Starting to travel again? As our country gradually opens up, the question of what to do with our pets if we don’t take them with us arises. I’m curious what choice you make, and what advice you have for others, about whether to kennel a dog or get a house sitter. Of course, both have costs and benefits. Sitters allow your animals to stay in a familiar place and in a familiar routine. If you’re lucky, there are neighbors who can help out if there’s a problem. However, sitters can sometimes be hard to find, and some are more reliable than others. Boarding kennels have systems in place to keep pets safe, but they can be noisy and stressful in some cases. Some dogs adore going to ” summer camp,” some dogs come back exhausted.
I’ll make some comments here, but I’m especially interested in opening up the conversation to you all. Sitter? Kennel? Never leave the dogs ever?
My perspective is limited, because I’ve never kenneled any of my dogs. I’ve always had people come here and pet sit since I moved to the farm in the early 1980’s. It turns out that there aren’t any kennels nearby that take a flock of sheep, so making the choice to get someone to come in was pretty simple. I will say that I never had a “sitter” who just came during the day and didn’t spend the night. I’m far too cautious for that. What if something happened in the middle of the night? (You might ask what that “something” might be–all I can say is that, if you have a brain like mine, it wouldn’t be good.)
I’ve had great luck with house sitters (although you’ll note an exception below, see #5). Often they are veterinary students or experienced dog trainers, so that is a huge plus that not everyone can manage. The biggest downsides are finding them, having to write out detailed notes, and cleaning up the house before you go. (But then, how else does one get motivated to clean out the frig?) Once you have one you trust, they are like gold. I pay them well, often leave them yummy food, and thank them extravagantly when I get home.
I do have some thoughts about how to choose a kennel though, which I’ll add after repeating a post I wrote in 2018 about how I prepare for a dog sitter. Here’s what I wrote:
1. Put a big-lettered note by the phone that says YOU ARE HERE and give the address and phone number of your home. House sitters rarely can spit out your address in a crisis, and that’s when they need it the most.
2. Also by the phone, leave EMERGENCY phone numbers for your usual vet (who you’ve called to approve any charges in advance) and if need be, an Emergency Vet Clinic that you trust. My experience with Emergency clinics has been mixed, so do due diligence if you can before you leave a number. I also leave the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Hotline Number, which is 888 426-4435.
3. Leave TWO copies of a list of all contact numbers: your cell, where you’re staying and a full itinerary, close neighbors to call in an emergency, plumbers, electricians, heating cooling service. I tell the sitter to put one copy in her car–if she gets stranded away from the house, (storm? accident?) she needs the phone number of neighbors to call to help with the animals.
4. Leave a copy of your will, or at least the part that specifies what is to happen to your animals. If you don’t have a formal will (you should, honest), download a simple one from the internet and get it signed by 2 witnesses. Keep it simple, and say where your pets should go. I freaked out one house sitter by leaving an envelope labeled “In the Event of My Death” under the sitting instructions, so now I’ll leave it in an easily accessible but less intimidating place. None of us want to think about this happening, but I feel much better knowing that I wouldn’t take my last breath heartsick over not knowing what would happen to all my animals.
5. If the sitter isn’t there when you leave, have her call and leave a message at your destination right away when she arrives. (I’m going to use a generic ‘she’ just to save space. Apologies to all male house sitters.) I never can relax until I know that the sitter is at the house, and always breath a huge sigh of relief when we connect. Ideally, the sitter is there when I leave the house, but that can’t always happen. I don’t make this suggestion lightly: I have friends who had a sitter who never showed up, and yes, the dogs all died, and yes, it was as horrible as you could imagine. I’m amazed at the number of people I’ve talked to who don’t even call the house to check in with the sitter, or do so 4 or 5 days after they left. I also strongly advise calling often if you have a new sitter. I once had a sitter who never answered the phone at the farm, but always was on her cell phone “just leaving” or “just arriving” including one night at one in the morning. When I got back, there was no garbage… nothing, not a piece of paper, after a 10 day trip, to suggest that she had stayed the night.
Also, arrange to call your sitter once you are back at the house if she will have already left. What if your plane is delayed? What if you were in a car accident on the way home from the airport? All my sitters are “on call” if for some reason they don’t hear from me. They have a list of my flights, both in and out, and know when I should be returning. If they don’t hear from me by X hour, they’ll drive back to the farm or call a neighbor.
6. Less is not more. I leave incredibly detailed notes, including not just what everyone eats and when and where, but also a long “diary” of a “day in the life.” I describe our daily routine, including that my dogs and I spoon every night before we go upstairs and that’s one of our favorite times. I write out a description of each animal, their behavioral quirks, health issues, things to watch for, things I’m working on, what they “know,” what they like and don’t like, what they are allowed to do and not allowed to do. It might seem a bit compulsive and frankly it takes me forever, but I’ve never heard a sitter complain about too much information. On the other hand, I’ve heard LOTS of complaints about too little from sitters who work with others.
7. If necessary, desensitize your animals to suitcases. If your pets get anxious when they see you preparing to leave, try leaving suitcases out when you’re not going anywhere, going through your ‘leaving’ routine without actually going anywhere. Pack up, and then go watch TV. You can also sneak the suitcase into the car when you actually go away, but if you travel a lot, your dog or cat will react long before you are ready to actually are ready to leave. If your dog or cat really does have Separation Anxiety, get a copy of I’ll Be Home Soon and go through the steps, adapting it for packing and for travel.
8. And then, once you leave the house . . . give it up. I don’t enjoy writing the notes, making the preparations, because I worry I’ll forget something and end up causing trouble. And I hate driving away. Like a dog with separation anxiety, I practically start to shake, pace, and sweat through my paws, although I do my best to remain cheerful as I’m leaving. I am happy to report I have never been known to drool, but my eyes can get pretty wet as the car pulls away from the house and the farm disappears behind a forest of oak and hickory trees. And then, finally, once I’m on the plane it’s better. Once I’ve talked to the sitter it’s much better. By the next day I’m okay, I am where I am, secure in the knowledge that I’ve done everything I can to make life good for my animals, and with gratitude for the wonderful person with whom I’ve trusted my life, my loves, my precious animals who will be there, eyes catching the light, bodies wagging from the shoulders back, tongues lapping all over me, to welcome me home.
Okay, that’s house sitting. But what about boarding kennels? Here’s are some of the things I would look for in a boarding kennel for dogs:
Noise Levels: The biggest downside to me in many kennels are the noise levels. Constant barking bouncing off cement walls and floors is a serious stressor for many dogs. Of course there’s going to be barking, but some kennels are much better than others at managing it.
People Time: How much time is your dog going to get with the staff? Most of our dogs are used to lots and lots of time with us, whether it’s belly rubs on the couch while you watch TV, or even just lying at your feet while you work on your computer. Lots of good kennels have programs in which you can pay extra to have staff come in and pet, walk or just hang out with your dog. I’d be adding that in a minute.
Exercise/Out of Kennel Time: What’s the schedule for letting your dog out? What does “out” look like? Is it a small, fenced piece of grass, or would your dog have a chance to walk, off leash in a huge, fenced wooded area like they could at one kennel I talked to in my area? What time are the dogs let out to potty in the morning and at night? Is someone on the grounds at night? Will someone sleep in the kennel with my dog all night long? (Oh, okay, maybe that’s a too big an ask?)
Safety Around Other Dogs: When we first got Skip we were leaving to go to Africa in a week, I wasn’t sure that the sitter was willing to handle an adult male dog who had never been in a house before. (Talk about a big ask. She did take care of Skip–Janna, you rock!) I spent some time looking at kennels, and found one close by that looked like a good prospect. When I went to visit I watched one dog terrorize another in the exercise yard, while the staff person was completely oblivious. Eeeps.
Staff: How well-trained are the staff? How do they handled your dog? If I had to take the dogs to a kennel, I’d take my dogs there before I made a reservation and watch them with my dogs.
Any complaints?: If you’re as neurotic cautious as I am, you might check to see if any formal complaints have been filed about the company. But then, that’s just me.
I’m sure there’s more to think about, which is why I’m looking forward to what you all have to say. Just do not let Maggie hear you say the “kennel” word, because even if she’s never heard it before, she’ll put on The Face of Tragedy.
MEANWHILE, back on the farm: Rain!!!! Finally, finally, finally, we got 2.75 inches on Friday morning, and another 3/4 inch on Sunday afternoon. I say this with deep compassion for those suffering in the Southwest from a horrific drought/heat wave, and those suffering from floods in the Southeast. Looks like we are being reminded that our big, impressive brains are insignificant when it comes to larger forces, like climate and weather.
The lilies in the garden are starting to open up, and the butterfly population has increased. Here’s a Fritillary on one of the newly opened lilies.
I added the balance board to Maggie’s physical therapy exercises, because she seems to be improving. (PT appt this Friday, cross your paws.) Since Skip isn’t playing with Maggie twice a day anymore, he is losing condition too, so I also did some exercises with him on the board. Here’s a good reminder that what looks simple to us actually takes a lot of energy. (FYI, Maggie isn’t allowed to jump off the couch without an assist, so I had to take a photo while holding out a hand in a “stay” signal.)
May you too have some time to relax this week. And please chime in about how you handle pet care if/when you travel without your four-legged family members.
Liz says
I have been house & dog sitting for years, since I was between homes in 2005 and my foster dog died in 2006. It has been a wonderful way to spend time with dogs when I couldn’t have my own.
As a dog sitter reccomended locally by word of mouth, I always visit the home and animal(s) before I commit to make sure we all get along and I am happy to take it on. I ask all the questions that you cover Patricia in your notes for your dog sitters, except the Will one! I think its my responsibility to have all the vets, electricians, plumbers, alarm company, next door neighbors etc numbers and I carry the info with me everywhere ( just as well since I and two dogs got locked out on one occasion!). I note down any commands that the owners use and whistle blows etc (one or two, long or short?). And all other habits and patterns, like hosing down outside before coming into the house.
So now I have a dog of my own again, I would not consider kennels, only a house sitter or go somewhere where I can take my dog. She’s a rescue from Bosnia so being back in any kind of kennel / cage would stress her I think, although she loves other dogs. I also don’t intend to vaccinate her annually and didn’t my previous rescue, which means most kennels won’t accept her anyway. I use homeopathic and other natural remedies and go to a wonderful homeopathic vet with her when necessary.
I would say, find someone who loves dogs and will enjoy living in your home for several weeks and keep returning. I have housesat for lots of people locally, but now only do the same two families which I’ve helped since 2005. I’m not dogsitting any more while I’m training my new rescue dog so not looking for business, but find someone like me! Active middle age, no children or children grown up and a dog/ animal lover. I’m a professional artist, so its a lovely way to supplement my income. It shouldn’t cost more than kennels ( might be cheaper if you have more than one dog), you get your fish/ cats/ garden looked after too and your home is not empty.
MinnesotaMary says
Always have had the good fortune to have reliable people to watch both my house and doggos when I go on vacation. This coming winter, I’m stuck. I’ll reach out to my former sitters to see if they have recommendations but they are no longer in the business. Crossing my fingers! One downside to kenneling that I’m extra cautious about is the spread of diseases. Kennel cough isn’t something to take lightly, and while there are vaccinations, it can be bacterial and the vaccine might not have been for the particular strain. There are also fleas, mites and other nasty things that can easily be transmitted in dog crowds. I’m not convinced that every dog that gets kenneled is healthy and free of parasites, nor am I convinced that all spaces are regularly cleaned.
Melf says
Sadly, I mostly choose not to go anywhere because I have a puppy mill dog who is older and would be traumatized by a kennel stay. She might be good with a sitter, but a few years ago, I hired one for my other dogs (Maggie stayed with our rescue director) and found out she skipped a visit to go to some event with her mom. Trust is a big thing with me because as a former pet sitter myself, I never would have skipped caring for my clients over something I wanted to go to.
I did go to NY just before Covid shutdown, but a close friend watched my dogs and they all know her, and it was only a weekend.
I really hope to go places again soon, but not while Maggie is alive. I couldn’t put her through it.
Abby says
Sitters who don’t stay at the house:
I (when I was a sitter) would tell the pet owner that they were to call my phone (off at night) to tell me that they were back. I would still show up until I got that call.
If your plans change, notify the sitter. Twice I had the husband come back for a couple of days but no one gave me a heads up.
Boarding:
Not just noise levels but how does the dog get to the outside? I now have a place where my dog doesn’t have to walk a gauntlet past all the other dogs to get there multiple times a day.
Talk to the local aggression trainers/vets to see if they have any suggestions on who to go to or avoid.
My place was started by a vet tech who could not go on vacation back when she was married as they could not find anyone who could handle the problem dogs. It was custom built to avoid a lot of problems.
Colleen says
We’ve never had to leave for extended periods of time when we’ve had dogs. When you have a large family you don’t travel much 😉 We’ve left cats home alone with everything they need plus someone to come check in on them. If we leave for a long day we have a friend come to let the dog out.
This year though we are going on a road trip to Idaho to visit family and friends for the first time in 9 years. I couldn’t figure out who would come and take care of my dog for a week and a half, so she is coming with us! She hates car rides and gets really sick so we’ve been working on that.
You’ve described exactly what my anxiety feels like when I leave the dog for a day! I can have a wild imagination in that case but I’m learning to calm myself down.
My lists for when I leave for a day are pretty detailed, and I always feel a little guilty. My trying for my dog is so specific but I try to simplify it for the person letting her out.
Teddy says
Thanks for writing on this topic. For me, it’s a tough one. When we had multiple dogs and lived in a different city, we had a great situation where we could allow a fantastically responsible, retired neighbor take care of our dogs for short trips (2 overnights, max), and then board them at a hunting-dog-training kennel or longer trips.
When we moved, and then got down to one senior dog, things got a lot more complicated. I tried the kennel once (for a half-day), and I was a mess and the dog seemed to hate it, so that was a No Go. Then I found a dog-sitter in the neighborhood who would take care of the dog in the sitter’s home. We did a “test drive” of one night (where we stayed in town, but the dog stayed with the sitter), and it went fine. Then we booked for three nights and went out of town, and on the final night, the sitter went silent when I tried to communicate about coordinating our return. Then I checked our home answering machine and there were multiple messages from our next-door neighbor, telling us our dog was barking outside our house and the neighbor had let her in (to her own house), and was keeping her safe until she heard from us. We were coming home the next day and could not get a flight sooner, so that last 16 hours or so was HELL. I was screaming obscenities (oops) at the dog sitter when I finally reached her. Really bad. Our dog had gone AWOL when a family member at the sitter’s house had left a gate unattended, and she had made her way home, during rush hour, across at least two very busy streets. Really terrifying.
Anyway. All’s well that ends well (sort of), except that was the end of dog-sitting and kenneling for that senior dog, so the “solution” was your third option at the start: we just never left her (though we did a lot of traveling WITH her, and she was a trouper).
Fast forward to now, when we have one young, healthy dog, who ADORES other dogs, and, for now, we can leave her to board at the same place where she goes for doggy daycare. She views it as “summer camp” AND she comes home exhausted. Overall, this works, though I am still reluctant to leave her for more than 3 nights total. Maybe I’ll adjust. For now, I’m just luxuriating in having a young, healthy dog who strains at the leash to go IN to the facility and start visiting Mike, the daycare manager whom she adores, and playing with the other dogs, whom she adores EVEN MORE.
The one thing I’ll add to your in-home sitter check-list is something that occurred to me while using our beloved neighbor as our sitter: Find someone as a back-up in case the sitter has a medical emergency. Just let one other person know, who will be in town and has a key to your house, so you can get things in motion if you stop hearing from the sitter, or get word that something happened to him/her. (This is one thing about boarding that I really like — under almost all circumstances, there are many people who can take care of my pet(s), even if one or more people get sick or injured.)
Thanks again!
Jenny Stevens says
What a great post! I run a small pet sitting business in Northern Virginia and have a few more items to add to your list to get ready for a pet sitter!
1) Make sure you notify your vet that you authorize the pet sitter or pet sitting company to bring your pet in for emergency care and leave a method of payment on file. Most vets require something in writing before they will provide care. I had a client who was in Turkey when his dog became ill and the veterinarian would not treat the dog without written authorization from the Owner. We very nearly lost the dog.
2) Along with your instructions, fill out separate medication administration forms or notes for each medication. Make sure if it is an ongoing medication, you check weight and dosage before leaving for your trip. If you have a form for each medication, it allows the sitter to do a three step check (twice the first couple of times) written instructions, bottle or container with medication name and the correct pet. What is second nature to an Owner is brand new to the sitter and no one wants medication administration errors.
3) I have a really cool sheet that is from The Pet Safety Crusader that has a sketch of a dog or cat and a list of normal vitals, the ability to mark any lumps or other issues on the drawing, and note overall physical condition. If the Owner can complete this exercise, then it is easier for the Sitter to determine if something is wrong with the pet at the earliest possible stage.
4) Due to the nature of Covid, I am doing evaluations at first visits (even for old Clients since it has been so long) to assess whether the dogs will need some preliminary walks with the sitter and visits by the sitter taking planned steps from meeting the Client in the driveway and waking in with them to coming into the home without the Owner coming to the door to get used to having someone come into the house without potential territorial aggression. I am also having the Owners answer detailed questions about how their dog behaves when they leave in person so that I can read the Owner and make sure that the pet won’t require some separation anxiety protocol before the Client leaves for their trip.
Finally, let the Sitter know what rewards your dog enjoys and treats that they love so your loving canine can be a little spoiled while you are away!
Linda says
I have three Australian Shepherds and a cat so I opt for a pet sitter at home. I do all of the things you mentioned including very specific instructions. In addition I have cameras installed in my house on the entry points. Other than the bedrooms, most rooms have some camera coverage. This has been very helpful as I know when the pet sitter arrives and leaves. It also resulted in my firing a pet sitter after I watched her drag my dog by the collar on the dog’s back to put her outside. We use Nest. I primarily use retired folks to pet sit as they tend to stay at the house longer. I do not recommend using people who take care of many other pets while taking care of your pet as they are frequently absent from your house.
Patty Boyles Somade says
My vet has a kennel service. I have BMDs so bloat is a potential..I want someone knowledgeable about what that looks like watching over my guys. Plus they have a thin line when it comes to heat issues and I’m nervous that a high school student hired for “summer” will be making decisions about when and how long my guys stay outside. But the biggest plus is that they love going to the vet because the entire office loves them. The kennel runs are big enough that they can stay together and the concrete floor is a cool seeking Berner’s dream! It doesn’t happen often that I don’t take them with me..usually only over a weekend but it’s the only way I can feel comfortable that they are safe.
Beth says
Thank you for letting yet another beautifully written post. I always feel as if I am on the farm with you!
Robin Bennett says
Your tips for finding a professional pet care provider are great. I would second all of your tips, especially asking how staff are trained. If your dog will be in daycare, I would also ask about supervision (which should be 100% supervision with a person physically in the room with the dogs), staff ratios (which should be no more than 1 person to every 10-15 dogs…less is better so a ratio of 1 person to 6-8 would be my preference), and space (there should be 50-100 sqft per dog in off leash play). The smaller space of 50sqft is for small dogs and 75-100sqft per dog for medium/large dogs. So, for instance…ask about the room size (or estimate yourself). If it’s a 1000 sqft room, there should be no more than 20 small dogs or 13 medium/large dogs. And that brings me to another point, with daycare…large and small dogs should be separated. Look for a facility that will put dogs into group based on size as well as play style/temperament. Good facilities will also provide plenty of rest for the dogs. Lastly, there is now an industry certification for pet care. I would look for a facility that has staff members who have done the required education and training to be certified by the Professional Animal Care Certification Council (PACCC), a third party, independent certification process for the pet care boarding/daycare industry.
Hope that helps! Great discussion. Thanks.
barbara levedahl says
When I was a young woman with one dog, I deliberately made friends with young single women who lived with their moms because they were likely to love petsitting in my small rental house for not too much money. When I started having multiple dogs, in a house that I owned, a kennel became necessary. Multiple Australian Shepherds can be a pack, and few people have the personality to master a dogpack.
Barbara A Body says
I’ve used pet visitors, pet sitters and kennels and in each place I’ve lived I’ve settled on different solutions. Once a friend had been sitting my dogs, it was convenient and I did pay her. Then there was the worst! One of the dogs figured out the back door latch & they got out. One was killed, hit by a car. So, rule number 1 friends cannot take care of my pets. Rule number 2 became trust but verify. A new pet sitter, recommended by her predecessor showed up at 11 pm for the ‘dinner’ feeding. I had planned to leave but plans changed and I could not get her by phone. At 9 pm, I locked the doors took the access key & waited for a call. The call came at 11 pm and I explained that I was home, the dogs were fed at their usual 6pm time and she could expect that I would never again call her. The sitter I had after that was as reliable as I could hope putting a real priority on the animals in her care. Twelve years later, I had to move and she had been only doing selective sitting so she & I could just be friends. Now I use a kennel. I found it when it was new and became almost an inaugural client. It has ‘cottages’ that are extra large with indoor conditioned space as well as outside run space, play yards and nature walks on their wooded property. My current dog is a sweet poorly socialized hound who loves the owner and regular staff & has made the stride of getting used to the new staff members she may see. The whole kennel compound is enclosed inside another 6ft fence that is kept locked. She loves it there, I get a set of pictures each day even on the day when she just goes for ‘playcare’.
Cat says
It is interesting that you have not included as an option people who have dogs stay at their own home. We’ve had good experiences with Rover.com, who matches up dog owners and home-stay sitters, sort of like AirB&B for dogs. We have introduced our dogs to potential sitters, have visited sitters’ homes, and have tried out doggie day care, prior to overnight stays. We like the sitters who limit the number of dogs at a time, and who have some kind of dog care experience, such as fostering dogs. I’d be interested in others’ experiences with this.
Trisha says
Thanks Cat for the addition of sitters who bring dogs into their own home. Would love to hear from others too who have tried this.
Jan says
I have left my dogs at kennels, had someone house sit, had someone come several times a day to let my dogs out and feed them, and have had them stay at a friends house.
I have had good and bad experiences with all of the above accommodations, even with people I thought I could trust. So whatever you choose, do all the prep steps Trish lists because you just don’t know what could go wrong.
My most horrendous events below:
* Left dog at kennel for 1 week. Came home and picked him up only to find an open bed sore on his rear hock that required multiple vet appointments and meds to heal. Kennel didn’t put dog bed I’d left for him in his run and he’d slept on a wooden pallet.
* Had arranged for next door neighbor who offered to come over several times a day to let the dogs out and feed them. In the days before cell phones. Came home to find the 2 dogs in the house lethargic, dehydrated, with a small pile of poop and pee on the carpet. Checked with the neighbor, he’d gotten the weeks mixed up and the dogs were left without food/water/or let out for 5 days.
* Different neighbors sons offered to watch the dogs. Came home to no dogs, son in my house sobbing, he forgot to latch the yard’s gate and the dogs were missing. Long drawn out saga, but got the dogs back, one had been hit by a car, fortunately, minor damage after ER vet visit.
* paid good friends adult son to house sit and watch dogs. Came home to find he’d played video games in the front room with friend, blocked off room from dogs, so dogs (one young) had damaged couch and pulled drape and rod off of wall in family room which was not visible from front room because they weren’t watching and had video games too loud to hear.
* paid good friend to come to house to let them out and feed them. Got phone call 1st night from her husband who’d never met my dogs that one dog was terrified of him and barked and barked, wouldn’t come out of crate to eat or go out, finally got dog out to yard but dog then terrified to come back in. Friend was tired and didn’t want to come over.
* paid “professional” pet sitter to come to house, came home to multiple piles of pee and poop. she was skipping the evening visit and not cleaning up the messes she caused.
I rarely go away now. I have had some good experiences, but mostly bad whether I used a kennel or paid pet sitters or supposedly reliable friends or neighbors.
My best experience was when my vet used to board. Her fiancé loved big dogs and he would come over to the clinic when his work was done and play with my dogs and walk them.
Cheryl says
I haven’t “traveled” since the mid 90’s. It’s simply too expensive and stressful to leave multiple dogs that have a wide variety of needs and several horses that come with their own risks and concerns. The one time we did attempt a sitter she left the water on in the barn overnight (explicit instructions NOT to do this) and we returned home to a burned out well pump. My husband and I take separate “vacations” now. He usually takes few long weekends a year to horse camp and ride while I do home duty and I’ll try venture off to visit distant family now and then while he stays home. The one time we did have to go away together for an important event we had a fairly young puppy that local family offered to sit. (He ended up people-wary. I’ve always questioned the origins of that and the wisdom of leaving him at that age.) I boarded another dog with our herding instructor and we took my thunderstorm fearful dog with us. I was concerned we might have a bad storm in our absence and she wouldn’t cope in a boarding or sitting situation. Unfortunately, the B&B where we stayed wouldn’t allow dogs in the room, but we were pretty sure she’d be just fine crated in the car after a long day with us. (It was a VERY rural setting) Nope. She started yipping around midnight. Needless to say, I slept in the car with her all three nights. Because you do what you gotta do.
Trisha says
Holy moly Jan, what a long list of disasters. I think I’d be afraid to leave the house after that! But thanks for the reminder to all, perhaps mostly to check in check in check in!
Ellen says
The late Mr. Miles had his only seizures when he had reason to believe he was being left at a kennel. I had boarded him with my vet once since they have a daycare and kennel facility on site. Who better qualified to care for my dog?
He did okay during that stay, but months later, I dropped him off for daycare and a bath. They called me 10 minutes later to report that he had suffered a grand mal seizure minutes after they lead him away from me. His second seizure was a couple years later when when a tech walked him away from me for a quick booster shot. Both scenarios were (from his perspective) likely identical to when he was walked away from me for boarding. While I continued to use their vet services, kenneling was obviously not an option.
Fortunately, I was able to find a few people who did dog sitting from their homes that were a good fit for him. We would always do a home visit first, then a short weekend stay before I booked any longer trips. While he still didn’t like being left behind, he was much more comfortable in a home-like environment with a couple other dogs, a yard full of interesting smells, and a person providing on-demand ear scratches. The regular updates and pictures from the sitter gave me enough peace of mind to enjoy my trips.
Tucker Margaret says
Fortunately, my regular vet in in a 24/7 hospital, so I know my dogs can go to a familiar place if needed. One of my dogs has been receiving special services in other practices, and I have been impressed at how well they communicate with each other.
Recently I had a fall and was hospitalized overnight. I am fortunate that two of my friends who know my dogs came to my rescue and took good care of them.We all used to go to agility trials together – old friends from dog events may be another source.
Jan Davis says
We are grateful to have neighbors who take care of our dogs at their house. Our pups are always happy to be with their human and doggy friends. Our neighbors have a huge fenced in back yard and get plenty of attention and play time.
Carole says
Your checklist is wonderful! I work for a pet sitting company. We have a detailed questionnaire for prospective clients, but I plan to add some of your checklist when I personally interview new ones. I only boarded one dog here in my home, as a favor to a friend. Megan was a small senior Jack Russell mix who was stone deaf. She got along quite well with my three rescues. It is those three that are the reason I never go anywhere. The giant one likes a select few people, the lone female loves everyone, and the third one (who was born feral) is terrified of people he hasn’t known all his life. I have a roommate but she is unreliable and I could never leave my dogs and cats in her care. I would love to take a weekend trip with my daughter, or fly to visit my sister in Texas, but there is literally no one I can trust to look after my dogs.
Mary says
I live in the Town of Roxbury, WI, Dane County.
I really hate leaving my dog, horses and parrot even for just a day. I usually find a separate person to care for the horses. Bit now I have a 6 moth old puppy that craves attention and, being a herding dog, lots of exercise. If anyone knows of a live in dog sitter that’s trustworthy let me know.
And Trish, I do cry when I have to leave my pets even for a day because it’s hard to find a reliable person to take care of my animal family the way I do.
Sarah Patzer says
I have a hard to handle GSD so I always kennel her. I also think it’s good that she is handled by people other than her family which is a benefit of the kennel. I used to work at a boarding kennel in college so I have seen first hand that most dogs do very well in a kennel. It’s the owners that have a hard time!
Christy Snedeker says
Used to be my mother but since she passed away (15 years ago) House sitter that is a fellow dog trainer and personal friend. If he isn’t available – we don’t travel….I can’t enjoy myself.
lak says
I kenneled my 9 year old dog this past May for 8 nights. She had been to this kennel before and I had no previous issues. This trip my dog refused to eat much and lost a lot of weight, they ended up having to give her Pepcid to prevent stress ulcer, which is absolutely the best thing to do. They attempted multiple foods, fresh and even another guest food to no avail, although they did say she would nibble the “cookies”. They appeared as stressed as my dog. I will get a family member to stay at my home next year, and pay whatever for the service. Other than that I do not anticipate traveling often while my dog is alive. She is to old and spoiled to change now! And since she is a senior and showing some intolerance to other dogs at times I am limited in how much I want to stress either of us. And yeah, she loathes the car as well. Good thing I love her!
Shivani says
During the 17 years we had two cats, we didn’t travel very much, but when we did we always had a cat sitter stay in our home. I did the steps you recommended, except for the will, which is a good idea. Before the trip, the sitter would come over and spend an hour and we would go over everything again, and we would feed the cats together so she remembered what/how they ate. She was able to be home quite a bit, which I appreciated. I was lucky in that I was able to use the same person for years.
Auggie is our first dog and we’ve had him for seven months. It’s hard for me to imagine being able to travel anytime soon. He wasn’t well socialized and he has separation anxiety. We’re working on these things, but it’s very slow. We’re educating ourselves with books, videos, and the help of trainers, and we are constantly amazed at how much we didn’t know, how much there is to know, and how much more we have to learn. I’ve been surprised to learn how rare it is for people to truly be aware and knowledgeable around dogs, including dog owners and dog services. I’ve become somewhat fierce about keeping him safe. Unless the sitter was a dog trainer (formal or informal training), I would worry even about someone walking Auggie without enough awareness of other dogs. Just going for a walk can become an obstacle course of off-leash dogs, or owners who don’t check with you before charging over with their dogs (“He’s friendly!”).
I’m hopeful that we’ll slowly develop contacts with potential future sitters, for when Auggie seems more ready for that. For now, we’re getting him used to car rides and day trips with us. And we’ll be making plans for little getaways where he can join us on the road.
Margo Harris says
WOW, this is fantastic, thank you Trish! I’m going to print this out for the very rare time I go away.
I’ve noticed that it’s important to actually ASK people if they’ll follow your instructions when looking after your animals. Sounds obvious that they would, but I’ve found even family don’t always do that. You don’t ever want to hear “oh well, I figured it would be ok to let her out on her own at night!” especially when you live in an area full of coyotes! (nothing against coyotes… I just don’t want them to eat my little dog…)
All the comments are super interesting too.
We have a new puppy, an aussie who is almost 4 months old now. Her name is Polly, and she is adorable and hilarious! I think we’ll be staying home for a while…
Maria says
Hi Trisha, great topic! Very timely.
First of all, our preference is to always travel with our dogs whenever possible. It’s always more fun with than without them! And the peace of mind of having them nearby is much better.
My experience with boarding kennels, and that of everyone I know who has used them, has been horrific. I’m sure there are good boarding kennels out there–I haven’t found them. I’m the kind of anxious owner who calls every day to ask about her dog–the kennel assured me my dogs were “great”! When we got home, one dog was okay, but anxious (the constant barking in that environment, most probably). The other dog had lost enough weight that we could clearly see all her ribs and hipbones. She obviously hadn’t eaten the entire week–that was “great”??? My sister-in-law’s dog came back from the boarding kennel lethargic, covered in sores, and with prominent ribs. The vet bills ended up being more than double the boarding costs. That kennel, too, had assured my brother and sister-in-law that the dog was “doing fine” every time they called. We’ll never use a boarding kennel again.
Our experience with petsitters has been a lot better! We only use members of the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (https://petsitters.org/ ). We use sitters that come to our home, but don’t stay overnight. We’ve had great luck with a service that employs several individual pet sitters: besides getting to meet the individual pet sitter and staying in touch with her, the owner of the service also checks with each sitter every day, and if the sitter has some kind of emergency–car trouble or has been in an accident or has gone to the hospital, for example–he can send out one of his other sitters to “pinch hit”. Luckily, we’ve never had that happen, but there’s peace of mind in knowing that there’s a kind of “failsafe” in place to make sure *someone* will stop by the house every day. We pay for extra visits to make sure the dogs get attention multiple times a day, and do many of the things on your list–especially putting a list of emergency numbers to call on the wall next to the house phone. In this era of mobile phones, it’s nice to be able to call or text the sitter every day (and, as you say, after you get home!). The sitter will often send us photos from her phone of the dogs enjoying their toys, or their supper, etc. That way she can also ask questions if necessary, and keep in touch with us. We’ve had several nice sitters, and were able to ask for a specific sitter to come again if we especially liked her. We try to make her visits as easy and pleasant as possible, and will also bring back gifts and souvenirs from our trip for her.
Besides being nicer for the dogs to be able to keep living in their own home while we’re away, it’s nice to have a sitter coming to your home because the house looks “lived in” as well–to deter potential thieves–and someone is picking up the mail, watering plants, making sure plumbing issues don’t rear their wet heads, etc. The animals are top priority, but those other things aren’t small change either.
Elisa F. says
I have a nervous old dog and a reactive middle-aged dog, so my feeling is it’s much better for them to stay in their own home with a live-in sitter. I’ve had good and bad experiences with sitters. One was a disaster. At the time I had four dogs and two cats. The sitter was a “professional” petsitter and we had mutual friends. She lived around the corner so I agreed that she could sleep at her own house, but be at my house at least four times each day. This was a mistake; it was also a mistake for me not to specify how much time I expected her to spend during each visit. She charged me per dog, and it was expensive, so I assumed (another mistake) that she would spend a lot of time with them.
Day one, she showed up early in the morning (good), but was in and out in fifteen minutes. How do you feed four dogs and two cats, and take all the dogs out to do their business, let alone get any exercise, in fifteen minutes? I was really upset. Then that night she didn’t show up to give them their dinner till after 8:00. How did I know this? Because I had a camera set up above my door–which I showed her when she came over to meet the dogs. I mean, I literally said, “So you know, that’s a camera, and it alerts me when anyone comes to the house, so I’ll know when you’re here.” So I communicated that I was unhappy with the times and lengths of visits that first day, and she got really defensive, even angry that I was “checking up” on her. She improved a bit after that, but not enough, and all trust had been lost on my end, so I ended up buying a new plane ticket and cutting my trip short.
If I didn’t have the camera, I would still want some kind of verification that the person was actually there–check-ins by text, photos of the dogs. And next time, I will be very clear about my expectations for how much time the sitter will spend in my house.
Honestly, I hate leaving my animals. It makes me so anxious. But I love to travel, so it’s a dilemma.
AmandaL says
It’s an interesting topic, for sure. Before I had dogs, I had rabbits (I fostered for a local domestic rabbit rescue, in addition to having several of my own) and a cat, and I was lucky enough to have good “bunny friends” who were willing to come over at least once a day to take care of everyone. I always left extremely detailed instructions, especially if anyone needed medication or special handling in any way, and left a notebook so different sitters could leave notes and communicate with one another. That notebook was invaluable for me when I got home, too, so I could see what had gone on while I was away!
With my previous doggo, I always boarded him at his favorite doggy day care – it was a small place, family-owned, and he was pretty attached to the small staff there. Once he was diagnosed with megaesophagus I used Rover.com – once, to board him at someone else’s house, and once to find someone to come to my house. Those were moderately successful; he had to be hand-fed, restricted from drinking water freely, and just required more supervision and care than I thought he’d get at a boarding facility.
With my current dog, I board him at a large kennel. He definitely seems glad to be home, but he spends most of his days with the day care play group when he’s there, and he gets a luxury suite with a big bed and a TV of his own. He seems pretty happy to go back and doesn’t seem to associate it with anything negative, based on his body language. If I thought it was overly stressful for him I’d definitely have to look for another situation!
Shannon says
I’m lucky enough to have been able to leave my dog with family or friends so far, which I prefer to hiring a stranger. They can stay with familiar people and dogs in a somewhat familiar place. If I couldn’t do that, I would board my dog at my vet, which they offer. I like that solution because if anything happens, he can get medical care immediately.
Hiring a sitter would be more expensive than boarding, since they would either need to stay here all day/night, or come multiple times a day for walks. Also, having volunteered with lost pet recovery, I’ve heard too many horror stories where dogs have gone missing under the care of a sitter – I’d be worried constantly.
I have hired a sitter for my cat though.
chris says
I worked for a kennel that people paid extra to have the dog out extra. We did not let the dog out extra which I thought was very wrong. And if we did, it was in a backyard, not supervised (it was fenced) but that was also wrong. if you cannot do something then don’t charge extra for it. Needless to say I did not stay at that place of employment very long.
Chloe says
I’m a petsitter, I could write a book on the subject but here are two comments.
Kennels: there are some wonderful ones hard to find and expensive but I think the best choice for a young very energetic dog who needs A LOT of exercise.
Petsitter: I am now asking for a vet check before taking over and if the pet has any medical issues I need meds at the house. If it is a very old pet or a pet in medical Distress I have to ask for the name of a person who has the time to take over to go to the vet or ER.
In Portland oregon we have a wait of 7-12 hours for ER and days to get to see their regular vet.
Most petsitters have other work during day. I walk dogs and train basic skills.
It has become very difficult to see a vet. There are simply not enough vets way way not enough techs, or front of house receptionists.
The last vet tech I spoke to while picking up meds 2 weeks ago told me the biggest ER in area called them twice in last 30 days to ask that they not send pets as they were 12 hours behind.
She confirm they do not have enough hands on deck and that she doesn’t foresee allowing patients with their owners inside for the next 6 months.
Catherine Evans says
Kennels are pretty much a last resort for me. Simba is quite neurotic (a combination of his personality and a lack of early socialization), and a kennel stay would really stress him out. Plus, I have a hard time trusting most kennels, even if I do go visit beforehand. I’m lucky enough to live close to my parents, who usually watch Simba when I’m traveling (he goes to stay at their house, which has a super big, fun yard). They know all of his quirks and spoil him as if he were their actual grandchild. If my parents are busy, I have a best friend who’s dog is Simba’s best friend, so he has a great time staying at her house. If neither of those options were available, I would go for a sitter.
Heidi says
Great post and info! Probably won’t ever use it LOL! Jeff and I could never go anywhere together without the dogs and actually enjoy ourselves because while we have a few people we’d trust for a check-in if gone for a 12 hour type event we don’t trust anyone not to underestimate them. We have Canaan Dogs – think Border collie intelligence and agility with Siberian independence, Akita territorality and Malamute pulling power. We go separately, daytrip only or staycations. Fortunately we are total homebodies and that suits us just fine!
Janet says
I have always hired a student from the nearby college to come and walk my dogs regularly. That way she gets to know my dogs, my house, and my expectations for dog behavior and care, and I get to know her. The dogs don’t really need that extra walk so much, but they do love it, and I enjoy getting to know the students. I pay well. The students enjoy house-sitting and over the years it has been an excellent solution for us. The students are with us for up to three years, and they often help find their successor (kind of like the Dread Pirate Roberts!)
When I travel, I leave all the massively detailed notes Patricia describes. You never regret too much preparation.
Linda Gallacher says
My husband and I only travel with our 5th wheel RV. With 4 dogs and a parrot this is our home away from home. We have spent as much as 6 months traveling so everyone is as comfortable in the RV as in our home.
If we have a long day trip to make, I have an in- home pet sitter that I love. She sends video of each visit as well as leaving notes. The dogs all love her so I am very comfortable leaving them in her care. A good house sitter is worth their weight in gold.
Michelle says
For us it’s never leave the dogs ever! My husband has gone out to see his mother and I’ve stayed home with the dogs. I’ve gone to visit friends and he’s stayed home with the dogs.
And our vacations? Dog vacations! We visit his mother, where dogs are welcome. And we vacation at an amazing place (once called Glen Highland Farm, now Emerald Glen) in southern NY that’s a doggie heaven! Dogs can be off leash the whole time, get to walk trails, swim in the creek, run the fields, even play at agility if you want to try it out (there are some jumps and tunnels). I’d much rather go with my dogs than leave them home!
Joyce says
1) I would never leave until the pet sitter was at my house…that’s just me personally.
2) I have cameras all over my house. I found out the hard way that my pet sitter of many years was actually lying to me; i.e. sending me pictures that were from other visits. She was not staying or doing what she said she was going to do with my pup (s). She even knew I had gotten a camera!! It was heartbreaking. I will never, ever leave my pups in the care of anyone again. I have never boarded any of my girls. If I can’t take my pups with me, I just don’t go.
Imo, there are plenty of pet friendly vrbo and hotels these days to make it easy to bring your family member, so for me there is no need to leave them behind.
Melissa says
Great topic and discussion. I agree with the majority of posts that a trusted friend or petsitter is the way to go when you need to leave your pets behind for a trip.
I have a 3 ring binder of notes broken down by tabs for dogs, house and emergencies, etc.
However, one tab is completely dedicated to…what happens if the dog gets lost. This is one of my greatest fears..
Thankfully this has never happened, but I regularly read social media posts from sitters sharing that the dog escaped while in their care.
In this section, it’s essential to include information about microchips and any subscription services you may have for getting the word out if the dog is lost, such as PawBoost, AKC Reunite, etc.
In this section, I include social media platforms and groups to post to, a basic pre-written description of each dog, emergency contacts for the petsitter to call for help searching immediately and a professional tracker that will be at my home to start the search.
Before my trip, I always send my petsitter recent photos of my dogs (although my social media feeds are full of them and can be easily shared).
Thanks for starting this interesting topic.
Candace says
Perfect timing as I am leaving for a trip on Friday. I have generally had friends dog sit in my home for my girls. For a weekend trip (first since pandemic) in April I used a local pet sitting business. The teen woman that they sent was vetted and insured, but a phone call and text at 4:30 am one nite was very unnerving. She thought she had locked herself out – strange… A friend was to stay with the dogs the last nite and she called to say everyone/thing was fine. However, when I tried to get the owner of the business to speak with me about what had happened I was “ghosted”. Never again… Luckily my friend is able and very willing to stay this time. Your post is very thorough and appreciated. Take care.
Peter Healy says
We have been fortunate that our daily dog walker was available to house sit/dog sit most of the time. She had to get into a different line of work due to Covid so we are now back to square one. We do have one other sitter who is a vet tech who has been very reliable. If we can’t get a sitter, we have only one kennel we trust, and only if we can get the “presidential suite” where our dog stays with the manager on duty the entire time, and then sleeps in the same room with the night manager. At the end of the day its the gating factor: if we don’t have the dog taken care of, we don’t go pretty much. We get himself covered, then we start making hotel and plane reservations.
Rachel Brix says
We have not gone anywhere without our dogs in a decade. Mainly because we’ve never found a suitable kennel. We opened our own based on what we’d want in a facility.
We don’t do ANY playgroups. Our focus is on enrichment, one-on-one with each of our guest dogs throughout each day. Our smallest space is 85 sq ft and many of our spaces have windows and outdoor patios. Being a CPDT-KA and versed in dog behavior, we know most dogs don’t thrive in playgroup-only settings, but all dogs thrive in specifically-tailored enrichment programs. Our MO is lots of one-on-one human interaction, oodles of playtime and enrichment, huge spaces for downtime and individualized care like no other facility.
Moreover, I am Fear-Free certified and we operate our facility as such. Our reviews speak to how well our unique approach to boarding suits our clients- and the pictures tell a thousand stories. We’re actually going to be featured in the July/August Pet Boarding and Daycare magazine! I also have an article in PPG’s Barks from the Guild and APDT’s Chronicle of the Dog describing our successful approach to boarding. We’re hoping boarding transitions from doing only playgroups to a conscientious focus on exploring and meeting dogs’ many other needs. Definitely minimizes stress!!
Peter Healy says
One more story: growing up we had the most amazing Collie (I know everyone thinks their dog is the best). We boarded him one time at a kennel outside of town, very well regarded, glowing testimonials. Came back a week later to get him, he’s not at the kennels. He comes bounding out of the owner’s house instead. Turns out he spent the whole week there, they just couldn’t get enough of him. Needless to say, that was the only place he boarded from then on.
Julie Rice says
I used to do pet-sitting full time back in the 90s before anyone else in my area was doing it. I had quite a long form I filled out during the initial meeting with a prospective client. I am blessed(?) with the type of mind that thinks of all the bad things that could possibly happen in any given situation and it made me a careful and conscientious pet sitter. So careful and so conscientious that I could never find anyone to help that I thought was good enough to entrust with my clients’ pets. Consequently, I got burned out after a few years and became a Clinical Laboratory Scientist and a dog training instructor. Now when I see agencies that provide pet sitters I am deeply suspicious of how they’re trained and supervised. Taking care of someone’s home and pets while they’re away requires someone who is very observant, understands a great deal about animal behavior and health care, who has a level head in an emergency and who is absolutely 100% reliable and comes with their own backup (my husband was mine) in case the petsitter herself gets sick. As a result of my high standards, there are about 4 people in the world I’d trust and none of them are available to take care of my house and pets so either they go with me or I don’t go.
Dawn King says
I found a kennel where they will take my dog outside 2x a day, she is the only dog in the play area…and they don’t charge extra. Still, it’s just a fenced grassy area. She hasnn’t been to camp since covid started,, as we haven’t gone anywhere. And now she’s 14.5 and beginning to have health issues, so odds are we aren’t going anywhere until after she’s no longer with us. BUT, I will say I’d prefer a house sitter who would stay here. We have used family for that 2x and I felt lots better. I have also BEEN a cat/house sitter for a friend of mine who had an elderly cat, and who happened to live in an area of the state that I love. I stayed there for 3 weeks once, and for a week or two several other times. She didn’t leave me her will, but just about everything else. I’d do it for other people but my husband doesn’t like staying home taking care of our own elderly dog while I go off living in other people’s houses.
Mary F. says
We have used a kennel in our area, and we’ve never had an issue, thank goodness! They have always treated our dogs as their own. (In fact, the very first time that we used them (1987,) our new rescue was terrified. They took her into their home for the rest of her stay, and she was a happy camper when we returned. They also accommodated us when my father was dying. We wanted to take our kids to see him over New Years, but the kennel was full. When the owner heard the reason for our trip, she said, “I want her to stay here. We’ll find a place for her, even if we have to take her home with us.” I have never forgotten her generosity.)
These days, we have grown children living in our area. We reciprocate dog sitting. When they need help, their dogs come to us, and vise versa. Their dogs are totally comfortable at our home (“Nana’s house!”) and our two are thrilled when they go to see our daughters. It’s a puppy love fest! I realize how fortunate we are to have options.
One other alternative that we have is to board our dogs at our vet. We have always kept that open, just in case. One of our dogs has health issues, and we know that they can take care of her if she is in crisis. Their beautiful facility has a doggy day-care and kennels. And her doctors are right there if she needs them.
Finally, we recently experienced ALL of us traveling together – we drove up to Door County, WI last week and stayed in a wonderful cottage with our children and grandchildren. Added to the mix were all 5 dogs, including our oldest grand-puppy who was at the tail end (pun intended!) of her life. We celebrated her all week and gave her lots of love. The day after we returned, my daughter and I helped her cross the Rainbow Bridge – a final gift, one of no more mobility problems or pain.
tracy says
My fearful boxer used to go to daycare every day so he was happy to board there. Unfortunately he bit one of the bathers (they also has a grooming service there) and he’s been banned from the daycare area. He’s welcome back but only in a private suite, which I think will be torture for him (hearing other dogs have fun).
I looked into another daycare/boarding, but they won’t even let us interview because now he has a “history”. Looks like I’ll be staying home for the next 10 years…
Karie says
I was a professional pet sitter for years before retirement. When I first had dogs I would take them with me to pet friendly hotels during my one scheduled week of vacation per year. I left my house rabbits in the care of a trusted friend who would stop by twice a day.
After moving to the West I hired a few different pet sitters but always got care less than I would give. Always wishing I could clone myself I started to leave my small dogs at the vets office where they got loving attention during the day. In Red Bluff CA I was able to find a VCA clinic with 24 hour staffing and my Dixie who has megaesophagus received excellent care and loved going there for “doggy camp”!
Pat says
We are so lucky – if we ever go away our pup goes to our daughters house to stay with her and her pup and if they ever go away, her pup comes to our house. I would never leave our Sammy in a kennel and I know our daughter feels the same about her Molly. But then we are a bit nutty about our dogs. Always have been able to do this with whatever dog we have. I know we are very fortunate. The only downside is that we cannot go away at the same time or with each other as a family unless the dogs can go too.
Cora says
I boarded my previous dog a few times with a woman who did “free range” boarding and day care in her home. She came highly recommended by my trainer who used her for his own 3 dogs (Camp Run A Pup in Chicago). I also once boarded that dog at a family run kennel which has been in business for over 50 years and has a beautiful facility with a zero-gravity pool (I definitely paid the up charge for swimming time! Carriage Hills Kennel in Glenview, IL). That dog was friendly and confident with dogs and people, but I still hated leaving her so I rarely traveled.
My current dog likes adults but is a bit nervous around children and is very wary of unfamiliar dogs. I have only left her a few times with my boyfriend (at my house) and only for 2 nights maximum (when my mom was in the hospital 6 hours away). He and I can’t travel together because neither of us trust anyone enough to watch the dog. Fortunately, we live in a large city with lots to do, so we don’t feel we are missing out on travel as much as we might if we lived in a less cosmopolitan and diverse area.
Sue says
Sharing our lives with a dog who has her share of quirks and health issues including paroxysmal dyskinesia has its challenges. Leaving her at a kennel or with a pet sitter just doesn’t seem to be a comfortable option for us so we take her with us. Late last year we purchased a travel trailer thinking that with COVID our chances of extended travel would be on hold indefinitely but that camping might be opening up. To our delight, our dog does very well on the road. She truly has a home away from home. We have to plan ahead for dog friendly destinations and have made sure we carry her vaccination and health records with us as well as the contact info for veterinary services wherever we’ll be. So far it’s worked very well. She loves riding in the car and making new friends. (She’s a people magnet)! We were concerned that her loud barking might be a issue but it hasn’t been. We’ve hiked, climbed a mountain, chased seagulls on a beach, dined at many outdoor venues and generally had a fantastic time!
Cris lovelace says
I run a very small boarding service located at our rural home. I started it 13 years ago when we were unhappy with options to board our own pack. I do not allow doggie daycare style interaction. Each dog gets their own time, 5X /day into a secure fenced yard. All multi dog guests from the same family stay together. They have dog doors to an outside kennel attached to theirs which then opens into the yard. I require a visit with the people and dogs prior to accepting a new client to ensure it is a good fit for all. I am one of the few that does not offer the daycare style boarding and there is a huge number of people(and dogs) that appreciate it. I get to know all of my clients and make their stay as anxiety free as possible. We even offer inside suites located in 2 extra converted bedrooms. All that said we hire a house/ pet sitter when we are away. I would never put my pack into a daycare free for all setting. Thank for this great conversation!
galleylama says
My worst nightmare was a trip I left my dogs home with my husband. Many of my dogs have had lipomas (fatty growths) – I monitor them and my vet monitors them. DH took it upon himself to insist the Vet remove one during my absence. He then went on his merry way to work the rest of the week, not being home to monitor my dog after surgery until late evening. She came down with an infection and was quite bad when I arrived home. He told me nothing until I was in the car leaving the airport – I would have immediately flown home. I stayed up all night with her and had her at the Vet at 7am…he said had I not come home and started her on antibiotics she would have died. She was hospitalized 8 days before it was safe to bring her home under my care. The Vet now knows never to listen to my husband…that it is only his say so if something needs doing in my absence, and of course I have not left them since this incidence.
Trisha says
Love hearing this Sue! We just got a travel trailer too. Eeeps, lots to learn!
Margi says
Thanks for the great topic and everyone sharing their experiences and recommendations! Leaving the YOU ARE HERE note is brilliant. We have been very fortunate, with one exception, when having dog sitters come to our house. We would not kennel any of our pets. We generally can be counted on to be the family that will take the dog that no one else can handle so need to find the right person to housesit. I have had great experiences with partners or adult children of fellow rescue friends who are familiar with our breed and their quirks.
Our only bad experience was a weather related delay that caused flooding in the area where the sitter’s home was. She basically abandoned our dogs to go help her parents. We were stuck in traffic as a result of the flooding and it took us 15 hours to get home from a trip that should have taken three hours. Can’t say I blame her, but she ended up stranding our animals because once the flooding got really bad, there was no way she could have gotten back to our house if we had been stranded.
Now I have a good friend that comes and stays. The dogs LOVE her. During COVID, she’s needed to come for some human socially distanced coffee so she can have pupper time with our dogs! One of my boyz is a fearful bitey boy and she follows all the instructions about his needs and what we have discovered works with him (and what doesn’t) and he loves her.
A note on pay. I have three dogs and pay her what it would cost me to kennel my three dogs at the only kennel I would consider leaving them in a dire emergency. That’s $$$ a day (or part of a day) She gets paid $$$ the day she arrives and the full $$$ the day we come home. (plus all the days in between) Not hotel style where you just count the nights.
I am super sensitive to folks who won’t pay their sitters a fair price. I ask a lot. She hardly leaves our house while we are gone. She works remotely, so can stay pretty much all day and all night with our pups. Finding a GREAT house sitter is worth every penny.
Kellie says
We wanted to be able to kennel our dogs at our vet, but our vet thought the separation anxiety and “Vet syndrome” would be too much for one of our dogs. Milo is a special boy and not many strangers can get near him. He’s a little mixed breed terrier rescue, and now 14 years old. We tried to socialize him without much luck, so it was deal with him and make our plans around him. Our other dog, Sophie, loves everyone. So our grown daughter is our dog sitter and we keep our vacations short. In a few years, when Milo is gone, that might change. I would hope any dog we have in future will be more accepting of more people. But I will always try to minimize my dogs’ upset by keeping their environment as normal as possible.
Ginger Blossom says
I’m extremely fortunate to have really good person that babysits my dogs when I’m gone, I’ve got three dogs two cats and 16 ducks, so it’s a lot. Usually I’m gone because I’m at a dog event so she’s only got two dogs to worry about. My advantage is that my house has air conditioning and a good washer and dryer and her house has neither, so she does like to hang out here. And all three dogs and cats have known her since they were babies.
Cassie says
I’m a vet,and I don’t do boarding, i simply can’t give the pets sufficient attention in our set up. When i leave town my dogs are split up between home and the clinic (i have a puppy right now, so he will stay with his littermate).
A big thing we see as vets near the holidays is that before people leave they really assess their pets quality of life in ways they may not have been forced to beforehand. As such,we end up doing a lot of euthanasias around this time.
On this topic- for older dogs or those with chronic problems, I would be sure that I had communicated with their regular vet about what to do in worst case scenarios and if they seem to suddenly decline. In some cases that may mean short term hospice care by the house sitters, and in others it may mean euthanasia while the owner is gone. As uncomfortable as this conversation is, it’s as important as having your own affairs in order.
Robin says
Thanks for this post Trish! I relate heavily, as both a pet owner and a professional petsitter.
I have a couple of comments to add from the latter perspective:
1. Always show your sitter where the cleaning supplies are, and if there are particular cleaners for specific surfaces. I’m still recovering from the one overnight with a couple’s first brand new boston terrier puppy who, it turns out, had worms, explosive diarrhea, and lived in a house completely furnished with white and beige furniture and carpets.
2. Hide a key. You don’t have to tell your sitter where it is, just have one somewhere external of the house, because accidents happen and no one wants to have to call a locksmith from vacation. If you’re anxious about the key, leave it with a trusted neighbor.
3. ALWAYS make sure the sitters who will be visiting actually meet your pets. I used to work for a company where the company owner would do the initial meeting and then we employees would show up for the visits – this backfired when a dog was fine when her parents were home, but was absolutely horrified when strangers showed up while she was home alone. This was made worse by us learning that she could hop on the trash can and right over the fence in the backyard, so I had a difficult afternoon corralling a terrified strange dog I was responsible for that had never met me, and whose human was in Europe. Oy. (It all turned out fine, luckily)
4. Relatedly, please don’t try to talk down our rates. If we work for a company, they get a big cut. If you want someone at the rate you would pay a teenager, hire a teenager. Since I am independent, I have to pay for my own healthcare, travel expenses, etc. and have spent years of my life becoming a more educated and competent pet caretaker. Veronica Boutelle of DogBiz usually has to adviser her pet caretaker/trainer clients to raise their rates – imposter syndrome is rampant in our field. Please don’t make it harder.
5. If you intend to have workers at the house, please warn us ahead of time. Also, if something has changed to the physical house/fence, warn us! I almost slid my car into the crater in the ground where a garage used to be because it was wintertime and it was already dark at 4:30 when I got to the client’s house.
6. Please check your dog’s equipment before you leave. I’ve had people leave me harnesses with literal threads holding parts of them together. I have learned to carry my own backup harness and leash, but your sitter may not.
7. If you’re worried about your petsitter not spending time with your pet, find one that takes photos! We nearly all carry smartphones now, and I love sending photos to my clients, because no one has ever been upset about a cute picture of their pet. It proves that I’m there when I said I would be (you can often check the timestamp), and you can see proof that they’re happy and engaged. My peers that are of a like mind and professionalism also voluntarily send photos. I was actually really annoyed with the friend that watched our cat a few years back because he didn’t send photos or regular updates, so I’ll be seeking out a more engaged petsitter in the future.
Margaret says
I’m a #3. I just don’t go anywhere I can’t take the dogs. With Nina’s separation anxiety, and Kate’s seizures–and her very demanding medication schedule (seriously, 3 pills at 630a, 1 at 230p, 2 at 5p, 1 at 10p. Who besides me would do that?) I’d be a wreck the whole time I was gone. And my cat has to be on wet food, so she is less able to be left than most cats.
25 years ago I did go back to Ireland, leaving a friend and co-worker staying at my house with my dog, and it worked very well. She worked the same shift, so she came and went at the right times, and probably smelled right when she come home. Cobie loved her, so it was all good.
I’m having a hip replacement in July that will be outpatient, and even then I’ll have to line up someone to come in for some of Kate’s meds. My most reliable friend is the one who’ll be at the hospital with me. I’ll probably ask her to send a reminder text to the pill-giver, just in case I’m still unconscious….
James says
I travel with my GSD. I got him because I wanted a companion and only after lockdown from a reputable breeder. he is still a puppy, less than 4mo. For now, he learned how to enjoy being on his own at home while I am at work (he has a cat for a company and I see CCTV them playing or he is busy chewing stuff or playing with toys or sleeping). But I do not want to leave him behind if I want to go elsewhere. Therefore he’s got all vaccinations and we are going together in a car in a month time for about two weeks around Europe. I enjoy his company much more than I enjoy people. He is very social, loves playing with other dogs, fine with people, but I will never rely on a stranger to look after him, especially now when dognapping is like another pandemic here in UK.
Jean says
Can’t be too careful.
Years ago, I kenneled my dog at a wonderful small boarding facility. On a small farm, each dog had an 8×8′ kennel in a barn with a 20′ outdoor shaded dog run. (16 total kennels). And each dog was individually given plenty of outdoor time in a large shaded fenced area. It was super clean and the owner was amazing. This was a woman who obviously loved and cared about animals. Then we moved halfway across the country and I never found another boarding facility as wonderful.
The last time I boarded my dogs was in 2001. I went to Alaska for 10 days and when I came home my dogs had many behaviorial issues. Evidently, they let all the dogs out into their individual runs at the same time and lots of fence guarding took place because I’d never had that issue with my dogs prior to that. It took me almost a year to break them of it. After that, I searched for places to go where I could vacation with my dogs.
On the rare occasion that I had to travel for business, I had a “live-in” petsitter come stay and my lists were very comprehensive. He said coming to my house was like a vacation for him. My dogs loved him and I knew he would take excellent care of them
Carol says
Great list of helpful advice, as usual! I’ve visited kennel/boarding facilities with the plan of using them, but every time they seem very stressful in one way or another. I’ve used in-petsitter homes through Rover after visiting & references, in addition to reviews. The hands down best, is someone you trust who has experience, and even better if they know & love them. Admittedly, not possible for everyone. One of girls used to go to Grandma & the other to a friend till Grandma couldn’t safely do it anymore. Now a good friend & I trade our pups when the other needs to go away. It’s been great.
Re the list, for years, I’ve left the schedule, type of food, license, microchip, vet, emergency contacts, along with a list of commands and likes and dislikes for my sitters and friends. They all laughed at me, but if I forget the list, they go “where’s the list?!” I feel comfortable they have all necessary info and seems they do, too. I’ll be adding a few items from yours now!
Jann Becker says
Our kennel is also a doggie daycare and dogs being boarded get to join in during the day. Our guys pull on their leashes to get to the door and seem thrilled to bits to go back and meet their new friends. They come home tired and happy. One time when we were late picking them up it took only a call to get an unplanned supper served.
Last time they were there (we were having something toxic done in the yard) I got a call that Kira was straining to pee and hadn’t eaten. After a trip to our vet and an antibiotic they took her back, which to me was above and beyond; I was afraid they wouldn’t want an ill dog. However, we live in a metro area where the daycare market is competitive and they have to hire real “dog people” to do well.
dsmith says
We’ve definitely had some lousy experiences with kennels and house-sitters. Previously we boarded our dogs but they always came home sick. Then we had a blind, 3 legged golden and a 12.5 year old golden with congestive heart failure at the same time. Not trusting some kid at the boarding facility to make sure my old dude got his meds on time…
So, house-sitters it is. We’ve had some good ones, some not so good ones. However, we’ve moved to a new state and had to figure out another option. Our boys are pretty easy other than the fact that the Dane is 10 months old and about 150 lbs of dumb right now lol.
We’ve used Rover as a result and have had pretty good results with that. You can see how many references they have, the comments from the clients, etc. They are required to check in and out when they are at your house and they will send you pics/video each time as well. Some will also spend the night at your house if asked. We’ve also had a dog stay at a Rover sitter’s house. That was ok but she wasn’t as regular about the communication as I would have liked her to be and that stressed me out. Long story short, Rover.com is a totally legit option based on our experience over the last couple of years.
LisaW says
Only my niece stayed with the dogs for us and that was years ago. Since then, where we go, the dog(s) go. It’s not always our best trip, but it’s the best we can do. Phoebe could have made herself comfortable almost anywhere, but Olive, not a chance. Luckily, all our dogs have considered the car as their mobile home and truly like car trips.
Olive loves our travel trailer. It’s smallish with a slide out so when we stop, we have a bit more room. We lived in it last fall when we were renovating the house, and she really didn’t want move into the house when the time came. Why would she? It was the best dog house on the planet (she was kind enough to let us stay with her 😉 We’ve Olive-fied it by putting in cushion block stairs so she can get into the bed, and we built her a small ramp to get in and out. She is well-acclimated now to actually traveling with the camper — it took her a while to not nervously look behind us — something’s following us!
It’s a different way of traveling and has pluses and minuses for introverts like our little family pod, but we’re enjoying it and tinkering with things so it’s more comfortable. We’re looking forward to a few pending trips this summer and planning more for the fall.
Ingrid says
We used sitters – family and friends – back years ago, and it was typically pretty good for the dogs. But people’s lives got busy, people moved, our travel became unpredictable and we had to kennel our dogs.
Back in the early days, it seems like we didn’t have much choice. Even the most highly recommended kennels were at best very stressful for the most even-tempered dogs, and virtually traumatic for one of our doggos who had significant separation anxiety.
But about fifteen years ago, we moved and found a kennel closer to us. It is a family owned kennel, and they really seem to love dogs. They welcomed us to come in and wander through the whole place. The dog kennels have gated fronts, but walls between them so there is less stress of seeing other dogs all the time. They have play yards outside, and every dog gets some play time, and you can pay a little extra for extra play time.
The first thing we noticed when we boarded them there is that when we picked them up, they didn’t have the stressed dog smell they used to have at the old kennels (even after bathing). But what really sold us on them was that when we went back again to board the dogs, the dogs trotted right in and went back, tails high and wagging, without looking back. They were happy to see us when we came back for them, but this was the first time I’d ever seen dogs who looked like they WANTED to go back in the kennel.
Now they offer doggy daycare too, and we take our dogs regularly. They do small groups and they keep an eye on the dogs to see who likes to play with whom. They’ve also started asking prospective boarders to bring their dog in for a half day of day care, so they can observe them, get to know them, see how they are with particularly easy-going dogs, etc.
I think it is possible to do kennels in a good and positive way. I think it takes a lot of work. And ours are not the only dogs who run in like they own the place. I’ve observed several other dogs arriving, and the ones who have been there before run in with great excitement.
The only problem is that for popular holiday weekends, if we need to board, we need to make reservations early. But that is a small price to pay for happy dogs who are not unusually stressed out.
They also have a couple kennels for older dogs. We boarded a dog on an emergency basis when he was recovering from knee surgery. He did extremely well.
So good kennels are a possibility, and if you can find one, it is a treasure.
Shana says
When Hobbes the Vizsla was young we started taking him for a few hours once a week to a highly rated doggy daycare to get some additional socialization and workout some energy. They ‘interview’ the dogs to make sure there are no aggression issues as well as having multiple staff members watching for any issues(we have never had any problems and he has several ‘regular friends there now).
They also have boarding that we never needed initially. It is pricey so we have only used it when we have had to be away for just a couple of days. The pups play all day as well as interacting with and getting loved up on by all the staff and are typically exhausted at the end of the day. There is staff there round the clock and they will actually sleep/snuggle with your pup for a small extra cost! You can also bring your own crate if that is more comfortable for your pup. Fortunately Hobbes loves going there and we love the care and attention he gets. For longer trips we typically arrange for him to stay with his breeder. We have become good friends and while it is a long drive to take and pick him up it is well worth it. She has his brother and nephew and the three of them play, run and romp.
I did research for a dog sitter in our home but did not find any in my area familiar with crazy Vizslas. Also we had a friend with a Vizsla about the same age as ours that was left with a sitter. The sitter didn’t handle the pup well and he got loose, ran away and was hit by a car and killed. That experience and the fact that everyone I interviewed was used to dealing with mostly small(er), less active dogs made the decision to not use a sitter easier for me. Now we are retired, we drive all over the US and he goes everywhere with us. Honestly that is the best!
Catherine Somerville says
We have too many animals for boarding. And one of our Maltese is an extreme Diva dog so she stays with a neighbor. We either get a house sitter or a neighbor cones in twice daily. We have gone on several trips- including 2 long trips (20 days)to Europe. Everyone did fine but we call or text 2 x a day, ask for random photos and have video cameras. Our pets are just like our kids, in fact they are the neediest kids. But we deserve a break now and then.
Gina says
We haven’t gone anywhere without our dogs in years. We’ve used a sitter twice but it was someone I personally knew and she was a vet tech. Most pet sitting services that I know of won’t stay at your house and I’m not comfortable with them being left alone so much.
We did use a boarding kennel for many years but it’s just too expensive with four dogs. They are a great kennel. We stopped in for an unannounced tour and they showed us every portion of their facility. They have a special section for older dogs so it’s nice and quiet for the seniors. They do not mix your dogs with others for play time and successfully managed and kept our two combative females away from each other. They also saved our Aussie mix when he bloated on Christmas Eve and rushed him to animal emergency even though they couldn’t reach us. They teach all their kennel help the signs of bloat since it is a not so uncommon thing that happens at boarding kennels. They also have fire protection and alarms.
Jaye says
My husband and I haven’t traveled together for over 20 years! Like many of you have stated, it’s just too stressful and I know I would spend the time worried about my pets instead of enjoying myself. He’s the only one I would trust to know all the quirks, both of our pets and of our house (and sometimes I don’t even trust him!)
A suggestion for those people who have had bad experiences with their pets getting out/lost while under the care of a pet sitter. Our dogs have (relatively) small GPS devices attached to their collars that notify me via text that they are outside of the their zone. I do leave instructions on my fridge if I ever need an “emergency” pet sitter to come in for a day or night and always tell them to call me immediately in the event one or both of the dogs get out because I can track them on my cell phone and tell them where the dogs actually are. It gives me peace of mind.
Once my husband called me at work, frantic that one of our dogs was missing. I checked the GPS and it said that she was within the zone (about half a block in all directions of our house). Come to find out that she had followed him into the garage, he didn’t see her and closed the door. She was, indeed, still in the zone. Nice to know that it worked as advertised!
Kay Stephenson says
Though our dog lives to go to daycare, we have never boarded her overnight. Most if the kennels here don’t have staff on the premise overnight, so that’s a non-starter. As you said, what if something happened?
I also leave detailed notes and I keep the file on my computer so I just have to update and print each time rather than starting over. In addition to all of the info on the dog (food, treats, exercise, allowed/not allowed), contacts, emergencies, etc. I include all the info needed to be comfortable in the house – how the coffee grinder works, how the remotes for TV and stereo work, house rules if they entertain, where to find laundry soap and how machines work, etc.
Barbara Gilmore says
I have found a different choice. One day about 5 years ago I asked friends when they were going to get a new dog because their dog had died about 8 months ago. They said we aren’t going to get a new dog BUT we will take your dog whenever you travel. The next day they texted me and said “we really mean it.” So they took our dog they next time we traveled. I’ve told they story to other friends who don’t want to get another dog because they travel too much and NOW I have 4 families who want to take our dog when we are traveling. They all want to care for our dog DART. Two of the couples even let Dart sleep with them ( which we don’t.) I must say that Dart is a great dog so this works well.
Trisha says
Love this Barbara. Do they take sheep too?
Michelle says
If you DO take your dogs with you to a dog friendly vacation rental PLEASE remember that many times they do NOT react well to being left in a strange house alone. They may be fine at home alone but a strange environment can cause them to do things they would not normally leaving you on the hook for a large bill for damages. Crating them while you aren’t there or never leaving them alone are the best options. As a dog friendly rental owner…believe me…it happens and every time the owners are shocked not only by the behavior but also the repair bill.
Bonnie says
I use a small dog day care center several times a month to give my dog good play time with other dogs. There is a big back yard for outside playtime and a large indoor ring when the weather is inclement. Kobe stays there overnight when we leave town. He has a special person there who dotes on him and he loves playing with his dog friends. They always have someone overnight and have a vet on call.
I’ve had other dogs who did better with a sitter as long as the sitter stayed overnight but Kobe enjoys other people and other dogs.
I think whichever you choose depends on your animal and your situation.
Steph says
We’ve been fortunate that the dogs have always done ok. The worst was the trained “professional” sitter who missed an IBD flare. I came home to piles of vomit that she “hadn’t seen”. All the amateurs have have called to say the dog looks off- what should I do?
The students might not know how to unclog a toilet but they have all managed our complex household.
The kennel I used at one point was small but the owner was wrapped around my dog’s paw. He got special privileges 😆
Chris Wells says
I will just begin with; I am seeing so many posts on Facebook that the sitter lost my dog!! OMG. How terrible can that be! A San Antonio couple is still looking for their lost Golden Retrievers that vanished in thin air as the sitter from Rover.com lost them 2 years ago this month. My advice is never, never take your dogs to a strange location and leave them with a sitter. I don’t care who they are, your dog cannot find their way home. That said I have had great house sitters, people that I either worked with or knew personally that stayed at my house because I had horses as well as cats and dogs. It was always a great success and positive experience. Later after the horses had passed on, I found a lady who boarded dogs locally that we fell in love with. She was not a commercial kennel, but operated on word of mouth. The first time I called her and asked when can I come and see your facility and meet you, she said , any time! Just drop by. And I knew she was genuine! I felt so comfortable leaving my dogs with her and she took excellent care of them. You brought your own food for your dogs so their diet was not disrupted. I took their beds and their toys and everything was returned in good order. She had an amazing facility with fencing they could not dig under! For years my dogs were so happy to go there. They were excited to see her and wagged their tails when they got to her place. Pay attention to your dogs. If they are not happy to be there something is wrong. We are no longer able to travel, but should that change in the future I would happily take my dogs to her. I want to be clear that you should NEVER pick a sitter from the internet. It is like internet dating and there are some real characters out there and they do not all have your dog’s best interests at heart. You surely would not leave your children with complete strangers, please don’t leave your dog.
B Rodgers says
I purchased a camper van. My dog goes with me or I don’t go. Having him with me and knowing he is well cared for and safe is a small price to pay for whatever I don’t get to do. It is a tradeoff I gladly make for the joy of having him in my life and seeing him have a good time. We do lots of things together.
lin says
Excellent questions and advice.
We’ve tried a lot of different ways for our different pets. Our late dog, Pupper, wasn’t very social, so friends couldn’t take her. She was kenneled, and when she got too old for that, we lucked into finding a great sitter at our vet. She lived around the corner from us and stayed over, and visited the the dog and cat on her lunch break (we live three blocks from the vet).
Mr. B is a lot more affable than Pupper, and a couple of friends took him in, but evidently he is not a good guest (whines a lot and jumped on the counter to get the dog treats — which he has NEVER done at home) so he is not invited back. Pupper’s petsitter decided not to pettsit any longer, and we went back to the vet clinic, but the next petsitter was nowhere near as responsible. We found a super pet sitting couple on Rover, but they ended up getting a second dog in their apartment so they stopped doing Rover. I would recommend Rover, especially if you live in a metro area and want a home environment. Just do your due diligence, read reviews and see how many dogs they take. After the couple, we interviewed a couple of other sitters and it wasn’t a good fit. We don’t feel comfortable with strangers in our home, so when Mr. B isn’t travelling with us, he goes to a professional who has a little board/home facility. I like the idea of the GPS, so will look into that.
Melissa Stone says
I’ve visited several kennels and all are a no-go. My Smooth Collie is by my side pretty much 24-7, so he needs lots of human contact — even more than most Collies. So through many neighborhood walks I gotten to know the neighbors and how they are with their dogs. I found one who was as over the top about dogs as I am and, after knowing them for a year, I suggested that we each keep the other’s dog when traveling. The dogs know each other, both are well behaved, and it’s free. We text each other lots of photos, which makes the time away stress-free. Another choice is my breeder. I’ve kept in touch with her and she will keep any of the puppies she places while their mom’s are on vaca. All stay in the house with her crate-free and play on her two acres during the day. Everyone is happy!
Kathryn Larson says
I have a foster fail who has a “big bubble”. I have boarded him but certainly prefer a house/dog sitter. I always have at least 2 meet and greets (usually extended ie. 2 hours) which I am happy to pay for. Trial runs with leashing and movement around the house are part of the meet and greet as well as an “exhibition “ of commands, games and general daily lifestyle. A detailed “book” including all the commands and his release, daily routine including “go find” at bedtime and misc. other info is left along with vet and emergency numbers. Never thought of the will before🧐
I have finally figured out that leaving him behind a pup gate in a back room (off kitchen) is preferable to leaving him to his macho territorial displays when the sitter comes. He seems to accept them as long as they are in the house and this enables them to do it safely.
I have ring cameras throughout my exterior and let my sitter know that they are safe (and I have eyes no matter where I am🤨).
Great topic. Learned some new ideas from the comments. TY
Donna in VA says
I just wanted to point out that here lies one of the benefits of belonging to a dog club. In my case a breed-specific dog club, but I expect all-breed obedience clubs could have similar benefits. My breed club is small. We know each other and our dogs. We go to each other’s houses. We often get together for activities with our dogs outside of the official club activities. Many members make arrangements for their dogs to stay at another club member’s home while vacationing. It’s win-win.
Dave & Cindy Newhouse says
Hi Doctor: We have had ‘Penny’ as a companion for about 10.5 years; she will soon be 11. She is a rescued girl and we’ve been advised that she is likely a Basenji / Shepherd mix. She’s been pretty high strung – I say OCD, from day 1. She’s slowing down now noticeably. However thunderstorms and fireworks, or gun discharges send her into frenzies and that’s gotten worse. We’d like some practical advice in that regard, as it’s obviously extremely traumatic for her, and if we can help her, we’d really like to.
Thanks, Dave & Cindy
Ilene Segal says
I would definitely recommend purchasing some Ring cameras to have around the house as well as ones outside if possible. The ones inside are free standing and use a battery, but they are an excellent method to check and see if your sitter/walker has come when they said they did, how long they stayed, how they treated your pets, and how the pets reacted when they arrived.
Rachel says
When I was in the process of moving, I did take my dog to daycare several times. It was convenient and he always came back tired. I thought it was good for socializing and exercise.
Ultimately, I think he was overstimulated and I saw a few things that the staff did that I didn’t agree with.
I had a good pet sitter, but she moved. I used to pet sit for friends because my mom had a few bad experiences with pet sitters.
And now I just don’t go on vacation. I don’t mind. I’m saving money and stress!