which do you think is the best? putting a dog in a kennel or having a pet sitter come into your home to care for the pets.
i have only used kennels,i am wary of using a pet sitter service.but 2 nurses at my vets offer this service.
would like to know peoples experiences of both.
we might be going to disney for a 3 week period as a family holiday and i want to get all the info now as what is best.
i might twist my mums arm and she will have the dog and come round for the rest when we are away.

I would go for a pet sitter with my two - danes are worriers and I don't want them disrupted and losing weight in kennels. I'd go to a reputable home sitter or not go (I take the second option LOL) :D

which do you use?

I don't go on holiday - can't bear to leave the dogs or horses :)

Don't you find it leaves you conversationally at a disadvantage - not going on holiday, I mean. We rarely go because of my caring responsibilities - but I find that all that people of my (advanced)...age seem to talk about is where they have been / are about to go - on their holidays. So they say - "Have you been away lately?" I reply, "No." Effectively - end of conversation. (Needless to say they're usually not doggy people, so they don't want to know about my beautiful labs....: :( :( :(.

They don't ask me - usually they are too busy looking pityingly at the mud on my clothes, the horse muck on my boots and the dane sized footprints on the side of my head :D :D :D

rofl....

I don't enjoy putting my dogs in kennels however I prefer it to worrying what they might do in the hands of someone else; Maximum Security Wing Kennels every time; at least I always know where they are.............

I prefer the security of boarding kennels for my dog - I'm a dog sitter!! Not that I've ever lost anyones dog (touch wood) or ever had any problems, I just feel my dog would cause less problems for everyone else if not allowed to mix with other dogs without me to keep him on the straight & narrow.

If I went - and I am considering it this year (for once) I'd have a house sitter here - with no other dogs. Maximum security features already installed :D

i have only used kennels,the 1 i use is vet recommended and she has 5 of her own.they go out 2 times each day and mix with others on the court yard.she will give any regular meds if needed as our old dog needed.she owns a small holding and walks the dogs in the woods etc but never of the lead,which  i wouldn't want her too.my mum finishes work soon and if i ever go out the dog goes to hers for the day,so it is like a 2nd home to him.i do the same for them if /when needed as the dogs see each other as pack.the only thing i am thinking is could she manage to walk him as he is a leo and hers is a boxer.my dad wouldn't be able too because he has very bad arms and wouldn't have the strength.i know she would have him but would it be fair,hes only young and maybe if i put him in a kennel so he is used to it.he is ok on the lead but can try it on,i wouldn't want my parents to have hell so to speak for 3 weeks for doing me a favour.   

:D

Obi is going to his dog sitter next weekend for a week, first time I have used one as my Mum and Dad have the older two - but they would not be able to cope with my on the go pup.  The dogsitter comes recommended, has five dogs of her own (huskies) that are kennelled outside so they don't need to meet if they don't get on.  She doesn't let the dogs she sits for off the lead so she can't lose them - having huskies means she has maximum security fencing at home!
I couldn't have beared to put him in kennels, but that is purely my choice but I had to make sure I found a sitter that was experienced enough with dogs to cope with a Cattle Dog pup.  Having said that I still dread dropping him off, he is such a dedicated little family dog, but I am sure he will be fine.  I'm with you Chloe, if it wasn't for the kids I don't think I would ever go away without the dogs (fortunately no scary horses to worry about!)

Hayley

We have a prearranged dog swap with a friend we trust - we have their dog when they go away and vice versa. Seems to work although we haven't had to put it to the test much yet.

this is what we do among the family dogs.all know each other and get on plus the dogs know us as well so feel safe etc.
works well for us.plus it stops the dogs from being alone for any long periods.