where do you leave your dog when you go on vacation?

[jazzcat]

In the past 4 years since my parents became too sick and unable to come stay at my house to pet sit I started boarding Disney at a kennel. It's also where she is groomed and is a wonderful facility. They even have webcams for certain dog rooms. She's always been fine when we pick her up and by the time we get home you would never know she'd been gone.

My cats are another story. I've never gone anywhere since I've added Jazz and Scout so I'm worried. Ripley did fine here by himself with someone checking in daily but I don't know how three will do. I'll find out in a few weeks when we go on a weekend trip. I'm dreading it already.

[pupslover]

I just KNEW this was going to be another boarding kennel bashing thread without even opening it.

as i was writing my above story...i neglected to say that i felt this way...i knew i had only tried it once and i HAVE heard stories of good ones. i honestly haven't done my research enough to put out a bad stereotype on boarding kennels. i'm sure there ARE really good ones out there. i do feel, however, that pets being in their own surroundings will always be better than putting them somewhere they are unfamiliar with.

but i do apologize for not standing up for the kennels out there that ARE good to their boarding pets

[tomkatzid]

We don't go if they don't go with us.

[Kona & Oreo's mom]

After a little legwork, I found a fabulous kennel that Oreo loves. I asked my friends/co-workers for referrals and took tours before finding the right one. The dogs have large runs, in an AC and well-ventilated (clean-smelling) building, which is perfect for the hot, S. Calif. weather. She also gets "buddy play" every day, which is supervised playtime with the other dogs.

As I said, Oreo loves it there. When we drive up, she gets very excited and whines to get out of the car. Inside the office, she goes straight to the door leading to the back--she doesn't even say goodbye to me! Her reaction is what allows me to be able to relax while I'm gone--I'm confident she is having a good, safe time.

[Tina]

If we are only going to be gone for the weekend, then my brother comes over and takes care of them.

If we plan be gone for a week then they stay with a friend,with a family member or they go with us.

[K9soul]

I pretty much feel the same as some others, as far as it just wouldn't be a fun vacation for me without the dogs, so I try to make 'vacations' things like camping and so on where I can take the dogs with me.

Of course I agree not all kennels are bad, and not all pet sitters are good. I think people are really lucky if they have someone they trust to leave their dog with or to have come over.

When I was 15, I worked for awhile at a groom and board place, washing dogs for the groomer and other things. It was a nice place, with good play runs and I loved walking the dogs.

I know when Willie was hospitalized for a week or so after his spleen was taken out, my vet had an open door policy whenever I wanted to visit. I could even come after hours, just come and knock on the door in the back. They have blankets for all the dogs that they wash daily, but are always more than happy if owners bring their pet's own blanket, or a shirt or something for them to sleep with. I always got everything back freshly laundered even. I've seen all the kennels and they are immaculate. So I do trust my vet when my dogs have had to stay there.

[ScoobyDoo-Doo]

I worked Night shift and long hours. I installed a doggy door for the dogs to come in and out when they please. However, I discovered that my dogs where getting to have a social life without me!!! My neighbor across the street was taking my dogs out and taking them to her house EVERY night to play with her dog. She even took them to the park and fed them treats!!! I also found out that another neighbor would take my dogs walking if I left the leashes out on the front porch! Other neighbors would come visit and play with them.
I decided to take a vacation for a week. I needed someone to watch my dogs. One neighbor got upset with me because I chose another neighbor to watch my dogs. They wouldn't talk to me for a week!
How spoiled are my puppies???

[pupslover]

that IS funny!! what lucky pups....i find it odd though, that they never told you they were doing these things with your pups. but i guess it was all in good faith and as long as your pups are happy!

cute story!

[ramanth]

My parents or Andy's parents have always been available to dog-sit Kia... whether it be for a day, a weekend, or longer.

I always try to give advance notice if I'll need them. Thankfully neither of them have been on vacation the same time, so I haven't had to kennel Kia.

The cats will stay home alone and my parents stop by every other day to clean the litterbox and check the food and water.

[heinz57_79]

I used to work at a kennel, supposedly one of the better ones in town. And I'll tell you right now, I would NEVER leave my dogs there with them! I've seen how they're treated, and how they're left to mess in their cages. I'm even wary about taking them to groomers now, having done that too. So now, I leave them with a friend I trust when I go away and take them to a friend who I know is great with dogs while she's grooming them. Having worked in the industry, it makes me very nervous any time i have to leave them anywhere.

[pupslover]

thats so terrible!

[tikeyas_mom]

we never leave our dogs.. we always take them on vacation with us

[Moose]

It depends. Normally, we leave the pups at my parents' place. We haven't had a problem with it yet...but I'm a little stressed out about what we will do when we move out to California. It will take me forever to figure out what to do with them! lol

[KYS]

I have seen a couple boarding kennels on TV that look
better than my vacation. : )

I can not board my dogs, because personality wise, they
would be difficult, scared and hate it.
When we take off for a week, I leave them at home.
My Aunt comes over 3 times a day.
(dogs sleep in the house at night and are fed 2 times a day)
I am lucky that my Aunt lives next door to me.

[QueenScoopalot]

What's vacation? (geesh I need a life lol)!