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??

Oh bless you OP. Our dog is 9. We actually don’t go away anywhere unless we can take her! (Mostly in Europe) it does cost a bit more and it’s a lot of time wasted but I would just worry the whole time and ruin our time away - we just take her!

we do have a very reliable pet sitter who we use if we are going out etc. I totally hear what you are saying but just want you to know your boy will be ok.

We had house sitters once and my dogs were very unsettled when we got back. I don’t think anything untoward went on, but they obviously couldn’t work out where we were. We have a great dog sitter that they go to now and they are much happier.

I've worked in kennels over Christmas, and have also left my own pair in a kennel for 2 weeks one Christmas.

Do they offer daycare? That could be a good way for your dog to learn the daily routine, recognize the staff and to also learn that you are coming back for them.

Lots of owners send in gifts for us to give their pets on Christmas day, my dogs took their advent calendars in with them.

I would also ask if the daily routine is the same as normal on Christmas day. One kennel charged a massive additional fee, but staff were only in for cleaning and feeding for an hour in the morning, no walks, going home and then back again for an hour in the evening.

Love this xxx

lol

That's my thinking

I think that was it, the dog was just unsettled and confused. Dog sitter was lovely and experienced , she said the dog was "fine" but he definitely didn't settle.

I'm the same. Due to my own feelings of guilt (deep down I think I know the dogs would be fine in a really good boarding as you've described) I've resigned to always get a home pet sitter when away on hols. Either family whom I pay, or a trusted sitter found through a rescue center etc

Are you comfortable with leaving him? If not, you won't enjoy your holiday. Give him a trial run first for a night and see what happens.

It’s a dog. It will be fine.

You are causing yourself worry for absolutely no reason.

It? WTF? HE is a dog. As if OP will listen to someone who calls a dog ‘It’. 🙄

No. My dog max hated this. Get a dog sitter or ask a family member.

boarding especially in the cold weather is brutal and the dogs get so stressed

Oh don't be daft.
OP has 6 months to work on her dogs separation anxiety which will be far more useful in the long run than 'taster' sessions at the kennels, after all the kennel isn't the problem, it's being away from OP that the dog doesn't like.
Also, I know you love your dog but 'spoiling' him isn't doing him any favours and will only increase his anxiety when you are unable to do so for any reason (unexpected hospital stay for example).

I wouldn’t trust people I don’t know with my dog. Is there any family that could have him?

I’d get him into a home based dog sitter rather than kennels tbh. Even someone else’s home.

@LittleWhiteFlowers

lots of people don’t ever go on holiday abroad again when they get a dog as they can’t/wont leave them 🤷‍♀️ They see it as a worthwhile sacrifice to have a dog.

@JayJayj

why? What exactly do you think they’re gonna do to dog?

Literally any thing!! Might not look after him properly. Might be abusive. Might just ignore him and he been sad and alone.

I have heard too many bad things that happen I could never do it. I don’t personally think it’s worth the risk.

Lots of great advice guys

I am going to do some taster sessions this summer

Then

In sept I will make my mind up and if he doesn't seem happy I will take him to Disney :)

No joking I will try to get someone to stay here :)

It depends on the dog as one of the initial posters said.

We had one adoptive collie who would howl for hours if not comforted when my brother left the house. He was really bonded to my brother alone and no one else would do. Kennels would have been cruelty.

It is a dog. No need to be aggressive or rude. Factually correct.

You were rude coming here calling OPs dog ‘it’. You knew your post was nasty and minimising OPs worry, you offered no useful advice. Just shush.

I have a dog and say it all the time. Your need to assume the worst and blame is amusing . Again not nasty if factually correct. Just shush? Are you five?

This. I would do a trial weekend in the autumn. If he is fine then you can happily go away at Christmas. If he's not, then you can make other arrangements.

One of my friends uses a site called "Trusted House sitters" where people offer to house sit for people, sometimes for money, sometimes for free, so the pets don't have to go to kennels or a cattery.

Most journalistic style guides stipulate that when referring to animals, writers should refer to them by 'it,' rather than 'who' or the appropriate gender pronoun, treating animals from Snuffles, the beloved family dog, to Cecil the lion, leader of his pride, as no different from inanimate objects—the equivalent of a ...

https://humanepro.org
Why words matter: Animals and 'it' | HumanePro by Humane World for Animals

Journos are scum. Who cares to copy their style?