Hard time leaving him :(
 

Good morning, appreciate having this forum to throw out my issue. We had owned a lovable Yorkie for 17 yrs and had a difficult time deciding on getting another when he passed. We waited almost 10 years and rescued a lovable 3 year old last Feb. He has turned out to be the best thing my wife and I could have done. He has acclimated extremely well to our lifestyle. So what is the issue you ask ? Well when we traveled previously with out 1st Yorkie about 50% of the time we boarded him with our Vet. Never really had much concern. We have traveled several times with our new Yorkie and have taken him each time. We have a couple of weekend trips coming up which for various reason cannot take him along. It is absolutely killing us to think about boarding him ! We cannot get out of mind that he is going to think we abandoned him. I guess this is partly due to us knowing that he was abandoned prior to us rescueing him and traveled a bit between kennels. We know it is only a couple of days. I am sure others have felt this way, so any advice or similar experience that will be of comfort is appreciated !

I know how you feel - I never board kiddos bc I'm not a fan of kennels...so stressful for them. I would highly suggest you use Rover (www.rover.com) - and have your kiddo stay at someone's house while you're gone. I'm a Rover sitter and it's amazing -- all my clients feel much better leaving their babies with me instead of at a kennel. Search for someone in your zip code who has lots of good reviews, and do try to find someone who only takes little dogs.

I am semi retired and I am sort of going through that myself right now. I am torn between wanting to do long term travel but I have a cat and a yorkie. Now that I am able to travel and can work from anywhere, I am unsure what to do as well. My dream is to be able to travel to locations for a month (or longer) at a time.

Has anyone ever travel with a dog and a cat? The boarding would be expensive for one month. I was thinking while they are still alive I maybe able to only do short trips. I don't believe in giving away pets because I want to travel so it looks like I might have to make a sacrifice and may be just go on one-two week trips.

At least I have my stepmother who I trust to watch my pets if I go short trips. How long have you had him?

We have had him since February. We took two trips and brought him with us and he was great on airplane. We will always take him when we can which is 80% of the time but it is the 20% having hard time with! He has zero fear of cars and I truly believe he would walk right under one :( so leaving him with relatives though the offer is always there I think we would worry more that someone not used to having a dog in house opened a door and he would get out. The trade off in a kennel really don't have that worry but think he would be sadder. And we were just beginning to enjoy being empty nesters lol

With all the dogs I have had I knew there would be sacrifice's I would have to make. I was a camper for 25 years so traveling with my pack was never an issue. Where ever I went, my babies came with me, holiday dinners, visiting friends, the girls were always with me. If they couldn't come, I wouldn't go. my pack has now passed,I now have a rescue boy, he was 2.5 yo when we hooked up, we are a team for 5 years now. What I have noticed is, when we are with ppl he does not know he is constantly jumping up at me to hold him, at first I would put him in a sit and stay command, he would pant like crazy. I have come to realize as a rescue I believe he is afraid I am going to leave him with these strangers. He cannot be crated, not even at the groomers, he goes crazy, bites at the crate, I believe he associates the crate from when he was in one before I rescued him.

I am no help for your situation because, I will never leave this dog with anyone. Kennels are out period. If I cannot take him, I will not go. I will not put this dog through thinking I have abandoned him, he means to much to me to put him under that kind of stress.
I do hope you find a solution.

Wylies Mom,

Thank you the Rover.com info ! I just searched and there are several in my area. This may be exactly what I was looking for. Really appreciate the info !!

I take Gidget with me everywhere--church, the grocery store, shopping, restaurants. When I got her I know there were would restrictions on where she was welcome. So, if I can't take her with me, then we stay at home. I've missed out on day trips with my ladies group at church but this was a decision I made before getting her. She's with me 24/7 so I'm not going to leave her for a one-day trip. She's always there for me and others are with me sporaticly (sp?). Which do I want? I'll take the 24/7 with Gidget. Sorry folks--that's my decision.

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Sorry, but I have to echo what others have said. We have never boarded any of our dogs. In fact, we made a decision when we got Tyrone and Gus that we would forego any travelling during my husband's retirement. We have always made sure that we have at least two dogs so that they are not alone when the grandkids visit and want to go to the theme parks for long days. And...we have never regretted any "sacrifices" that we have made. There is nothing better than having our little pack of loving cuddlers!

I would suggest that you look into a house sitter, or the "Rover" solution. I know others who have had successful outcomes with each. Good luck!

I tend to agree with the others. My golden was boarded just once. From
then on he traveled with us, either camping, flying or in the car. Find a good
sitter and introduce them to your dog. Let the dog get familiar and comfortable
with them. You and your dog will enjoy your vacation more.

It seems we agree that leaving our little ones while traveling is NOT an option. We make a commitment when we bring them home.

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!

I don’t trust boarding/kennel places. They could treat your dog very badly and you never know. If my dogs can’t go I don’t. It works well for me. They make me sooo happy it’s worth it to me. I just don’t trust other people with my babies.

DITTO here.

Double ditto!