What would you do??

[Miranda_Rae]

I did not vote because I could not make up my mind. When I have to go away and I can't bring Heidi with her I leave her at my dog trainers kennel. She LOVES to go there, she gets there and shes just shaking with excitement and her tail is waging. I would NEVER send her to a kennel with someone I don't know though....I did it once because I was down in a city and I was going some place and I couldn't bring her with, and I wasn't going to leave her in the hot car, so I had to settle for her staying at a kennel for just the day, not overnight....I will NEVER do that again, never. When I left her there and walked away she was crying. I still feel awful about it. But when I am going somewhere I take her out to my trainers kennel because I know and trust her. My trainer gives the dogs a complimentary bath before she sends them home-a brushing, ear clean, nail trim and a bath. So I don't know....a lot of other people have given great advice, so I just thought I would tell you what I do.

[bckrazy]

I voted other, because I just noticed you have a pen! Could your father in law possibly come over in the morning, maybe exercise them and put them in their pen, then come back at night and play with them and put them in their crates inside? As long as the weather is ok, of course, and if it started raining he could bring the dogs inside. ^_^ I'm sure you've considered it, or some one has said the same thing, but I think it's a good idea if it could work out. A pen together is a lot better than sitting in crates all day, you know?


Also, I don't trust kennels either. Most of them will only feed your dogs the food they have on hand, which is usually Iams .. we've only had to kennel Gonzo once, which was when he had to be quarentined. He came back to us very dirty, starting to get fleas (he was on Advantix), and exhausted. This was a very expensive kennel that was part of a veterinary office. He slept for days after he came back, I think all of the barking dogs kept him up. But, I know there are a lot of *good* kennels out there, maybe you could even find a doggy daycare-type place for them!

[KYS]

I am glad they are staying home and you have worked
everything out.
Some dogs do great in kennels and others do not.
(my current dogs would be stressed in a kennel)

I am lucky, if I need to take off, my aunt who
lives next door will take care of them.
During the day, the dogs stay in the back yard and
in the evening they sleep in the house.

(I am lucky that my dogs are no longer destructive)

My aunt/Uncle had a GSD who was a PIG.
But when they went out of town, that dog would not eat
untill they returned.
It's funny how dogs are so different.
(mine on the other hand eat better when I am
gone) lol

Have a great time, I am sure your pups are in good hands.

[shais_mom]

I am very lucky. My parents watch Keegan for me and when the time came up that they were going to their cottage while I was going to be away for a weekend, they just took her with them.
This is also one of the reasons I haven't gotten another dog. My mom ~not the animal lover~ can't take more then one dog in the house at a time.
I think having your friends stop by and your father in law is the best idea.
I agree with Diana, having met your dogs, I think they would do much better at home.
Good luck!

[BitsyNaceyDog]

I am a manager of a small and wonderful boarding facility. We keep no more than 30 dogs at a time (a kennel near us keeps 120 at a time). We have 1 girl for every 5-7 dogs. They are in little bedroom suites rather than runs and it's plenty of room for 2 GSDs. They get 3 walks and play time each day. We rarely have a dog that is upset being there. They are often nervous for the first hour or so (depending on the dog) but settle in rather quickly. Most of our return guests are excited to come and visit us again. We certainly are no replacement for mommy and daddy, but the dogs do accept us nicely for the time they are with us. We have people from far away bring their pets to us. We have a lady who drives 2 hours to bring her shelties to us, we have a man who drives down from savannah, GA to bring his cat to us and then he flies out of Orlando. We have a yorkie coming from New York to stay with us over Christmas, she has been with us many times.

questions and tips for boarding:
-Many boarding facilities will probably be already booked up for Thanksgiving by now. We were booked full at the beginning of September. If you find one you like and they are booked full ask to be put on a waiting list.
-Ask what the person to dog ratio is.
-bring something from home- a favorite toy, a blanket, a t-shirt that you wore to bed the night before.
-Do they provide a bed? If not ask if you can bring your own
-ask what hours someone will be there on the holidays.
-ask what they use to clean and sterilize the room between guests. (we use mintcide, which a lot of vets use. A kennel across town uses Lysol, which is no good for a kennel)

[robinh]

I'm in the same boat as pict9. We're going out of town to SO's sisters house. Can't take dogs because her daughter and son-in-law are horribly allergic to dogs. Can't put Max in kennel - he'd die. He was with his Peach last time we kenneled him and he was so sick when we got back, I said I'd never do it again.

So our solution is to make my son stay at our house to babysit. I've babysit with his dogs enough times - it's his turn to watch ours. His wife will probably stay at home with their dogs. Can't leave his dogs alone with ours during the days - they can be together when someone is on site, but NOT alone!

[pitc9]

I have decided to keep them at home and have my father in law let them out a few times a day. I will TRY to let them sleep gated in our bedroom at night (we'll have to see how the first night goes) They like to chew up everything

We have a dog pen outside they can stay in for a few hours at a time. I also have a landing, basement stairs and a section of the basement I can block off for them too. Along with their crates that they LOVE!! I have a friend that will come over and play with them for an hour or two once in a while. So they will be fine.

KBlaix - My dogs are nut cases, Buddy gets spooked very easily, barks at other dogs (anyone at the park last year could second that) and Sierra is very afraid of strangers. They get stressed out VERY easily (and they would have the poops for a week after! )

Thank you to EVERYONE for your input, you all have helped put my mind at ease!!! This will be the first time leaving my babies, and I think I am going to loose my mind worring about them!!
But we are going to my sisters in Missouri and she has 3 dogs and a kitten, so I'm sure they will help keep my pups off my mind!

[joycenalex]

for the first time in 6 years i went on an away vacation earlier this month via an airplane to texas from ohio. it was the first time i've been away from alex the wonder dog for more then two nights since he was diagnosed with epilepsy in 1997. i left him at home with 2 close friends who switched off staying with him over night. he knows them very well, and even then he was stressed enough to have a seizure, but being in his own space, with his own cats and his own things and his bed( mine really) were better for him. i had used on an absolutely wonderful kennel 3 years ago for a weekend trip. they treated him well, fed him exactly what i prepped for him, gave him a bath before his pick up time, and treated him as the prince that he is. i have recommended it to 2 coworkers.
it sounds as though you've made the best choice for your dogs.