Doggie daycare in kennels. 6mo puppy?

[welshgal2]

Been looking for a doggy daycare/dog walker and I'd been looking and found a dog walker for £15 per day, or a doggie day care for £25 per day. Unfortunately the day care was 40 minutes in the complete wrong direction to our jobs so the cost of fuel and daycare itself 4 days a week was just not possible for us at the moment.

DH has come home all proud of himself as he's found a boarding kennels 10 minutes away that charges £10 per day for doggie daycare. I just don't feel good at all about it being a kennels.. their Facebook page looks great lots of photos of dogs on walks and good reviews from owners but it's just the fact when he isn't being walked he'll just be in a kennel on his own. When I imagined doggy daycare I was imagining him curled up on someone's sofa having lots of fuss.. am I being over the top? We were all set to go ahead with the dog walker, but if this is the better option I don't want to make the wrong call because of my preconceptions. Any advice would be greatly appreciated (but please can no one tell me to rehome him this time!)

In case it's relevant he's a 6 month old Cav puppy.

[welshgal2]

@FFSFFSFFS Our old cav was my pride and joy growing up. He was so good around kids, perfect amount of playful and lap dog, so loving and doting I had my heart set on getting one the second I could. Would love to have two for them to have company but I'd still be gone the same amount of the time each day and I've read online that it's the time the owners are gone that matters most. I'm trying to apply for higher paid part time jobs so that I'm able to stay afloat while still spending time with him, I'll leave my current job if I have to I just want to do what's best. So frustrated at our lack of options in our local area. They have mastered puppy dog eyes haven't they!

[Namechangeforthiscancershit]

It's those Cavvie eyes. They are built to induce guilt

Oh god yes! They really have this nailed!

[FFSFFSFFS]

Because I was reading a book

[welshgal2]

@FFSFFSFFS He is gorgeous!!! This is my little boy

[Namechangeforthiscancershit]

This is because he had to sit on the floor in a cafe like a dog...

[FFSFFSFFS]

A floor on a cafe? YABVU.

He is adorable. Oh and and he's at the gangly leg stage!

Look you clearly love him so much and he had a lot of life ahead of him. He will be fine because you will make sure that you do the best thing you can for him.

Can you go and check out the kennels? Can you ask if they could have him in the office?

[welshgal2]

@Namechangeforthiscancershit He's also gorgeous!

[FFSFFSFFS]

oh sorry I thought that was welshgal - I couldn't see the photo of your pup?

[welshgal2]

@FFSFFSFFS I work on hospital ward so unfortunately there's absolutely no way he can come with me. Once the kennels reply to my message I'll decide whether it's worth visiting or not, if they say he'll be alone in a kennel for more than an hour or two at any point I won't be able to stomach it and it'll be ruled out.

[Namechangeforthiscancershit]

He is adorable. Oh and and he's at the gangly leg stage!

Thank you! He’s all legs at the moment (and SO clumsy with it!) but his ears need to catch up!

[welshgal2]

Did it not post? I'll try again

[FFSFFSFFS]

www.thecavalierclub.co.uk/other_clubs/ukclub.html

There is a South and West Wales Cav club??

[welshgal2]

@FFSFFSFFS We're mid Wales, bordering on North, thanks for looking though!

[FFSFFSFFS]

oh god The Ears!! Be careful what you wish for! How old is Mr Gangly Legs?

Oh Welshgal - oh my goodness! He's a little dot! I think you just sneak him into work in your coat.

I think def ask at the Kennels if he can be somewhere in the office or close with some people.

[Namechangeforthiscancershit]

Awwwww welshgal yours has so much more more delicate a little face! I would not be able to resist those eyes at all.

It is frustrating how much the options for daycare vary between areas. We’re quite lucky here but it’s a biggish city whereas I guess the more rural you get the less demand?

[FFSFFSFFS]

Welshgal - he's totally nailing the All Innocent look. Don't fall for it. They know exactly what they're doing.

[welshgal2]

@FFSFFSFFS Oh sorry I misread your message, thought you meant bring him to office with me hence why I mentioned work. I will ask them!

[Namechangeforthiscancershit]

He's a little dot! I think you just sneak him into work in your coat agreed! So titchy- how could anyone complain!

Mr gangly legs comes to the office most of the time- I’m super lucky. He is just coming up to 6 months and teenage behaviour has very much hit this week. All his amazing recall has vanished!

[FFSFFSFFS]

Oh yes I meant both. And this one is in real time because I am on mumsnet and not attending to him...

I've been told. Off to hunt some squeaky toys...

[welshgal2]

This was the look we got when we told him he isn't allowed to eat sand...

[rookiemere]

I was on your other thread so I shan't give you a hard time at all.
I'd say don't rule out the kennels until you've spoken to them to see exactly what they are offering.

[CleverQuacks]

Hi welshgal
We had the exact same dilemma for our 6 month old whippet. I looked around the kennel day care but they spent a lot of time in pens and so I didn’t see the point. She would have been spending just as much time alone but in a strange, loud environment. We settled on the dog walker and it has worked well for us. Our girl is worn out after her walk and just settles on the sofa to sleep until I get home and then I take her on another walk.

I know it’s hard but try not to feel guilty. It’s clear you really care about your dog.

[LittleBLUEsmurfHouse]

A cavalier puppy is definitely not suited to kennels or being left home for those long hours with just a dog walker mid day. They need people around most of the time - it's bred into them.

Can you find somebody to have him as a pet share type arrangement? Maybe somebody elderly who would like some company during the day but isn't up for the full time care?

[FFSFFSFFS]

Ah yes recall - I remember getting piled on here when I asked about recall about a year ago. It's still a work in progress...

Totally outrageous you wouldn't let him eat sand welshgal.

[LittleBLUEsmurfHouse]

Cavalier owners are notorious for getting another one. I am currently forcing myself not to get one more.

I didn't think I'd have enough space on my lap for two cavaliers, so got a show type cocker instead - so now I have one dog on my feet (cocker) and one in my lap (cavalier of course). The only problem comes when the cocker does get on my lap the cavalier decides he must also be on my lap no matter what he was doing when the cocker got on my lap and there really isn't enough space for both of them.