Really dreading leaving my dog - talk me down please!

[Justrelax]

I got my first dog about 18 months ago. I got her following a tough time in my personal life as I felt like I needed an interest and frankly some more love. It's worked perfectly and I'm absolutely smitten with her. She's the most loving, sweet, wonderful girl and one of the best decisions I've ever made.

We haven't left her yet - only had UK holidays and she's come with us. I went away for work one time for three days and she was apparently a little quiet but fine. She loves all people and will snuggle up to anyone who visits, but is very much my girl. But in a week we're all going away for a full week and I'm absolutely dreading leaving her. Every time she looks up at me with her big eyes I feel like I'm betraying her. I have cried thinking about how she won't know where we've gone or why, or if I'm ever coming back. 😪 She's staying with my close friend and her family while we're away - they don't have dogs but they're really good people and she'll get a lot of love. It'll also mean I can see her if I want to on Facetime (though I think that might confuse or upset her). I know it'll be fine and she'll be fine but I just feel so upset at the idea of leaving her. Despite being excited and having a very 'once in a lifetime' holiday lined up (which is why we're going at all - long awaited!), I also feel genuinely miserable about not getting to hug her or see her for a week. Urgh what's wrong with me.

She'll be absolutely fine, please don't worry! I'm a pet-sitter and look after lots of dogs while their owners are away - without exception they all cope perfectly well.

However I really wouldn't FaceTime her while you're away - it would just confuse her and potentially make her upset when she wouldn't have been otherwise. Just ask for lots of photos instead :)

Thank you - I won't FaceTime. I did think it might be distressing for her to hear me but not be able to get to me. A few times my kids have been out somewhere and phoned and I've had it on speaker and when she even hears them she rushes around trying to see work out where they are. I will definitely ask for photos though.

Hi I just wanted to pop back and say that she was absolutely fine and actually so was I! Thank you for all the advice. Dropping her off I felt a bit wobbly but my lovely friend sent lots of photos and I could see she was absolutely thriving. Honestly as a novelty in the house I think she actually got even more attention than at home and she loved it. Their elderly dad lives with them and she was constantly taking advantage of him being on the sofa for a cheeky snuggle. He commented when I picked her up that he's going to try to persuade them to get a dog now as he'll miss her. I even got a photo of her lying in bed with my friend when I know for a fact she won't let her own cats on the bed! They were just about as sad saying goodbye to her at the end of the holiday as I was when I dropped her off. Thanks for all the support. She means the world to me.

That's great to hear @Justrelax . I'm glad you and your pupper both enjoyed your holidays.

You are very lucky to have good friends, our dog is 6 years old and despite us saying we would leave him at home with adult sons, we just can’t do it.

We were the same with ours. It's always scary the first time but we were invited to the Royal garden party last month and decided to make a holiday of it in London! Our dog was looked after in our home by my inlaws who looked after our last dog and she had a great time. She wasn't keen to go for walks with them for some reason but that didn't matter and she had fun visiting coffee shops and garden centres! My MIL is very anti dogs in the bedroom but we insisted they slept in our room with her as that is what she is used to and they even said it was quite nice to have her in there and she was no trouble, especially as she has learnt to sleep until someone gets up!

It's only a week. She will probably miss you and you will miss her, but that is a normal response and you will both be fine.

We were in a similar position last year. We went abroad for a week for the first time since before covid and left the dog with her usual doggy daycare carers where she is treated like one of the family. They said she was quieter than usual and didn't have her usual appetite, but she bounced straight back. I was worried she might become clingy or anxious but she didn't at all.

Enjoy your holiday. I wouldn't facetime. I think it would be confusing for her.

Ignore the tit who said they have no feelings. They do. Mine stopped eating and lost their chubbiness the first time they stayed away. We have 3. Too much for family to take on and my 3 kids work and attend college so I can't expect them to give up their lives because we fancy a weekend away so ours are kennelled with a friend...he keeps them mostly in his kitchen tbf and theyndont even see kennels. It costs but we know they're well looked after. He posts pics and sends us videos and they like going back to see him again. And they're so happy when we get home. We use him for things like family parties when no one will be in and for our wedding this year they will be in for that weekend and our respective hen doos also
Edit. Just seen all went well. Excellent

Lovely to see your update OP. I'm glad everything went well.

It's always hard to leave our precious pooches with someone else but it sounds like both you and your dog had a great time.

Hopefully, next time you'll feel less worried about having to leave her.

@WhatInFreshHell real helpful that

@Justrelax lovely to see your update. She got just as much of a holiday as you! Ours is super attached to us but also gets a lovely fuss made of him when we leave him with friends and I always think of it as him getting a little holiday even though I also still feel the pangs!