Hi!
I usually put Chloe, my seven yr old Bichon Frise into kennels when we go on hols. and although I feel guilty and worry about her all the time we are away, she always appears happy and healthy when we return. I've just seen an ad by a company who say they find carers for your dog and place them in a family environment where they'll be treated exactly as they would be at home, and where there will be no other dogs or cats or pre-school age children. My concern though is if these "carers" are dog-lovers, why don't they have pets of their own? Is anyone out there familiar with this type of dog-boarding, and if so what do they think?
Thanks, Michele

Hi Michele
Boarding kennels have to be licenced each year and can be inspected at any time, (although this does guarantee everything), your dog is cared for by people who are experienced with handling and caring for dogs. She will be safe and should she become ill will be attended to by a vet and treated promptly.

Carers on the other hand, I don't think need to be registered or licenced by anyone, so are never open to any inspection. You may think I am kennel biased because I manage a kennels, but I personally would not want my dog taken to a strange home. What if she gets out, what if she becomes ill, are they prepared to pay for any treatment untill you return, will they have any body elses pets there, could there be a problem with them you are not told about, will they be mixed with other dogs etc..

I don't doubt that many people on this board use carers and are perfectly happy with the service they provide, that's fine, but listening to people who have had major problems with it leaves me in no doubt of where I would rather leave my dogs.

Hope it turns out well whatever you decide.

Dawn.

Hi Michelle,

A Kennel is professionally run for a dog's needs. With people employed who understand and enjoy the work involved. And yes we do tend to feel guilty leaving them there, but they are looked after well and you know they will be SAFE.

An independant Carer on the other hand. How do you know they will be treated as you do in your home. How will they respond and treat your dog to what he does in their home? - would they 'correct' the dog the way you would want. When they take the dog out, if there are any problems (with other dogs) can they cope? Too many accidents can occur in a home/garden environment, are they aware of the possible cautions? What happens if someone accidently leaves a door open, or suddenly discover they need to go somewhere for the whole day! They are NOT professionally set up to care for dogs - a GOOD Kennels are!

I would worry far more with someone I do not know having the care of my dog, then a professional Kennel who are geared to keep your dog safe and well until you return.

Finding a GOOD Kennel is necessary though (recommendation ideal). However, you have already said that you have used a Kennel and on your return your dog is well and happy. So I would continue with what clearly works!

All the very best,
Denise.

Hi michelle,
I've left my two girls in kennels with no problems before. The longest was 3 months when we couldn't find a place to live. We were all unhappy, but they did really well. I've had a licensed & bonded pet sitter come over 2x in the day when we left for just two days & I didn't want to put all three dogs (including an elderly one) into kennels for that short of a time. That worked out quite well, too.

I just don't like the idea of dogs staying in a stranger's home, I had enough difficulty handling the situation with a trusted friend.
The only time I ever had problems was when my two 'girls' stayed with my next door neighbor and it has completely sworn me off of "personal homes." I think it's easier for them to adjust to a run & a kennel than a household with other habits.

Seriously, I was gone for 7 weeks to Korea and it was an absolute nightmare for all. They didn't adjust to being out of my house and in hers even though they had been there as visitors almost on a daily basis. She had a different schedule that they just didn't adapt to-- along with more noise, yelling, problems with their small dogs ganging up on mine, plus visitors popping in & out of there. Because of the persistant moping & ganging up of their former "buddies," my dogs were basically either in their crate or outside in the dirt yard. Not much fun.

Chienne had serious grand mal seizures after the third week from the stress and developed nasty ear infections. She was healing on one by the time I returned, but the other ear hadn't been diagnosed & it was crusty & oozing. After much debate, she had taken them to my vet who treated them on "credit" until I returned home. She wanted to put Chienne on pheno barbital, but he held off until I returned. He was also surprised at how poorly they were doing.

I was shocked to see them when I came home. Both dogs lost a lot of weight and were absolutely miserable. Chienne was skeletal at 12.5 pounds & her coat was grey & dull instead of black. They never had looked like that in their life! She had one more seizure after I returned and no more for a year. So drugs were not the answer.

Even though I knew & trusted this friend, what had happened to both of them really shook my faith & trust. I had given her some money for time, effort, & taking care of them, but no more would I ever have my dogs taken care of in a home. There were some other problems that we had to deal with while I was gone, including an infestation of Black Widow spiders in my house & she also discovered she was pregnant when she became violently ill, so I don't really blame her for what happened, but still it was a horrible experience. I don't want any chance of that happening ever again.

Dealing with a brick & mortar business for recourse is much easier than a "cottage industry." There are licenses & consumer groups you can go to if there is trouble. I think someone might have a good intention, but it could easily become a disaster.

toodles

My neighbour asked me to look after their Springer pup when they went on holiday. I refused and the friendship has been very shaky since then. I don't agree with the way they treat their puppy and there's no way I'd be able to manage with my 3 children, Holly and their puppy.

I told them that they'd have to put it in kennels for the fortnight and she wasn't impressed at all. It turned out they'd assumed I'd have the pup and couldn't afford the kennel fees. They tried to make me feel guilty by saying they'd live the pup in the house by itself if I didn't have it. I told them if they did that I'd call the RSPCA and have them done for neglect. (Strangely enough, they didn't take that very well :D)

The pup went to his parents in the end and hasn't returned, they're keeping him as they don't think that my neighbours can look after the pup properly.

Fiona
x x x

Fiona, do you really have a friendship with her after all that????? ;) :D
It took a lot of guts to say "no" to her in the first place & realizing your limitations. You did the best thing for you & your family. Don't let her make you feel guilty or take any blame off of the situation. I just feel sorry for the pup.

Still, making plans of vacation without even consulting you prior to it... what nerve that took! Obviously, they weren't going to leave you any money to help out with emergency or just a little token of appreciation. I had left quite a bit, & I still wonder how come my vet couldn't have been paid with it...but no matter. It was a while ago, but I have to admit, our "friendship" never was the same after that. Oh well.

Hi Sara,

The friendship is pretty much dead in the water - it makes things very difficult really as we live very close to each other, also our children are friends.

On the odd occasion that we haven't been able to take Holly with us we've made a 400 mile round trip to my parents so they can look after her. She loves it there and I know that I can trust my parents with her.

Fiona
x x x

We recently got house and dogs sitters in for three weeks when we went to NZ.

They had a wail of a time in there own home and with somebody that they knew they could get away with murder and get totaly spoilt ! They were friends rather than professionals but we know them very well and we knew we could trust them.

It was so much better for them to be in the environment they are used to. We did put the elder two in kennels when they were younger and they coped reasonably well but the way we have done it this time is thoroughly recommended.

Lucy

I agree with you completely Lucy. Having the dogs remain in your own house with trusted friends is the ideal choice. I just think that kennels are better than staying at another friend's house. Now, having one dog is different on that point. It's much easier than dealing with a pair or more :D
toodles

Thank you all for your advice. If I hadn't asked your opinions I may well have decided to give them a try as there isn't much difference in price, and the idea of a nice homely environment for Chloe did appeal to me. Thanks for pointing out all the things that could go wrong, and in fact did go wrong for most of you,~there's no way now that I could possibly take that chance.
Thanks again,
Michele