I hate leaving my babies, but I dont want to stop going on vacations!
 

What do you all do? I have 3 of them, all little, only one is a Yorkie, and I have no one to watch them if I want to go away. Last year I took a vacation myself for 10 days for my sisters wedding...I missed them like crazy, but I knew dh would make sure they were safe. It isnt the same as when Im there and they definitely had some adjustments to do...he works nights so they slept alone for one thing. But all in all, they survived just fine.

Other than my husband though, there is no one to watch them. I cant imagine putting them in a kennel...I think they would freak out...plus for 3 dogs it is very expensive. I have heard of some types of dog day cares where they dont leave them cooped up except at night, otherwise they are allowed to run around and play and there are people to play with them and feed them during the day. Again it would be expensive, but if I could find something like that in this city, I might consider it. I dont even know if it exists in Cincinnati.

I could probably hire a teen to come in and make sure they have food and water and walk them, but to leave them alone all day except for a few minutes of company seems cruel also. I would have to leave them in the kitchen because all of them are bad when it comes to accidents in the house.

I thought of splitting them up...I have a friend that might watch one of them at her house,probably the Yorkie, but that leaves the older two dogs who tend to be more difficult. One of them is somewhat disagreeable with other dogs, and the one is a runner, so they are harder to place.

Someone suggested having a college student stay in my house, but to be honest, I dont know anyone like that and cant imagine having a stranger stay. Plus, and this sounds superficial, but my house is not exactly a palace, it is very tiny and in need of many repairs, so it would hardly be that inviting for someone to stay in.

Im only 52 and I dont want to give up on having vacations...there are so many places and things I want to see and do, and with my last child graduating next year, Im finally in a position that I can do some traveling. I know I have an obligation to my dogs and I do adore them but have to figure this out. Please share what you do, and I appreciate all opinions but dont tell me not to go on vacation or to take my dogs with me...its not an option...they dont travel well at all. Thanks for sharing.

I am leaving on Friday to go on a week long vacation with my in-laws. We have no choice but to kennel them. Malibu has been kenneled before, but only for about 3 days. It is going to kill me, but there is really no other option. Of course they, like all the other dogs that have to be kenneled, will be fine! But I will miss them like crazy!

I dont mean this in any way negative against you and I appreciate your input, but so far, I just cant stand the thought of my babies being locked in a steel cage all day for 7 days. I was with my sister when she kenneled her dog last year and I couldnt believe it, you had to pay them extra to play with the dog...I think it was $7 a day for 15 minutes of play. So does that mean otherwise they are locked in all day in the cage? I just cant stand the thought of that. I did look it up and we do have a doggie day care here called the Pet Spot. They have day care during the day and then will board the dogs at night. They have people there all day long to play with the dogs and they have nice suites instead of just cages...of course these are extra money but it is something I just need to plan on as an additional expense for vacation. I am going to tour it next week and if I like it you have to take your dog in for a trial people and dog compatiblity test. I know my Yorkie will be fine but Im not sure about the other two.

I agree about the cages...I can't do that! I always choose a place that has a big inside area with a doggie door outside. Plus my babies will be together in one so at least they will have each other and have plenty of room to play together. :confused:

We have a boarding place here for dogs where they dont go in kennels all day. They only allow enough dogs to fill up the kennels they have but each dog is taken outside and ran off and on all day. Its a very good setup that she has for dogs! She also is a behavorist and trainer. When we had our last dog, I left him there when we took vacations but wont have to leave my yorkie because my parents can take her for us. We just went on vacation this past week and my mom and dad kept Sadie for us.

Not all kennels/boarders are bad. There are quite a few that dont leave their dogs in the kennels all day because I agree, I wouldnt have left ours had they done that.

Well, I always take them with me.

xx
Meggie

My husband and I don't travel much if the babies can't come with us and we are 24 and 33. We have traveled out to Nantucket, MA for our wedding with all in tow and it worked out awesome! I actually felt more at home having them with me.

However, you can find a good kennel where they will be loved and cared for. Really there are only three options : bring them with, kennel, or pet sitter.

When we are out of town for only a day or so, usually my younger sister who's 12 will stay over and watch them because she's so responsible and knows their routine. I don't know that I would trust a stranger, but possibly a pet sitting service that is insured.

I just returned from a vacation to the Black Hills - the furbabies went too. This was a car trip, but they have flown to Florida. they have also traveled to Tenn & Ga

What about a teacher or a friend of your children's that might stay for a week. A co-worker or someone that loves dogs. Start putting feelers out now, so when you are ready to travel you will have found the ideal person

makes me think of those commercials when they ask to watch the house and the birds fly out. just make sure you go over the rules. get a doggie gate too, they love to bolt for the door

I would go for the doggie day care or get someone I know that loves animals to sit with them. Not a stranger and especially not a teen. The teen would probably party while you're gone. :) My daughter has always said that if her son can survive the desert and war in Iraq for 9 months then surely her dogs can survive 1 week without her. She boards hers at the vet in the deluxe suite but she has large dogs. I don't leave mine at all anymore but I used to take him to doggie day care.

Well that's why I decided to just get one little one that way I can take her everywhere with me....BUT...I would suggest you see if someone on here can watch them for you (I mean what's 3 more yorkies when you have a house full). I think that there should be a section on Yorkie Talk call LOOKING FOR A BABYSITTER. I think we should help each other out. I would trust another yorkie lover.

i agree Ronda! :thumbup:
..Maybe you can post a thread (asking about people in your area that wouldn't mind watching your babies) Maybe post one in the regional forum, in your area! Do they have YT Meet-Ups in your area? maybe you can start going to some of those.. & find someone who you trust, and who wouldn't mind watching your babies while you take trips, etc. i would much rather pay someone that loves their babies as much as i do.. then pay a kennel or leave them at home and have a random person come check on them! (but that's just me.. if you can find someone on here by you.. great!):thumbup:

good luck!

I have thought this for some time. pepe mint has watched mine before when I was in Nashville, and Suzy has also helped me out.

Other than maybe finding a dog sitter I think you are kind of running out of options. It's just something that goes along with having pets. (not trying to sound rude or anything) I wouldn't kennel mine either no matter what. I just don't trust places/people. I used to work at a preschool and I saw what happened there, doggie daycares aren't much different depending on the ones you find. :(

I'm only 24 and right now I plan all my trips around my babies. Usually my parents watch all of them, and I am not even content with that, but it's the only option I have at the moment. Typically I take them with me whenever possible.

I hate leaving mine also but I do so we can go on vacation once a year. My brotherinlaw either watches them or the groomer does

I have a friend who keeps Mazee when we are going out of town, it works out great for both of us, because we keep her poodle for when they are going out of town. We just took him back home yesterday. Maybe ask your vet or your groomer if they know anyone who would be willing to keep them? I don't know...I can understand not wanting to have a stranger stay at your house, I wouldn't feel comfortable with that. I live about an hour from Cincy and my vet has suites and rooms for dogs-I have never used it, but it is always crowded, everyone around here uses them-not for sure how much. I guess if i didn't have anyone to watch her, I would do that, someone is there all the time and they aren't in a cage. Or maybe start going to yorkie meetups in the area and see if there is someone that click with that would be willing to watch your babies-ya never know!! good luck!-didn't mean to write a book, LOL

I take Roxie with. I just do a check on-line of pet friendly hotels. There have been a couple of times where I couldn't take her and my older kids watch her for me. After all I watch their dogs for them everyday. My oldest has a bedroom in the basement (he's 25) and he'll sleep in my bed so that Roxie doesn't have to sleep alone! It's amazing they'll do this so their Mom and Dad can get away now and then. They even watch my 12 year old son. Which do you think is easier the Yorkie or the 12 year old? lol!! Everyone needs a vacation. In a couple weeks we're going to pull the boat to Florida to my brother's and take the kids and Roxie. My brother has 2 yorkiepooh's and another rescue dog. Roxie loves playing with them it's like they're all just cousins visiting. Works out great because he has a nice tall privacy fence all around the backyard and no critters can even get in it. He has a doggie door too so that when we're out they can go in and out into the yard. I wish I had his setup.

Your vet's office should be able to give you recommendations for dog sitters and a lot of times the receptionists dog sit on the side. Many times you can find sitters who will stay at your house with them if that's what you want. We had a sitter who worked for the vet stay at our house and also a friend's daughter. We payed $50 per day which is on the low end. In my area licensed sitters charge $70 per day I think. I have a new next door neighbor who has a dog sitting business. She doesn't stay at the house but comes how ever many times a day you ask and spends around 20 mins with them. We are going on a weekend trip next month and I'm going to try her. It's scarey though so I know how you feel. We have a 7 day trip planned in Nov. and I'm still not sure who we will hire but I know I'll be a wreck.

Mine goes, too, or I don't go.:D

Maybe you have a co-worker that would come over before and after work to help out ? There is a lady at my job that does house sitting and they usually have dogs and she is great! I won't leave my 3 , even with my mother, but I will consider her if we go somewhere....Ask , you never know !:thumbup:

Great Idea! I would feel much more secure leaving my baby with another yorkie lover, who will take care of him like I do. My hubby and I have taken separate vactions since we got Bobby. :( Because I refuse to leave him in a kennel. I even got into an argument with my friend because we were planning a vacation together with our hubbys. She was bringing her skin kids and needed to find a place that was kid friendly but she didnt seem to think it was just as important for us to find a pet friendly location. I had to make her understand.

So far my in laws have been able to watch my babies but we have this place called Bed and biscuit and your dogs stay in the home with the people never in a cage it is like a bed and breakfast but for dogs and it is the same price as the boarding kennels.

Thanks everyone for sharing. I think talking to someone at my vets is a great suggestion. I cant use a dog sitter that would only come over a few times a day...I actually have a friend that does that but she only comes 3 times a day, feeds them, walks them and leaves. I think my dogs would be miserable without more human company, but maybe Im wrong. I also dont know anyone that I would want to stay in my house, or would want to, so Im afraid my only option to to find a doggie day care situation that I like, or to split them up between a couple different people. I have no idea if there is a Yorkie group around here but thats a good suggestion too. I will not give up vacations and really dont want to take the dogs with me for various reasons so I love the ideas you all gave me.

I vacation by myself and leave DH home with the puppies :) seriously, we have 6 dogs and 1 cat there is no way we can board them all. And I think boarding totally stresses them out anyway. I do have an "adult" son who I could leave with them if I really wanted to, I don't think i'm ready to do that though. I will be going to Arizona in October and my sister who lives down the street will be going as well, she has 3 dogs and 2 cats. She is going to pay my son $100 to stay at her home and take care of the animals while we are gone. (he get's to prove himself IMO). If you know someone you can trust I think having someone stay in your home with them is the best option, if not boarding at the vets wouldn't be so bad.

When I was a kid we boarded our Dog and he ended up almost dieing from Parvo :(

That's the main reason we bought our RV...to take our babies with us anywhere we go! But there have been situations where we were not able to take the RV or the pups, having someone you trust come into your home to watch them is a great option. The pups will miss you, but they will be home where everything is familiar.

I've used petsitters who come live at my house while we are gone. They have become like family to me and we go and visit them when we aren't on vacation. I have 5 dogs, 7 chickens and 15 koi fish and the sitter takes care of all of them and takes care of the house. It is much more economical and I never have to worry about them when I am on vacation and my hubbie and I went away for 6 weeks to Australia a few years ago. We always miss them but when we come home the pups usually have more toys than they had before!! The sitters spoil them!! Maybe you could look up some sitter and get some references and talk to them. Then try a sitter for just a weekend or so to see if you like them. My house isn't a palace either, only 1100 sq. ft. but the sitters don't care. Good Luck!

Vacation??? Whats that? lol!!!! I don't trust no one with my babies so I guess I have a problem. Everyone we know has dogs and I am like you about someone coming in my home when I am not there. We had one sick with diabetes for over 2yrs. and no one wanted to give shots and take on that respondsiblity and so many things can happen until we just decided we had rather have them than a trip. We can always get out for a day and go, Texas is a big place. I just don't want to leave mine with no one. Parnoid mommy, huh? Hope things work out for you and you find someone you can truely trust.

This is a tough situation we all face!
We have been so fortunate that our next door neighbors took care of our two on the last two trips we took, we didn't have Camden then!
When we all go on vacation we hope they will be able to watch them again or we plan on vacations where we can rent a house/condo and take them with us.
I know Wrigley and Camden would NOT do good in a kennel. Wrigley has horrible separation anxiety and I wouldn't even chance it, she gets so nervous.
Crosley, our Yorkie Poo has been in a doggie hotel, we always pay for the suite with the toddler bed, tv, etc.. and she does fine, but it does get expensive with the walks and play time. We are hoping to always find people to come and stay or come to our home.
You should check with your vet or groomers, they might have dog sitters they can recommend.