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Vacation: Board or hire a pet sitter?

3436 Views 36 Replies 23 Participants Last post by  Bonn1997
I have an upcoming vacation that will be almost two weeks and have travel plans. What would be a better option: Boarding them at a place where they'd stay in partially enclosed outdoor rooms that are about 10 x 15 or hiring a pet sitter who would come to my house 3 x a day? The boarding place has a few employees who all love animals and has a good reputation. The dogs would get more human interaction there and would get a chance periodically to roam around on their 5 acre property. However, they're both rescue dogs and I'm worried that they're going to think I abandoned them (or they'll at least be confused about where their home is). For a little more money, they could stay in my house and the pet sitting company would come 3 times a day: Once for 30 minutes (which includes a walk) and twice for 15 minutes. This doesn't sound like a lot of human interaction and usually I let them out to go to the bathroom much more than 3 times a day. They've never had accidents in the house though, including overnight or when I'm away for close to 8 hours.

I probably sound neurotic for bringing this up but do you guys feel guilty when you go away? I was invited to go on this cruise a year ago--before I had either dog. I'm really, really excited about the cruise but part of me feels like I'm putting the dogs through a confusing, scary period just so I can have fun.
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I'd board. Even if the dogs get let out the same amount of time as when a pet sitter would be coming, there is a lot to be said for the fact that in most boarding kennels someone is always around. If the dogs happen to knock something on the floor, eat it while a back is turned, or even hurt themselves trying to get out of a crate, the kennel will see it much sooner (most likely) than a pet sitter that is coming three times a day.

For a short time I think a pet sitter would be ok, but for 13 days I would feel better about a kennel.

Our kennel is similar to Thracian and Teddy gets to be out almost all day, plays with other dogs, and has a great time.
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