My husband and I are planning a vacation for the end of this year and will be gone about 5 days. My dog is a year and a half and has never been left without us. SHe's very attached to us, sleeps in the bed, barks and cries when we leave for work everyday. I've never used a kennel/boarding service or pet sitter. I've heard that boarding dogs can be traumatic but i'm also somewhat untrusting in letting someone come into my house. I'm also not comfortable with leaving my dog alone at night. What should i do? Any advice is appreciated!
2007-07-02 22:45:54 · 7 answers · asked by pinkcarebear24 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
if possible should i try to take her with me? how hard is it taking pets on vacation?
2007-07-03 09:53:51 · update #1
Personally, I would use kennel your dog. Make sure you get references and check out the facilities. Some are quite nice. Some offer extra play time and special rooms with TVs and nice runs for the dogs to play.
I would not trust a dog sitter as I have had to pick up friends dogs who have escaped or run off when the dog sitter is there.
I also had a horrible experience with one who watched my dog. We were burglarized just a week after we got back.
Also many kennels will train your dog while you are away. It can actually be a pleasant experience for her. When you kennel your dog you will always come home to a better behaved pet.
She will be safer at the kennel and you can rest easy knowing that she is being supervised 24/7. I would always go with a kennel for my dogs sake. Take her there for a short visit so she can get used to it before you go away.
2007-07-02 23:01:25 · answer #1 · answered by Mar 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a professional pet sitter, I can't help but insist on a sitter. Boarding your dog may be more economically doable but your dog will definitely not benefit from it. If your dog does not enjoy going for extended periods of times without company, she will have a very bad experience. Not only does the dog get emotionally neglected but she will also be at risk for disease. Chances are she will come home dirty and smelly as well. This is so common that many facilities offer grooming for the day that the dog goes home so you won't know what condition she was really in.
As far as being worried about a stranger in your house- anyone who cares at all about their business would not dare disrespect your house or your property. Personally, I have tremendous respect for my clients and would never think of breaking the trust that I have established with them. Generally, you can gauge the trustworthiness of a sitter upon meeting her (or him). My pet sitting business is a small business, but it's all I have. Therefore, I would not recommend only going with a large pet sitting business (they probably wouldn't give as individualized care anyway). Just make sure that the individual who you choose has experience, sincerely cares about the happiness of your dog and can provide references. Don't hire someone who just does pet sitting as a way to bring in extra money- make sure it's what the person does full time.
You may consider joining Angie's list if you don't know anyone who can recommend a reliable pet sitter. Good luck!
2007-07-02 23:00:27 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'd actually recommend finding a doggie daycare that does overnight boarding, usually cageless boarding. They'll have staff there 24 hours a day. It will cost more than a kennel but they won't let your dog bark the whole time and stress herself out. If you don't have that option, I'd say a full-time/live-in dog and house sitter for those five days would work.
2007-07-03 00:41:05 · answer #3 · answered by Maverick 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would use a pet sitter because I had a terrible expierience with kennels . I left my female chi in a kennel and when we came back ,I was told that she slipped out the kennel and then their door so I never saw her again and they did not even offer to pay me for the dog . My kids and I were heartbroken and needless to say Inever used their services again . no most definately get a pet sitter . good luck .
2007-07-02 23:20:00 · answer #4 · answered by Kate T. 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A friend of mine took his Great Dane to PetSmart for boarding. They have a play room, and a bunch of other stuff that a lot of average kennels don't offer.
As for a pet sitter, most of those people in that field aren't really out to do any harm. I walk dogs/pet sit for people on a regular basis, and, speaking for myself, have no interested in anything other than the dog or cat I am taking care of. So, if you are thinking of a pet sitter, call a few of them and ask for references.
2007-07-02 22:56:24 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
as for letting someone into your home, if they are licensed and bonded there should be no problem. i used to work for 2 different kennels. in both kennels kept the dog in cages. one of the kennels kept them in cages that were to small. good luck!
2007-07-02 23:02:24 · answer #6 · answered by punkbun03 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
your dog is badly behaved and untrained so i would put it in a kennel as it would be unfair on a pet sitter to have to look after a dog with seperation anxiety for 5 days
2007-07-02 22:50:29 · answer #7 · answered by sleepwalker69 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋