This post may turn out to be a bit long so please bear with me and try not to fall asleep beofre the end.

Katie is a GSD bitch and is nearly 11 years old but is very fit and well and would easily pass for a much younger dog. She was speyed very early (before her first season) and remains a 'Peter Pan' sort of dog who has never really grown up. She is very typical of her breed - very vocal, cannot let anyone/thing pass the house without letting them know she is there but is very friendly and loving to visitors once they are in the house. She is playful and outgoing and nothing much seems to faze her. I also have her litter brother and Katie is definitely 'boss' dog.

Her problem is that she becomes seriously fear aggressive when left in a kennel.The problem first arose a few years ago when she had to have an operation to have a lump removed. She was sedated by the vet and taken out to a kennel and I was told to ring back at 1pm to find out when I could pick her up. I received a phone call from the vet's at 11am asking me to collect her as they had been unable to get her out of the kennel to do the op as she had attacked anyone who tried to approach her. At first I thought they must be exaggerating as she is such a softie at home but the vet assured me that she was not joking and that anyone who hasd opened the kennel door would have been bitten.

Since then she has had a number of ops (she suffers from recurring haemangiopericytomas) and we have had the same performance every time. We get round this by my staying with her until she is out for the count and then picking her up as soon as she comes round (she now gets knocked out using the same drug they use on wild animals with another injection to bring her round).

Each time I have gone to pick her up (I have to get her from the kennel area myself as no-one can get near her) I have been shocked at the state she gets into. She literally foams at the mouth, her eyes are rolling in her head and she is usually covered in blood as she tends to cut her mouth and tear her claws in her attempts to get out. She also does her business a number of times when in the kennel.

As soon as I arrive to 'rescue' her she becomes a different dog and returns to her normal happy self straight away. She is then very friendly towards the vets/nurses and they can do anything with her as long as I am there. The vet's I use are very understanding but there is little they can do to help her overcome her fears as obviously they are a busy practice and cannot pit thenselves at risk with a big dog who reacts in such a way.

Now for the actual problem (finally ) - I am going on holiday next March for a fortnight and am going to have to put both dogs in kennels for the first time and am really worried that if she reacts the same way in a boarding kennels that they will not be able to get near her for a fortnight. The intention is to kennel her in a double kennel with Oscar in the hope that this will help her settle (Oscar is so laid back he is almost horizontal). I will visit a large number of kennels and see how they react to the potential problems before deciding on the right one and will kennel them overnight a couple of times before I go away just to see how they get on but wondered if anyone had any advice as to anything I can do in the meantime to overcome her fears.

I am already feeling guilty about going away (my first holiday abroad for 18 years!) and would hate to have to spend the full two weeks panicking over what is happening with the dogs.

The main question is will she react the same way in boarding kennels as she does at the vets or is she likely to settle better. Any input would be much appreciated!

Lisa
xx

All I can suggest is that when you have checked out all the local kennels, both the 'vet' them, and to explain the situation, is to book her and Oscar in for one night, and see how it goes. I think it's the only way you'll know for sure.

Poor you - what a horrid situation.

Checking out kennels does seem to be your best way of tackling this. Years ago I had a Staffs Bull Terrier that was difficult for kennels to handle abeit it he was an absolute softy at home. After some awful experiences with boarding kennels that refused to take him back I found a kennel with an owner used to boarding GSDs and Dobes and although the kennel maids were too afraid to go near my dog the kennel owner could handle him okay. If you know any GSD or Dobe breeders locally they could maybe suggest someone. Over the years I have owned rescue dogs with various problems and found that choosing a boarding kennel to suit their needs was best done through "Word of mouth" talking to other dog owners. I have ended up boarding dogs in kennels up to thirty miles away but it has been worth it.

My daughter and son in law have a GSD bitch that is nervy with strangers and they board her with a GSD breeder who has boarding kennels. She gives him no trouble at all.

Hope you find somewhere suitable.

Eleanor

Hi, just a thought could you perhaps ring the breeders for advice,maybe they
would look after your dogs for a couple of weeks or know of a good kennel,
with experience of G.S.D'S,worth a try.

Regards Briony :-)

Hi Lisa,

Definately speak to the local kennels (or wherever she is booked in) and explain the problem. Ask if they are willing to meet her during the day, take her and Oscar down there for a few hours during the day, put them both in a kennel and see how they get on. This way the kennel owners can see what they are taking on, or she may be ok as this is not the vets.

If she reacts that badly, I personally wouldn't kennel her and would find another alternative, as Briony said, maybe try the breeder, a relative who knows her or possibly even a pet sitter (registered of course). :)

manda
X

i agree, definitely get the kennel staff to meet her and try to get a day in at least before you go :)

When I worked in kennels, we had several dogs who really never settled - one was a Great Dane and one was a GSD. The owner of the kennels basically just chucked the Dane's meals in and shut the door, the dog was so stressed and became aggressive when anyone approached, it was very sad. It was in kennels 2 weeks.

The GSD was in whilst its owner was moving home and he was really OTT, the kennel owner had some trouble with him and he never had any walks. He responded to me well, partly because his owner was a woman, and understood pet commands such as giving a paw, and once he saw i spoke his language he was very well behaved towards me. It may be worth writing a list of words you use at home to help both staff and dog ?

I know kennel staff try to make dogs feel at home, but to be honest some dogs do have a very bad time in kennels. I do hope you find a solution and that your dog copes, it will help that she will be with another dog.

Lindsay

Have you considered a house/pet sitter

I was going to suggest that especially with her age as if she is not HP about kennels anyway this would seem the preferable option. At least you will have piece of mind that she will be OK and not spend most of your holiday fretting over her ! We have had house/ dog sitters and all the girls were as happy as Larry ! Didn't really miss us at all, well not as much as we missed them ! :)

Lucy

One note of caution about using a pet sitter. Make sure that the dog is okay with the person when you are out of the house. I left my staffs bull terrier one evening with a babysitter caring for my children when they were little. A friend that the dog knew well and seemed fine with.Once we had left the dog had placed himself at the foot of the stairs and wouldn't let my friend go up to the children's bedroom.

Years later another friend well known to my rescue working collie took care of her while we attended a funeral. The old collie was happy to let my friend feed her and let her out in the garden for a run and then she too lay at the foot of the stairs and snarled when my friend tried to pass her. This time there were no children upstairs.

Both of these dogs had known my friends for years and were used to their being in the house and had always been friendly to them. Why with an interval of about twenty years of my having the bull terrier and then the collie both were funny about people they knew well going upstairs in two different houses when I was out?...who knows?

Kind regards
Eleanor

I would definitely look into dog sitters. IF you are worried about strangers in your home we use one where are lab goes to their house and lives in their house as a pet. No kennels, no stress, she loves it

They also offer sitters with dogs of their own and sitters without, depending on how well your dog socialises.

I'm sure theres something similar in your area.

Its a bit more expensive but surely worth it if it means you can go away and enjoy your holiday knowing she is safe and well

Thanks to everyone for their advice and support. I am now trying hard to find a pet sitter who charges a reasonable amount (the first quote I got was £700!) as this will be a far better option. Hopefully they will only have to be kennelled as a last resort but I have lots of tips now for making things easier for her if she does have to go in kennels.

The local kennels I was going to use was a GSD breeder but they have now changed hands, my mothers dog is in there at the moment and I shall be going with her to pick him up and see how he has fared and have a good look round and a chat but am quite hopeful that I will be able to find a good pet sitter (I have already had a couple of offers and am following them up)

Thanks again and I will let you know how we are getting on - Katie is lying at my feet looking as if butter wouldn't melt, hard to believe she can change into such a demon when kennelled!

Lisa
xx

Have you tried here?

I've used them very successfully.
:)