We are going away for 5 days next week and have arranged to leave our dog with our dog trainer and to be honest I am absolutely dreading it. He is a rescue lab that we've had since March and he is very attached to us. He doesn't like being left (although is ok now for 3-4 hours) and generally follows me around the house flopping to the floor at my feet wherever I stop. He generally does most things with us as he is so laid back.
We are going back to a cottage we have been to before in Wales, he came last time and had a fab time running on the beach and playing in the sea. Problem was we exhausted the dog friendly trips out on the last holiday (one ruined castle and the steam railway - buddy crammed into a carriage on the minature railway with my husband was one of the holiday highlights :o) We tried leaving him (I hid while dh and the dcs went out!) at the cottage but he barked constantly and scratched the front door.
So decided we would have to brave leaving him behind this time. He knows her quite well but hasn't seen her for a few months and has never stayed with her. Will he be utterly traumatised and think he has been abandoned again? Normally my dh is of the opinion "he is a dog, he will adapt and be fine" but I know even he is worried about leaving him. He is nervous of other dogs and generally avoids them when out and about but the trainer has 4 collies and other dogs staying with her at the same time. She thinks he will be fine but I am not so sure :( Should we just take him with us again?
If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.
The doghouse
Going on holiday and dreading leaving our dog...
anchovies · 26/08/2011 08:49
He will be fine.
We left our severly affected by seperation anxiety GSP with the inlaws for 10 days. He can't be left even for 10 minutes on his own as he is so destructive and dangerous to himself.
They didn't leave him at all while we were away. He follows my husband or i round the house constantly but was fine for them. They said he whinged a bit the first day but just accepeted it.
He was VERY pleased to see us when we got back though 
I think he'll be OK. I wouldn't leave mine in kennels or alone in a holiday cottage (you're often not allowed to do this anyway) but would be happy to leave him with the inlaws or with our dog-walker, in fact we've done this a few times for a couple of days, and he was fine. He's a rescue as well and doesn't like being left alone especially in strange places, but he's OK with people he knows.
I know what you mean about wanting him to be happy. I worried terribly the first time we left ours (I kept wanting to phone the ILs to check how he was, and so he could hear our voices on the phone, DP convinced me this was unnecessary and a bit crazy 
). Apparently he sat on the doormat and whined when we first left :(, but soon got over it and seemed happy and settled for the rest of the time.
Only thing I'd be concerned about is if he doesn't get on with other dogs - but presumably your trainer knows him, and the other dogs, and is confident they'll be all right together, and that she can manage any problems?
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