Dog Kennels

[crabby1963]

To not put our dog in kennels for two weeks so we can go on holiday? We agreed before we got the dog that we would have to make sacrifices, including only having holidays in the UK (dog friendly venues). My DP is saying I am selfish as our DD will miss out on a holiday in the sun. AIBU?

Home boarding is the way forward, definitely.

We always use house sitters because of the dogs.

Rent a dog friendly place in France and drive there

We put our old jrt in kennels for the first time at 14. She was fine. She went the last time at 16 and the owner asked us if we had contingency plans as she was elderly. She loved being with the other dogs and the man that ran the kennels treat her as we would.
You just need to check you've got the right kennel for the right dog. I think she'd have been more confused with a stranger in her home.

In the interests of transparency, I won and boarding kennels and cattery.

That said, kennels are not for everyone. Not for some dogs and not for some owners both of whom find it too stressful. However, dogs are natural pack animals and if they are introduced to kennels gently from an early age, MOST will do well. Choose a good kennels and they will also be safe and secure with a professional who can deal with most situations and have a vet on call if anything unexpected occurs.

And you do have a choice. If kennels aren't for you or your pet, then choose wisely. And choose your kennels wisely. Whether you go for a home sitter (where someone comes to your house), a home boarder (where your pet stays in someone else's house) or a kennels, do the following :
• Check they are licenced. Any concerns, contact your local authority who will hold a list
• Check the reviews. There are some malicious people out there so some may not be accurate but you will get a good flavour
• Go and visit. Anyone - home boarder or kennels - should be happy to show you where your pet will be staying and answer any questions you have
• If you are using a home sitter or having someone come to your house to feed and walk your pet, check they are DRB checked or you may invalidate your home insurance.
• Be open about what your pet does and needs. There is no point telling us your pet has no issues if it howls the place down as soon as you leave. We will find out anyway and it's kinder to us and to them if we know what we are dealing with. If we think a dog may be overwhelmed by a kennels we will find a quiet spot for them
• Personally - and I know of other kennels who do the same - I will send you texts and photos to put your mind at rest about your pet. You will have probably spent a lot of money on a haoliday and rather tan have you fret your time away, I would rather keep you posted. That said, please don't be obsessive about it. Time spent contacting you, is time I can't spend looking after the pets in my care
• Don't be put off by the noise. You ring my doorbell and insead of one dog barking I will have many. It does calm down, it has to, my neighbours will not tolerate nose all day and noisy dogs upset the other boarders. which is why we like to find a quiet spot for the shy or nervy ones
• Ask questions. We would rather you set your mind at rest than went away under any kind of misapprehension.

At the end of the day you have a choice as to who looks after your pet. and it has to suit both of you. Explore your options,

We use housesitters. Mine are far happier in their own home than in a kennel.

Your children will not suffer if they do not have a holiday in the sun. Mine are 15 and 18 and we have never had a foreign holiday, partly because of affordability and partly because of our dog. We have had great holidays in the UK and Ireland. They've gone abroad with school and friends. I would expect the good kennels to be fully booked already for summer anyway!

No YANBU.

Homeboarding or better yet a reliable friend or family member dog-sitting might be a better plan though.

My parents used to put our pets in kennels and catteries when I was growing up but I hate the idea of my little dog going into a kennel now when she's used to sleeping on sofas, lots of attention etc. and would really struggle in that environment.

We have used kennels but we have also used home boarding with dog walkers we have used. I currently have a kennel I really like but have used one in the past that I was disappointed in.
Home boarding is a good option particularly if the dog already knows the person.

I'd agree about having a look at home boarders. Do check they're licensed - it has recently become a legal requirement

Other options include

• friends and family
• setting up a reciprocal arrangement with another dog owner you're friendly with - they take your dog during your week in the sun and vice versa.
• a house sitter - someone who will come and stay in your house, look after pets, water plants and so on.

My dog is rather highly strung (I don't think he'd cope in kennels as he's rather territorial) and I'm incredibly lucky that I can send him to stay with family, though in the past this wasn't always an option and he sometimes went to home boarding. If I couldn't send him to family I'd either do home boarding again or a house sitter.

One thing that no one tells you is the first time you leave your dog with someone else you end up a nervous wreck - I was so worried that DDog would either misbehave so badly he'd be persona non grata, or he'd not cope. He was fine

Have you not got any family your dog could go to?

Our dog goes to my mums when we go on holiday. She also has him if we know we are gonna be out for more than 5/6hours on a weekend day for some event