Boarding or Pet Sitter?

[dawz1026]

I am leaving for Disney in March and I always had my Mother in law stay here with Rex. Times have changed for her and she is living in Florida for the winter.My Rex has never been crated nor has he ever been boarded more than a few hours when my house was being re-done. My friend/neighbor said you can't take him away from his bed and home. She said she will come down several times a day and let him out.feed.play etc. and I will pay her.I hate he will be alone at night but I do realize he will sleep anyway..she has done this twice for me for 2 days at a time but 8 nights??

Do have to explain my anxiety? I think you all understand...I have heard things about boarding..fleas..cough and not good to crate if they are not use to it for amxiety reasons...any input please

[Lil Sis]

oh my --- I understand totally!!! I agree not to take to boarding if you can. Around here there are people who will take dogs in-- or you could bring him down with you The cost of bringing him may not be much different than having a sitter.

Now for me, and I have three so they really don't get lonely, I have a local girl walk them if I am gone a few days. For longer trips I take them to a friends house. My guys are very people orientated so they are happier. Would your friend take him to her house at night?

Good luck!!

[Britster]

I would much rather have someone come into my house than boarding, to be honest. Jackson would not do good in that environment. First and foremost, I'd bring him with me if I could (Disney is becoming more pet friendly. My dad brings his 2 dogs but they stay in the 'camping' resort), but I know each theme park has a dog boarding place, where they stay for the day and then you get them back whenever you want them back.

But I think MY separation anxiety is much worse than his LOL. Though he is always SUPER excited when I get back. My dad said he sits in the window every day waiting for me.

[kjcmsw]

tough one...at least it would be for me. I think I'd find someone to take them to their house or stay at my house while gone...not to add to your anxiety, but I'd keep wondering if they really did go to my house and care for them, etc. Of course, we don't travel enough or go to places that don't take dogs.
In part why we got our first Yorkie, after spending years tied down to not being able to go anywhere due to having a large dog I decided next dog would be small and "portable" --- of course, couldn't stop at one Yorkie, so now I feel we're back to being grounded most of the time!! lol

[smyrfette]

my daughter always stayed at my house to take care of my yorkie but I let her drop off her pom anytime she needs a sitter at my house.

Her pom is used to me though at first she had issues not being on the homefront.

Now she could care less if her moms leaves because grandma's house is fun to her and I stay at home more and my routine is more to her liking..lol

She even knows when I make my tea for bed and used to come running to me when she heard the 3 beeps from the tea brewer which meant it was done.

Bedtime is exciting here she gets a really good treat like a whole beggin strip which her mama doesn't let her have.

[baby yorkie]

This past summer I had to fly to LA for a funeral. Both girls were still on medication for ringworm and had not been cleared yet. DH worked all day and I didn't want to bother my neighbor next door. Her yorkie is bigger and hurts my babies when she tries to play. I hired a friend's teenager to come sit at the house during the day. Although I wanted her to spend much of the day here, she came and went and my neighbor came in also. I would never board mine! But just to let you know, Disney does have places for pets. I think it's like a daycare thing! Good luck! Tough decision!

[ArmaniMan]

I use a petsitter who comes to my home- it works out great! She comes 4 times per day- she is supposed to stay for an hour each time but she does end up staying much longer a lot of the time. She feeds them, changes their wee wee pads, replenishes the water, and plays with them. I visited a lot of different "doggy hotels" before I decided on this arrangement and was not pleased with any of them. I like that my dogs are in their own environment, they get 1 on 1 attention, they are not thrown in with a bunch of unknown dogs, they do not need to get shots that I don't believe in just to be boarded, they don't come home smelling terrible. I call my sitter almost every day to get an update, she will also send pictures and texts sometimes with updates and she always calls right away with any questions. An example of why I think the individualized attention is so important- last time I went away Chloe had just gotten over conjunctivitis. A few days into my trip, the sitter called to say that Chloe's eye had started to get slightly red again- I had her restart the meds immediately (as had been the vets original instructions), within a few days the eye was perfect again. In a kennel situation, they likely wouldn't have noticed so soon and the infection could have gotten worse before anything was done. Most importantly- when I come home my dogs act like I was never gone, they are in the same routine and totally well adjusted. After using a sitter I would never have it any other way.

[dawz1026]

Originally Posted by ArmaniMan

I use a petsitter who comes to my home- it works out great! She comes 4 times per day- she is supposed to stay for an hour each time but she does end up staying much longer a lot of the time. She feeds them, changes their wee wee pads, replenishes the water, and plays with them. I visited a lot of different "doggy hotels" before I decided on this arrangement and was not pleased with any of them. I like that my dogs are in their own environment, they get 1 on 1 attention, they are not thrown in with a bunch of unknown dogs, they do not need to get shots that I don't believe in just to be boarded, they don't come home smelling terrible. I call my sitter almost every day to get an update, she will also send pictures and texts sometimes with updates and she always calls right away with any questions. An example of why I think the individualized attention is so important- last time I went away Chloe had just gotten over conjunctivitis. A few days into my trip, the sitter called to say that Chloe's eye had started to get slightly red again- I had her restart the meds immediately (as had been the vets original instructions), within a few days the eye was perfect again. In a kennel situation, they likely wouldn't have noticed so soon and the infection could have gotten worse before anything was done. Most importantly- when I come home my dogs act like I was never gone, they are in the same routine and totally well adjusted. After using a sitter I would never have it any other way.

Thanks...after reading your post in calmed my soul. My girlfriend loves animals as she has 1 corgie 3 rescue bunnies and 1 recue guinea pig lol..not a pot to pee in but will keep bringin home those pets lol..I offerred to pay her 250.00 and she needs it and said she would eat meals and give him love..OH where r ya upstate?? My family is in Lake George,Queensbury and Old Forge...Kathy

[dawz1026]

Thanks all...Armaniman helped me feel relieved...My Rex is 8 and never slept outside his home. After all my girlfriend who will sit him rescues animals so I know she is a real animal lover plus I offerred her money lol...he is picky who comes over and he loves his Aunt Lori so I think he will be fine and I sure will be more worried than he. If they only knew how we felt

[cpurser]

I couldn't stand the thought of boarding mine---I had to be away for a week last year and I hired a friend's son to stay in my house with my babies. It worked out really well. I felt so much better knowing someone was with them all the time. It's a hard decision--Good Luck!
Cathy

[107barney]

I also use a petsitter when I travel. I've been doing it for about 8 years now with people coming into my home. My dogs are always happy and well adjusted when I get home. For the past several years, I've had overnight sitters and that is the best option. THey make 3 visits for 30 minutes or so and then sleep over from about 8 PM to morning. The dogs are very happy and their routines are not interrupted. They give Teddy his medication and groom everyone daily including a little top knot each morning. I home cook so they even open up fish oil capsules and add vitamins to the meals as I do. I would never board and I feel like my house is looked after as well (take in mail, etc).

[boopster]

I guess I'm really lucky. Tallulah can board with Yorkie Camp - her daycare provider. Janet and Steve take care of her like she was one of their own pets. She stayed with them a few weeks ago when I had to go on a business trip. And I'm sure it was like a giant slumber party for Tallulah - will all the other Yorkies to play with all night. I'm not sure anyone got any sleep while she was there.

I like knowing that Tallulah is in familiar surroundings with people who know all about Yorkies AND about Tallulah and would notice right away if there was a change in her behavior. We have to make a trip to Minnesota this summer for a wedding and I plan on boarding Tallulah at Yorkie Camp again. I'll be able to relax and enjoy the trip knowing that Tallulah is getting the best possible care.

[viviansnickers]

We have a dog nanny who we adore. We actually just switched to a new nanny when we got our 2nd Yorkie Reesie a few weeks ago. She is amazing, we needed help during the 1st week of Reesie being home, and she came daily. Now, when we go out of town for days, she is going to watch the boys at her house. I think this is ideal for me. She has a HUGE beautiful home, and she never leaves them home alone while they stay with her for more then 1/2 hour (to run out to get milk or something.) They get constant attention, no anxiety, and get their walks, meals, cuddles, lovings, snuggles, training, everything from her. She LOVES them and she does not watch any other dogs while she watched my 2. She is such a kind woman and I love the peace of mind, knowing they are safe and have constant attention and love.

Hugs-
Viv