Going on a trip in Feb-what to do with dogs??

crazydays · 07-17-2008, 07:09 AM

I am in a dilemma. My partner and I have never been on a trip and this is going to happen in Feb 2009.

I am so worried about what to do with the dogs.

Rio- my english springer will adapt anywhere. My breeder would take her in a second but she doesn't board dogs not her own breed. Rio is not the problem.

Cags (Standard Schnauzer)- she is the source of my worry. Cags is shy/timid with strangers despite socialization out my yin yan! It would have to be with
a kennel I trust immensely (i don't have experience with any). I think this would really throw her off. She is a highly intelligent dog who thinks and frets.
Tried to enroll her in doggie daycare once-she failed. I had to leave her for a hour with strangers and was told when I came to pick her up that she was great with the dogs but would not allow the staff to approach her to put a leash on--barked at them and backed up. Aggressive no-just sending the signal for strangers not to approach her. My poor Cags has a few issues!!!

What do other people do? I would love any suggestions? My Vet thinks Cagney and Rio should be together. Thats ok but, I don't think it is fair to ask someone to take on 2 dogs...unless you board them.

Thanks-crazydays

poodleholic · 07-17-2008, 07:35 AM

I'm very lucky in that I have family members and friends who all "fight" over who gets to take my dogs whenever I've needed someone! LOL If I had to choose between boarding and having a pet sitter come in, I'd go for the latter. Check with your vet, and/or groomer as they may have someone they'd recommend.

My dogs were at my home while I was hospitalized after having sustained a broken leg and ankle. My daughter came over in the morning to let them out and feed them, staying about 30-45 min. She then stopped by after work, to potty and then feed them, went home to take care of her animals and child, then returned to "hang out" with my dogs for an hour or so. She would have taken them home with her, however, her yard wasn't yet fenced in at that time, so she left them at my place where she didn't have to worry about them. The dogs did just fine, and it was certainly better for them to remain in their home than to be boarded.

crazydays · 07-17-2008, 08:37 AM

Thanks poodleholic!!

The ideal would be a friend or family member. No one lives near us to do the drop in. I guess I am worried that they would be alone in the house so long everyday-this would be new to them.

If I could get a friend to take 1 of them that would be good. The only friend I would ask has 3 dogs of his own-to have both go there would be 5dogs in a household--too many.

This is very stressful to think about...gosh already worrying about the year 2009!!! Yes I am a little neurotic!!!

thanks

LuvmyRotti · 07-17-2008, 09:26 AM

Hi There !

I'm in Halton Hills, Ontario and I have a very reliable Pet Sitter. He has been Pet Sitting our 2 dogs/Parrot for the last 3 years - he is marvelous.

I am not sure if he goes to Barrie - but I can ask if you are interested.

Let me know. Thanks.
Maureen

Mac'N'Roe · 07-17-2008, 09:26 AM

Well, it's good to go ahead and think about so that if there are socialization prep you need to do you have plenty of time. Such as, hiring a sitter...they will need to come to the house prior to evaluate and so Cags can get used to him/her. I would do some trials so that they aren't shocked when you are gone for an extended period. They will be fine...

I go to doggy daycare..with boarding. My dogs love it. I have one that's shy of people too...but they handle it. She doesn't bark though, just shy. I would hire a sitter or have a friend come by.

tirluc · 07-17-2008, 10:55 AM

this is why i don't do vacations w/out my dogs (not saying that you shouldn't go, just get Cag acclimated well b/4 hand to whoever/wherever s/he is going to stay)....i have 5 right now....3 would do great, 1 is if'y (he's getting better) but the 5th one no one will watch.....she can/will jump a 6' fence, she won't listen to people when i'm not around and no one wants to be responsible for her....otherwise, everyone i know would take all 5 in a heartbeat for me

see about going back to doggie daycare a couple x a wk starting w/ maybe only an hr and working your way up....most will work w/ you

Kathyy · 07-17-2008, 02:34 PM

We have dogsitters if everybody in the house is away. Family friends stay overnight but neighborhood teenagers just come four times a day. It would be more times a day now that Sassy is 14 years old.

Old dog was a basketcase going with us overnight to my sister's house last week. She was so tired the next morning I wasn't sure she was still with us. At her age kennelling is out of the question.

As the younger dog has trouble with new people we set up an exercise pen in the kitchen so he can get it out of his system and not get into trouble when the sitter gets there. Once he has calmed down he gets to go outside, eat dinner, whatever. It doesn't take long for him to settle. He really needs that minute or so and I would much rather him bark and jump inside the exercise pen than on the sitter.

Try out a sitter. They are professional and I bet many of their clients don't board for the same reasons I don't care for boarding right now.

Pickleisaminidaschi · 07-17-2008, 02:50 PM

Try to get a family member to watch them, I know bringing Pickle into a hotel is a bad idea from experiance, he wriped a hole in the carpet, and we where on the fourth floor but he barked at the people in the parking lot through the window, he whined when I went down the elevator to get my things and (since I was takeing my sister to the airport her dog Charlie was there too) Charlie peed every where and dragged all their toys I brought under the bed, it was a nightmear! I bet if Charlie wasen't there Pickle would have beem better, he was just trying to impress the lady! ha ha

crazydays · 07-19-2008, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuvmyRotti

Hi There !

I'm in Halton Hills, Ontario and I have a very reliable Pet Sitter. He has been Pet Sitting our 2 dogs/Parrot for the last 3 years - he is marvelous.

I am not sure if he goes to Barrie - but I can ask if you are interested.

Let me know. Thanks.
Maureen

Hey-Luv my Rottie--thanks for your offer!! Does a Pet Sitter live in your house?? Great option.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pickleisaminidaschi

Try to get a family member to watch them, I know bringing Pickle into a hotel is a bad idea from experiance, he wriped a hole in the carpet, and we where on the fourth floor but he barked at the people in the parking lot through the window, he whined when I went down the elevator to get my things and (since I was takeing my sister to the airport her dog Charlie was there too) Charlie peed every where and dragged all their toys I brought under the bed, it was a nightmear! I bet if Charlie wasen't there Pickle would have beem better, he was just trying to impress the lady! ha ha

I would be so worried that she would sit there shaking and barking. I think I need to place Cagney in the home of a friend or with a family member. Thanks for your response!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mac'N'Roe

Well, it's good to go ahead and think about so that if there are socialization prep you need to do you have plenty of time. Such as, hiring a sitter...they will need to come to the house prior to evaluate and so Cags can get used to him/her. I would do some trials so that they aren't shocked when you are gone for an extended period. They will be fine...

I go to doggy daycare..with boarding. My dogs love it. I have one that's shy of people too...but they handle it. She doesn't bark though, just shy. I would hire a sitter or have a friend come by.

Thanks MacNRoe-
Socialization is very important. We have already started with the 14 month Springer. I have boarded her with her breeder for 3 days to get used to the separation from us. My Standard Schnauzer- I guess we failed because she is not good with strangers. She is 7 yrs old and my parents visit weekly. She loves my Mom but for whatever reason when Dad comes to the house and we aren't there, she barks at him, backs up and the last time my Dad told me she was shaking and barking...so I guess she was freaked out...she did take a cookie from him. That is why I don't think a drop in dog walker would work for her. Doesn't handle change the greatest so I guess I have to work with that. Thank you

briteday · 07-19-2008, 09:59 PM

When our daughter was a pre-teen she found that dogsitting/petsitting was less stressful than babysitting. She is booked months in advance now, as she has been doing it for 4-5 years now.

Inthe beginning she took on the easy jobs, jsut one dog in the household, stop in 4 times per day to feed/potty/walk dog. Now that she is old enough to drive, and also babysits for many of the families she also petsits for so she is comfortable in their house and also knows who has cable tv and other cool things that they don't mind her using!) she often takes on much bigger jobs of petsitting.

We have one family that seh brings their Bernese mountain dog to our house. It is usually too hot/summer or too cold/winter for the dog to be in the outside run all day at their house and she is a doll to have with our dogs at our own house. They are nice enough to have her bathed and blown out before they leave so that I don't have a ton of fur at my house since they prefer the dog not to be alone for long stretches and like the idea that she comes to stay with us instead.

Another client has 3 labs and some smaller pets. My daughter also babysits for them and is comfortable in their house. Now that she can also drive, there are times when she goes over to their house for the whole day, watches cable tv while playing with the dogs, enjoys a spin in the hot tub, and then stays overnight so she doesn't have to make an early morning run to their house to potty the dogs (their kids are small so the dogs are used to getting up early). The client doesn't mind and gives her permission to enjoy their house and appreciate that someone is spending time with the dogs and it also makes their home looked lived in while they are away.

Of course my daughter also is courteous enough to bring in her clients' mail, packages, and newspapers as well as do poop patrol if they are gone for more than a few days. Every few months she gains a new client as families refer her to others that they know.

If you can't find a responsible young person (be willing to leave precise instructions in writing, contact info...your cell phones and vet, and be exact about your expectations...some kids can be clueless...look for one who already has a dog of their own) then I would suggest trying to find someone you trust who can come and spend time with your dogs or is comfortable with your dogs at their house. You could offer to pay for some doggy daycare so they get a bit of a break if that is something you care to do.

But in the long run I think it is nice if someone can come to your house to take care of the dogs. And then you also don't have to stop the mail or newspapers, or worry that your house looks vacant while you're away.

Durbkat · 07-19-2008, 11:32 PM

You've gotten some very good suggestions. We don't go out of town much and when we do its usually to the same place, my great grandma, and her apartment allows dogs so we bring Snoopy. But if we go somewhere that Snoopy can't come we have several friends who would watch Snoopy for me.

winniec777 · 07-19-2008, 11:44 PM

I know you said you tried the daycare option but it may be worth trying another one that also boards. Our dog was just like yours -- very shy of strangers, especially men, in spite of our attempts to socialize her. What really helped was finding the right daycare where staff actually spend time with the dogs and work on issues like this with them. Make sure they have a trainer on staff most days (this is a signal that they're serious dog people and not just dog warehousers). This example told me our dog was finally in the right place for her: when we went in for her temperament test, our dog wouldn't go in the front door because plate glass doors scare her. The trainer came out and spent more than 20 minutes with her desensitizing her to the door and got her inside without pulling or dragging her. The trainer actually sat down on the sidewalk with her and talked to her! My dog would now lay down and die for these people. She goes nuts whenever I tell her she's going to daycare. So we started from her not even wanting to go in the front door and almost scaling a 12 ft fence to get to me as I left to a dog that can't wait to get there and doesn't want to leave. You've got plenty of time for her to get used to it. I would try again, not only for this trip but because it's a problem worth addressing for your own peace of mind, no matter how old your pooch is.

If that doesn't work, there are professional dog trainers who also do pet sitting in your home. We found a wonderful one who both trains and sits -- it's her business and she has several people on staff to help her out. Since your dog has problems I would stay away from the folks whose only credential is "I've loved and been around dogs my whole life" - sorry but that doesn't qualify you to do anything but pet my dog and I'd still look at you twice before allowing that! (Sorry to be snide but there are reams of very nice folks out there with no training who go into the pet sitting or training business but are not really qualified to deal with much more than simple puppy obedience, let alone serious shyness or fear aggression.)

Good luck to you. I wish you lived where I do so you could try the people I've worked with. I wish I could bring them with us when we move back to the midwest next week! Finding replacements for them is going to be very hard.

Annamarie · 07-19-2008, 11:45 PM

I have a dog that is similar to yours with socialization issues. we've tried so hard and though he's semi ok with other dogs (usually just refuses to play) he won't allow anyone to touch him. we usually leave him with family and keep our trips to 2 days max. even then... he usually tucks his tail the whole time and periodically howls (something he never does at home).

have you considered having someone come stay at your house? a dog sitter coming in a few times a day to feed and let them out may work too.

crazydays · 07-20-2008, 06:36 PM

You all have given wonderful feedback with what works for you. I really appreciate the input because this is a huge issue for me. Cags is so intelligent and so sensitive- she will do just fine in the right setting. I do want to try her again at daycare. I think the one I tried wasn't catering to dogs that might be shy. Actually-I set her up for failure because she din't understand what was happening to her. I can't believe I left her with strangers in a completely new situation. Cags needs to trust someone in order to get on ok. She is nervous because she thinks too much. Once at the Vets they took her to the X-ray room. When they were finished, they told me she lost her bladder and bowels on the table. They told me she wasn't aggressive just nervous. To this day any procedures-I stay with her and no problems.

Thanks again-Crazydays(Kath)