Are there any other dog owners who cant go away for a weekend and leave their pets in kennels without constantly worrying? I do want to be able to go away but with no one to look after my 2 Im stuck. Maybe I should just trust that the kennels will give them a good play/walk each day!!!!

No...you are not alone! I haven't spent a night away from home since 1988....my last holiday...cos I won't leave my dogs/cats!
(I send rest of family to nice places abroad, without me!)

There has always been one dog or cat who was too young/old/needed me too much to leave, and I would worry myself sick.
This year, for the first time ever, with an oldie of 13, and 2 young ones, 1 year and 5 months, we are having a long weekend away, with them, to see how it goes.(Friend looking after cats.)
If succesful, we will go again, for longer.
I am going to Crufts, for shopping, tomorrow....and have arranged a puppy sitter for the 6 hours we will be away. Even though the dogs and cats have access to garden etc whenever they want, they will still need lunch. My whole life, including my work, revolves around the dogs and cats.......just glad my family understands!
Sam

i know how you feel!
i had to kennel our two over xmas, as we were at the other half's parents for three days and they have a cat [Speed is NO good around 'em]. i agonised about which kennel to use and eventually went for one recommended by a friend, where they give the dogs two walks a day plus extra time spent with them for cuddles and play and fuss. But i still spent most of xmas worrying about them. Finally got back to pick them up and they were fine - i'd worried for nothing :)
Find a good kennels, look round them before you decide on them, ask a few people you know who have kenneled their dogs to recommend one to you. i'm sure your dogs will be fine also :) Take a well earned break!

Annette

Thanks for your ideas!. Ive happily left Jovie with family before with no worry but its too much now Ive got 2 of them especially as Megs a beautiful but slightly mad Collie! I will keep looking at kennels and house sitters as Id love to go away for a city weekend in Amsterdam as a change from going to the caravan with them!

No offense at all to Sami, but I think that the occasional visit to the kennel doesn't do any harm, providing that the kennel is well-reputable (clean, safe, well-maintained, etc.). I always worry about my lab when we leave him for a weekend (once every six months or so), and that's at a doggie daycare where I know that he's got lots of space to run around! Still, there are just some times when the dogs have to be left at home, and I think it's quite rare to not have to do so in fifteen years! I love my dog more than anything, but even he understands that adjustments have to be made!

Personally it wouldn't matter if my dogs were at the Hilton. I just miss them. I also miss not having foreign holidays so now the dogs have passports too. It's the ideal solution for me (don't know about the rest of the family! :D)

I 'm looking into all the doggie friendly places we can go as a family..my 4 yr old daughter wants the dog with her 24/7 ..I understand the feeling they are part of the family and to leave them is hard...If only for a weekend I would ask my mum .As I tell the kids the dog is my 3rd child (well 4th hubby is the 3rd :) )

I'm going abroad in nine weeks and dreading leaving my dogs. I am fortunate enough to have family member move in for the two weeks I'm away. I know they will be well looked after and still have all the home comforts,but i'm still going to miss them like mad.
Alison:)

We went to the West indies for three weeks last year and didn't want to have to put the (5) dogs into kennels, so a friend of mine stayed at the house and looked after the dogs and the cats, rabbit etc. When we got back the animals were fine, but it looked like a bomb had hit the house. Can't have everything I suppose :)

Grace

Do you have small dogs, crazicrest, or do you have them crated if/when they go on airplanes? I've heard so many horror stories about dogs dying on airplanes, but we're thinking of moving and I'm trying to find out about it.

we are looking at buying a touring caravan so we can take our 2 with us. we love devon and cornwall. i wouldnt enjoy myself if i left them at home..they go into a decline if i leave them for a couple of hours!. how sad is that lol.

Hi
I'm lucky because the breeders I got my 2 from board them for me if I go on holiday so I can rest easy.
Regards Archer