Dog boarding kennels and holidays

Scones

Josianne

Do you know what, bytheway, I nearly set up a business in our seaside town this summer looking after holidaymakers' dogs while they went for meals out and on the beach (where dogs aren't allowed)! It is a real problem for them, I know exactly what you mean.

I think this is an excellent idea. I live in a seaside town which won't allow dogs on the beach in summer. I often see one member of a family sitting on the prom with the dog whilst the rest of the family are playing on the sand. On wet days people could do indoor activities knowing their dog is safe and happy with you. We have a NT castle nearby who won't let dogs in too. You would do well I'm sure.

Thank you Scones. So many people this year had to book self catering properties with their dogs in tow it is a real dilemma for them if they want a few hours out without the pet. You aren't supposed to leave them home alone in the properties for obvious reasons, so an hourly rate pet carer would be great.
The thing that put me off doing it was all the paperwork and hoops I would probably have to jump through. I might approach the local holiday cottage companies to leave a card in the houses.

Google Rover. That's what we use, have a lovely lady who has a couple of dogs herself. Our pup can't wait to get there. ?

Why you didn’t think of this before getting a dog I can’t fathom.

My pooches have all gone into kennels. Happy on going and happy to come home. They give my old dog his medications and it works well.
My son and his wife were reluctant to put their two dogs in kennels or even leave them alone in the house for a few hours. They did this for about a year and then discovered they had no outside life at all and changed their mind. The dogs have not suffered at all.

We have had great (free!) holidays using the Guardian Home Exchange
www.guardianhomeexchange.co.uk
We don't have a dog, but have met people through the Guardian Home Exchange who do dog sitting in the dog's own home and it seems to work well for everyone - including the dog.

We have a special needs dog. He knows the people at the specialist hospital very well from his visits over the past six or so years

We have done travelling and he has stayed at the hospital. He is fine. The staff are all so gorgeous to him
Apparently there is only two dog regular boarders , at the hospital .
It costs us the same as an overnight hotel stay for us as for him
However we know if he has a seizure or something else they are promptly on it..he is boarded to be monitored..also his drugs are given at the correct time. I trust the hospital. I know they look after him. He is happy to go there. Also...if something happened whilst we were away I would be accept what decision they have made.
The longest he has stayed there was six weeks. His dog sister also stayed. We wont do that length of time again. Once we can travel again the longest would be 16 nights.

We put our dog in boarding kennels when we travel abroad and over the years she has got to know the ladies there very well and she knows exactly what's going on. She knows we will return and pick her up. I would recommend this as you know they are safe and secure. There are so many stories of dog napping lately. We also go on a couple of UK holidays most years to caravans and take her with us. Usually to somewhere that allows dogs into their shops and restaurants. Nice dog friendly places of which there are many. She enjoys them immensely but she is always glad to get back home to her own place and routine. There are also so many alternatives now. Have a look around your area and see what's on offer.

This is exactly the reason that we haven't got another dog yet. We always get rescues, and they always had a difficult time going into kennels - our last one used to moult dreadfully (probably from stress) and her bark was hoarse (and this was only after a long weekend away). We decided not to get another one until we were travelling less and more settled. BUT if we didn't go for rescues, I would definitely do what others have said - find yourself a nice kennel (on recommendation only) and get her used to it from an early age (which is what friends of our did with their dog and she's happy to go into the kennel now). Also - I do know that our local vet had a notice board of people who looked after dogs in their own homes (including one of the veterinary nurses) - they only allowed advertising from people they knew and thought were trustworthy. Might be worth trying?

We are on holiday in a dog friendly cottage at the moment. We have our dog with us. It is the third time we have been to this cottage because we know it to be genuinely dog friendly. So many aren't. It is a tie having him with us but we pick and choose where we go to eat and what we do. They have to allow dogs in obvs. Yes, there are plenty of things we cannot do. Seeing him race up and down the beach makes up for them, in my mind. Interestingly there is a NT property near here where dogs can go into the restaurant. Our local NT property at home does not allow dogs in. Why the discrepancy? If we go to an NT property and we desperately want to see the house, we go in one at a time. It doesn't kill us. We also go on holidays where we cannot take him and we found a kennels recommended by a friend. He positively bounds in and doesn't give us a backward glance. It is only small, the owner is kind and our dog loves him. We tried a luxury dog hotel before this and it was not successful. We also use a cattery for our cat. Cats don't care, honestly. Our cat sleeps 23 and a half hours a day. I've always been of the mindset to start as you mean to go on. Our dog has been going to kennels since he was a pup and doesn't bat an eyelid. He is the same going to the groomers and the vet.

I am in this position with several pets at home and I need to get abroad for some important work. I have looked at housesitters but feel unsettled about having a stranger in my home. Non of my family will help but hopefully one of my retired friends is considering moving in for the week. As they are disabled I will need to sort a dog walker (the other animals are easier so friend can deal with them). I'm trying to coordinate dates, flights, walkers and friend and if I didn't need to go would just stay at home with my zoo who probably won't give a damn if I'm not here as long as someone feeds them!

We're very lucky that one of our adult children will take care of ours. I'd not enjoy a holiday/day trip if they were in kennels or such like.

Also our eldest grandson has sat with her for an hour recently. He's 13 and enjoyed having a bit of responsibility. Liked the wage as well!

In a few years he can move in and take care of them. If he's willing that is!

We regularly use local kennels for our dog. If we didn’t we’d never go to places where dogs aren’t allowed and it’s important to do that in retirement. We balance holidays and days out by taking our dog with us half the time. It is very hard emotionally to pass our beloved dogs over to someone else. Find a kennels who have a good reputation and try it for a day/night initially. Dogs are surprisingly adaptable. The last time our dog went to the kennels, she literally jumped out the car and ran in without a backward glance ?

Try housesitters.com! I tend to use them and on average had a very good experience. Do read the review on the sitters who answer though! Very good luck!

I know exactly how you feel. When needing somewhere to leave my wee Westie for 16 days I trawledevery kennel in the county and some more. None came up to my standard; no carpets, sofa, curtains or duvets! Eventually I found a company that places dogs in peoples' homes having vetted them for accommodation,experience etc. I think most where people who had been dog owners but didn't want the responsibility full time.I was always given photos of my dog at her holiday home. Used the service until she died. Wouldn't use anything else if I ever had another dog. Not the cheapest.

I have 2 dogs and take them with me everywhere, apart from the sports centre and the cinema and I have a motorhome, up until covid we went all over the continent and UK with them and will return to extensive travel next year with them. In fact, am thinking about getting another dog. I go out for meals and a lot of restaurants take well behaved dogs and mine like to sleep under the table, I do take a chew for the younger as she gets a bit fidgety. It is good for them to be left for a couple of hours to rest and be in their own company try leaving them for 10 minutes and increase this over the following weeks.

How about housesitters. Try Trusted Housesitters -

Our lab came from a rescue kennels so we never wanted to send her to kennels. We have a lovely lady who does home boarding. Not cheap but our dog adores her and happily goes. She is treated like a member of the family and we get regular WhatsApp pics and messages while we are away. Try Googling dog home boarding in your area. Remember though, if they take more than 2 (I think);dogs they must be registered with the local council and suitably insured.

I was very apprehensive about leaving our very large german shepherd dog in boarding kennels when we went away on holiday this year but he was absolutely fine. Just ensure you find reputable kennels and read the reviews.

Suss out the local kennels. Some are fine but not all are. You know your dog and I suspect she’s a bit spoilt by you. I would make enquiries about dog sitters as I think that would be best solution for you and your dog.

Is there anyone local to you who would have her for a week or two while your away.

We bought a house in Cornwall and that solved our problems. DH went off sailing and I took the dogs to Cornwall and had a lovely time. Then there are all those holidays you can have at any time of the year. I appreciate that not everyone can do that but you do have to think about all these things before you get a dog.

I hope you manage to sort it out as you need to know that she’s being looked after while you’re away otherwise you’ll just worry all the time.

Not quite the same thing, but we visited a friend who was in hospital last time we were in Switzerland, and I was very interested to see that the hospital had a series of bunkers with metal gates, under a sort of bank, presumably for coolness, where people could padlock and leave their dog. Apparently it is used by staff, patients and visitors. A fee is paid at the reception for the ground maintenance staff to clean it out after use. Presumably they had to register who owns the dog. Don’t know if they had to previously. Interesting, I thought

Don't get a dog if you love travelling and going on holidays. Sorry to state the obvious 'bytheway' but didn't you think of this before you got the dog.

Pre-book, not previously!

4allweknow

I know exactly how you feel. When needing somewhere to leave my wee Westie for 16 days I trawledevery kennel in the county and some more. None came up to my standard; no carpets, sofa, curtains or duvets! Eventually I found a company that places dogs in peoples' homes having vetted them for accommodation,experience etc. I think most where people who had been dog owners but didn't want the responsibility full time.I was always given photos of my dog at her holiday home. Used the service until she died. Wouldn't use anything else if I ever had another dog. Not the cheapest.

I’ve never heard of this service but it sounds perfect for bytheway.

Oofy

Not quite the same thing, but we visited a friend who was in hospital last time we were in Switzerland, and I was very interested to see that the hospital had a series of bunkers with metal gates, under a sort of bank, presumably for coolness, where people could padlock and leave their dog. Apparently it is used by staff, patients and visitors. A fee is paid at the reception for the ground maintenance staff to clean it out after use. Presumably they had to register who owns the dog. Don’t know if they had to previously. Interesting, I thought

What a wonderful idea but I don’t think it will ever catch on here.

My friend who is a police officer here in the UK uses Trusted Housesitters where people come stay in your house. You pay a yearly fee but that's it. You could go away locally for a 2 night break and see if it works out ok for you.