Vacation: Board or hire a pet sitter?

3436 Views 36 Replies 23 Participants Last post by Bonn1997, Aug 28, 2009

Bonn1997

Discussion Starter · Jul 13, 2009

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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Thracian

· #7 · Jul 13, 2009

I board mine, although I haven't taken a vacation since I got the puppy. I did take Cupid to daycare (at the boarding facility) a couple of times before the first trip. Like you, I wanted to get him used to the idea that I would come back every time I dropped him off. I think it did help.

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Thracian

· #17 · Jul 13, 2009

I asked a friend of mine who works in a boarding facility, and she says the dogs there are taken out three times a day for 30 minutes... That doesn't sound any different then a lot of pet sitters are willing to do.

The place where I board my dogs is a combination doggy daycare and boarding facility. The dogs are in a large area, separated based on size (small and large). There are lots of doggy couches, beds, chairs, etc. Much of the time is spent inside with frequent trips outside.

The dogs are only in kennels when they eat or sleep. They get a lot of playtime with other dogs if they want it, or they can just relax. I felt very comfortable leaving Cupid there, and I'm sure Clayton will be fine as well. If it were a choice of being kenneled for boarding or having a pet sitter, I'd probably go with a pet sitter if I knew someone who had used the service and recommended it.

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