow that.
If she will only get human contact at home a few times a day she may get lonely and bored. Hopefully your neighbors would be able to take her for walks and play with her. It would be best if someone could stay there with her, which you already know.
A kennel seems like your least favorite option, but if you decide to do it ask around: vet, groomer, friends with dogs to see which might be the best one in your area. Many of them will take your dogs for walks and be there 24/7 in case something happens.
Hope this helps

mudpuppy

Posted : 1/26/2007 10:31:07 AM

can't you hire a dog-sitter? when we have to leave, we hire someone to basically live in our house while we're gone.

Sherith Pankratz

Posted : 1/26/2007 10:41:18 AM

thanks for all the good thoughts, folks. mudpuppy -- do you hire someone you know, or do you hire a professional dog-sitter?

jenhuedepohl

Posted : 1/26/2007 11:08:06 AM

One other option would be to board at a Doggy Day Care that offers boarding. Then, she can play with others dogs and interact all day instead of being cooped up. Most of those places do need to have your dogs come for an "interview" so they can make sure your dog will get along with other dogs.

I'm thinking about taking Lucy and Blackhawk to an area day care that offers boarding to have the interview done. They are too far away (and too expensive) for frequent use, but I want to make sure that we are pre-reegistered in case we ever need to use them in a pinch.

the1irishgirl

Posted : 1/26/2007 11:17:18 AM

Whatever solution you use, make sure you start early and sort of condition her.

For example, if you choose the boarding at a daycare, maybe take her there once a week until then so she can get used to the facility, staff, and the rest of the dogs there before you have to leave her for four days.

Or, if you decide to hire a dogsitter, maybe you can have the dogsitter come in once a week and you leave the house completely for a few hours.

I don't know what your best option would be, but I know it'll be less traumatic on both of you if you start the process now.

Cita

Posted : 1/26/2007 11:50:01 AM

I worked as a dog/cat/pig/house sitter when I was in middle school and high school. I loved the job - how cool is it to get paid for playing with animals? - and so would put in significantly more hours than were strictly required. If you can find someone you trust (if it's a kid make sure you talk to their parents!!) I think hiring a dog sitter would be a great idea. Maybe a student who can come over and do homework at your house or something like that.

Sherith Pankratz

Posted : 1/26/2007 11:52:36 AM

great thoughts all. funny (somewhat related) story about doggie day care -- we took her a few times to this place in NJ that does both day care and boarding. we thought it would be a good option for days where we both are gone and can't be here to let her out. she passed her "interview" with flying colors, but she never did get excited about going like some dogs do. she had to be dragged in kicking and screaming. i kept thinking she'd get used to it. well, one day she was there, as i was in an all-day meeting, and they called to tell me that she had scaled the chain link fence to get out of the pen, and was wandering around the offices! i didn't believe it till i saw it with my own eyes one day not long after at a dog park -- she got spooked by a huge (but gentle) great dane who was kind of standing over her, and she climbed up that fence like a little spider! poor baby!! anyway, that doggie day care place won't take her anymore, b/c they were afraid she'd scale the 15-foot fence outside. unlikely, but she clearly did NOT enjoy being there anyway.

so that option is out! and that's why i think the best option is to find someone trustworthy who can come and stay here with her. i think i'll ask around, or check out some professional sitters. i'd prefer someone we know, but all in all i think she'd be most comfortable at her own home.

Margaret Tyler

Posted : 1/26/2007 12:06:54 PM

I usually have a relative take care of our pets while we're gone. My husband has an aunt who lives nearby who loves Joey and loves to take him for walks, so it works out pretty good. She stops by our house 3 times a day to feed Joey, the cats, the birds and the fish. If the weather's bad like it was this Christmas she takes Joey to her house, so she doesn't have worry about not being able to come to our house to let him out.

I prefer to leave them with relatives, not neihbors, not a boarding facility, or a dog sitter. I know my relatives and I know they love my pets and will provide them with better care than someone who doesn't know them.

Here's an example of letting your neihbors take care of your pets...
About 3 years ago, my mother asked her neihbors to take care of Joey, when he was her dog, and her 2 finches. The neihbor's kids played with Joey all the time, so she thought Joey would have a good time with them. Well, the neihbors let their kids do all the care taking without any supervision. And of course the kids didn't read or weren't read, the instructions my mother had given to their parents. They fed Joey his dog treats for every meal and they let her finches out of their cage. Joey ate one of the finches, which they later told my mother "They spanked Joey for eating the finch."[:@]

Needless to say, my mother never asked them to care for her animals again. Now I drive half way to her home (3 hours away) to pick up her 2 cats and take them to my house. They are pretty flexable and easy going cats who love Joey. Really it's quite cute. Joey has a herd of 4 cats wanting his attention. They fight over who's going to rub him.

If a relative isn't possible, maybe a good responsible friend.

bunni

Posted : 1/26/2007 1:31:02 PM

I don't think having a dog in the cabin of a plane is any problem at all. The dogs don't mind it. What I would have a problem with it leaving a dog in a hotel room all day. I'd be afraid and bark and cause a fuss and then what?

You can look for a pet sitter in your area at [linkhttp://www.petsit.com/]http://www.petsit.com/[/link] I would find someone - regular petsitter or not - who would let my dog stay at their house. There's a good chance your vet would know someone and even a chance that someone who works at the vet's office would do it.

This is Austin in the plane. (His whole travel story is at [linkhttp://poodlejunction.com/traveling-austin.htm]http://poodlejunction.com/traveling-austin.htm[/link])

labcrab

Posted : 1/26/2007 1:55:25 PM

OMG Bunni, how cute is Austin in the plane?!?!

Josephine, fwiw - I just boarded Slick for 10 days and I will NEVER do it again. It was a daycare place and I was able to watch him on a webcam the entire time, but - he's just not suited for it. He came home with a pretty bad case of kennel cough and he had nightmares for about a week.

Sherith Pankratz

Posted : 1/26/2007 2:02:10 PM

Austin is TOTALLY cute.

Yeah, I'm not thrilled with the boarding idea, Christine, and your note just seals the deal. Some dogs love hanging out with other dogs, but mine definitely doesn't.

I remember when I was in college and my early 20s I used to love to housesit for people -- a nice way to experience "living alone" when you're usually stuck with 2 or 3 (invariably annoying and messy!) roommates. I stayed at someone's house for 2 weeks once with their dogs and cats and it was totally fun, and I don't even think they paid me. So I keep thinking, there's got to be someone out there like I was (and we're willing to pay!). I've put out feelers to some friends and relatives nearby to see if they know of anyone. I'd like to find someone who is willing to do this on a semi-regular basis, as we'll no doubt have a few similar such trips in the future.

I appreciate everyone's advice -- I'll keep you posted!