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The doghouse

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Original poster

Kind of fostering / boarding hybrid ??

22 replies

KidsDoBetter · 31/05/2025 09:09

Long term dog owner. Wondering if this is a “thing” …

So I have a lovely nearly 10 yr old cocker / lab X. Easy in the home now he’s older - can be a little nervy out and about but a lovely dog.

I live in a major city but am now going to be required to be away for work to another city (3hr drive / 2hr public transport) away about 10 days - 2 weeks a month. No one else at home to look after pup. It won’t be possible for him to come with me even if he could do that kind of travel.

I was thinking of trying to find a kind of “borrow my doggy” arrangement with a little more formality. Unfortunately I couldn’t afford to pay the £40 per night my boarding lady (understandably- it’s her business!) charges. But I’d happily pay £10-20 per night all food, insurance, to a fully checked out person who would like a non full time canine companion. But don’t know if this is even a thing. My main concern is of course Chip and him being settled and happy. He always settles well with people who look after him.

Unfortunately the work thing isn’t up for debate so I will need a solution. I would have other options if the long term person had a holiday etc but not anyone who could have him long term.

OP posts:
Original poster
KidsDoBetter · 31/05/2025 10:18

Bump 😄🐾

OP posts:
Nousernamesleftatall · 31/05/2025 10:20

I would imagine people who do this would want to be paid the going rate.

RareGoalsVerge · 31/05/2025 10:23

It sounds like you need to officiallt rehome your dog but try to do so with a family who will still let you be involved/take him for walks/having him for occasional overnights. Your new work commitments are not compatible with dog ownership and any kind of paid service providing doggy care isn't really going to be appropriate.

Hoppinggreen · 31/05/2025 10:26

I think a professional would want to be paid the going rate and someone doing it as a favour or on the cheap wouldn't be reliable enough or have the necessary insurance etc

NuffSaidSam · 31/05/2025 10:32

I think you'd be able to find someone to do it, but they won't be insured/checked (unless you pay for that/do it). They're likely to be someone who loves dogs and does dog sitting as more of a favour for people.

My mum would probably do something like this, but she isn't a boarding kennel (and if she were she'd want paying at the going rate).

Do you know anyone from the dog walking community who might consider it? Maybe a retired person?

drspouse · 31/05/2025 10:37

Could you get a house-sitter who loves dogs, and would regularly like time in a house away from theirs? I'm thinking of a student or house sharer who had to leave their dog at their parents' house?

thiswilloutme · 31/05/2025 10:44

It’s more the kind of thing friends/dog walkers/neighbours do for each other tbh. For many years I looked after a dog one day a week, and for weekends/ holidays due to his owners work commitments- my next door neighbour looks after a friends dog when they go away, I saw one of the local dog walkers with her friends dog as well as her own the other day…. We all have our own dogs and one more nice dog that gets on with ours is no bother for a few days. If you don’t have that kind of doggy network there is a group called “borrow my doggy” but I don’t know how widespread it is.

FancyBiscuitsLevel · 31/05/2025 11:07

Basically you want home boarding.
the going rate round here for someone running it as a business is £45 per 24 hours.

otherwise you need a friend /family member who’ll do it for a small fee. Is there no one who’ll help out?

FancyBiscuitsLevel · 31/05/2025 11:08

another thought - the new job, will you be put up in a hotel or flat? If it’s flat, can you insist it’s dog friendly and get a dog walker there?

redboxer321 · 31/05/2025 12:56

Could you take in a lodger? Cheap rent for dog care.

ScribblingPixie · 31/05/2025 13:30

I know someone who had this type of arrangement through Borrow My Doggy (not paying but sharing time) but it evolved. Worth trying on there. I don't quite see why anybody who wanting paying for dog boarding would do it for half (or even less) of the going rate.

FancyBiscuitsLevel · 31/05/2025 15:27

redboxer321 · 31/05/2025 12:56

Could you take in a lodger? Cheap rent for dog care.

Actually this is a genius solution and possibly the best one if paying for care isn’t possible.

RareGoalsVerge · 31/05/2025 16:32

FancyBiscuitsLevel · 31/05/2025 15:27

Actually this is a genius solution and possibly the best one if paying for care isn’t possible.

Show quote history

I don't think this would work. Very few lodgers would want to be tied down to never do anything on the days when OP has to be away for work. Any lodger/friend/borrowmydoggy arrangement could decide to go on holiday at no notice and leave OP in the lurch

The choices are between a professional service which will be reliable and guaranteed, vs anything less than/cheaper than a professional service which will be very much unreliable, and certain to sometimes fall apart at no notice giving OP a nightmare of needing to leave for work but no one available for the dog. Which is why I think rehoming is the best solution.

redboxer321 · 31/05/2025 16:52

Which is why I think rehoming is the best solution.

Yes, people are queueing up to adopt 10 year old cross breeds.

FancyBiscuitsLevel · 31/05/2025 17:05

Well perhaps depends on how much of a discount the OP offers compared to lodging elsewhere. It’s a good deal to have a full house to yourself for half the month for a lodger. And as the OP has a boarding person she uses for her own holidays, I guess from whatever she makes from the lodger she can pay for extra kennelling when the lodger needs to be away too,

worth exploring if the other options are rehome or leave job.

Original poster
KidsDoBetter · 31/05/2025 17:45

Hi all. Thanks for all the great suggestions. Unfortunately lodging isn’t an option in this case for accommodation reasons but a lot to recommend it. Like a doggy au pair!

He will never ever be rehomed. It would break my heart and his. I’d give up the job before I’d do that. Just trying to think a bit laterally as I’m not sure that driving him 3 hours in a car twice a month would work but I’m thinking about it all.

OP posts:
bridgetreilly · 31/05/2025 19:08

I know friends with this sort of arrangement, but I can’t imagine anyone doing it with a stranger. Do you know someone who would enjoy a part-time dog? Start there.

ACynicalDad · 31/05/2025 21:40

Try Rover App, I've never used it but there are lots of stories of people who used to have dogs who can't now have them full time, many have reviews. Some are pretty cheap, but I expect it could be negotiated.

raspberryberet7 · 31/05/2025 22:30

This is the sort of thing my DC who is a student does. Donyou know any students that would dogsit and/or house sit?

Astrabees · 01/06/2025 15:30

This is just the sort of thing DH and I would love to do, we wouldn’t want to be paid much as we are retired and get bored with not enough to do, we have two little dogs already so one more would not be any trouble. Do you know any active retired people, they might be the best candidates.

faerietales · 01/06/2025 16:12

A three hour journey is nothing, surely? I would take him with you and arrange a dog walker or daycare in the work location.

FancyBiscuitsLevel · 01/06/2025 21:23

He’ll get used to the driving- arrange a dog walker at the new location.

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