Does this make me a bad dog owner?? :(

[hellohellooo]

Hello all

Honest opinions much appreciated

My lovely dog is a very well cared for boy
We have. Had him for 7 years and he is by my side at all times
Sleeps at my feet in the bed
Two walks per day
Lots of treats

Anyway
We are away for a week at Xmas and I'm considering a highly reputable dog boarding facility
Is this the right thing to do?
He gets really upset when I'm not around

It's 6 months away
I have paid a small deposit as they are so popular but I don't mind losing this deposit

Will send lots of treats and a blanket that smells of me

What should I do??

Yes indeed nice little break

Maybe I even drive him mad 😝😝

Incredible !!!!

Perhaps use the time till you go away getting him used to being separated increasing the time away slowly. Could you afford a couple of overnights? I worried with my old boys…. Tbh think they preferred it there after a few times!

So helpful

Thank you all

I was having some moments of feeling really bad for even paying the deposit

Need to stop being so silly !!!!!

My dog is clingy, but he loves the kennels and has loved it from the first stay. Because he is so clingy we were worried he would hate it and pine, but he came back calmer and happy. Now he senses we are getting ready to take him to the kennels because of the ritual of gathering his vaccine record and bits and he gets so excited and starts scratching at the door to go!

Your dog will be fine.

That's good to know !!!

This

Your dog will be fine, they are more adaptable than we give them credit for! My dog recently had 2 weeks in kennels & had the best time playing with all the other dogs, even though normally he is more of a “people” dog. Ask if they will send photos - I was able to relax more once I saw with my own eyes what a great time he was having there

Yes they send pics

And we will go a night as a trial very soon in advance of trip

Our 2 ddogs actually get excited on the country road en route to their kennel holidays! The buggars never even look back as we walk off!! Too busy in the garden with the staff...

I’ve done both. When looked after by a friend, my 3 moped! At the kennels, which I’ve known for years and is amazing - they loved every minute. I’ve had pictures abc videos sent of them and when we go now, they run off without looking backwards.

That being said, we built them up to this by doing one night stays and even if we aren’t going away for a year, we still send them a couple of nights so they stay used to it.

Definitely book him in for overnight stays prior so he knows the smells, the handlers and the routine. We've a dog coming in initially for 1 night, now 2-3 nights and they don't fo on holiday till Jan. The dog has been fine, nervous at first, which is expected but now happily comes in, straight to her kennel etc

Please don’t feel guilty- our dogs love staying with their dog boarder! I am
sure you already have but make sure they are council registered etc. Our boarder wouldn’t board ours for a week without a nights trial to make sure they are settled and were happy. Her pack changes depending on who is in on that day but she also likes to make sure any new dogs fit into the general pack as occasionally they don’t

Thanks so much

Great suggestions

Def getting maybe 1-2 days there before the trip

Do you mind if I ask if a blanket with my smell is ok? Or to not complicate it all

Could you not get a dog sitter in your home. That would be less traumatic.

I have for sept

She can't do Xmas and I have asked lots others

This boarding place is described as home from home
Dogs stay in house etc

Came highly recommended

Ah no I am starting to think this may not work. ??

Do a couple of weekends so the dog gets used to being away from you and can adapt to the routines in another place. He'll be fine.

Use a home boarder where the dog lives in a family home or pay for someone to come and stay in your house for the holiday. These are more expensive but better for the dog. I factor this into cost of holidays I book.

I was just about to suggest this or if not possible then a few sessions at a reputable doggy day care.

Go. Have a lovely holiday. Perhaps send him for some days over the coming months so he gets used to it.
I have two dogs who spend 24/7 with me. Always by my side. I love them and they love me.
The pair of traitors don’t give me a second glance when I drop them off to the home boarder who looks after them when I go on holiday.

Stay home Op.
holidays out of the window when you have a pet - well, a dog or a cat anyway

I do this with hone boarders. Makes me feel so much better.

Aw you are a wonderful dog owner! I always found it hard to leave my dogs when I went on holiday, fortunately they were spoilt at their second home, my parents' house. We had to put our cars into kennels, together, but then a neighbour came to feed them.

If it came to it now, I would desperately ask for friends to help, or someone to babysit, last resort would be kennels but I would hope they have a videocam so I could see them and know all OK.

Yes, the biggest thing is missing you, so as long as they have lots of cuddles, it will be different for them but they will be well looked after.

When I was a child we used to do UK hols mostly and took them with us, very crowded lol 😆

We're leaving our boy for the first time next week for 2 weeks at a boarders who also do doggy day care. So we have had him in with them at least once a week for the last 7 months, best £25 I've ever spent! I know he'll have a blast with his wee 5 dachshund besties (he's a lab, the sight of that lot together is hilarious).

You need to get doggy used to them IMO.

We found dog sitters coming to stay in our house worked best for us. Ours are very spoiled and now don’t care when we go away and the sitters stick to their routine.