Kennels or Dog Walker?

[PennyPennyPenny]

Last minute change of plan, same cost so would you go for walker or kennels?

Walker.

Walker - particularly if you already know them and they know the dog.

Its for 3 dogs who would need to be together

I just think they will miss us more if they are at home?

Kennels for us - he would whine for us if he was at home alone... whereas at kennels near us he has a whale of a time - with updates on facebook for us and everything

My parents used to leave their dog / dogs at home if they couldn't take them with them. Someone came first thing in the morning, let them in the garden and gave them breakfast. They had a couple of walks during the day and a trip into the garden last thing. They knew the person that was coming, they knew their home and garden, and were fine - much better than being put in kennels (all rescued). I would prefer, however, to have a dog with someone if possible - our dog lodges with someone if we can't take her, so I know that she's with someone all the time.

Our dog walker does home boarding. She'll look after other pets in their own homes but not dogs.

Mine goes to stay with our local dog walker in her home, she takes about 4 dogs maximum and they sleep in her utility room. Is there anyone local to you which does this?

Ours is a collie, we adopted her from Blue Cross and they told us they try to move the collies on really quickly as being nervy dogs they get quite upset in kennels.

It really depends on how confident your dogs are whether they would cope with that environment or not.

Our dog had a couple of bad experiences with home boarders - he came home a different dog - timid, fretful and anxious - they had other dogs there which had "bullied" him - whereas at our local kennels - they keep the dogs strictly separate- he comes home the same as he left..

It upset us really as we thought we were doing the best thing - everyone was soooo down on kennels - but he thrives there in comparison.

Our dog stays with a family member. She has been to kennels and they say she is fine there but on the two occasions she's been she been a lot leaner on collection which indicates stress to me as our dog likes her grub.

Made of - I see the lady she boards with every day so I know she gives serious thought to how the dogs she has will gel together, I'm guessing a boarder who has more dogs and doesn't consider this could cause problems.

We even did a "test" night, to check she didn't howl all night - this got postponed once as she had an early drop off from a not so friendly dog my boarder thought wouldn't get on with mine!

Our dog didn't eat once while she was with Blue Cross which is why they were so desperate to home her. She will happily sit in a different room to me for hours but every so often wanders in and nudges me with her nose just to remind me she's there - being isolated just wouldn't suit her. They are all different though aren't they.

They certainly are different! ours is a homebody lap-dog of a Westie - mainly happy touching one of us ALL the time but doesn't seem to like being in another home with dogs about...

I thought he'd be more worried about kennels - since he loves being around people sooooooooooo much, but maybe it is just the other dog thing that bothered him at the boarders ....

My girl made a new friend when she was staying last year, apparently after their evening walk they went out in her garden and just did laps of it chasing each other. I think he is there the same week as her this year too.

Actually your boy isn't the first westie I have heard of who is social out but doesn't like being indoors with another dog, someone I know had to send back the second dog she had got to keep hers company.

That's interesting to hear - someone else also told us not to get him a companion since they often don't like other dogs in their patch...