Hi Everyone
Last year, we put our Collie (Sasha) into Kennels when we went on our holidays. Since we hadn't had her for very long, we were a little concerned about whether or not she would be OK, and how she would react. Everything turned out to be fine, she didn't even get Kennel Cough. However, just recently, we spotted an ad in the local newsagents about a "Dog Swap". The idea was that you would look after this other person's dog, and they would look after yours when you go on holiday. Seeing as we felt bad about leaving Sasha in kennels, we jumped to this idea straight away. It turns out that the 2 dogs get along very well, so it's not long until we go to Spain for a week, and then the following month they go to Ireland. I just wondered what you thought of this idea, and whether you have had any experiences yourselves with this sort of thing.

Best Wishes,

Daniel.

NO THANKS !!!
Wouldn't give my dog to a stranger to care for, not knowing them and giving them the responsibility of exercising, feeding etc..., not for me I'm afraid, but you had a good experience so, maybe it's for you. (and others)
Dawn.

Hi Dawn,
I can see where you are coming from. However, we have walked with the lady and her dog once, and plan to do so again 2 or 3 times before we actually go on holiday. They seem nice enough people - and the dog's nice too.

Thanks for you comment

Daniel.

Don't they say some strangers are friends you've never met :)

So what exactly do you do when you have to leave your dogs. Reading all of your posts no one knows your dogs or can be responsible for your dogs like you can, so do you just never leave them?

Dawn B is a kennel manageress. If everyone got other people to mind their dogs in their own homes she'd be out of a job :)

Thats way out of line Lara!
I turn many dogs away because of unsuitability for boarding, old not well etc... your comment was uncalled for. I have GENUINE concern for this type of arrangement, I have known several terrible incidences that could have been avoided. I also see loads of people who have tried these arrangements that are very unhappy with what they come home to. Sick dogs, ripped up fighting with the other dogs they are living with, large vet bills etc... if I wanted to mention kennels, then I would have done so! As for my dogs, well, I don't put the responsibility of them on ANYONE, I take them with me !!!
Dawn.

Not meant as criticism in any way Dawn - merely stating an observation :)

Forgiven and forgotten Lara! :D
Dawn.

This however doesn't mean that it won't happen, just it might not - thats all!

Fair enough, but as a kennel manageress you must know that some dogs, some breeds etc just do not do well in a kennel environment. So there has to be some middle ground. And at the end of the day, leaving my dog in kennels is still leaving my dog in the hands of a complete stranger!

We have a GREAT kennel near us that we had to use in an emergency. They were very aware of the needs of our dogs, that they wouldn't do well in kennels - and offered off their own bat to feed them an extra meal a day (I have whippets). I was very happy with how the dogs were taken care of, but at the end of the day the dogs weren't as happy as they would have been had they been taken care of in a home environment. So my first choice is either someone they can go to or someone that can live in my house with them. This time when we go away they are having a bit of both. They are staying with my boss at the weekends (who they adore!) and someone else is coming here to live in with them during the week.

Both people will have letters from me giving them the right to authorise any treatment necessary in the case of an emergency as well as having their names on file with my vet, the dogs are both insured (against injury to them and to others). The person living in has whippets of her own so knows their 'foibles'.

I am from Canada, have family in Canada, I understood when I took on my dogs that there would be times I would have to leave them for holidays and such. To be honest I have a harder time leaving them than they do with me gone, but that's fine by me. They have their own bit of holiday:)

I guess whether you intended or not your post implies that anyone who would leave a dog is an irresponsible owner. I do take objection to that. And although you may not recommend a particular thing that doesn't mean that it doesn't work for some/many people. As many horror stories that you can tell me about the situations with dogsitting I can tell you just as many about situations in kennels.

Just my .02

Wendy

Thanks Wendy!
Nice to hear somebody else who shares my views!

Hi Daniel,
Never experienced this, but if the dogs are okay with it, then I'd say Go for it!! They're happier in a "Home Environment" than in kennels.
I get sitters in for my four, so I know how you feel about kennelling them.

Hi
Thanks for your comment. We'll just have to see I suppose!

Daniel.

I look after my friends dog and cat whilst she's away on holiday and she does the same for me when i go away. It's the perfect arrangement.
A little different because i already know her, but i think if you get to know these people then it could be the a great solution, as long as they respect your wishes, and of course you theirs.

I think it's a great solution too- provided obviously that everyone's okay about it and straight forward:) Although some kennels are great - they don't beat a nice homely environment curled up at someones feet:)

Stacey x x x

What happens if your dog gets hurt or escapes? goes missing, unable to catch because the dog doesn't trust or know you well. who foots the bill? Would these people be able to authorise treatment for injury, or (god forbid) your dog bites someone who is responsible then?, the person who you left the dog with who doesn't really know your dog that well, or you, who probably would have been able to avoid the situation given the fact you DO know your dog. I just see it as a HUGE risk to your dog.( and yourself.)
Dawn.

Yes, and given the fact that we know our dog, we can make the judgement as to whether or not we think it would be a good idea or not.

You can indeed, and I sincerely hope it works for you, but it's not for me!
Dawn.

Personally I think it's a good idea providing you think you can trust the person with your dog then why not.So long as you feel that person will give he same level of care to your dog as you would to hers then go for it

I wouldnt trust anybody with my pets only family and very good trusted friends .
My friend recently fired her dog walker as this lady never took the dog out for which she was being paid .
It was only when her neighbour mentioned this lady was only at the house for 5 minutes and she found the lead wasnt being moved from where she left it .
I would have to have a lot of trust !!!
Lel

SPOT ON LEL !!!
Exactly what I am talking about.
Dawn.

Since most of us love our dogs as children - you wouldnt just leave your kiddies with someone else who happened to have kids on the basis that you would also mind theirs in the future .
Its probably meant with good intention but as mentioned - what if your dog /cat /whatever gets ill , lost , hurt etc - they have no history or knowledge of your pet . :(
What sort of redress would you have ??
Lel

They have should have as much history and knowledge as you tell them. I would expect to be able to contact them and chat about how they're doing and any problems at any time - not be restricted to kennel opening hours and an answering machine.
If they got ill I would expect them to contact MY vet, not the one the kennel uses, where they will have a full medical history on record. I am on the end of my mobile to be contacted at any time - not find out that my dogs have had a problem in kennels only when I go to pick them up. Incidentally, this has happened not once but twice to me to date.
If you can't build up a trust with someone looking after your dogs then its a bit of a non starter. It depends on how you feel about your dogs and the person you trust. I have a trusted friend to look after my pets - not all of them - but I worry more about the one in kennels than the ones which are not!
If they got lost then it would be very unfortunate :(
Lara x

We had a dog sitter to come to our home to look after the dogs,rabbits,ferrets,rats,chickens,ducks :) it cost more than the holiday :)...The dogs were not allowed out of the grounds and could not get out, everything was set up for ease before we left,time was spent before hand showing what was expected and getting to know the dogs, which isn't hard with this lot.Good friends and family were available at the drop of the hat if there was the slightest problem or query and phoned every day to check for me and then texted to let me know and I still worried my self sick while away from them.
On our return the house was immaculate and all the animals were fine...when ever you leave your animals in someone elses care you always take a risk where ever it may be, but wouldn't feel happy taking them round to someones house ( not that I could anyway :) ) but what if a door was left open and they got out on to the road or something..oh I couldn't do that, I'd never sleep.
Tracey

Lets not get all over-excited!! Following a letter posted today from the owner of the other dog, it looks like it may not happen after all - the prospect of kennels again looks more real. Oh Well.

Daniel.

ps. Thanks for all of your responses!

It's ok Daniel we all love a good debate, no harm done. It's just our individual preferences, and mine with house/pet sitters have been far from favourable. Other people here have had good experiences, and for them it is the better thing for them to do. You asked for comments and experiences, well Daniel, you certainly got that !! I hope all goes well for your dog, wherever she stays. :D
Dawn.

Thanks Dawn! Everyone's comments are much appreciated!

Dawn - wow - this post seems written by a different person! Okay, glad we can all agree to disagree.

Wendy:)

Not at all Wendy, I will always agree to disagree, but we were asked for comment and experiences, thats what happenened. I originally said it may be the right thing for some people, but based on my experiences, not for me.

As for dogs in kennels, well there will inevitably be a few that do not cope well, but they are few and far between, Whippets, we board many owned by different people, all family pets, some top class show dogs, no problem. The main consideration for me with leaving a dog with a stranger is the safety aspect. If ever they escaped, in a strange environment, I don't wish to think what may happen. Properly run kennels are secure, run by people who know dogs of many breeds, most kept as pets really, they know breed characteristics etc... and can recognise problems quickly. The other thing that someone mentioned is not being there when they should be. How long (to you) is it acceptable for your dog to be left alone ? someone is present on the boarding premises 24hrs a day, surely you cannot expect the same of "joe public" just to be there for YOUR dog and give up their normality for 2 weeks or so.

I think we all view things in a different way, I see problems you do not, you see problems I do not, such is life, and it would be such a bore if we all agreed all the time.

Good luck Daniel with your choice.
Dawn.

Hi DANIEL
We too have worried about holidays but on reading popular dog magazines in the ad section there is some beautiful holiday cabins and so on you can take the furry family members with you so you can all enjoy the break.
NAD

Yes, I have seen those.