Leaving my 1.5 year old yorkie for the first time for vacation!

[MinniesMom0319]

I am leaving at the end of December for either 4 or 5 nights unfortunately my little girl cannot come with us. A really good friend of mine who has watched Minnie a few times before and occasionally takes her to her office Fridays is going to watch her. Is there anything I should do beforehand? I am nervous leaving her for that amount of time. The longest Minnie has been away from me was one night when she was younger. Does anyone has any input positive or negative how their Yorkie reacted?

[Hermione]

Hi, I had to leave my three-year old Yorkie for three weeks last year while I went abroad to accompany my husband for medical treatment.

My biggest problem was finding someone whom I could trust. It was going to be the first time we were going to be apart. All my plans kept falling through and I couldn't find anyone. In the end I had to leave him with an elderly couple who wanted to look after him and knew how to look after dogs. I took Jake to meet them once before I left and he seemed to take to them quite easily, in fact, I was surprised how much he liked them because he usually barks at everyone.

When the time came to leave him, I bought Jake a couple of new toys and took along his blanket, a jumper of mine, his grooming tools, plus anything else I thought was needed. I also wrote out complete instructions on how to feed him etc. Although he seemed a little confused when I walked away and left him behind he settled in quickly and was looked after very well in my absence. The couple fell in love with him and even had a photo of him enlarged and put in a frame. After being away for three weeks I thought he would forget me but he was happy to see me and I was so happy to have him back!

[Jkpal]

The couple fell in love with him and even had a [COLOR=green !important]photo[/COLOR] of him enlarged and put in a frame. After being away for three weeks I thought he would forget me but he was happy to see me and I was so happy to have him back.
Thanks for sharing such a positive experience!

[ritapatt]

I take care of cats and dogs in my neighborhood. The most important thing is the previsits (more than one if necessary) Exact instructions to their feeding and habits and leaving a worn tshirt behind. I took care of a very elderly pup (3 pre-visits) and she was really fussing the first day- I picked her up ( she needed to be carried to potty) with the tshirt wrapped around her and she cuddled right in- we did fine after that.

[MinniesMom0319]

Thank you for such a positive story! I will definitely leave her with a shirt of mine. She loves the women who is watching he so I hope that helps a little.

[Wylie's Mom]

Your baby will be fine . Make sure you have her microchip information stored/available, make sure the sitter knows where your regular vet is and where the nearest 24hr vet is.

[Jkpal]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Your baby will be fine . Make sure you have her microchip information stored/available, make sure the sitter knows where your regular vet is and where the nearest 24hr vet is.

Right on! My fab-amundo groomer, Carolyn, has my vet's card and understands should it ever be necessary, get Piper there with instructions to do whatever is required to save her...This came about because my Oscar-worthy drama queen got bit by an ant right before grooming appointment. Despite Piper walking on three legs, her back leg tucked-up under her belly, I figured being with Carolyn would distract Piper and a bath might actually calm her...So I dropped Pipe off, with Carolyn's approval, and with the understanding to do above if ant bite was something more. Thank goodness, it wasn't and Piper was her bouncy little self upon pick-up. (I just figure if anyone caring for Piper knows where to take her and has instructions to do so immediately, precious time is not wasted on contacting me for okay, instructions, etc.)

[yavenay]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Your baby will be fine . Make sure you have her microchip information stored/available, make sure the sitter knows where your regular vet is and where the nearest 24hr vet is.

Good point. When I went over seas for two weeks, I gave my vet my credit card number and I authorized my step mom to be able to make any charges in the event of an emergency. They put notes in her file stating my stepmom had the authority to charge my credit card up to a certain amount.......enormous peace of mind. This way, my stepmom did not have to worry about paying any money for any emergencies.

Check with your vet to see if they allow that.

[misskate]

just red all this encouraging info but I'm still scared. We will be leaving for 2 weeks in sept and I am looking for a sitter/kennel/home for my velcro 8 year old. My fear is that he will try to escape and come looking for me. He is a little nutty at times and I wouldn't be surprised if he bolted. We can't keep him here in the house with a sitter so he has to be placed elsewhere. Any sugestions??

[Cats307]

Had it all planned out then my son decides to book a vacation same time we are in Hawaii for 2 weeks. And it was right after I told himour dates. He had agreed to watch Max 9 months ago. Now 2 weeks before we leave I'm at square one! Not sure what to do.

[Jkpal]

Well, first off...I think you need to 'ground' your son--oh wait, that would solve problem! Kidding, of course. Wish I had suggestions, but I'm facing a similar situation with Piper. Do I leave her? If so, where? Will she be safe if she comes with me (lots of active, but unaware of Yorkie traits, etc., family)?

[misskate]

Originally Posted by Jkpal

Well, first off...I think you need to 'ground' your son--oh wait, that would solve problem! Kidding, of course. Wish I had suggestions, but I'm facing a similar situation with Piper. Do I leave her? If so, where? Will she be safe if she comes with me (lots of active, but unaware of Yorkie traits, etc., family)?

That's just the point. I don't think yorkies are any different from other dogs but they do have their quirks. Do I leave Pippo with a dog sitter or is it better to search out someone who has the breed and/or knows them well? I can't wish him on my family when we visit with them because he can be very naughty I have time to shop around for the right sitters but I'm still scared he will do something foolish (he's busted through window screens to get to me as I was watering in the garden). Any pointers will be appreciated.

[gemy]

Originally Posted by Cats307

Had it all planned out then my son decides to book a vacation same time we are in Hawaii for 2 weeks. And it was right after I told himour dates. He had agreed to watch Max 9 months ago. Now 2 weeks before we leave I'm at square one! Not sure what to do.

I would check with my vet to see if they know of good pet sitters. Also my regular pet food store, they often allow local doggie service folks to post on their board.

Next if there is a local facebook page see if anyone is advertising there, also local dog parks.

It can be easier to place your dog in a home, rather than try to pay for a 24/7 petsitter living in your house.

I rarely leave my dogs, how-ever when I have, I leave them with my trainer who I know knows how to control large dogs, and they get to go to training every single day with him :-) But on the otherhand they also have to live with his pack of 6+ dogs.

[pstinard]

We board our Bella at our vet's when we go on vacation. We pay extra for her to have a private room and playtime with U of Illinois vet students. They told us that they brought her out to the office for the office staff to play with as well, since she is so adorable . We've had offers from neighbors to watch her, but I'd rather have her at the more secure vet's facility because if the neighbors ever let her escape by accident, it would be heartbreaking.

[Cats307]

Originally Posted by Jkpal

Well, first off...I think you need to 'ground' your son--oh wait, that would solve problem! Kidding, of course. Wish I had suggestions, but I'm facing a similar situation with Piper. Do I leave her? If so, where? Will she be safe if she comes with me (lots of active, but unaware of Yorkie traits, etc., family)?

Not sure if I want to strangle him or his wife! I talked to him 20 min. B4 he booked his dates. Told him anytime after the 18th...he said they were thinking the 19 or 20. Then books it for the 14th! 2 weeks from today we take a flight to Hawaii and still no sitter! Thought about doggy daycare but he hurt his leg in a fall and ER dr said strict bedrest. I've noticed if he's up playing that night he's crying in pain so doggy daycare is out. Thought about kenneling him with his 2 sisters but that seems so long to sit in a kennel just the 3 of them.

My mom can take all of them on the 18th but she has her dog and my sister dog. My sister And family are going with us too. So leaving total of 5 dogs with a 83 yr old seems cruel.

My sister in law works nights so if she came over she's gone from 10pm to 7:30am then sleeps till 4:00. Plan was her to be here and Max at daycare so he has companion time but with his leg can't do that. The original op have you tried drop in care? We have a few names but I stay at home with them and think how bad it would be only having someone drop by a few times a day? We checked on high schoolers in the area too to drop in. My fear is someone won't stay on schedule with multiple people watching them. Hopefully we figure something out!