Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Puppies in holiday cottages!

50 replies

Solo2 · 26/05/2011 09:51

Whose taken their pup away on a UK holiday cottage break? How do you ensure that pup doesn't damage the property?

Rollo - who's now 4 months but will be almost 6 months by the time of our hol. - chews the edges of kitchen units, leaps up on surfaces to drag anything down and is really only allowed, still, in the kitchen, unless totally supervised every second! So he's not really used to a free run of a whole house.

We have a dog gate on the kitchen entrance but how can we limit his freedom/ damage at a hol. cottage? We have a tiny car and already I'm not sure how to manage all the extra stuff for him for the hol., including a soft fabric fold-away crate that I'll need to buy before we go - in out little VW Polo.

Are there any easily transported 'barriers' etc that you can get to restrict access for a puppy in a bungalow style and fairly open plan cottage?

Please can people share their experiences and ideas? Obviously Rollo is still in training all the time but if I imagine he's about where he is now, in terms of general puppy destructiveness, then I am slightly worried about him ruining someone else's property, even though dogs are allowed at the cottage.

OP posts:
Solo2 · 06/06/2011 17:18

OK. Here are my worries about putting Rollo in boarding kennels:

Will he stop being toilet trained if he has to 'go' on the run of his accomodation when no one is able to take him out? Obviously he won't be going into a garden several times a day as he is with us.

Will he develop an entirely new wake/ sleep/ feed routine that'll make it really hard to return to the one I need him to be on now?

Won't he get very lonely in a kennel and run with say 2 to 3 visits only a day from strangers?

Won't he lose his training and develop stress behaviours like barking for ages (he rarely barks unless he needs to tell me he needs the toilet or for a v short while when unsure or excited about something)?

What if he has some unavoidable scary experiences at the boarding kennels, say with other dogs or strange noises - and then develops fears/ anxieties?

Incidentally, I've never yet had a 'relaxing' holiday since I had my DCs as it's always about the same or harder than at home. We don't eat out so I have to shop and cook each day and after trips out, they slump in front of TV and I make meals! It's like a 'home from home' really! I'm more concerned that the extra stress with Rollo added on will spoil the hol. for the DCs.

Re. hiring a van, I'm open to doing this, although DS2 says 'it won't be like a real holiday without our own car' (this is DS2 with Asperger's traits who likes sameness and predictability). So I'm sticking a bit there too!

Finally, how can I tell whether a boarding kennel is good or not? I AM open to exploring this option). The only dog owning friend who has used a kennels had her dog's ears bitten through last time and whilst the kennels agreed to pay the vets fees, they seemed unconcerned about their dog. This was a highly recommended kennels too.

OP posts:
exexpat · 06/06/2011 17:28

If you are worried about kennels, can you ask/google around for anyone local to you who looks after dogs in their own home, rather than a kennel? That's the kind of arrangement I use, and it really is a home-from-home for our dog. Or do you have any dog-owning friends you could arrange to swap with? That's what my parents used to do.

Madsometimes · 06/06/2011 17:43

Where in the country are you? Perhaps a MNer could PM you a good kennel or home boarder near you.

chickchickchicken · 06/06/2011 17:46

which part of the UK are you in? maybe someone on here can recommend someone they have used

i have taken two kids (Aspergers and severe autism, non verbal) away on my own with one dog. in my case it helped the kids having the dog and they enjoyed doing things we could do with the dog. i absolutely wouldnt have taken dog unless kids wanted to 'help'. it was still hard work but enjoyable too

from what you are saying it sounds as if you would have a better holiday without dog. my dog is used to going to a local dog sitter. dogs stay in her home and have the run of the garden and go on at least two long walks every day. this has been useful for when we have needed to visit colleges, stays in hospital, etc. it really is a good idea to have a back up plan where dog can stay if need arises.

after i took my dog to visit the sitter i drove him past her house the following day to gauge his reaction. he got very excited when we started to drive down her road which reassured me he was happy going there. i am very fussy about who looks after my dogs but it is possible to find someone you are happy with. my dog loves going there

chickchickchicken · 06/06/2011 17:47

madsometimes - x posts, great minds and all that Grin

mouseanon · 06/06/2011 18:56

Try here www.dogsit.com/ for a dogsitter, although you'll need to be honest about the chewing habits of the dog because they may not want to take a dog into their home that would damage it.

Kennels you need to visit a few and get a feel for the place. Good kennels should have no problem with you looking around.

To answer some of your questions...

Will he stop being toilet trained if he has to 'go' on the run of his accomodation when no one is able to take him out? Obviously he won't be going into a garden several times a day as he is with us.

Not in my experience no. When I worked in kennels a lot of dogs held on for their walks, others only used the outside run, a few used inside when they were shut in overnight. If your dog is used to going through the night there's no reason why he shouldn't be able to at kennels. My own dog has been to kennels since he was 6 months old and it was never an issue.

Will he develop an entirely new wake/ sleep/ feed routine that'll make it really hard to return to the one I need him to be on now?

My dog always slots straight back into the usual routine when he comes home. Dogs for quite strong situational associations so he should be able to adapt quite easily between one routine in one place and another in a different place.

Won't he get very lonely in a kennel and run with say 2 to 3 visits only a day from strangers?

Not likely! He'll be surrounded by other dogs for a start. Much better company for a youngster than people. I can't speak for all kennels but I know where I worked young pups were lavished with attention. They quite often were allowed to come and spend time with the staff during lunchbreaks and were often the one to get fussed if there was a spare moment in the day. It's a busy environment with a lot going on. Even if the staff aren't directly with him they'll be round and about cleaning kennels or taking dogs for walks. It's not like he'd only see a person once or twice a day.

Won't he lose his training and develop stress behaviours like barking for ages (he rarely barks unless he needs to tell me he needs the toilet or for a v short while when unsure or excited about something)?

No. Barky dogs bark a lot in kennels, quiet dogs are quiet. Sometimes, like feed time or when other dogs are coming in and out, it can set a lot of them off barking but they quickly settle down again.

What if he has some unavoidable scary experiences at the boarding kennels, say with other dogs or strange noises - and then develops fears/ anxieties?

Life is full of unavoidable scary experiences but actually I'd think there would tend to be less of them in a kennels, which is a very controlled environment, than there would be out in the real world.

I do honestly and truly think it would be the best option for you. How are you ever going to be able to relax taking the dog to a house that it might destroy and you'll be faced with a bill for repairs. There's no danger of that kind of damage in a kennels. It will be good for him to experience it young because it will make it easier for him to go again as he gets older. It will give you an option for the future as well. Also you'll have room for some human luggage in the car!

In the meantime you really need to get his chewing issues sorted because if he wasn't destructive all of this would be so much easier for you.

mouseanon · 06/06/2011 18:56

Sorry www.dogsit.com/

Solo2 · 07/06/2011 09:23

Thanks again. Mouseanon, your reassurring post was helpful and everyone else too.

I'm very unsure about what to do, as you can see! The cottage owners emailed last night to say that there's no extra charge for dogs and that they keep all theirs in the back kitchen area, where you can shut the door. They seem v laid back about our dog going to stay there.

However, I AM still thinking of kennels or host home boarding but am not sure if kennels might be better than the latter, as I presume they have very rigid rules and regulations whereas a home host could have several other incompatible dogs there, mixing all day...although of course it'd be a nice home environment.

Anyway, we're in Cambridgeshire and I'd be extremely grateful if anyone has a personal recommendation of a local boarding kennels or host home? Preferably one that either you or someone well known to you has tried out and of course that you have no personal 'investment' in financially!!!Smile There are quite a lot advertised locally - some big and some small. I'd be happy to travel up to an hour for the right place.

OP posts:
multitask · 07/06/2011 09:51

Good luck, I think leaving him in kennels is your best bet. I would also leave him there one extra day to allow you all to come home (exhausted) get all the car unpacked, washing done and a good nights sleep. Then pick him up early next day and take him for a good run, enjoy the day with him and bring him home tired to a nice relaxed home rather than coming home to chaos and looking for attention. One more day in kennels be do no harm, well that is what I would do.

chickchickchicken · 07/06/2011 11:31

the first time leaving him will always be the worst, it does get considerably easier when you find someone you trust and dog has stayed there happily

i am in gloucestershire so too far for you but if i tell you about where i leave my dog it may help you to make a decision on whats best for your dog.

my dog is a rescue so for me personally i did not want him to go back into a kennel environment. at the time he was a very anxious dog and scared of men and noisy dogs. he is a lot more chilled out now but still a highly strung dog.

my dog goes to a woman who is a local rescuer and has taken early retirement and now does dog day care and boarding from her home. she still rescues dogs. i know this as she has helped me rehome a dog. i think her set up sounds very similar to vallhallas btw

anyway when i first met her i took my dog and a list of questions Grin she was very understanding towards my dog and on that first visit he was gently introduced to her teenage son. this was a worry for me as he was then very scared of men. i checked -
where he would sleep (all dogs had the run of the house unless owner specified crate/bed)
how many walks per day (at least two in a local field)
i watched how she was with all the dogs (she was more interested in making sure dogs were ok than offering me tea/chatting to me, which obviously i preferred)
she introduced my dog to dogs she was looking after in a considered, thoughtful way
she had a contract for me to sign stating vaccinations, whether i preferred for dog to be walked on or off lead, any health problems, my vet details, my emergency contact details, signature required to authorise her to seek emergency vet care in my absence, whether dog neutered

i was reassured by the meeting and arranged for my dog to spend an hour there while i sat in car worrying thinking it was worse than when dc went to nursery . when i picked him up i could tell from his body language that he was happy. he now stays there overnight about once a month because he likes it there so much.

i am sure there are lots of people who are happy with kennels. maybe you could canvass opinions and then decide what is best for your dog?

Solo2 · 07/06/2011 11:46

Thanks for the insights. I've found two possible places and wonder if anyone has any experience of them? I'm not sure it's allowed on MN to give public feedbacK? You could PM me. Anyway, the two that appeal on first sight from the internet are:

Greenacres Farm Boarding Kennels in Cambridgeshire
Falkor dog boarding in Ely in a home environment (up to 6 dogs allowed)

Anyone with any knowledge of either of these or others nearby?

How would I know if the people who come into contact with Rollo are into positive dog training, rather than punishment???

OP posts:
daisychicken · 07/06/2011 11:46

Just been lurking on your thread OP and another suggestion is you find a kennel near your holiday cottage - on days where you need to leave the pup at home, you could book a kennel for the day (usually about £9-15) but collect him at the end of the day. You could even plan 2 or 3 days where the dog is in kennels and you can all do whatever and then the rest of the time is based around not leaving the dog alone - would be cheaper than kennels etc for a week plus a shorter period of time away from you.

clam · 07/06/2011 11:54

I've been lurking on this thread also, as we have been planning to take our puppy with us too, although not with all of the same issues, but I'm getting cold feet about it now.
daisychicken that's a brilliant idea. I'm going to look into that. My sister did mutter something about having him for us, but need to see how mine gets on with her lab first.

K9999 · 07/06/2011 15:47

Amberlea Kennels near Ely has a good reputation.

I'm a dog-holiday-carer/sitter/walker and so I'm biased, personally I'd opt for a home from home environment. I would offer mine but it might be too hectic for a young pup.

'Barking Mad' may be your answer?

Jaynerae · 07/06/2011 21:08

Daisy chicken, we are going camping with our DC's and two dogs, we have decided to use a kennel local to the site for a couple of days as you have suggested, our dogs are 13 and 14 months, youngest we have had from 8 weeks and I have never left her, oldest we adopted in february and I am worried he will think I am leaving him if we left them for more than a day, so we are using your compromise!

Dogs will only be away from me for few hours and we can have a dog free day to go places where they can't come. Suits me!

MotherJack · 08/06/2011 00:29

daisychicken - that's inspired! Brilliant idea.

Solo2 · 08/06/2011 12:00

Thanks again. Can't find any kind of doggy care near where we go on holiday, unfortunately. I think I'll phone Barking Mad, as you suggested, K9999 and see if I can find a host family for him.

What are the pros and cons of kennels vs home dogcare? Obviously a home life is a nicer environment but I'm afraid the host family might not always use positive training/ responses with Rollo and also that he'll cheq their home. I'm also wondering if they'll be fully insured? Kennels might be more straightforward but a much bigger 'culture shock' for a home raised pup.

Please can someone give the arguments for and against each option and also, if anyone else has some recommendations for Cambridgeshire, then please let me know - or for Norfolk - where we're having our holiday?

OP posts:
Solo2 · 08/06/2011 19:24

Bumping my own thread here, as I've just been in touch with Barking Mad and was rather put off by the fact that you aren't allowed to meet the host family who would care for your puppy nor see their home! This isn't what I'd had in mind.

Please can people give me their views on host family vs kennels for a 5.5 month old pup?????

OP posts:
K9999 · 08/06/2011 19:51

"I've just been in touch with Barking Mad and was rather put off by the fact that you aren't allowed to meet the host family who would care for your puppy nor see their home! This isn't what I'd had in mind."

Shock

I didnt know that ir I'd never have suggested them, I'm so sorry. I wouldn't choose to trust my dogs to anyone under that arrangement either.

A reputable kennels will, I suppose, go more "by the book" with less chance of error.

Solo2 · 09/06/2011 10:58

I've just been in touch with another company - Animals At Home - and they DO insist you visit the host family. However, they only have one person on their list willing to take puppies. They sounded infinitely LESS professional than Barking Mad, - on the 'phone - and I'm beginning to think I'll never find anywhere good enough!

Having read the small print of loads of local kennels, kenneling really just isn't making me feel comfortable either. I can't begin to imagine what it'd be like for Rollo to be stuck in a pen, listening to other dogs barking on and off all day or to piped music ceaselessly playing, seeing a stranger for possibly three visits a day and a quick run. This would be entirely different to his usual lifestyle....

Please can anyone else share experiences and give any recommendations of host family boarding or kennels?

OP posts:
Lizcat · 09/06/2011 11:26

I was the duty vet for a quarantine kennel for 5 years. I think Solo you are imagining what it would be like for you not Rolo. Barking tends to occur at times when things occur in the kennels - so when I would walk into a block to do a count the dogs would initially bark and then settle down. They would spend some of the day asleep in their beds, some of the day pottering in the runs, some dogs like to play chase me with the dog next door up and down the runs. Actually staff are in the block for a large portion of the day, because lets face it even letting out 30 dogs into their runs takes quite a while. There is then the feed cleaning out, poo picking the runs etc.
Yes it will be very different to his usual lifestyle, but the vast majority of dogs think it's great.
Nearly all of our dogs in quaratine had a large number of toys that they played with in their kennels.
What I would say is go and visit a really good kennel yes the dogs will bark when you first go into the block and then should very quickly settle and just go back to doing stuff.
Mobile mop maybe my little baby, but I still put him in kennels.

mouseanon · 09/06/2011 18:52

I seriously think you are over thinking the kennels. As I said before I used to work in a boarding kennels and I'm more than happy to let my dog go to kennels. As Lizcat says there are people in and out all day. There are feed runs morning, then cleaning, then walking, then poo patrol, then more walking or grooming, then feeding again, then last thing (the boss used to do this after we'd gone home) they get given a chew and called in and shut inside for the night. In between all of that there were new arrivals and those being collected by their owners to go home. The majority of the time the owners would come through to get the dogs themselves (accompanied by staff member).

The kennel blocks where I was were square and each had about 50 dogs. Most of the kennels had a view into the square iyswim, with a few at the end of each row that didn't. Any dogs we were concerned about not coping with the noise were put into those quieter kennels to be a bit more out of the way. The rest enjoyed seeing the other dogs and people going about their work in the blocks. There were also secure paddocks where the more boisterous and playful dogs would get put outside to play for a while. On occasion when a small dog or puppy seemed to be struggling to settle it would be brought into the staff room for a bit where it would be given some love and fuss which would make it happier. We used to go out of our way to help nervous dogs. They were a very tiny minority though. Most of the dogs there seemed to be perfectly happy.

It's not an environment that I would keep a dog in for life but for the duration of a holiday it is absolutely fine. Honestly, truly. You just need to visit some kennels and find one you like the feel of. Unless your dog is some kind of nervous wreck then a bit of barking in kennels really won't hurt. More likely than not he'll love it.

Perhaps phone a few kennels and ask to visit and ask if you can bring the dog to see what he makes of it?

ExitPursuedByAKitten · 09/06/2011 19:51

I know how you feel OP and have found this thread very interesting. I always insist that we take our dog with us if we go away in this country, and if we go abroad he usually stays with our secretary in her house, but last weekend we had to go to a wedding and he had to go into kennels for a couple of days - and I actually found it very relaxing and DH and I got on much better! It made me realise how much I put the needs of the dog before everyone else Blush. Leaving him in kennels was pants, and confirmed to me why I hate zoos, but he survived, is back to normal now and has suffered no ill effects. If I could find a really good kennels then I would probably use it more regularly - so do your homework, listen to what the wise MNetters have said, and enjoy your holiday with your DCs

Rootatoot · 09/06/2011 23:15

hi there. I understand your worries about kenneling but I think if you don't kennel your dog at some point, you get more reluctant as time goes on and then you end up backed into a corner with an older dog who wouldn't cope as he's never used one!

I would highly recommend that you visit some kennels. Obviously you could only do this with local ones and not where you are on hols. Go unannounced and a good kennels should be happy with this.

I had kenneled my dog in a recommended place, only for a night on two separate occasions but hated leaving him there. It was 'ok' but I hadn't seen any others so I had nothing to compare to. I decided when I had a day free to go see some others and so glad i did. They vary hugely but I now have found a great place. I know he's well cared for there, the staff are lovely and although I he is a bit clingy when I collect him for a day or so, which he would be away from me anywhere, he's well looked after and safe.

Hope you get sorted soon and have a lovely hol!

ExitPursuedByAKitten · 10/06/2011 10:15

I suppose we could start recommending Kennels. Anyone know of good ones in the Oldham area?

New posts on this thread. Refresh page