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Original poster

Does anyone else hate leaving the dog in the kennels

40 replies

beeonmybonnett · 30/06/2023 10:55

When you go on holiday? I get on very well
with the owner of the kennels that I send my dog to so I know he is always well looked after and cared for. Plenty of walks, comfortable kennels/sleeping area etc.

I think my dog always has a ball when he goes, but I can’t help but feel slightly guilty when leaving him there. It’s not like I can tell him I’m only going away for 10 days or ring him while I’m away.

He’s a spaniel and is quite strong/boisterous so I don’t feel there is anyone in my family who
would be able to take him while I’m away.

Anyone else feel the same?

OP posts:
Original poster
beeonmybonnett · 30/06/2023 11:02

I would love to ask the owner to send me daily pictures of him but I feel like that would be asking too much / too much of an inconvenience:(

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 30/06/2023 11:04

No because I don’t do it.
If friends or family can’t have him he goes to home boarding. If that’s not an option we don’t go away without him.
Some dogs may cope ok but mine wouldn’t

FiveShelties · 30/06/2023 11:04

Yes, I feel the same way. My Sheltie loves the lady at the kennels, runs to her and always comes back fighting fit - but I still feel guilty for leaving her.

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Daysoffarethebest · 30/06/2023 11:06

A lot of home boarders send photos, you can only ask.
Our old dog was always left with relatives but like you we have a shall we say spirited young dog who I wouldn’t feel happy leaving with them, unfortunately cos I don’t feel comfortable putting him anywhere else yet, we are staying in the UK for a break this year and taking him with us.
Next year he will be left somewhere after lots of research!
You can be happy you know he will be looked after and safe where you are leaving him at least, you’ll worry more than him I’m sure.

stevalnamechanger · 30/06/2023 12:03

Leave them with an experienced home boarder instead .

I'm just going through licensing later this year and doing my canine first aid ( 7 hours!!) and canine body language courses .

People often slate home boarders but many are brill highly trained :)

stevalnamechanger · 30/06/2023 12:04

I've been pet sitting in owners homes for 4 + years now and send photos and videos daily also - many of us do

BeverleyMacker · 30/06/2023 12:05

I use a home boarder. We have a couple that we use if one is unavailable. I couldn't leave my rescue pug in a kennel :(

DustyLee123 · 30/06/2023 12:07

Mine goes to family. There’s no way I would ever kennel a dog, but I know lots do.

FiveShelties · 30/06/2023 12:09

I think it depends on the kennel as well. I always visit before using one and you just get that feeling about them. I still worry about her though.

GameOverBoys · 30/06/2023 12:11

Absolutely no way on earth I could leave my needy spaniel in kennels. He would completely freak out. He doesn’t even like being downstairs in the house on his own. Be happy you have a dog you can leave and don’t over think it.

Konfetka · 30/06/2023 12:12

A dog's life is bitterly short and I don't want to miss a want to miss a moment so for us it's dog friendly holidays in the UK.

Would I like to holiday abroad?

Yes, but it's a matter of priorities.

GwynethP123 · 30/06/2023 12:16

Always use a proper licensed kennels or dog sitter. We have an animal hoarder neighbour who runs an unofficial cat rescue in a rural area. I can't believe it when people drop their dogs off with her - the house is small, crowded with cats and stinks and she doesn't have proper facilities. I imagine she's cheap though. She puts on her sickly sweet 'I love animals ' when dogs get dropped off but spends the week shouting and swearing at them, (calls them fucking twats and bastards in the garden, so who knows what goes on indoors), grabbing them roughly by the collars and letting them run up the lane. She doesn't exercise them either. RSPCA aren't interested unfortunately. Please choose carefully!

Bluebells1970 · 30/06/2023 12:17

We have a very nervy sprocker with separation anxiety along with a very laid back cocker. They come on holiday with us, and even that's stressful for her.

Would never use a kennel.

CamelCaseLetter · 30/06/2023 12:18

In the minority here, but no I don't feel guilty at all! He has a great life, food and water on tap, treats, walks, snuggles, toys, and an expensive dog walker. A week in a kennel now and again isn't going to scar him for life. I don't get to go through life without ever experiencing a mild inconvenience or having to do something I don't want to do. A few stretches in the slammer alongside other dogs builds character 😁

Filament · 30/06/2023 12:22

I think most of feel guilty but don't have any other option if we want to holiday abroad. I'm lucky that my chap doesn't seem to mind a stint in 'doggie prison', as we call it. All you can do is try to pick the right place and change if they don't seem to be happy there. I think most places send photos, if asked.

Mariposista · 30/06/2023 12:28

My soppy 3 year old mummy's boy labrador goes to a home boarder if we can't take him with us. He loves it there. He plays with her Collie (wears him out I think), races round her big garden, sleeps under her AGA, gets lots of cuddles, wanders about the house. We couldn't contemplate a kennel for him.

BeachBlondey · 30/06/2023 12:39

I am a licenced Home Boarder. I've been doing it for 10 years now. Dogs are treated like family and have all home comforts. I have 6 sitting next to me, in the dining room, right now. I send pics via WhatsApp to the owners. Have you ever thought of using someone like me?

jojo2202 · 30/06/2023 12:41

i wouldn't leave a dog in a kennels. we have a sitter that has the dog in her home and is treated like one of the family. he absolutely loves her and looks slightly put out at coming home. she is a full time sitter so has 1-2 dogs continuously and her whole day is devoted to walking and playing with them. they sleep on the sofas etc just like at home

Bigminnie1 · 30/06/2023 12:44

We use a home boarder - it's the person she goes to during the week for doggy day care. There's no way she could cope in kennels. Saying that, I hated leaving her for a week when we went abroad last year...

Wnikat · 30/06/2023 12:47

Kennels seems to do my dog good. He likes the simplicity of it I think. No expectations, just play and rest. But he doesn't have separation anxiety. Other types of anxiety, but not that!

Archeron · 30/06/2023 12:49

My mum’s friend left her dog at kennels and came back to discover that the owner thought he was lovely and had been trying to mate him with her own dog all week. Apparently she was quite open about it and wasn’t pleased to discover that he’d had the snip! But since then he’s humping everything and friend has had to take him to a behaviourist. In short, you don’t know what the fuck they’re doing with your dog while you’re away.

Beamur · 30/06/2023 12:54

I used to kennel my last dog. She was deeply anxious away from home and frankly hard work for family/friends. I left her with friends a couple of times - one was a bit freaked out by how totally she shut down the others she was better with but still utterly miserable! In kennels she actually did quite well. I knew she was safe and well looked after.

Goatsanddogs · 30/06/2023 12:55

I used to leave my two at a kennels when they were younger but now they are 12 and 13 I just could not do it. I have resigned myself to the fact that I would never be happy to leave my dog while I went on holiday in future. I have also weighed up the pros and cons of owning a dog and forgoing holidays abroad and for the save of one or two weeks in the sun I am more than happy to take them with me in the uk. Costs are astronomical as well which factor in.

startafresh123 · 30/06/2023 12:56

I don't do this. He either stays with my mum or we have had a house sitter before.

DominoRules · 30/06/2023 12:56

Mine goes to kennels, I prefer it to a home boarder. He’s not interested in other people, would hate to be in a house with other dogs so kennels suit him better. They have plenty of space and huge exercise paddocks. He likes the routine of it.

I hate dropping him off (I miss him!!) but I don’t feel guilty. 50/52 weeks a year he has an amazing life - long walks, constant company, enrichment activities and endless love and affection.