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Home Boarding for dogs

foxy-roxy
Posts: 891 Forumite

Hi,
Has anyone used home boarding for their dogs before?
I am in a dilemma, i have 2 dogs (staffies) 1 male 1 female and me and my OH are going to NYC end of this month and have provisionally booked her in at kennels.
We are now having second thoughts about this as she is so so timid and nervous that we know she will hate it and be terrifiied there and it is breaking my heart.
The trip to NYC is a christmas present from my dad, and he is coming along too.
My mum is having the male, as he is a handful and can't be trusted with other people or other dogs (he has issues) but Roxy is 7 months old and absolutley adores people and other animals but not loud noises or barking etc.
So i have decided to look into home boarding services in my area (cheshire) but as i have never used them or know of anyone that has i was wondering what all you lovely people think?
Any reccomendations gratefully received too
Has anyone used home boarding for their dogs before?
I am in a dilemma, i have 2 dogs (staffies) 1 male 1 female and me and my OH are going to NYC end of this month and have provisionally booked her in at kennels.
We are now having second thoughts about this as she is so so timid and nervous that we know she will hate it and be terrifiied there and it is breaking my heart.
The trip to NYC is a christmas present from my dad, and he is coming along too.
My mum is having the male, as he is a handful and can't be trusted with other people or other dogs (he has issues) but Roxy is 7 months old and absolutley adores people and other animals but not loud noises or barking etc.
So i have decided to look into home boarding services in my area (cheshire) but as i have never used them or know of anyone that has i was wondering what all you lovely people think?
Any reccomendations gratefully received too

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Comments
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Could your Mum have the female also, or would that be too much for her? I'd maybe keep them together, you should find home boarding to take both, at least then they have each other & the male being as he is shouldn't be a problem unless he's really aggressive to strangers? I've not used home boarding but do have a lady that takes my Staffy back to her home when I go away for the day & it's worked out great, if I ever go on holiday she will have her too, or i'll use a home boarding company (One where the Dog goes to them, not the sitter stays at my home). Do you have an animalsathome franchise near to you? We have them here & they have franchises all over the country I think. Maybe try the yellow pages & then ask the companies if they can provide references from current/previous clients?
Good luck!0 -
Thank you tigerlily, i have been looking into the ones where she goes to them as my mum will be staying at mine with her 2 dogs and my other one, and wouldnt cope with all 4, although she has said she will do it if we are really stuck as it is only for 4 days.
I couldn't board my male as he is aggressive with people he doesn't know, he was a rescue dog and has had some issues in the past so i don't trust with others.
I'll check out the animalsathome, thank you for that.0 -
A girl near us is a groomer and she also has boarding dogs at her home. She looks after them well as far as Ive seen. She and her husband are often mooching round the fields with about 6 dogs between them when we are walking ours.
Ask at your local vets.0 -
Panic over, MIL going to have her for us, i threatned her with no grandkids unless she pulled her weight with the dogs:rotfl:
My goodness, i definitley don't think i could have kids with dogs, phew, that would be very hard work indeed:D0 -
Be careful with dog home boarding organisations. My dog used to go to one (Care4Pets) based in the South Wales area.
She was found wandering the streets and luckily, (because I had put a dog tag on her with my mobile number) kind members of the public took her in (she is a 14 year old Staffie x) and rang me. She was found about a mile away from the carer's address and the carer didn't ring me to say she was lost.
On inspection from the council, Care4Pets were not licensed and they found holes in the garden fences, uncovered ponds and other dogs boarding in the same house. I love my dog and thought I was being kind taking her to a home boarder whilst I was at work - what a mistake.
Try and find a reputable kennels if you can. I would hate anyone to lose their precious pet when they honestly thought they were in safe hands..0 -
There's going to be good and bad home boarders, same as kennels...my mother used to board dogs in our home and was so popular she had to turn dogs away. I was living at home at the time and loved it, as did the dogs. If (or rather when) I'm ever lucky enough to have my own dogs, I'll be home boarding them, never kennels if I can avoid it as I've seen how stressful they can be for dogs (one of ours had to be quarantined in kennels when we brought her back from Africa).
Same as with anything, do your research - visit the premises, and if the owner has any dogs of their own, make sure your dogs and theirs meet on neutral territory. Even a lot of "problem" dogs can usually be accomodated. I know we used to look after a basenji X called Toby who I nicknamed the Hannibal Lecter of the dog world...he was an absolute psycho of a dog and would randomly and seriously attack people he took a disliking to (often for no particular reason), but he still settled in well with our family0 -
I use a franchise called Barking Mad. You have a home visit where they find out what your Dog likes . If it sleeps in a kitchen, is allowed on your settees or any other things they will match you with a home where the Dog can do the same. If your Dog either likes little exercise or to climb Munros they will find the approriate home for it.
My Dog has even returned with a toy, photo and a story one time. If your Dog fits in well with a particular person they will return there if the person is available next time.Self Employed, Running my Dream Jobs0 -
I have a good friend who does it. I actually met her through dog walking and even though I know live 250 miles away from her, they are booked in when I away fora few days next week and will be if I go on holiday next year. x0
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Be careful with dog home boarding organisations. My dog used to go to one (Care4Pets) based in the South Wales area.
She was found wandering the streets and luckily, (because I had put a dog tag on her with my mobile number) kind members of the public took her in (she is a 14 year old Staffie x) and rang me. She was found about a mile away from the carer's address and the carer didn't ring me to say she was lost.
On inspection from the council, Care4Pets were not licensed and they found holes in the garden fences, uncovered ponds and other dogs boarding in the same house. I love my dog and thought I was being kind taking her to a home boarder whilst I was at work - what a mistake.
Try and find a reputable kennels if you can. I would hate anyone to lose their precious pet when they honestly thought they were in safe hands..0 -
Glad you have sorted this for yourself....
My dogwalker have joined forces with a girl who does home boarding for dogs but she is in London (East).
Dogs have the time of their lives whle with her and sometimes do not want to go back to their homes LOL
She has a gallery of each dog staying with her, she is absolutely brilliant with all dogs, even the problem ones as she is also training as behaviourist.
If anyone ever needs a home boarding or dog walker, both girls are absolutely excellent....
The area is a dog heaven too - they are between Wansted Park and Wansted Flats - an absolute dog dream come true
This is the main site - contact details and photo galleries are there:
http://www.dogsandthecity.co.uk/
Photos from dog walking and home boarding can be seen here:
http://www.dogsandthecity.co.uk/gallery/
My Zara - first in the boot on the way home... wet, smelling of fish and fox poo and very, very happy LOL
Even puts up with wearing a halti... she pulls like a horse so has too....0
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