we want to put our dog who is 12yrs old and a springer spaniel  in a kennel while we go away, but when we last put her in a kennel the owners phones us up to pick her up afetr 2hrs because she was constantly barking and whining (this was a trial run) ,they even put the radio on and some soothing oils on her bed to help her relax it did not work.  she is fine at home.
they suggested a relax theropy type thing at our vets that did not work, has any body any ideas please.
when she goes in the kennels we take her own toys, bedding and bed, food bowls etc to make her feel safe and comfy.
i guess if i dont find a cure i will have to ask my family to watch her again. :-(

Hi Pickles,

Personally I never use kennels - we take the dogs with us on holiday or if going abroad have family living with them in our home so I can only offer an opinion ;)

a) Two hours doesn't sound like a long period before the kennel owners gave up on her particularly when you've said on another thread that barking and whining all the time is her normal behaviour     Was she perhaps a dog that they didn't feel would settle based on that history rather than on what they attempted to calm her with?

b) If it was me, and I was convinced it was going to distress my dog (particularly at 12 years old :( ) I'd certainly opt for having someone in the family or a friend taking care of her.

regards, Teri :)

they gave up after 2 hours because she was getting herself very distressed and upset, when we pulled up in the car to pick her up, we could hear it in her voice she was really upset. she was supose to be there for 1 night 7pm - 7am, and then again the following wek to prepare her for a weeks stay. never mind, maybe she does not like the enclosed enviroment.

At 12 years old I think it is a bit wrong to expect her to settle somewhere completely unfamiliar and scary - dogs bark in kennels and there are so many different smells it is bound to confuse her and make her feel distressed.  I used to work in kennels and whilst we had old dogs come and stay with us very few of them were experiencing it for the first time.  Why is it that you have decided to go away now that she is 12, have you not had her that long? 

We used to try and place the older dogs in a quite kennel where they can settle and keep them company a lot of the time, younger dogs just think its great seeing new dogs and normally settle in great but in my opinion I think you are expecting a lot from a dog that I am assuming has never left the comforts of her own home??  Does she stay in most of the time, for example my dogs our outside in the day?

If I were you I would either ask someone to have her, come stay in your house or maybe consider a boarding house, many people offer this were by they have your dogs for a week (or day or two etc) for a fee, I think this would be a far better option and would not be too out of the norm for her.

yes she has been in kennels before , but they were not fussy about her barking but when we pick her up she as no voice left, so they must leave her barking. i except it must be scary but we dont know how dogs think do we.
thanks for your opinions, i am goin to ask my friend to call in on her for me.
maybe she was missing my cat :-)

Oh I see, well to be honest I know lots of dogs that do this when in kennels, dogs bark at the end of the day so maybe its worth looking around at another kennel?  Good luck though, also if your friend is unable to se to her you can also have house sitters come see to her??

That's a reason why I don't put my dogs in kennels - they're nice and quiet and I don't want them to start thinking loads of barking is acceptable!

True but there are also time's when we do not have an option - my two are off to kennels next week and they normally stay with my parents but they are unable to have them, I just have to take the chance and hope they don't pick up bad habits, my GSD's never did when they came home from the kennels - I think they just had a little chat to their fellow neighbours LOL :)

I too dont like kennels but once i had to use them for 1 night. My two are quite noisy when it comes to barking at passers by, but they were really quiet in the kennels and loved it, i was more worried than they were. I am lucky as my trainer has just set up a kennel at her house which can accomadate 2 dogs but they will be in the house at night and loose in the garden when she is at home which is most afternoons and most evenings so they wont be cooped up in a kennel 24/7 and as she knows them both i wont worry and i trust her judgement. :)

Hi Sonny

That is a great position to be in, how handy:)  I must admit I am worried about leaving them but then deep down when I think seriously its only 4 days and they will love the attention the kennel maids give them so I am confident it will be fine, after all I worked in a kennel and most of the dogs were fine, in fact all of them were unless they came to us ill in which case we always paid extra attention to them.

If I could avoid kennels I would but asking someone to look after 2 rotties, one in season and one a naughty 1year old and also keep them separated is a lot to ask so I think the kennels is the best and safest option I have.

Yep, it certainly sounds as if you have no option. I know that most kennels are very good at keeping dogs secure and fed - I guess you just have to double up on training before and after and hope they don't learn too many bad habits!

You ought to think carefully before boarding a 12yr old dog at all, especially one that is not happy.  It is evident your dog does not cope and well done to the kennels for seeing how distressed she was becoming, an old dog under such stress could cause her real problems.  Can you not ask a close friend or family member to help you when you go away?
Dawn.