I'm so torn! :(

[AngieDoogles]

I just found out that Brendon and I have the opportunity to go to Mexico for a study abroad program this summer almost completely free. That includes airfare (we already have tickets from the last time we went because they overbooked our flight so that part's free), lodging, excursions, AND tuition payment for the 9 credits we'd each receive. It's an amazing opportunity and one we'd both really enjoy.

The problem is...the puppies. We'd be gone from the end of May till the end of June. I know Marty would be just fine. He stayed with Mom last time we were in Mexico and other random times as well and he has no problems adjusting. Madeline, on the other hand, doesn't like changes at all and is very attached to Brendon and me. We left her and Marty at my mom's house one evening while we shot a wedding and Mom said she was stressed and whining frantically the whole time we were gone. Poor little girl. It broke my heart and I can't imagine being away from her for a whole month.

I really don't want to miss out on such an amazing opportunity, but at the same time, I don't want my baby girl to be upset or sad.

Do you think Maddie would do better if we had someone stay at our house with her rather than taking her some where else? Would you even risk it at all?

Please let me know what you think.

[bchgirl]

I chased Maddie through Ohio....and as much as you'd missed them...that's an incredible opportunity I wouldn't pass up. Could you do like trial stays at someone else's home? Meaning taking her over several several times...so she gets used to them...and then leaving her for brief periods? I think it's the new that freaks Maddie out.

I think that would be easier than finding someone to come stay at your house for a month. If you mean..just having someone come in daily but not...I'd nix that...I'd rather she have company.

[saphire]

Phew, that is a hard one. I understand how you feel. Do you have someone you trust that could stay at your house with them? If you do, that might work, you'd have to have them pop in often so that they could get used to the idea.

Is there anyway you could take them with you? Or is Mexico a no no for getting them out again?

Maybe you could try letting her stay at your Mom more often for short periods, just an hour or two, to see if she might settle in?

It would be a shame if you missed this opportunity, but... I understand your fears.

Hope it all works out.

Sheilagh

[sherrijmkassie]

I say life is short, go for it. You have been given an amazing opportunity . Maddie will be okay after a day or two and you know she is in good hands with your mum. Our little fubutts are more resilient than we think. Our first yorkie Kenji (RIP)had severe seperation anxiety and was fine at my bf's house after a day or two when we went south.

[Brennydoogles]

Originally Posted by bchgirl

I chased Maddie through Ohio....and as much as you'd missed them...that's an incredible opportunity I wouldn't pass up. Could you do like trial stays at someone else's home? Meaning taking her over several several times...so she gets used to them...and then leaving her for brief periods? I think it's the new that freaks Maddie out.

I think that would be easier than finding someone to come stay at your house for a month. If you mean..just having someone come in daily but not...I'd nix that...I'd rather she have company.

We agree!! Yorkies are such social dogs that we would never trust anyone to pop in consistently for a month... it would never happen. Since we are college students, I'm sure that we could find a trustworthy friend who would love free rent/electricity/internet/cable/etc for a month (since the dorms are closed for the summer), so we would love to do it that way.

[TatumsMom]

I say talk to the vet. I'm sure there are mild medications (maybe even something herbal if you know of a holistic vet) out there for separation anxiety if you want to go that route. Maybe she would only need it for a day or two until she settles in. I agree that it would be a shame for you two to miss this opportunity. Good luck!

[alaskayorkie]

Any chance Teri and Megan can take her back for those two months now that the landlord has eased off a bit with Tucker? Of course, you might never get her back.

I say go for it. You guys are young, and that's an incredible opportunity not to grab. If you can find a good sitter, the experience might actually help her become more socialized.

[AngieDoogles]

Originally Posted by bchgirl

I chased Maddie through Ohio....and as much as you'd missed them...that's an incredible opportunity I wouldn't pass up. Could you do like trial stays at someone else's home? Meaning taking her over several several times...so she gets used to them...and then leaving her for brief periods? I think it's the new that freaks Maddie out.

I think that would be easier than finding someone to come stay at your house for a month. If you mean..just having someone come in daily but not...I'd nix that...I'd rather she have company.

Maddie is at my Mom's house several times each week with us. She's only been left there alone the one time we were at the wedding, but she was very familiar with my mom, brother, and sister by that point so I think it's more the separation from us that she doesn't like rather than the newness of the situation. Maybe leaving her there with mom alone a few more times would help though. Maybe then she wouldn't feel that we're abandoning her and she'd be okay with it? I guess it's worth a shot. I just hate knowing how much it upsets her...

[AngieDoogles]

Originally Posted by saphire

Phew, that is a hard one. I understand how you feel. Do you have someone you trust that could stay at your house with them? If you do, that might work, you'd have to have them pop in often so that they could get used to the idea.

Is there anyway you could take them with you? Or is Mexico a no no for getting them out again?

Maybe you could try letting her stay at your Mom more often for short periods, just an hour or two, to see if she might settle in?

It would be a shame if you missed this opportunity, but... I understand your fears.

Hope it all works out.

Sheilagh

I don't think we'd be able to take them. Aren't there quarantine laws for pets entering and leaving the country? If not, we could look into it, but I definitely don't want them quarantined and not know how they're being treated.

[bchgirl]

Originally Posted by AngieDoogles

Maddie is at my Mom's house several times each week with us. She's only been left there alone the one time we were at the wedding, but she was very familiar with my mom, brother, and sister by that point so I think it's more the separation from us that she doesn't like rather than the newness of the situation. Maybe leaving her there with mom alone a few more times would help though. Maybe then she wouldn't feel that we're abandoning her and she'd be okay with it? I guess it's worth a shot. I just hate knowing how much it upsets her...

Well it's either that...or what Brenny mentioned above...a friend moving in to your place. I'd just wanna be sure the friend intended on spending time at HOME though...

[bchgirl]

Originally Posted by AngieDoogles

I don't think we'd be able to take them. Aren't there quarantine laws for pets entering and leaving the country? If not, we could look into it, but I definitely don't want them quarantined and not know how they're being treated.

Mexico? No, no quarantine.

would where you're staying allow pets? That might be a bigger issue than taking them into Mexico.

There used to be a poster here...Ensor...who took hers to her vacation home in Mexico all the time...

[Bonnie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Brennydoogles

We agree!! Yorkies are such social dogs that we would never trust anyone to pop in consistently for a month... it would never happen. Since we are college students, I'm sure that we could find a trustworthy friend who would love free rent/electricity/internet/cable/etc for a month (since the dorms are closed for the summer), so we would love to do it that way.

I think that is a good idea. Maybe you and Angie can pick a few and invite them over a few times to see how Maddie reacts to them before you decide who to offer it to!

Hmmmm...actually I have a college student living at my house that I would gladly send to stay with them if he wasn't taking classes this summer

[MeganS]

Originally Posted by alaskayorkie

Any chance Teri and Megan can take her back for those two months now that the landlord has eased off a bit with Tucker? Of course, you might never get her back.

I say go for it. You guys are young, and that's an incredible opportunity not to grab. If you can find a good sitter, the experience might actually help her become more socialized.

LOL Mike. We're a tad out of the way.

Angie and Brendon, I say go for it. Really. That is an INCREDIBLE opportunity. Madeline will be fine. My suggestion is to pick someone very soon that you would trust to stay at your house with them (if you could), and then start having her meet them. Or if you'd rather that she stayed with someone else, what if you had that person spend a few days at your house, then Maddie (& Marty or just Maddie) went over their house for a few hours once in a while?

Just throwing suggestions out there. But Maddie will be fine as long as it isn't just dumped on her all at once...and least that's what I think.

Good luck! I really, really hope this works out for you.

EDIT:

I don't know how Maddie acts when she's with the same people, but in a different location. I'm just wondering if the sudden change from TN to Mexico would weird her out.

[AngieDoogles]

Originally Posted by alaskayorkie

Any chance Teri and Megan can take her back for those two months now that the landlord has eased off a bit with Tucker? Of course, you might never get her back.

I say go for it. You guys are young, and that's an incredible opportunity not to grab. If you can find a good sitter, the experience might actually help her become more socialized.

That thought actually crossed my mind, but then I wondered if it might confuse her and stress her more to go back to NJ then back to TN again and if it'd be hard on their family to have Maddie back and then have her leave again. And like Megan mentioned above, we're pretty far apart--about 11 hours by car.

I never thought about it maybe helping her become more socialized. That's a good point. (But I still hate the thought of her being so scared and frantic...)

[AngieDoogles]

Originally Posted by bchgirl

Mexico? No, no quarantine.

would where you're staying allow pets? That might be a bigger issue than taking them into Mexico.

There used to be a poster here...Ensor...who took hers to her vacation home in Mexico all the time...

Oh that's awesome! We'll talk to the professor tonight and see if we can take her. The information packet I have says we'll be staying in either dorms or apartments with double occupancy. We were already going to ask if it'd be possible for us to stay together (I don't see why it'd be a problem), so we'll just ask if pets are allowed too.

How does traveling with pets on a plane work? Would she be able to stay with us? She's not used to a crate, what if she barks and whines? Would we get in trouble? I've never done it before and know nothing about what it involves other than a health certificate.