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The doghouse

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

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Original poster

What do you do?

23 replies

Anewname20 · 02/10/2020 14:02

We have a lovely chihuahua who has been with us for about 6 months. We all love her. The problem is she has gotten very used to us being at home and I worry about her mental well-being when we return to work and school, which is what’s begging to happen. She does not handle being left on her own very well.

The other thing that we worry about is where to leave her when we go on holiday. We do not have neighbours or family we can rely on.

Any advice on what people normally do in these situations?

OP posts:

BiteyShark · 02/10/2020 14:04

I use daycare for office days and then home boarding when I go away.

Funf · 02/10/2020 14:10

Try crating her for 10 mins, make sleep time and play time, gradually increase this.
Holidays are difficult, if its in the Uk she comes, we are lucky as our breeder does boarding, in the past a neighbour had our last dog

hopeforlucky3 · 02/10/2020 14:11

I would start to slowly increase your time away from her, even just popping her in another room for a bit. I'd then gradually up this to say half an hour out the house and build up the time away.

Exercise her before you leave and she'll prob sleep. Also look into daycare or a dog walker if her anxiety is really bad.

I put my dogs in kennels before we go on holiday. Research for ones with good reviews. Also book well in advance as the "good" ones are usually booked up months in advance.

Original poster

Anewname20 · 02/10/2020 14:48

Thanks for the very useful advice. I checked the cost in my area at it’s £28 per night so about £350 plus for a short holiday. Quite expensive isn’t it? Could probably take her on holiday for that cost.

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BiteyShark · 02/10/2020 14:56

@Anewname20

Sounds about right. I pay £25 for a night.

I can get a bit cheaper if I used kennels but my dog likes home boarding and it makes all the difference knowing he is happy when I am on holiday.

mrsjoyfulprizeforraffiawork · 02/10/2020 15:09

I home board her for holidays and have a dogwalker (who does one hour with her) halfway through the day on working days. You could try working her up to being left alone for longer bit by bit, which would mean you could use the dogwalker option eventually, when she was able to do it. My dogwalker charges £12 a day. My home boarder person is cheaper than those listed above but I think I'm just very lucky there.

GreyishDays · 02/10/2020 15:14

In the meantime, get her used to you all being out for the odd hour here and there.

luckylavender · 02/10/2020 15:41

Why didn't you look into all that before you got her?

ErrolTheDragon · 02/10/2020 15:52

We use Holidays4dogs, DDog has some lovely 'aunties'. The prices went up a year or so ago because of tightened DEFRA regulations - anywhere charging low prices is a bit suspect tbh.
Taking dogs on holidays can work but may limit what you can do. IME canal boat type hols can be good. You'd probably need to be able to leave her in a crate or suchlike for a while whatever you do.

Do as others have suggested, and implement 'gradual withdrawal' at home. It's good you're thinking about that ahead of time.

vanillandhoney · 03/10/2020 16:30

Well, dogs are a big tie. At six months you shouldn't be leaving her for long periods anyway, maybe a couple of hours maximum while you pop to the shops or do the school run. Young dogs are a lot of work and require someone to be around the vast majority of the time.

You'll definitely need to organise care for when you're at work. Mine either comes with me or goes to my in-laws. There are other options - our local kennels does day-boarding for £10, for example, or you can use in-home daycare but that's much more expensive (around £25). Once older, you also have the option of a dog walker.

But, all that being said, we arrange work around the dog. I run my own business so I fit my hours around what my dog can handle - I work 8.30-1pm and then have the dog the rest of the time. I also work weekends in which case DH has him. He has separation anxiety and can't be left for long at all. It's just a sacrifice you have to make when you have a pet.

We've never paid for holiday care as we just take him with us, but the same kennel that does daycare also offers boarding and it's only £12 per night so we'd send him there. But yes, it's not cheap.

midnightstar66 · 03/10/2020 16:42

Mine is the same age and I can now leave her for a short time, I didn't do this till she started staying where she was when I left the room regularly as at first she was completely stuck to me. Mine is a JRT which, like a chihuahua are people oriented dogs and can't really be left regularly. Mine goes to my parents every day while I'm at work and will do so if I go on holiday. I honestly wouldn't have got this dog if that wasn't an option as I can't afford day cares. I'd look at day care as she's unlikely to be happy with a dog walker in for an hour based on her breed. If possible find someone that offers that and home boarding so she's not going to strangers. As another poster has said this is all things that should be considered before deciding to get a dog/specific breed, covid aside.

Original poster

Anewname20 · 03/10/2020 17:18

She is 2 years old. I got her six months ago.

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Original poster

Anewname20 · 03/10/2020 17:23

I am not looking to be chastised for my choice. I’m sure moralising gives some pleasure to some but I did not seek advice here to be told off or questioned about my choice.

My dog has gotten used to us being here all day for 6 months. That will change and I do not want her to be affected by this.

I also wanted to understand the best option for when we go away on holidays. Not every dog owner has their parents or best friends near by. If that was a key criterion for getting a dog, there would be very few dog owners.

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Original poster

Anewname20 · 03/10/2020 17:26

Thanks to all those who focused on giving me advice. It’s appreciated.

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SuperLoudPoppingAction · 03/10/2020 17:27

m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2170406046403586&id=308503122593897

The flitting game is good.

We don't have family who can watch our dog so we just go on holidays we can bring her on.

midnightstar66 · 03/10/2020 17:30

No one is chastising but a chihuahua is never likely to be ok with being left alone for long periods regardless of age or what they've got used to and I was just pointing out that personally I could not have got a dog without my parents as I cannot afford the alternatives, which are available. Lots of people can so that's why lots of others have dogs (also certain breeds of dogs are more adaptable to being left for slightly longer, going out with strangers etc) also lots of people do leave dogs who are unhappy with it but this can be problematic for all involved. As I said a small day care option that also provides boarding is probably the best bet for your particular pet .

vanillandhoney · 03/10/2020 17:45

I am not looking to be chastised for my choice. I’m sure moralising gives some pleasure to some but I did not seek advice here to be told off or questioned about my choice.

People aren't chastising you, but your questions did make you seem quite naive as to the reality of having a dog. Dog care is expensive, be it daycare, kennels or walkers. You've also chosen a breed that's people-orientated and that doesn't like being left, so the reality is that you're going to need to pay for care.

Chihuahuas are also small and fairly fragile, which means that long dog walks in the winter may not be a possibility, which means your care options are going to be fairly limited. I don't know many chihuahuas who are going to want to go out walking in the middle of winter for an hour or so. They feel the cold massively.

You'll just need to find someone who can offer daycare in their home. That'll likely be the most expensive option, but it is what it is. Lots of dog owners holiday where they can take their pets to save on costs, and work around the dogs needs to limit the amount spent on walkers etc.

Groundhogdayzz · 03/10/2020 17:50

How far away do you work? And how old are your children? Would it possible for you or them to pop home for an hour at lunch? Also if they are old enough to stay home alone in the holidays, that is almost half the year covered!

JonHammIsMyJamm · 03/10/2020 17:51

We do what most other people have suggested. Take him with us on UK holidays. When we go abroad, he does ‘home boarding’ where he stays with a a registered, licensed and insured person in their house for the duration. He also has ad-hoc daycare sessions with the home boarding lady, so that he stays socialised and familiar with the environment

Original poster

Anewname20 · 03/10/2020 18:04

Okay, I’m out with my naivety. I should have thought twice about asking for advice here and committing a crime of asking naive questions.

Thanks again to those who offered genuine advice without the side order of moralising and chastisement.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend. I’m out of this thread before it degenerates with moral policing.

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Original poster

Anewname20 · 03/10/2020 18:08

Groundhog, yes for 4 or 5 days a week we will be around. There will be two days when we are out of the house and will have to rely on popping in at lunchtime. Thanks again. Bye.

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YoYoYumYum · 03/10/2020 18:42

Don't make a fuss about leaving nor when you return - be totally nonchalant.

For when you're out, give her some food stuffed in Kongs, give her favourite toy back and tire her out before you leave.

JumperTime · 03/10/2020 18:57

You can train her to be happy alone, it will take a while though. There are some good resources here on separation anxiety, scroll down for pdf advice sheet >
www.apbc.org.uk/dogs/
You have to start v slow but it's a bit too complex to go into on here. If you need further help ask your vet, they should have useful resources.

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