Who would you leave your dog with?

stardog85

I do also have provisions for the pets if I die

Stardog85, you've raised a really good point! I'm in the will and end of life care plan for a senior citizen friend of mine--any dog(s) she owns will come to me if/when she's no longer able to care for them or dies. When her beloved pup died last year, she wouldn't consider adopting a new dog until this was all set up. It was a good reminder for me to think about Frisby's care if something happens to me, as well.

Like Stardog, I made plans for Misha in case I die. He goes to ALOK (she's also the beneficiary on my Accidental Death policy, to help pay for taking care of Misha).

As far as going out of town, depending on the destination, we have two local kennels I'm comfortable with. If it were just for a day he can be kenneled in the back yard, assuming the guy working on the deck doesn't let him out.  We used to have a dog walker, but I wouldn't feel comfortable doing that now because he seems to be forgetting his leash manners.

I can see it both ways, as Erica says, do you think they can handle owning a dog? And as you say, would I leave my dog with them? The answer to these two questions is different for me because I know Misha can be hard to handle and that he doesn't mind. But if it came time to re-home Puppy would I be as strict? Quite frankly, no. Because she's lived outside (near a busy road) and she's well-mannered, she's a lot more family-oriented and street-safe than Misha is.

 most definitely - paper for dog is no good. Our animal control is that way...

I think the wording of that question is very important. It's a way for the organization to ask 'are you comfortable with this home' - only in a less invasive way.

Although - it is extremely important to have a back up plan for your pet. Casey would more than likely stay with my brother, should something happen to me. If he is not in a position to care for him, he would go to BF (or vice versa, much would depend on everyones situation). Casey does NOT like my parents, so they are not an option. Short term, yes. He would deal. But he is very uncomfortable with them..

FH's parents take the dogs most of the time. They will either come to our house and look after them or we will take them to their house. My parents will take the dogs the odd time, or for sure in some emergency or a vacation, they will take Sadie. If we are gone longer than just a weekend, Timmy will go back to his breeders place, or FH's parents might take him. I also have a few friends who I'm sure would take them in an emergency who I trust with the dogs. Sadie and Timmy aren't very high maintenance, which makes things a bit easier.

Im really not comfortable leaving Bailey with anyone else. I had to board him once overnight, at the doggy daycare that I have volunteered at for 3 years now, and even though I know they are really nice there and do a good job, I will never board him again. Even though he knows the people and the place, and he goes there to play when I volunteer... he was really stressed out with staying there overnight.

I guess Im kind of paranoid about it, I wont even let anyone else walk him unless Im there. Its just becasuse my parents are idiots, and no one else in my family are "dog people" Everytime either of my parents have been in charge of watching him while Im not there, something bad has happend...  And I dont have any friends that are "dog people" either. I really wish I did... But my area is one of those places where everyone HAS a dog, but its just a "pet" and kept on a chain in the backyard. My friends like Bailey and have no problem with him being around all the time but they just arnt anyone I would trust to take care of him.  

3girls

Mom lives nearby and my kids live with me...

 

Susan

I would leave my dogs with you :D

 Emma was VERY special needs, and VERY high maintenance. She was left twice, in her six years, both times with my mom, and only overnight. If I *had* to leave for longer, Em came along. Emma flew in a plane, under my seat. Emma went on long road trips. Emma went to work with me, regularly, from the day I got her. She could get  out  of ANYTHING, was barrier aggressive, and could not be removed from a kennel by anyone but me. Boarding her would have been impossible.

Bean and Jewel are *much* easier to care for. They still won't likely ever be left (they were left overnight, once, with my mom and Emma). They are both friendly, eat regular food, don't need medication, aren't escape artists, etc.  I am good friends with a kennel manager, these days, and work part time, there. She has bedrooms for the dogs, which are super nice, and a huge yard for them to play in, every two hours. I am still not comfortable leaving my girls. I'd drive her crazy calling to check on them! So, no, you're not weirder than I am!!LOL

G boarded once at a kennel that we were extremely familiar with, but due to the actions of one person there, it was a horror.  I have never boarded her since.  She stays with family, or when I lived back east, it was a friend who has owned more Dobes than me and runs a dog "boarding house" if you will.  No kennels, they have their own rooms, although G slept in the bed with the owner.   I am fortunate that I have 3 or 4 people in my training group who are very good friends who would take care of G like their own.  Plus she's such an easy girl to get along with, that she's even made friends with dog-aggressive dogs, so she fits into an existing pack easily.

In the event of my death, G is legally obligated to return to the rescue, however I made an arrangement with them that she will go to my parents, who also have a Dobe from the same rescue.  In the event that they are no longer alive, I plan on G going to our Dober-besties, who is also from the same rescue.

 If we had to leave Simba with someone, we'd probably board him at our vets. More likely than not, we take Simba with us where we go.

Mostly, they stay here with my mom coming to let them out and to feed and play with them. Otherwise, Lion would go to my bestfriends and maybe Cuddles would go there as well. Brownie would stay with my mom.

I'ld probably leave them at home and have either my niece, nephew, sister or mother come stay with them.  If they HAD to go somewhere first I'ld try my mothers and then my sisters.  If this failed a good friend of mine runs a dog chalet for dogs.  It's a great place with several fenced off areas and she takes great care of dogs.

OR I'ld have to auction them to the highest bidder on here!  LOL

 Tootsie, would stay with my parents. Only. They know her. When it was BF and I it would be him, not know though. In the event of my death, she would also go to my parents. I am not comfortable with anything else.

erica1989

I think you read too much into the question. I think it meant - if you would not feel comfortable leaving your pet with them- why should they own a dog?

I read it as "would you trust them with your dog?" as well.  I've done home visits where, initially, I didn't feel comfortable with the family, & even though the home was dog safe, I based my decision on whether or not I would leave one of my dogs with them.  If I wouldn't trust them with my dogs, then i would trust them with anyone else's dog either.

That said, I don't trust many people with my guys.  Bevo has 3 people, other than me, who he can handle him.  If I go out of town for more than 48 hours, he goes to their houses because my DH can't completely handle Bev.  Right now, Brutus can't stay with anyone except us.  He has deemed himself the "guard dog" and he's quite serious about it.  I am not confident that he wouldn't hurt someone, & I wouldn't put anyone in the position of getting bit.  Couple that with the fact that he's still taking a ton of meds for his AIHA, & sending him to stay with anyone else is out of the question.  My other guys are normal, & could stay elsewhere if needed.  Luckily, we have a great pet sitter that I can utilize for everyone except Bev & Bru. 

Coke is very easy, to be honest he's fine with just about anyone as long as he is kept secure (either they need a secure fence or they need to understand how to keep him contained here).  I have had 3 different people dogsit him here.  He is not very energetic and is fine free in the house.

Kenya and Nikon I am very particular with, each for different reasons.  I trust my sister (who usually watches Coke) with both, but generally do not leave Kenya here for her because she is scared of my brother and my sister's boyfriend so it is too stressful with them in my house.  If my sister is alone, then it's fine.  If I'm not around, she tends to attach to my sister instead.  Nikon I do leave here with my sister and he loves people so he's fine with her friends and boyfriend.

I also trust my breeder (who get Kenya and Nikon if anything happens to me) and a friend who boards my dogs at her place (her fence is actually more secure than mine, and she has llamas and sheep so my dogs love going there).  She is licensed, bonded, insured, pet first aid, CPDT, and a CGC evaluator.  She is a "positive trainer", no stranger to herding dogs, and I agree with how she treats our dogs and trains her dogs so I prefer to pay her if I'm going to pay anyone.

Usually though, we take dogs along, or only one of us is gone at a time.  Coke often stays home with my sister and the GSDs come to dog shows.  We took him once but he got really stressed, he has more fun with my sis.  Nikon and Kenya are only ever left behind maybe once a year.

 If they're at home, my mom or my younger sister will just take him out for me or feed him for a day or two. If they're not home, and I'm going to be gone too long, one of my best friends will come get him. If she didn't live with her parents, he would probably stay with her for the weekend if I needed it. He is staying Friday- Saturday with another of my best friends. She owns a dog, and trains and takes care of him to standards I feel comfortable with. My other best friend would take care of him, but she lives in Vegas. In a pinch, I have someone who would really love to take him, but she would be a last resort. Their dog gets lots of junk to eat, isn't really trained, and isn't really watched well either. I also think it would be tough, but she would do it. I'd probably have the first friend take him for the day, and leave him there at night, since they know each other. In terms of kennels, I use the one at the trainer's first. If I have lots of notice, he goes there. I love them. My friend who Luke is staying with this weekend brings her dog 45 minutes to go there for the kennel.  Second, I would use the vet. Third, I don't know.

If I really had to, and I almost did for Friday and Saturday, I would book a hotel somewhere that I could keep him there. I came very close to booking a room to keep him in. I would have had to keep the room until Saturday night to do it, because I would have to be in class until 4:30, and want to come home Saturday night. It also would have meant I would drive instead of taking the train. If that's what I had to do though, that's what would have happened. 

If something were to happen to me or I were to be incapable of taking care of him anymore, he is supposed to go back to his breeder.