Holiday without the dog

[hondagirl500]

We have a lovely dog, and she is with us 24/7. She is Daddy’s girl.
it’s my birthday later in year, and a significant one. Husband does not like flying, but I really want to go to somewhere hot for my birthday. That means the only way to get there (Caribbean) is cruise, so it will be 3-4 weeks instead of 2 weeks if you fly. I would be happy to fly. He doesn’t like to leave dog (with friends) for 3/4 weeks but won’t fly which would only leave her for 2.
as it’s December, very few other options for destinations (been to canaries). I feel as it’s my significant birthday he should put me before dog! What do you think?

I have a velcro dog. I wouldn't leave her for more than 24 hours unless I absolutely had to. She would be distressed and I wouldn't be able to enjoy myself knowing that. Even 24hrs is a push for me. She doesn't like other people and hates it if they come round when I'm not there (hides/refuses to come near them etc) even if she knows them.
Obviously I don't know your husbands dog, and mine is extreme, but there's no way I'd be leaving any dog with someone else for 4 weeks. They can't understand why you are leaving and don't know you will come back. It's not fair if not necessary.
I think you would be irresponsible to even consider 4 weeks, and if your husband isn't up to flying you need to consider another holiday, or as pp suggested go with someone else. Having a dog is a commitment and you can't just drop that because you fancy a nice long holiday without considering the impact on the dog.

@regenerate

People like you who check posting history are bloody creepy

Mine the same *sparkellie, , scrumptious little rescue. Would be traumatised at being left as I think would most dogs if they were 24/7 sort!

you must be creeped out a lot in life 😂

Would the friends even want to look after your dog for two weeks over Christmas, let alone a month?

I think this is key. There is a real difference between loving someone’s dog and being happy to look after for a week or two whilst they go on a family holiday; and having it for a month.

In the reverse of this thread it would be “Is my friend a CF, I really love looking after their dog for a fortnight in the summer when we can take it for nice walks as a family. She has now asked me to look after it for a whole month in the winter. I don’t really fancy walk after walk trudging round in the dark and the mud particularly when it is so cold. I don’t want her to think we don’t love the dog-we do. But 4 weeks seems a bit much?”

We do not need to take any leave as we own our business. We holiday in winter when we shut down. We cannot go on holiday in the summer as that’s our busy time.
last year, we left dog with our friends and she was fine.
I have looked at various trips in December and January. To get to a nice warm place, we either have to fly, or cruise (or fly and cruise!). Husband happy to cruise but not fly.

If your DH was happy to fly to a skiing holiday with his mates, but won't fly for your birthday, it sounds like he is just being difficult. Could you leave him behind with the dog and go off on a cruise with a friend? He should be putting you first with any birthday, but most certainly a significant one.

I have thought about going with a friend but tbh I don’t know anyone who would want to go as all my friends are couples and the ‘wife’ won’t go without the husband? I don’t have any family that would go either. Besides, he is my husband and ideally I want him to go with me!! I could go on my own but not confident enough to do that ( drive to airport/ getting correct trains etc).

There are FB groups for lone female travellers, meet-ups, places to stay, a whole lot of things.

The Caribbean is very varied. I wouldn't go to say, Jamaica as a lone woman (although I know women who do) but I would to Bonaire or the Corn Islands, for example. And although a cruise isn't your choice, it would be safe and easy to do alone. Pick one where you sit with people and you'll soon meet people. Because I've travelled a lot I always pick up the waifs and strays I see!

Or join a tour somewhere. That ends in a beachy place. Meet people, get a feel, then some beach at the end.

Queen Mary (Cunard) has capacity for dogs. The S'ton/New York crossing is fabulous in December, but you'd have to check itinerary onwards from NYC. I have only continued to Quebec, so not very Caribbean-like!

I would really have to love a man to even consider spending 7 days instead of 7 hours travelling to a destination, I do get terrible seasickness though.

There are lots of options for solo travel as others have said- group tours, cruises, booking airport transfers if you're not confident, etc. Best of luck!

Firstly, the dog is not a “daddy’s girl”. He is not her daddy. It’s a fucking dog 🤦‍♀️
I'm glad someone else thinks so.

So many people can't differentiate between humans and dogs.