What do u do with pets when on vacation?

[nettii]

My in laws or my parents always watch our dog. We always watch my parents dog-we want to go with my parents on vacation this year and they don't have any one to leave their dog with. He is very spoiled and they way over baby him and he is scared of everything. Does any one have any suggestions? (we live in Michigan an hour from Detroit) Thanks Nettii

 

[Bob P]

We board our lab in a Best Friends Pet Care Center a couple of miles from our house (they also now are in charge of the kennels at WDW).

Our lab is almost 6 and loves every person and every dog he has ever met. He has a great time going to the kennel and loves to run in as soon as we get there.

If we did have someone to care for him at home we would probably do that instead. It's certainly less expensive and less traumatic for the dog if the dog is not used to being with "strangers" (human and canine).

But, the one thing about him being used to going to Best Friends is that I would hate to have to take him to a kennel for the first time when he was 8 or 10 years old and used to staying with a "sitter." You never know when you might need to be out of town on short notice due to business or family matters and your usual "sitter" is not available.

Hope that helps....

 

[PrincessKell]

I am lucky enough that my dad lives just across town, so our animals stay home and my dad comes over a few times a day to let the Dog in and out. During the day she will stay outside if its sunny, and then in over night.

But if we didn't have that for the dog we would find somewhere that we could keep her with us.

 

[nessz79]

We usually either have someone watch our dog (we hire out a senior or graduate as we work at a high school) or take the dog with us if we're going to VA.

For Disney this year, everyone is going with us so we're going to board him for the first time. We're boarding him at our local vet. They have air conditioned runs and take them out at least 4 times a day. However, we're only going for 3 nights/4 days so it's not a long period of time.

 

[jenb1023]

My in-laws have a very spoiled pooch and they put her in a kennel one time and when they returned she was sick from worry, new circumstances, food, etc. and it took weeks to get her back to normal.

I think the best thing for a spoiled pet is for it to be cared for in its own home. We have hired a college-aged person who lives at home to stay at our house. He was happy to have his own place for a few days so we only had to pay him $50 for a three day weekend plus had the house stocked with food. If you don't know anyone, I know in our area there are pet-sitting services that come to your house.

Good luck!

 

[wdwmom0f3]

Normally my sister watches our dog and we watch hers, our dogs are even sisters. The one time that we were all going to Disney, we boarded our babies together at a doggie resort that she found. At least they had someone that they knew with them.

 

[Pakey]

I have a dog who was abused as a baby (I'm a rescue mom) and cannot be around people at all as he is just too scared and it doesn't seem like it's going to improve. I did a trial run taking him to a kennel just to see it and it was terrible so the first time I left him, I had someone come in and housesit/dogsit and he was terrified. Now I just hire someone to come in twice a day and feed the dogs, change their water, etc. We have a doggie door so they can go in and out as they need and although he still doesn't do well when I'm gone, he gets by.

 

[badblackpug]

Are your in-laws going? Can they do it? Otherwise I would find a pet sitter that can come to the house. Luckily my mother lives 3 blocks away. We leave the dog with her.

 

[El&Asmom]

I would contact your family veterinarian. They often can make recommendations on reputable kennels, or will often have staff that do in home pet sitting. Usually it is their reception staff or technicians so they have some animal experience. They are often not paid well in the profession but love animals so it is a good way to earn some extra cash. Good luck.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

We usually try and leave our dogs with extended family. Sometimes we do have to use a kennel, but it is one we have used periodically for years and that our dogs are familiar with. My SIL had recommended the kennel we use as she uses it for her dog as well. I would ask friends, family or your vet for a recommendation for a kennel if you do not have family member that can watch your pet.

 

[kim_o]

Generally MIL watches him. If she is also coming on a trip (she always comes to Disney) he is boarded at a daycare/boarding facility in town. It's cage free during the day and he gets a huge pen (he's a huge dog) to himself at night. They also have doggie suites and private rooms for those that require extra spoiling ;-).

 

[SCHBR'smom]

We board our dog, but since we have 5 small kids, our dog is just a dog. Her only spoiling comes from leftovers and chasing the r/c car (her favorite toy). My inlaws have 3 spoiled weiner dogs and they hire a dog sitter. A college girl they know usually stays in the house to care for them. Pretty cheap, I believe.

 

[pixiewings71]

We either board our dogs or we have a friend come stay at our home and watch them. She lives in our home while we gone and we pay her $20 a day, she does have a "regular" job so the dogs schedules stay pretty much the same. It works out for all of us, she loves the dogs and the dogs love her. It's the best of both worlds for us.