Archie kept me up twice or three times a night for a couple of months and I was definitley sleep deprived! But it passed. I understand your reluctance to board your pup -- but I have not let leaving Archie behind keep me from traveling. I boarded him for a week when I went on a cruise last year (he was fine when I got back and no potty problems) and I left him with friends this summer when I went to Hawaii (he was fine when I returned). By next summer, your puppy will be much older and will be even better potty trained and able to adapt to a boarding situation. This is not to say you won't worry -- you WILL! You might consider giving him a trial run of boadring him overnight or letting a friend keep him for a couple of days to see how he does. If you do have friends who can keep him, this is always preferable. Good luck!

Thanks for all the understanding comments and advice! This may sound crazy, but I'm afraid to leave Logan with anyone I don't know, and I'm afraid that no one will take as good of care of him as I do :) I fear he will run away, get hurt, or something else horrible will happen if I leave him. I suppose that is natural, too. It's hard for me to commit to leaving him next summer when I don't know if that will be possible. It would be nice to have the option of taking him with us, and then we could change our minds if I find someone to watch him. But if I commit to going on vacation next summer without him, when that time comes, I will HAVE to leave him.

There are some hotel chains that allow pets and how about camp ground rentals? We've been thinking of just renting an RV to take our yorkies on a trip with us.

http://www.dogfriendly.com/

I understand how you feel completely! We left our 3 with a new petsitter for 5 days this summer and I was a wreck! I was worried she'd drop one or worried she's let one out, worried she wouldn't watch them and one would drown in the pool, I even worried she wouldn't show up and they'd die of starvation.:rolleyes: I called everyday and we all made it through.:p

You might try just asking at your vet's office. Our original sitter worked for the vet so I felt better knowing she was used to animals, loved them and could handle an emergency.

oops-

Regarding the vacation rentals - Almost EVERY rental doesn't allow pets but I'm finding that if I call, explain to them I have a toy size pet and assure them they are potty trained many of them give in.

So far Lucy has been to a resort in Mexico that "didn't take pets" and several hotels around the country. Of course I would never take her anywhere without the okay first...

Everyone else has told you the pros of keeping your puppy, I'm going to tell you the cons.

I think that having a puppy is a lot tougher than an adult dog but in my opinion there will always be sacrifices. It's like having a baby that will never really grow up, kids as they grow learn to do things for themselves, dogs don't. Perhaps you need a lower maintenance pet or perhaps no pet at all. If you give up your pup now you will probably feel very wretched for a while but better in the long run and your pooch as it is still a puppy will have a better chance of finding a good home.

Because you mentioned a few of the expenses you are facing I'm going to talk to you about money, dogs are expensive. My furball is going to cost me 1K, over a 15 year life span his health insurance will cost about 7K not including preventive and maintenace care not covered by the health insurance ... let's say another 3K over his lifetime. That alone comes out to 11K. Also to consider things they need like grooming or grooming supplies, FOOD, and other basic items such as food bowls, bedding, crates, toys, clothes, ... I estimate a very optimistic 9K over his lifetime for this kind of thing. Total of about 20K over a lifetime but it could end up being more, hardly any chance of it being less. Unless I were to cut health insurance all togheter but if I did that and the dog had need of expensive medical care two or three trips to the vet could end up costing just as much as the health insurance would over a lifetime. And on top of all that money, your time effort and care will be required as well. I'm not rich and I don't have lots of money laying around, that is the case with most people. We can't just dispense with the money but we are prepared to make the effort and the sacrifice in exchange for the love of a pooch but it is a big sacrifice.

This speech is not meant to frighten you or bully you into giving up your baby, I just think that having a dog is not for everyone, it could end up making you a lot more unhappy than happy. If at this point you decide to keep him, it'll be true love. If instead you decide to give him up you will save yourself and the puppy a lot of heartache.

I hear you! but I have my puppy as my child (couldn't have kids) so I don't question all the things I have to take into account. I just do it.

I had to pay $105 to have a pet at a hotel in Montreal.....unreal - but we didn't question it.

Flying - we paid more - but it wasn't unreasonable. Especially having a tiny, at least you can have your baby with you in the plane (not below).

For their love - they are worth all the work and trouble :) :) :)

My husband and I are not opposed to paying for our dog to accompany us on a trip, but this particular trip didn't seem like the time to do it because he's going to be extremely busy, and it'll mean me and the dog sitting in a hotel most of the time. So, we are going to try to plan a "fun" trip sometime and then take our Logan with us. Also, Logan and I are going to go on a driving business trip in a couple of weeks.

Thanks for your comments. I think others have explained pretty well what I'm going through - the puppy blues. I guess it's a little like post-partum depression with a human baby (although there are no hormones involved).;) I felt overwhelmed the last time we got a dog, but it got better. I think I can make it through this. I just wish everyone in my family understood and loved dogs as much as I do. If they did, planning a vacation together would be much easier.

And we are prepared for the expense of having a pet. We spent a lot of money on our last dog, and couldn't make his life better afterall and ended up having to put him to sleep when he was just 5 years young. But he brought us a lot of joy. My in-laws always kept him when we went on trips, so that was no problem. But now they are having health difficulties and may not be able to help. Now I need to find someone else I can trust to watch Logan, and that is the hard part.

Puppy love - when I think back to when I first had Jeanie, I do remember always being afraid. It hurt so bad I was so afraid all the time. I am still very cautious, but it isn't as bad as it was. I took her on a trip - like you are talking about - and we worried about her the whole time. Mind you I like worrying about her I think. Worrying and caring I think I get mixed up at times.

Anyway, just to assure you that we will always worry, but it does get more tolerable.

Sounds like you love your baby very much. And with that, all will be fine. But it is nice to ask others and find out you are not alone, right?

Take care......Darcey

feeling tied down
 

I feel for you. I am much older than you are and I have no responsibilities, except a housewife and Mother to my Yorkie. But, also, I could not attend my sister's 50th wedding anniversary,( I was her Maid of Honor, could not attend my husbands 50th class reunion from FL to MN) because Tricksie is now over a year old and so attached to me. I should have trained her to a sitter when she was younger. I know pets are not welcomed in most places. I called hotels and told them that she was a 7 lb yorkie that stayed in a play pen and they would not accept her.
You have to do what you feel is the right thing to do.
Good Luck,

I am feeling better this afternoon and think I have found a solution to one problem. A pet sitter works for our vet. I talked to her, and she sounds like someone I can trust. I've already gotten to know her a little at the vet's office.

I, too, have explained to the "no pet" places that my puppy is very tiny and is not allowed full run of the house. Only one person has reconsidered, but he wanted a $750 pet deposit and a $300 cleaning fee on top of that!

Thanks again for all your comments, advice, and understanding. This is the first place I go to when I need help!:animal36