Leaving dog at home

[Icantfindausername]

I am hoping to have a big birthday party next winter and the major thing putting me off is my dog. We would have to leave her all evening and she is never left at night. What did you think? Has anyone come across this before. My parents or siblings usually look after her but they will obviously be at my parents party!

Has your dog boarded anywhere before? In your situation I would send my dog to his usual boarder for the night.

No she hasn't because she always stays with my parents if we go away or out for the evening x

Most babysitters would happily dogsit instead. Generally easier than kids unless dog is likely to be anxious.

Find a home boarder nearer the time ( but not tooo near as the good ones will be booked ) and have a few practice overnights
We have a couple of people we use for holidays etc and Ddog has a lovely time there

Two options:-

Get someone you know to dog sit as PP said. I have done this if it's just for a few hours.

Or look for someone who boards in their own home to have them overnight. We have a home boarder when we go on holiday.

You have several options.

1. practise now. Build up the time she is alone at night and see how she copes.

2. get someone to come and watch her. I'm sure a neighbour or local teen will come and sit with her for a few hours one evening.

3. find a home boarder or kennels who will take her, but I would take her beforehand as well to make sure she's going to be happy there.

You don't say how old your dog is and obviously the younger it is, the more disturbing it's going to be for both of you. In addition to all the good tips above, I wonder if you've a friend who also has a dog - all the better if it's one familiar to yours. If they'd be prepared to let your dog stay with them for just an hour or so, you might get some idea as to how he/she would cope. If it panned out OK, you could try the same thing again for increasing amounts of time. This would be a 'soft' method of socialising your pet to cope in your absence.

My dogs have always been treated like my kids and gone everywhere with me. Never had a babysitter so never had a dog-walker, boarder or put my dogs in kennels. I treat my dogs the same as I would kids depending on their ages but it sounds like all your family will be at the party so a relative or close friend will not be your answer. Could your dog not just stay in the home in a bedroom with TV on and you keeping an eye on it rather than farming it off to strangers.

@Barnyboy03
You sound like us, we take our dog everywhere (and often get called pathetic for it) but I don't like leaving her other than working hours. You are the only one to recognise that all our family and friends will be at the party. Do you think she'll be ok for the evening? It's only a one off isn't it, she'll be 3. Thanks xx

Find a local dog sitter. Do a couple of walks/house visits with the sitter before the event so your dog gets to know him/her. Then get them to sit with the dog for a few hours the evening of the party.

If she is ok in working hours, she’ll be ok in the evening. Unless you need to work that day too? Yesterday evening we went to the theatre & were out from 5.30 - midnight. Big bouncy younger dog went to doggie daycare & stayed overnight. Old slightly frail dog would, I knew, be fine, but I did think it fair to leave him in working hours & again in the evening. As it happened, it was possible to take him to work, so he was on the go all day, got home with me at 17.10, I fed him and let him out & we left. He was so deeply asleep when we got back I had to carry him outside to toilet before I went to bed (he sleeps in my room) myself.

Do you mean overnight op? If your dog usually sleeps all night and you'd be home in the morning early for walkies I don't see how it would be different really. But would obviously need letting out for toilet before bed so not sure how that would work.

We never needed somewhere for our dog to go until we had funeral arrangements to make for a close family member. Then it was all rushed and not ideal.

We found a home boarder after that and had a few trial runs and he now goes a few times a year, sometimes just to keep up contact, sometimes because we need it. Funerals, weddings, work etc.

It's good to know you have care available if needed.

Someone suggested leaving her with someone who knows you both to see how that panned out, which doesn't seem a bad idea, given that she's 3 years old and apparently sufficiently well socialised for you to contemplate taking her along to a large gathering . Others have suggested home-boarding and if you can find a reputable and professional outfit nearby, they should be willing to take her on a trial basis to see how it works out for you both. I did this with our home-boarder to great effect.

There’s a website called Borrow My Doggy, where people offer to walk dogs for free. You may be able to find someone on there who could meet your dog a few times before then look after them on the evening.