where to keep dog? pls help.?

Question

i'm going on a trip during the summer for a month and a half. i'll be going with my whole family, so there will be no one to take care of my 6 year old yorkie. we can't take her with us because the trip will be hard for a dog. last time, my dog stayed home with my brother and dad, while my mom and i took a vacation, and she still didn't eat for 3 days until she heard our voices over the phone. we might leave her at the vets or a kennel, but she might have a heart attack. she almost did last time. my neighbor is too old and hates dogs, but my father's co-worker/friend might be able to come everyday after work to check on her and take her inside. the problem with that is my dog might have a heat stroke. it gets very hot in southern CA plus we take her into an air-conditioned room all day during the summer. please, i really need your help. thanks in advance.

Answer 1

In your situation, the vet would probably be the best place. If your dog does have a haert-attack or any other medical problems, the medical care givers are already right there. It's similar to when my family went on a long vacation and left our dog at the vet's. He has biannual seizures and he had one of them there. The vet was able to restrain him and give him medicine while we had the option of talking to him over the phone. The vet is climate controlled and generally has better quality food. My dog did end up losing a few pounds, but such can only be expected when put under stress. The vet might be cheaper then the kennel and there will most likely be better medical/health care. I'm not positive about where you live, since I live in a smaller palce and they can give my dog lots of attention, but I still recommend the vet.

Answer 2

The best thing for any animal is to stay in their own environment. As others have said, try to find someone to stay at your home and keep the dog in their routine. This is the least stressful situation. If not a friend, check with your vet and see if there is a vet tech or someone who works at the vet clinic that would be up for pet sitting (many times, these are younger people working their way through school living at home and would love to 'live on their own'). If not someone at the vet clinic, solicit a friend to live in your home for the month.

Since it sounds she has some seperation anxiety, the vet's kennel is the next best thing to monitor her condition and treat anything that may come up. If you go with a kennel (not associated with a vet), start taking her there now, like a 'day spa' so she can be acclimated to it by the time you go. Make it a fun outing for her (many kennels offer special treats, play time, dog TV, grooming, etc.) starting with a half day stay, working up to an overnight stay before your trip.

Since you are planning a month and a half, I would not recommend pet sitters that only come to the house once or twice a day OR just having a neighbor 'checking in on her'.

I used to live in Santa Clarita and there is a very nice kennel out off the 14. What part of So.Cal do you live in, maybe I can put you in touch with someone. (bluefish787@yahoo)

Answer 3

Call your vet and ask for references for a dog sitter. The dog sitter takes dogs into their home and takes care of them often for less than it would cost at the kennel. Also, people will be around more. Just make sure you check the place out for yourself, bring your "baby" over to meet them ahead of time. Ask questions about how many dogs will be there while yours is there, where they will keep it, if there are kids in the house.

If this doesn't work, then I would suggest the vets. Your vet knows your dog and has its' medical information. Don't worry about her not eating, she will when she gets hungry enough.

Answer 4

Recruit a friend and start encouraging a friendship between your dog and your friend. If you get them together frequently between now and when you leave your dog will be fine. I wouldn't recommend leaving your dog alone for the 5 weeks you will be gone. A frustrated dog can destroy a house! If you think you are going to have to board your dog, take her to the kennel for a day or two a few times before you leave so she can grow accustom to the surroundings and the people who work there. My dog refused to eat for 5 days the first time I had to board her but now she is fine. Just give her some time to feel more secure without you and she will be healthy and happy when you get back.

Answer 5

Seems like your only choice is to bring her to the vet or a kennel for a month and a half.

You wouldn't want to come home and see she has had a heat stroke, barely had exercise and know that your yard is full of dog waste because no one has cleaned up for her (only done the basics).

Answer 6

start visiting whoever can care for your dog. that way when you leave it's not so foreign to her. sounds like a kennel or vet might not be the best place, since she's used to being in a house. and please do not leave her home and outside, there's too much rish involved with that. take her over every chance you get to where you can leave her so she's more comfortable. leave her there for a few hours if you can during meal time to see if she'll eat. good luck.

Answer 7

I don't think the trip would be as hard on the dog as leaving it home as it seems the poor pooch would miss you too much. a month and a half is a very long time in doggy time. someone coming every day is not an option, staying at the guys house, maybe.

Answer 8

I would call your vet and see if they have a kennel and see if they can take your dog. That way your dog will be taken care of, you dont have to worry about it getting sick because of the heat, you know shes being walked and treated very good.

Answer 9

I would highly recommend giving your veterinarian a call. You should look for a pet sitter that will either come to your house a few times a day to make sure she gets the necessary attention etc (and does not have to stay outside alone) or someone who will watch her at their own house.

There are many reputable people who do this, but as I do not live in that area I cannot direct to particular person.

Answer 10

Take a video of them teasing your dogs. This may save the life of your dogs if they bite a finger or hand or ear off of one of the kids. Most likely it will not. If your dogs bite the kids, regardless of any teasing, the dogs will be put down. Killed. Put to sleep. If possible put a barrier between the dogs and the gate so the kids can't stick their hands through. If you can find a tougher kid, a bully, a little older, a lot bigger he may be able to help persuade the little turds to stop teasing them. I worry about stuff like that. I would be devastated if I lost my dogs. The police can charge the kids with all sorts of things, all misdemeanors of course. There is trespassing, malicious mischief, vandalism if they open the gate or stick their hands through.