To get a dog or not?

I've had my border terrier for nearly 10 years and she loves going to stay with other people. She has stayed with friends and a pet sitting service with no problems. I think they spoil her rotten! When she comes home she races around the house and garden, jumps all over us then settles down as if she's never been away. I've never been away more than 3 weeks. I think it would be a good idea to try leaving the dog for a short time, say a weekend, to start with and see how it goes.
I suppose it might depend on the dog's personality but don't let it put you off having a dog. I wouldn't be without mine. My pet sitting service sends me text messages telling me how my dog is settling in when I go away and as I said she has a wonderful time. I definitely think this service is much, much better than kennels.
One other thing I'd mention as this is your first dog I'd recommend taking your new dog to training and socialisation classes at first.

I think it’s a shame, but leaving a dog for this length of time is not a good idea. Dogs are very loyal animals and this could really cause it to be confused and depressed.

Instead why don’t you look at a site called ‘Borrow my Doggie’.

Here is the link

This will give you all the joys of dog ownership without the commitment. I have just suggested this to a friend who wants a did, but her (miserable old) husband says ‘no’. So now she leaves the miserable old beggar home alone and a couple of times a week heads off with a more amendable companion.

The family who owned the dog headed off to visit family for two days over Christmas so she got to take him home for those days.

Think about it.

Wants a dog not a did!

The pet sitting service I use is called Barking Mad. The petsitters are people who like to have dogs but can't commit to having one full time. Maybe you could try that if they operate in your area.

We have a family dog share and it works well for us. Our lovely rescue lab came to us when our son was home for an extended period so got used to being walked, fed and petted by all three of us (plus other family members). When our son returned home he took the dog with him for a few weeks and then the dog came back to us - and that's how the past year has unfolded, with the dog spending long periods of time at both homes. Add into the mix our other son bought a lab puppy and used our dog to help socialise him and that we've had several holidays all together (with both dogs) and yet our lovely dog is calm and equally at home wherever he is as long as he has lots of love and attention. I think if the dog you choose has a good temperament s/he will settle and not mind going to a trusted third party when you go away.
Let us know how you get on and what you decide.

I no longer have a dog of my own but I look after all family dogs when their owners are away, I look forward to having them and the dogs seem to be very happy staying here

I was brought up with dogs (they came first with my DM) and had my own as soon as we had our own place. Our last dog died 14 years ago and for various reasons we decided not to have any more.

However, we have 4 grand-dogs (two together and two only dogs). When the DC go away they come to stay with us. For up to four weeks at a time this becomes their second home. They move in happily. Follow our house rules which don’t always follow their home rules (such as not being allowed on the bed or furniture) and are perfectly happy. They know they’re coming when they’re beds get loaded. It’s their holiday. Eager to come and eager to go home. It may depend on what sort of dog you have. Three of these are cocker spaniels and one is a (wait for it) Nova Scotian Duck Tolling Retriever. I don’t think it would work with one of the breeds which are one man dogs such as Weimaraner.

My DM had a Staffie from whom she was rarely separated, and when she became too ill to keep her the Cinnamon Trust found her two temporary foster homes on two occasions and then a permanent one where, as far as I know, she still is. She settled happily in each one, moving back in with DM in between. Being a fosterer for the Cinnamon Trust might be worth considering.

I wouldn’t advise having a rescue dog as they are likely need more reassurance and permanence, but if you get a young dog used to having a second home early in its life I don’t think there’s a problem. I know 2 or 3 dogs locally who have second homes or are dog share, I meet them when dog sitting our lot. They don’t have problems. Just make sure you get a breed which is happy to do it.

Leaving a dog for a month may upset the dog as well as you! I would recommend you become a host for Barking Mad. You can then have a dog come to stay with you when the owner goes on holiday. Your Barking Mad Franchisee will visit you and have a chat about the sort of dog you would like and when you are available. That way, you can still go travelling. The Franchisee is available 24/7 to support you when the dog is staying. They also transport the dog to you and return it to the owner. The dog arrives with everything it needs, including a Pet Schedule telling you all about it. There are over 70 Franchises around the UK, they consistently get 5* reviews on TrustPilot and are the UKs favourite home from home dog boarding. Good luck - I host and I love it. I'm sure that you will enjoy it too.

I should have given you the website, sorry!
www.barkingmad.uk.com

We live in the country and a lot of our friends have dogs. Quite a few of them seen to dog sit and the dogs appear to be quite happy.

Our dog stays with a family when we go away and he seems to love his holidays. We use a company called Holidays4Dogs and, unlike Barking Mad, you get to meet the people who do the fostering, in their home. The other company mentioned collect your dog from your house and take it to the fosterer; they don't tell you where the dog is going or who will be looking after it. I wouldn't be happy with that arrangement myself.

In our early 70s, we too have just got our first dog. We went for an older dog from a Rescue. I believe, that what you are offering a dog is so much better than the life it will have, staying in a Rescue. It is impossible to say if the dog will suffer anxiety, by the separation. What, I assume, is that it will be far less anxiety for it than being in a Shelter. You seem to be offering the dog a loving home and providing really good care while you are away.

Our rescue is 8and she has been with us 6 weeks. She has grown in confidence and is such a joy. She has changed our life dramatically for the better.

Please do this, and let us know how you get on. This is my dog on her first meeting with 2 of my Grandchildren

Lovely photo, littleflo

littleflo such a cute picture it looks as though your little dog is smiling for the camera.

I can't see any reason why you should not get a dog if you feel you can make adequate arrangements for when you are away. I would advise against getting a puppy though, they are hard work for the first 12- 18 months. Depending on the breed of course, but I am sure you will research that. Why not contact you local rescue and see who they have looking for a home? Especially if you have long enough to get your new BFF settled in before you go anywhere. There are always pros and cons to any decision. Nothing is perfect and there is always a compromise to be made along the way. We are having a dog sitter in our house this year as our normal arrangements have fallen though. Where there's a will....

Our dog was happy to go and stay with anyone who would feed her and make a fuss of her. She would instantly make herself at home anywhere (often uninvited!) - I could write a book on her antics. She was always overjoyed to see us if we had been away on holiday, but loyal? Only until she started getting hungry again! (And yes, we did feed her regularly, but we later discovered that she was having elevensies with office workers next to the marina where we lived on our boat, lunch in the boatyard workshop, and then later on going into a house at the marina entrance and eating the food put down for a supposedly fierce alsation, while it looked on bemused.)

Obviously, not all dogs are so outgoing, (or fickle?), so I suggest that the OP, if she does get a dog, introduces it to its potential sitter long before she goes away on holiday. A few visits to them, then some short paid stays, would help the dog to feel 'at home' when eventually left there for a long period.

Our last dog died 18 months ago and at the moment we are not having another as we have a plan to be away for 6 months travelling. We have a daughter in Australia and visit her annually for 4-6 weeks. We used to leave our dog, at first in kennels (a small kennels close by with a very personal touch!) and then she would either stay with a friend or the friend came and stayed at home with her. She adored us....but in truth she adored the person of the day who was feeding and walking her! As long as you have adequate care for the dog and they are with people who care for them as you do I don't think they mind! Years ago with our first dog, we were very young and kennelled her while we went away for 6 weeks. I cried daily I was so worried about her and in the end we cut the holiday short. We went to collect her, and she was fine, as we walked to the car and the kennel lady called good-bye she pulled to go back to her!! That was a lesson learnt! A dog brings so much love and fun and makes you go out. Just give thought to the breed and requirements before you commit. Good Luck.

Littleflo"s comments are so so valid!

Barking Mad franchisees know their host families very well and take great care to match your dog with the best host. You will be given lots of information about the host, the dog is taken and returned in the Barking Mad car because it has been found to be less stressful for the dog and the owner. It is sent with everything it needs and when it is dropped off, the franchisee waits until it is settled and sends a photo to the owner often before they have even got on their plane. As a host, you know the franchisee is available all the time if you need them. The first morning after the dog is dropped off, they phone to find out how the night went and let the owner know all is well again. If I take photos of where we have been, I send them to the franchisee and he emails them to the owner. If the flight back is delayed, I know that the franchisee will ensure the dog is still looked after, especially if I have other plans. For example, a flight was delayed for two days recently so the owners arranged for their parents to care for the dog and the franchisee drove it the twenty miles to their parents. I would not like to host and have all that responsibility myself! I like to have fun looking after the dog and making sure it has a good time. People have approached me asking about my dog when I've been walking and been amazed when I say it is only staying for a holiday, because we have complete rapport. The dogs love the franchisee, the host and most of all, their own family. You can trust Barking Mad whether you are a host or an owner, to truly love every dog and care for it as much as you do !

I would be reluctant to leave a dog in kennels for a month but, leaving a dog at home with a trusted pet sitter, or having the dog stay with one seems acceptable. I’ve been away more since I retired and if the dogs can’t come with me, they spend up to two weeks in high quality kennels with familiar staff and walks twice daily, or with a family member or close friend. The dogs are content. It’s seems a shame to deny yourself a dog simply because you go away twice a year, providing you make proper plans. There are many reasons to think carefully before getting a dog. Are the friends who give you advice dog owners

One idea which is catching on, is the dog sharing idea. Perfect for people who do want to have a dog and travel- and what we planned to do with our own rescue centre. To find another individual, family or couple who have the same basic attitude re dogs- agree on basic rules re feeding, rules (settee, or bed, etc- you have to agree on basics or it would be too confusing for dogs)- and then adopt 2 rescues, 1 each- that have shown that they get on really well together at the refuge. Then right from the start- take it in turn to have them together for 1 week-end, then a few more days, then a week- and add a bit more each time- until they are comfortable with the idea.

At the vet's yesterday, there was an article suggesting same in a French dog owners' magazine.

Didn't happen for us this time- as a young expat couple asked us to have the dogs for them for a while, as they found it difficult to cope with 2 new real babies and the dogs. We have had them for nearly 2 years now- but they go back to their owners everytime we want to travel.

Which is another possibility- foster.

As long as as your dog is taken care of at all times, there is no problem . Go for it chuck.

I suppose the same thing could be done with 2 puppies from same litter- but then, I could never ever buy a dog myself- just too many needing good forever homes out there.

Depends on the dog's personality. I had to go into hospital for major surgery leaving my two German Shepherds in kennels. One of them suffered so much psychologically she never really recovered. Better not get one of those clingy dependent breeds. Pure bred terriers are generally more independent. Old dogs less likely to survive separation than young ones.
Maybe a young rescued staffie would suit you, give you enough cuddles , and be a good deterrent against burglars into the bargain.