advice please (dog)

[amg35]

My parents are taking the whole family to WDW next summer. (A surprise, they just told us this weekend) It's going to be fantastic!!

But...I'm nervous about boarding my dog. I've boarded pets before at my vet and it was just fine. But this guy has never been boarded. One of us was always with him when the other was away.

On this trip, no one will be able to watch him at my place, so to the vet for boarding it is. My cat is going also, but I'm not worried about him!

My dog will be 11 by the time we go and he's always been an anxious guy. We can leave him home for the entire day/night and nothing happens - no accidents, nothing torn apart - but I am sooo nervous about leaving him at the vet for 4 nights.

The vet says they are used to handling anxious dogs, and that they will keep him away from the other dogs (they don't have playtime together there and he isn't exactly a fan of strange dogs). They also said to bring him one night for a trial run so my dog will see that I will come back to get him.

I'm just afraid that he won't eat, won't let anyone come near him, and won't do very well at all while I'm gone. Will the vet know how to handle that? Some people said they may give him anti-anxiety meds!! I'm asking here because I don't want my vet to think I'm a nutcase!

Any advice to help me relax?? Leaving him with an unknown pet-sitter is not an option, he won't like someone he doesn't know in the house if we aren't there.

thanks!

 

[CathrynRose]

I wish I had advice for you, I don't. We don't board our dogs. In fact my poor husband stays home. He hasn't been to WDW since Fall of 2007. Or was it 8? I don't remember.

I'll be watching this thread for suggestions. I miss having my husband go on vacation with me. He loves Disney, as much as I do. Writing this out, makes me realize how easy going he is, to not bat an eye that the rest of us go (more than once a year) year after year, and he gets picture texts.

But, we're both on the same page - we don't want to board them. Charley (dog with Mickey ears) sounds a bit like your dog. He's more anxious than Hazel (brown patch eye) - just "worries" more, you can see it in his eyes. He was in a 30 day kill shelter, before we got him, and I don't want him thinking he's in another place like that. I Can not do that to him.

BUT - the one thing you mentioned would not work, I think COULD - and something I've thought about doing next year.

You said that you couldn't do a pet sitter as your dog, but you have several months to get your dog acquainted with someone. You could hire that person to walk him/her, have that person over for dinner.... KWIM? I really think that might be do-able, especially for only 5 days!

 

[SandrA9810]

Bring him to the kennels at Disney. Then you could see him often throughout your trip.

My dog was a pound puppy, and with bad separation anxiety problems. Never had a mess to come home to, because she knew that was "home". But if I left her with my mom for a few hours, she'd just whimper by the front door until I got back.
She actually loved the kennels at Disney, I mainly only kept her at the Fort Kennel. And she loved the huge field next to it. So I never felt bad for leaving her there. Plus back when it was Disney, the owner had to walk the dog. So she knew I was coming in the morning and the night.

 

[amg35]

I wish I had advice for you, I don't. We don't board our dogs. In fact my poor husband stays home. He hasn't been to WDW since Fall of 2007. Or was it 8? I don't remember.

I'll be watching this thread for suggestions. I miss having my husband go on vacation with me. He loves Disney, as much as I do. Writing this out, makes me realize how easy going he is, to not bat an eye that the rest of us go (more than once a year) year after year, and he gets picture texts.

But, we're both on the same page - we don't want to board them. Charley (dog with Mickey ears) sounds a bit like your dog. He's more anxious than Hazel (brown patch eye) - just "worries" more, you can see it in his eyes. He was in a 30 day kill shelter, before we got him, and I don't want him thinking he's in another place like that. I Can not do that to him.

BUT - the one thing you mentioned would not work, I think COULD - and something I've thought about doing next year.

You said that you couldn't do a pet sitter as your dog, but you have several months to get your dog acquainted with someone. You could hire that person to walk him/her, have that person over for dinner.... KWIM? I really think that might be do-able, especially for only 5 days!

I was thinking about introducing him to someone and see how that goes, but the thing is we live in an apartment and he just can't be alone here at night. What if he starts barking and the neighbors complain?

I'm not as worried about him not liking it. He won't, that's just how it is, he doesn't like anywhere without me. I just keep having visions of him sitting in the kennel, not letting anyone near him. I don't know why, he's never shown aggression to people, just indifference!

sigh, I don't know. If worse comes to worse, my boyfriend will stay home, but I really want him to come. This trip will truly be once in a lifetime.

 

[amg35]

Bring him to the kennels at Disney. Then you could see him often throughout your trip.

My dog was a pound puppy, and with bad separation anxiety problems. Never had a mess to come home to, because she knew that was "home". But if I left her with my mom for a few hours, she'd just whimper by the front door until I got back.
She actually loved the kennels at Disney, I mainly only kept her at the Fort Kennel. And she loved the huge field next to it. So I never felt bad for leaving her there. Plus back when it was Disney, the owner had to walk the dog. So she knew I was coming in the morning and the night.

Not an option. He would hate the flight more than anything else!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Many dogs don't eat a lot when they are away from home, that is pretty normal.

The bad thing is your dog is picking up on your anxiousness and then he is going to be anxious because of you.

So the answer is get your emotions in check and believe what your vet says.

I know you cannot "lie" to a dog about how you are feeling. However you owe it to the dog to try and create a "postive" introduction to the kennel. I know it is hard to do but maybe take a lot of walks to work out some anxiety too.

My dogs would rather not be boarded of course however I would rather board them than have a pet sitter. You find your "place" the dog gets used to it and then it is all good.

I also have an anxious dog and as long as he gets to know the people he is sort of OK.

 

[ols386]

We don't leave our dog at the kennel. I used to work at a vet clinic with a kennel, and it would make me nervous leaving him there. I just don't like the idea of my dog being there because I know there are things they can pick-up while being boarded there. It's not that I think my dog would be mis-treated, but as stated before, they can pick-up stuff there.

Have you checked with any pet services where they come to your house to look after your dog? Although, I did that once, and she stole some things, so I don't know about doing that again.

Good luck!!

 

[amg35]

Many dogs don't eat a lot when they are away from home, that is pretty normal.

The bad thing is your dog is picking up on your anxiousness and then he is going to be anxious because of you.

So the answer is get your emotions in check and believe what your vet says.

I know you cannot "lie" to a dog about how you are feeling. However you owe it to the dog to try and create a "postive" introduction to the kennel. I know it is hard to do but maybe take a lot of walks to work out some anxiety too.

My dogs would rather not be boarded of course however I would rather board them than have a pet sitter. You find your "place" the dog gets used to it and then it is all good.

I also have an anxious dog and as long as he gets to know the people he is sort of OK.

Oh, my brother told me I'm the one that makes my dog crazy!

My dog doesn't know these vets all that well, so like they suggested, I'm going to bring him there a few times to let him get to know them. Also, since I make my dog more anxious, my boyfriend will do the drop offs, so I don't spaz out my dog. I'm not looking for my dog to jump into their laps everytime he sees them, I just want to make sure he is comfortable with them, and that they are comfortable with him.

I don't know why I'm so goofy about him. I think because we lost our other dog so suddenly a year ago, I'm worry about him more - and my dog we lost was just the opposite, loved all people, sometimes better than me!

 

[CathrynRose]

I was thinking about introducing him to someone and see how that goes, but the thing is we live in an apartment and he just can't be alone here at night. What if he starts barking and the neighbors complain?
.

Well, since it's next summer, what about letting that person stay at your house? Maybe a college kid?

You have some time to think of an option.

Good luck to you (and your doggie!)

 

[amg35]

Okay, he knows I'm typing about him.

I just turned around and saw him just standing in the hallway in the dark staring at me............

 

[mrsksomeday]

The Mystery Machine is so right about the anxiety issue coming from you. It goes straight from you down the leash to the dog. I am guilty of it as well. I would do as the vet suggested, do a couple of overnights so your dog gets used to the people there and that he knows you are coming back.

Our furbaby Ace is a nervous guy, but LOVES the vet. We make sure he has treats he only gets when he goes there, he has special toys that only go when he is boarded, and we make sure he gets extra walks while he is there. We just our vets and the people that work there.

Maybe ask for a tour of the facility to get yourself used to the idea. I think it would be a good idea to have your boyfriend take the dog to be boarded until you are more comfortable with the idea.

 

[Nolcrest]

I felt just as you do with my current 4 year old dog. I told myself that when he was a puppy I was going to get him used to being kenneled so my husband & I could travel guilt free (in the past, our older children and/or family always watched the dogs).

Well, that practice day never came however my dog was ill this past summer and needed to stay at the vet's for one week. I discovered then that he was very behaved away from home and the staff just loved him.

This weekend for the first time we officially kenneled him at the vet's and he did great. And this is a dog that has all the comforts of home. He seemed fine.

I totally trust my vet's ofice. They are set up for regular boarding and truthfully, if anything were to happen to the dog, I felt more comfortable because they have his medical records and know all about him. They had my cell # if they needed to contact me.

I am so relieved now knowing that husband and I can't start to travel again and not worry about the dogs.

If you are comfortable w/your vet you will be fine.

 

[KandD]

We went through the same issue, except we have four dogs! Two of them would probably be fine at a kennel but the other two would not. We have my fiance's brother come to the house and stay with them when we go away. If he wasn't available we would probably find someone else to stay at the house for the week.
We are getting married next year and are taking a honeymoon for at least a week and a half (maybe two weeks) and we will have someone stay at the house.
I agree with the PP who said maybe a college kid? Or even a teenage neighbor who wouldn't have to stay at the home but come over during the day?

 

[christineann]

I would also look into a house sitter/pet sitter. A friend of my mother's stays at my house and takes care of our dogs on the rare occasions there is no family available (we take care of each other's dogs when needed).

 

[onelilspark]

I don't know if this helped me more or my pup more, but we boarded him for a weekend when we had a wedding to go to. That way I knew how he'd react and handle the vet (and he knew we'd come back for him!) We boarded him for a week while at Disney and he was fine

 

[Squirrel!!!]

I always get a pet sitter who stays at my house since I have a ridiculous number of pets, so boarding would be cost prohibitive.

But,that said, my summer job for many years was in a very large boarding facility in my home town. It was before the fancy ones of today with play time and the like, but the dogs all had indoor kennels attached to individual outdoor runs.

Amazingly almost EVERY dog did fabulously. The very few that did not do great, did okay. Sure, home was better, but after the first few hours of nervousness, most dogs calm down, and sort of accept that, okay, I live here now.

Most boarding facilities will try the normal food a few meals, then add something more yummy to entice a reluctant eater.

Places that board, for the most part, do a good job, and make your pet be okay about the stay. They want repeat business.

So, a if you feel okay about your vet's boarding, I bet your beastie will be fine. It would be awesome to give your dog a trial run, it will make you feel better.

Ask the staff your questions. They will not mind.

 

[Robindianne]

Well, since it's next summer, what about letting that person stay at your house? Maybe a college kid?

You have some time to think of an option.

Good luck to you (and your doggie!)

This is what we do but not a college kid. We hire a woman from a pet sitting service.

 

[NMAmy]

We hire a friend's college aged sons to housesit/petsit. It's a win/win situation. They make $25 a day for staying on their own with a really low key dog and the dog doesn't have to go to the kennel. One of them got married last summer and he still got upset with me when I asked his brother to petsit instead.

Because these guys really want to continue this job, I never worry about them having parties, etc. They do a great job and they spend so much time playing with the dog that she usually sleeps for 24 hours straight when DH and I get back home.

 

[padams]

Do you have a friend who could keep the dog for you?