I have two Shih-tzus and I have to put them in kennels for 12 days . They have been in a kennel before and on that occasion I checked out several and thought I had found the best one. When I bought them back, their beds were soaked in urine and they didn't smell too good either. I have looked over several this time but with all due respect (I'm sure most do a good job) I am still unhappy about leaving them.
I can't leave them with family as this is a treat for all the family to Florida. Does anyone have any recomendations in the Fareham, Hampshire area. Also does it do them any harm to be left like this? At the moment I can't look forward to my holiday as I am too worried about my dogs. Oh by the way one is four, the other is three.

When I left my perfectly house-trained cavaliers in a small kennel environment, they wee-ed in their beds. Some years later, when we had a rescue dog, we took his own bed to the kennels plus a foam camping mat he used at home. When we collected him, the camping mat was saturated and soaking and had to be hastily dispatched to the tip! :( :(.
The kennel staff merely remarked, "Oh, he's marked his territory!". I presume dogs do this out of insecurity, "marking" the only bit of home they have with them? Sorry, I don't know what the answer is.

Cathy.

Yes I thought that was the reason they may have done this. I think it was the younger one that did this and it took a little while to get her house trained again. I blame myself really because I love them both to bits but the smaller one is quite small for a shih-tzu and I suppose like us all I fuss them up too much. I do work part time but I never leave them for more than four and a half hours at a time. They do rule my life to a certain extent but they give so much in return I don't begrudge them a thing. They take their toys and bedding with them but they must feel they are being abandoned. You can't explain that you will be coming back for them. I don't think there will be another holiday without them, thats if I make this one.

The only thing I can recommend would be professional house-sitters, who also care for your dogs in their own home. I have used a particular company twice (first time for a weekend, second time a fortnight) and I was delighted to be able to come home to relaxed animals and a clean house! It can work out pricey, but I have 4 dogs who must not be separated, and nowhere has a kennel and run big enough! (Plus they don't know what a kennel is!) The company I use is national.

That sounds good but my husband is not too keen to have strangers staying in the house. It would put my mind at rest but it would just make him worry about this instead

Sorry I read that wrong. You didn't mean our house. The only thing with that is it is a big responsability that they don't get out and something happens to them which is far worse than being miserable for a while I guess.

Hi,
Yes, I hated having strangers in the house...I hate having anyone in my kitchen, even my mother....but they were police checked and insured...and they didn't let the dogs off the lead, even in places where we'd said it was safe, just in case...and they took them for more walks than we do, because they were on the lead...I'm booking them this summer, too. :)

Yes, I can see the advantages of that, especially if you have several dogs. I would find it difficult to trust anyone else to walk my dog, though - suppose they let him/her off lead and there was an accident. As you can see I'm completely neurotic already, and we haven't even got a dog at the moment - hopefully later in the year. There's no doubt the holiday situation is always a worry. I think our new doggy will just come camping with us in the UK....(actually it's difficult for us to get away at all because of my daughter's disability, so holidays abroad are not really an issue)....:( :(
Cathy.

Try phoning your local vets and ask if they can reccommend anyone to care for your dogs at their home whilst you are away.
I dogsit in my own home for many owners usually through recomendation from my vets,{I am not touting for buisness as I am not in your area :) }
There are a few of use that do this and all the people I know LOVE the dogs like their own, and will not endanger the dog by letting off the lead unless they are 100% sure, I only let the ones off I know and are regulars and have never lost a dog or had any injuries.

Most of the dogs that come and stay with me go home looking better than when they arrived as I am very fussy with grooming ect and always give the dogs a brush up and nail cut if they need it before they go home.

What a wonderful service, you're worth your weight in gold!
Cathy.