Looking for a doggie day care recommendation.

[coastgirl]

I don't know where to post this but figure the campers are probably the most likely to be travelling with pets--mods, if you have a better place for my question, please feel free to let me know!

We are bringing our wee pup, a Havanese. She'll be almost a year old at the time. She's pretty shy, and pretty spoiled as far as her family goes--I work part time from home so she's used to being with her family. She "crates" well though, and is content so far up to, say, 5-6 hours on her own.

We plan to take her with us when we visit Orlando for two weeks in August. We have a villa, and a laid-back plan, so she will spend some time crated in the A/C at the villa, but not more than that 5-6 hour max. Except my kids want to go to Legoland! We will have one day which will be at least 8-10 hours out of the house. I won't leave her that long, would prefer actually to board her somewhere closer to Winter Haven, but would settle for something in Orlando. She's our first dog, and we have ZERO experience with kennels or doggie day cares--just read about kennel cough and that scares me to death, to think she might pick something up.

Anyone have any suggestions, specific or general? Legoland has an on-site kennel but it is not staffed/"self serve" which means I guess we get a "locker" for our pup and she's by herself with God knows how many other dogs-in-lockers in an air-conditioned structure. Which sounds God-awful to me, but maybe it's not as bad as it sounds?? Right now our best option seems to be to take her with us and Mom gets to spend 6 hours at Legoland with the kids while Dad explores Winter Haven with the pup. Which, while I know we will enjoy Legoland, *I* personally would enjoy it a lot more with another parent along!

[North of Mouse]

Originally Posted by coastgirl

I don't know where to post this but figure the campers are probably the most likely to be travelling with pets--mods, if you have a better place for my question, please feel free to let me know!

We are bringing our wee pup, a Havanese. She'll be almost a year old at the time. She's pretty shy, and pretty spoiled as far as her family goes--I work part time from home so she's used to being with her family. She "crates" well though, and is content so far up to, say, 5-6 hours on her own.

We plan to take her with us when we visit Orlando for two weeks in August. We have a villa, and a laid-back plan, so she will spend some time crated in the A/C at the villa, but not more than that 5-6 hour max. Except my kids want to go to Legoland! We will have one day which will be at least 8-10 hours out of the house. I won't leave her that long, would prefer actually to board her somewhere closer to Winter Haven, but would settle for something in Orlando. She's our first dog, and we have ZERO experience with kennels or doggie day cares--just read about kennel cough and that scares me to death, to think she might pick something up.

Anyone have any suggestions, specific or general? Legoland has an on-site kennel but it is not staffed/"self serve" which means I guess we get a "locker" for our pup and she's by herself with God knows how many other dogs-in-lockers in an air-conditioned structure. Which sounds God-awful to me, but maybe it's not as bad as it sounds?? Right now our best option seems to be to take her with us and Mom gets to spend 6 hours at Legoland with the kids while Dad explores Winter Haven with the pup. Which, while I know we will enjoy Legoland, *I* personally would enjoy it a lot more with another parent along!

The *Best Friends Pet Care near FW CC is the only doggie care that I know about. They have good references, lots of *add ons* to do for/with your pet while it is there. Others may have additional ideas. Good luck!

[rajak73]

We left our pup at Best Friends yesterday while visiting epcot. Left him at around 9am and picked him back up around 10pm. He got along just fine, paid for the day and a explore walk and play time, around $36. We could have kenneled him in the camper but thought we would be less worried about him by someplace staffed. Took our own food, toys and treats as we didn't know how different food might affect him. Very happy with Best Friends and would recommend them.

[coastgirl]

Thanks Rajak and North of Mouse. I will look into it. We have no experience with kennels or daycare, so I didn't even know you could request (pay for!) extra stuff...

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Best Friends is great. I have an Aunt and Uncle who work for WDW and they used this facility a lot when their work shifts over lap and they both have to go to work on the same day. they have an older dog and he paces if left alone so he needs to be around people. They some times leave him overnight if they have to work two days in a row. He loves it there.

The staff walks him outside a couple times a day. Then at night my Aunt and Uncle stop in to make sure he is okay and take him for a walk. He is very content there.

http://www.bestfriendspetcare.com/

[coastgirl]

Thanks Shelley! Have added the link to my "Florida again" set of bookmarks!

[gillenkl]

We don't have a dog, we have a rabbit and she stays at Best Friends - we've never had any problems.

[coastgirl]

Thanks Killan. We have guinea pigs (who won't be travelling with us!), so I know if someone is willing to take on a "pocket pet" they are probably pretty comfortable doing what they do.