We have always been very fortunate that a family member or friend has watched our dogs when we were out of town. At the same time I wonder if it would have been better to start them at an eary age in a kennel, for a short period of time. I think dogs may make the adjustment better early on, and then if you kennel them again when they are older they may understand more that you will be back....

What we do have on our side, if the need should every arise to kennel them, is that they go to dayschool and several of the workers there board in their homes. We could kennel with them and the dogs would not be going to a complete stanger.