Dog people - boarding kennels

Do you get dog sitters in the US? I'm assuming you must do.

We won't put Riley in kennels so for our dog-free holiday we have someone come and live in our house to take care of her and the cats. We're lucky in that it's her dog walker so she knows and trusts her and it's less stressful for her (we think) being in her own home. Could you get someone to stay at your place, and take her to daycare every day if necessary?

There are pet sitting companies here but I'm not sure whether I feel comfortable having a stranger come into the house. Plus I think Phoebe would be a little freaked out. I'm wondering if one of her daycare workers would be willing to take her home with them each day and then bring her to daycare each day. Ugh, I hate this. I wish I could take her with me.

I was really worried about putting our dog in kennels as he's a rescue - 7 years old and we've only had him 2 years. Last year we put him in for 10 days and I cried when OH took him. I had visions of him crying and thinking we'd sent him back to Manchester Dogs Home, etc. He'd only ever stayed with the in laws before for a night, etc.

Needless to say he was fine. He really enjoyed himself, the kennel staff loved him and now they put nervous dogs in with him whenever he stays there.

I'm sure your girl will be fine. Dogs are a lot more resilient that we think - it's far worse for us poor owners! The kennel owner said to me that she wishes she could send a video of how people's dogs are about an hour after they've been checked in to show them how ok they are.

Go visit a potential kennel, good ones don't mind you inspecting them and go with your instincts.

(ahem, edited to say, of course you don't live in the north west, you're in the USA - I have baby brain, sorry!)

Dogs don't think like humans - they don't dwell on emotions, or spend time wondering what's happened, but they can and do get stressed some more than others, obviously.

The pet sitting people we've looked at / used in the past all have references, police checks, insurance etc and when we used one the first time we went away (overnight for a friend's wedding) we met the woman who'd be sitting for us and if we hadn't liked her then they'd have found someone else etc. She came over to the house, met Riley and we talked about her routine (feeding, sleeping etc). At that point Riley's separation anxiety was still at the stage where she couldn't be left for more than 45 mins. Riley was fine with her - pleased to see us when we got back but not stressed. I think keeping the routine the same is the most important thing.

I would take her here, but have a totally overbearing dog to deal with too... sorry.

Where was your breeder from? Have you thought about contacting them to see if any of her littermates live nearby and you could swap holidays with them? I'm thinking her behaviour is pretty typical for her breed so another Dach owner will understand her (we send Josie to a boxer owner because she "gets" Josie and her mad behaviour like no one else does. Plus J gets 5 other boxers to play with). Similarly, did you try asking on a yahoo! Dach group or something? That's how we found our dog lady, through a boxer forum.

Which kennels are you looking at using? We were going to use Morris Animal Inn, but I balked at the end. I can't bear the thought of J not being tucked in at night, or just being lonely or confused. I cried like a maniac the time I left her there for a day.

I would ask people at the dog day care also.

We have always taken our dogs to kennels overnight (if we have a new dog or are using different kennels) and then picked them up the next day just so that they know that we will always come and get them - if that makes sense!

I was just about to post this! This is what we did the 1st time, don't know if it really did work but it certainly gave us piece of mind.

We first put our dog in kennels when he was about a year old. We were going to a wedding that would take us away for 4 nights. We had a birthday party to go to the week before so used that opportunity to try out a night in the kennels.

The report that came back from the kennels workers was that our dog barked initially for a few hours, interacted a bit with the dog in the next kennel, then settled down for the night. He was SO EXCITED to see us the following day, but he's a lab so everything is super exciting to him!

Anyway, we got him back in one piece after the wedding and he seemed none the worst for being in kennels.

We now use the kennels fairley regularly when we have a function to go to - or when OH and I are both out of town for work. Dog always gets uber excited on the approach to the kennels, laps up the attention of the workers, and leaves us without a second glance!

It is daunting leaving them for the 1st time - but i'm sure he'll be fine.

BTW i'm loving the doggy creche thing that you use during the daytime - wish we had something like this here!

Thanks both of you. If we do use a kennel, I think I will do a trial run for one night first.

Maxi - The daycare centre we use for Phoebe is one of a couple in our area and they do seem to be very popular in the NY/NJ area. Phoebe's specific place is for dogs of under 25lbs and there is usually 10-15 dogs in a day. It's a lovely place - air conditioned during the summer and heated floor tiles during the winter with a little canopied patio area outside. They also have huge cushions for naptime. The staff are wonderful with the dogs and I know Phoebe is well looked after there. Since she is quite a shy dog, it's done wonders for her confidence.