[krisgil88]

We will be gone most of the day on an upcoming weekend. We are trying to decide between leaving the 6 month old puppy in his kennel and having someone come in to feed/walk and play with him or having him stay with a family member at their house. The dog has never been crated longer than 4 hours. On this day, he would be crated for about a total of 9 hours with the pet sitter letting him out of the crate for an hour or so twice that day to feed and walk him.
Would it be better for him to go to the family member's house where he is really not familiar with the family member or the surroundings but will not be in a kennel all day? We've never been away from him for longer than 4 hours at a time in the 3 months we've had him! Not sure what is best. Opinions, please. Thank you!

 

[Wicket]

I would say go with your family member. Just make sure they have his schedule, food and things, and follow the rules that are set out for him. It'll be better for him because he wouldn't have to hold it in longer than he needs to and risk an accident (and being stuck laying in his accident for the rest of the day). He can also socialize with them, and learn to be away from you for a longer period of time, but just not alone alone.

 

[CptJack]

We will be gone most of the day on an upcoming weekend. We are trying to decide between leaving the 6 month old puppy in his kennel and having someone come in to feed/walk and play with him or having him stay with a family member at their house. The dog has never been crated longer than 4 hours. On this day, he would be crated for about a total of 9 hours with the pet sitter letting him out of the crate for an hour or so twice that day to feed and walk him.
Would it be better for him to go to the family member's house where he is really not familiar with the family member or the surroundings but will not be in a kennel all day? We've never been away from him for longer than 4 hours at a time in the 3 months we've had him! Not sure what is best. Opinions, please. Thank you!

I would, honestly, go with the PERSON you trust most with your dog. If that's equal, I'd go with the family member.

 

[wvasko]

I'm just gonna toss this in here, I would look for a boarding kennel because in an emergency a good boarding kennel is a great tool to have in your bag. It's also a great program to start your dog in as a young dog. Get him use to it. Down the road there may come a time that either family or friends are busy and you are then caught between a rock and a hard place.

Years ago an owner dropped off a poodle for board and he said he had another dog he left at home that was being kept in his garage and his neighbor was watching the dog. It was another hot summer and the neighbor had a close relative that died. Long story shortened is the neighbor totally forgot about the dog and he died in a heated garage. Owner thought he would save money by just boarding one dog.

Above is an extreme case but just thought I would mention it.

 

[mcdavis]

I'm just gonna toss this in here, I would look for a boarding kennel because in an emergency a good boarding kennel is a great tool to have in your bag. It's also a great program to start your dog in as a young dog. Get him use to it. Down the road there may come a time that either family or friends are busy and you are then caught between a rock and a hard place.

This is good advice - when Hamish was 4 months old my parents had an emergency and had to find a kennels at very short notice. Fortunately a friend recommeded a really good kennels (which was also a rescue) and Hamish loved going - used to do somersaults in the car as soon as we arrived at the gates. We had to use different kennels when we moved but he was still very happy to go and it was much easier to take him knowing how much he enjoyed going.

 

[wvasko]

This is good advice - when Hamish was 4 months old my parents had an emergency and had to find a kennels at very short notice. Fortunately a friend recommeded a really good kennels (which was also a rescue) and Hamish loved going - used to do somersaults in the car as soon as we arrived at the gates. We had to use different kennels when we moved but he was still very happy to go and it was much easier to take him knowing how much he enjoyed going.

Also a good kennel operator is in business to make money and one of the best ways to make money is to have happy satisfied customers. Taking care of owner's dogs properly is how this is accomplished, this usually means 1st thing in the morning he/she is thinking of dogs in kennel and the last thought at night is the dogs.

An amateur, friend or even family that normally don't care for a dog on a daily basis have other more important things in life to think about. I'm just sayin...

 

[Hambonez]

Would you be able to find a family member (or friend) who would hang out at your house all day with your pup? That might be the best hybrid situation.

 

[UF Girl]

I would do what you feel more comfortable with. I will also add the dog will not die being left in a crate for 9 hours as long as it has access to water. I had to leave a 10 week old puppy in a crate for 10 hours one day. Bad wreck had the interstate shut down and what normally would have been 30 mins took 3 hours. Things happen in life. I am only stating this because if your friend does not show the dog will still be okay.

I do agree you should always know of a good boarding facility in case of emergency. The one I use is also a vets office and does doggie day care or same day boarding. In this situation if the timing was right I could drop my dogs off in the morning and pick them up the same day for a fraction of the boarding cost. When you are choosing a facility make sure they let you walk around and see the area your dogs will be and also see dogs currently boarded. A same day situation will also help you dog get used to going.

I am lucky and have a great pet sitter who comes to the house. It is the best of both worlds for me, I have someone watching my house and my dogs and they get to stay home in all their doggy comforts.

 

[krisgil88]

Would you be able to find a family member (or friend) who would hang out at your house all day with your pup? That might be the best hybrid situation.

That would be perfect but I don't know anyone who can stay all day.

 

[krisgil88]

I would do what you feel more comfortable with. I will also add the dog will not die being left in a crate for 9 hours as long as it has access to water. I had to leave a 10 week old puppy in a crate for 10 hours one day. Bad wreck had the interstate shut down and what normally would have been 30 mins took 3 hours. Things happen in life. I am only stating this because if your friend does not show the dog will still be okay.

I do agree you should always know of a good boarding facility in case of emergency. The one I use is also a vets office and does doggie day care or same day boarding. In this situation if the timing was right I could drop my dogs off in the morning and pick them up the same day for a fraction of the boarding cost. When you are choosing a facility make sure they let you walk around and see the area your dogs will be and also see dogs currently boarded. A same day situation will also help you dog get used to going.

I am lucky and have a great pet sitter who comes to the house. It is the best of both worlds for me, I have someone watching my house and my dogs and they get to stay home in all their doggy comforts.

I plan to look for a boarding facility but that's not an option this late in the game. Ideally I want someone who will come and stay at my house so the pup gets to be in his own space.

 

[krisgil88]

Well we will be taking to the family members house. I just hope that being left there in an unfamiliar house with an unfamiliar person does not totally stress him out. I really worried about that, although my husband thinks I'm crazy. We've realized that if we had someone come to the house, the dog would still be crated for about 9-10 hours. He's never been left in the crate for longer than 4 hours at a time.