[JS_2018]

I hate leaving my dogs too, I get it. My poodle loves everybody so I don't feel so bad leaving her, but my yorkie is my sidekick and very needy. He goes bezerk when we reunite, even if it's only been a couple minutes. My dogs stay with my groomer when I leave, she works out of her home and has toy poodles of her own so I know her home is safe and secure for a small dog. They know her pretty well since they see her every 6-8 weeks for a groom. The one time she was unavailable, a friend of mine who had recently lost her maltese took my yorkie and my poodle went to stay with my parents who are on a farm. They used to watch her all the time before I got my yorkie, but they don't like little dogs and I don't feel like the farm is a safe place for my little guy anyway.

My backup plan is always for someone to stay in my home with the dogs. If I trust someone enough to care for my dogs, I trust them in my home. I get crazy anxiety over the idea of my little dude getting out because he is not street smart and he won't come to strangers. We live on the edge of the city so for sure he'd end up being a meal for a hawk or owl before anyone could catch him. My original plan was to board my poodle with the groomer and travel with my yorkie but he still isn't fully house trained and hates being crated so he can't come with just yet. Hopeful that we'll get there someday.

Good luck to you!