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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To put our dog into a kennel for a few days?

55 replies

UberFestive · 17/12/2019 10:30

DH is going away for a week with his friends early next year and I've just been invited to spend the weekend with a friend. I'll be taking our DD with me but can't take our dog as my friend is allergic. We'll be staying in her house and meeting up with others in the area that I haven't seen for a few years. DH had a strop when I mentioned it because I said that I will be putting our dog into kennels for 3 days. He's never been in kennels before but I don't see a problem with it. It's only 3 days and there's no one else I can ask to look after him. He'll be 15 months when he goes and is a very confident dog so I don't think leaving him will harm him. He said he won't go on his trip if I put our dog in a kennel.

When I asked him what will happen when we go on holiday ourselves in the summer because we had agreed that he will be put in kennels then he just said that "he'll be older then so it won't matter." I can't see how it's not ok to put him in for 3 days in March but it's ok for a week in July/August.

AIBU?

OP posts:
BlueJava · 17/12/2019 10:33

I can't see DH's argument of why he can't do 3 days in March but can do a week in July/August so YANBU. However, could you look for a house sitter or as a pet sitter to have him instead (Ddog not DH!) So instead of being in kennels he is in someone's home.

RhymingRabbit3 · 17/12/2019 10:33

YANBU
If your husband doesn't want him to go into kennels maybe he should cut his trip short or he should organise a dog sitter or someone to watch the dog. Surely the younger they go in kennels the better (within reason) so they get used to it?

squashyhat · 17/12/2019 10:34

So he doesn't go on his trip. It doesn't mean you can't.

Booboostwo · 17/12/2019 10:35

It depends on the kennels. Personally I prefer to get a house sitter in as I think it’s less disruptive for the animals to stay in their own home. Is that an option for you? If you go for the kennels some people offer a home boarding service which, I think, is much nicer for the dog. Some daycare facilities also offer over night services. I wouldn’t put my dog in traditional kennels, I.e. a small, outdoor, enclosed area.

Saucery · 17/12/2019 10:37

Your DH is BU. It will be good for your dog to have a taster session before your main holiday.

Chocolatemouse84 · 17/12/2019 10:38

I refuse to leave my dog in kennels as she is a rescue and when I tried one year after getting her, she didn't cope with it so I'd be annoyed if I had a prebooked trip and my dh then later decided that he was then going away as well, knowing it clashed.

But your oh is unreasonable to think it's OK for one trip but not the other.
As a compromise, can you look at a dog sitter instead that the dog can meet before hand and stay in a home environment?

Beccaishere · 17/12/2019 10:38

Kennels are fine as long as you find the right one. We have an amazing one for our dog who is a timid dog and also doesn’t like other dogs crowding her. Our kennels are brilliant with her she actually gets excited when we pull up in the car outside!
Can you not put your dog in kennels for a weekend before as a trail?
Husband is being unreasonable choosing when the dog can and can not go into kennels.
Also the younger the dog the better as then it’s not a shock for them Smile

ChewChewIsMySpiritAnimal · 17/12/2019 10:40

Its only 3 days. Does he want to be a slave to the dog and never go away anywhere? I know people who have got themselves into that position and they seriously regret it. There's an argument for saying that a younger dog will find it easier to acclimatise to Kennels.

IWorkAtTheCheesecakeFactory · 17/12/2019 10:46

Is he trying to stop you going on your trip?

EKGEMS · 17/12/2019 10:48

Take the dog leave your husband in the kennel

Clymene · 17/12/2019 10:49

So he's allowed to go away but you're not Hmm

My dog goes to a dog boarding place - he basically moves in with another family for a few days. He loves it

AryaStarkWolf · 17/12/2019 11:01

Is he trying to stop you going on your trip?

That's what it sounds like because his reasoning makes no sense at all. Don't let him bully you like that. Tell him you are confident that he will be fine but if he's not then it's totally his choice whether he chooses to go on his trip or stay at home with the dog....and make sure you follow through

Original poster
UberFestive · 17/12/2019 11:25

Thank you for your input. He makes me feel like I'm being cruel to even consider putting him into kennels. The home boarding could be an option if I can find a space for him with someone. I'll suggest that as the alternative option tonight.
The kennels I would put him into has a dog training facility that we've been to so some of the staff would familiar to him.

OP posts:
Disfordarkchocolate · 17/12/2019 11:27

Three days is a good trial for a week next year in kennels. You'll be able to see how he copes. Some kennels have webcams so you can watch your dog.

RandomWok · 17/12/2019 11:29

My mum puts her dogs in kennels. They absolutely love it! It's a family run one and they make a real fuss of them. On the drive there the dogs get super excited when they realise where they are going.

My dog on the other hand can't cope with kennels. She gets lonely and howls continuously.. Hmm

I'd say get them used to kennels at a young age.

rhubarbcrumbles · 17/12/2019 11:30

He'll be 15 months when he goes and is a very confident dog so I don't think leaving him will harm him. He said he won't go on his trip if I put our dog in a kennel.

His choice. Don't let him blackmail you.

Jumpi · 17/12/2019 11:31

Why can’t you just go on a different weekend?

Poor dog.

leiaskye · 17/12/2019 11:35

His argument is invalid as others have said.
There are alternatives to a kennel, even other than a dog sitter.

Mine go to a company who bought an old pub. They’ve converted it so each room houses dogs from the same family. I think they have 7 rooms. The rooms are large, in no way does it look like a kennel.

During the day, they also run a doggie day care & the boarders go there during the day. My dogs spend the day playing with 20 or so dogs. They have a whale of a time. It’s done wonders for their socialising.

It is more expensive than a kennel, but definitely worth it on my opinion.

Winterdaysarehere · 17/12/2019 11:39

My ddogs love the kennels!! Ddog was 9 when she first went and loved it!!

NoMorePoliticsPlease · 17/12/2019 11:42

If you are going to use kennels find a good one, but also it is a good idea to get your dog used to it from a young age. The other alternative which worked well for me is to find a home boarder who takes one or two dogs into their home. This works very well as the dog learns to bond with the host in a family environment.

Streamingbannersofdawn · 17/12/2019 11:49

My mum's dog goes to kennels for a couple of weeks a year. This year it was almost a month as she had an accident abroad and couldn't get back as expected.

He was absolutely fine. It's a good kennel, he gets plenty of attention and exercise. She's never had a problem.

If your DH wants to cancel his trip that's fine. I bet he won't. I mean, it's 3 days.

Clymene · 17/12/2019 11:49

@Jumpi - many dogs are perfectly happy going to kennels or boarding.

I don't know many people who never have occasions where they have to leave their dog.

Juanmorebeer · 17/12/2019 11:50

My dog loves going to her kennels but it is a really good one on a massive farm and they have loads of space they are not all crammed into tiny doggy prison.

I would not think twice in your situation.

OrlandoInTheWilderness · 17/12/2019 11:50

Eh?! Pick a good kennels (word of mouth recommendations are the best way) and he will be fine!

pigsDOfly · 17/12/2019 11:50

As a pp said, it depends on the kennels, and the dog, some dogs won't cope in kennels.

Don't just take the nearest or first kennels. I've looked at a few kennels that I wouldn't put my dog into. Nothing wrong with them particularly, they just didn't feel right for my dog.

I found a lovely family run kennels some time ago when I needed to have my dog looked after.

She doesn't go there often but she seems really happy there, and when I pick her up she always goes back to say another goodbye before we leave.

It's out in the country, lots of lovely running areas, three runs a day and they have a special section for small and/or nervous dogs, also with their own running areas.

I have looked at home boarding but most of the people I've seen seem to have dogs of their own, which my dog would hate. I wouldn't want someone moving into my home and I wouldn't use one of the companies that pair up dog owners and boarders.

I think your DH is being silly. I was very nervous before my dog first went into kennels but I needed somewhere for her to stay, not for a holiday, and it worked out fine.

Either you find somewhere you're both happy with or you're never going to be able to leave your dog. And as pp said, within reason, the younger the dog is the better the chance of them accepting the situation.

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