Dog sitter or boarding kennel?

xxdeebeexx

Hi, we are hoping to go abroad for a short holiday in a few weeks time, but don't know the best place to board our Jack Russell.

We don't have family close by and feel that a 4 hr drive to an unfamiliar place, to stay with my sister, would cause unnecessary stress for her.

I have looked on the internet and seen that some people take dogs into their home. Is this better than a boarding kennel?

Our dog is a 6 yr old rescue dog and we have had her about 3yrs now. We have never left her for any amount of time, and never over night anywhere.

She can get quite anxious and likes to be with people.

Any suggestions would be fab.

tia

dx

peachyprice

I've used a few different dog sitters for my Yorkie and he's always had a lovely time, always happy to go back, always well behaved, in fact he's been so happy there that he's barely given me a second look when I've gone to collect him.

I usually get photos of the things they've done with him, he's usually been bathed and brushed and pampered and allowed to sleep places he's never allowed at home, one of my regular sitters, who sadly died, used to have another dog with him so he had a pal, it's always been a really good holiday for him.

We sent him to kennels twice, the first time was ok, you could tell he was glad to get out otf there, the second time he came out a cowering wreck and yelped all the way into my arms, never, ever again would I send him to kennels.

xxdeebeexx

peachyprice wrote: »

I've used a few different dog sitters for my Yorkie and he's always had a lovely time, always happy to go back, always well behaved, in fact he's been so happy there that he's barely given me a second look when I've gone to collect him.

I usually get photos of the things they've done with him, he's usually been bathed and brushed and pampered and allowed to sleep places he's never allowed at home, one of my regular sitters, who sadly died, used to have another dog with him so he had a pal, it's always been a really good holiday for him.

We sent him to kennels twice, the first time was ok, you could tell he was glad to get out otf there, the second time he came out a cowering wreck and yelped all the way into my arms, never, ever again would I send him to kennels.

Thank you for your reply.
I was leaning towards a dog sitter but my sister thought that a boarding kennel would be safer since she would be locked in.

I imagine that dog sitters would be well aware that Jack Russell's will scrabble over a fence if there is a cat on the other side, go completely deaf if chasing a squirrel......

I am expecting that dog sitters will be experienced and professional....

What is the best way of finding one?

I have looked on the internet and have several choices.
Can I do a 'home visit'?

tia

dx

Person_one

Mine go in kennels a few times a year. I'm happy doing this because me and my extended family have been using the same ones for years and years and we know our dogs are well looked after and happy there, they get all excited when they realise where they are!

I'm happier knowing mine are in a routine, are in a pretty basic environment that's easy to get used to, aren't being subjected to any funny ideas about 'pack' behaviour, and are never off their lead unless they're either in their kennel or in the fenced off 'social' area. I think I'd be very nervous with a dog sitter unless I knew them very well and trusted them completely, or had a personal recommendation from someone trusted who knows my dogs.

Do you know any other dog owners locally? You could ask around, see what the options are like in your area. Ask other dog walkers, most are happy to help.

catkins

My previous dog went into kennels a few times and he was always alright the first time (I guess because he did not know where he was) but if I tried to take him there a second time he would cry and refuse to walk in. This happened with at least 6 kennels and it was very upsetting.

I wondered if it was because they did not walk him enough. I appreciate they do not have time to walk all the dogs for hours but I used to give him about 4 hours a day. Thinking long and hard about it though I thought it more likely that he missed company. From the day I got him as a puppy he was rarely not with me or OH. I only worked part time and usually OH would take him to work with him when I was at work.

I then found a dog sitter and he had many happy times there - holidays, weekends and even sometimes just for a day if me and OH were going out for more than say 3 hours.

My puppy is a year old and he has been to the sitter about 7 times so far, again for a couple of weekends and a few times just for part of a day. I wanted him to get used to being away from us.

I found my sitter through an agency and when I rung and spoke to her she asked me to go round with the dog so that we could all meet each other. I could see her and her husband are real dog lovers and they have a lovely big completely secure garden and a house which although lovely, does not look like a show home which they would not want a dog covering in hair etc. I know they walk the dogs they have but it also nice to know the dogs can have a good run around in their garden.

Their garden is beautiful and the first time puppy went there at about 3 months he dug up some of her plants. I was mortified when she told me but she laughed and said "oh it's not the end of the world".

I can't imagine ever using a kennel now and if for any reason my dog sitter stopped doing it I do now know someone else that dog sits although she takes more than 1 at a time.

Oh and not that money is really a factor but I have found the dog sitter to be about the same price as kennels

peachyprice

You might find some advertised in your vet, that's where I found my lady who died.

Yes, definitely do a home visit and take your dog to make sure you're all happy, see how your dog gets on with the sitter and you can make sure their facilities are adequate for your dog. Be wary of anyone who doesn't want to meet you and your dog beforehand.

One of my sitters has a lovely book with photos and details of all the dogs she looks after with thank you cards from the owners.

Sagz_2

I've had sitters who came to my house and have used kennels, to be honest I worried less when the dogs were in kennels. One of mine is inclined to jump our 7' fence if the wind changes direction and I know he is safe and secure in the kennels. They always have a great time, but then they have each other to play with, it may be different for a single dog.

Personal recommendation is the best way to find a good sitter or kennels, you could try asking on your local facebook pet pages maybe?

pingufan

I had this dilemma with our little JRT, she is 4 now but we had a holiday booked when she was 6 months old, I visited a few kennels but couldn't imagine leaving her in a concrete pen for 24 hours a day with only two 15 minute walks. She was used to laying on the sofa alongside us all day and it was very rare that nobody was home for company for her.

I found a local couple who took dogs into their home and it has worked really well, she I allowed on their furniture, is taken out twice a day and has company all day long. She is very sociable, they need to be to go to a sitter really as they often take a number of dogs at a time.

The cost is a lot, about £20 for 24 hours so it does add up for a fortnight holiday but I couldn't relax and enjoy myself if she was kennelled. I'm not sure she absolutely loves it as her little face always looks a bit hangdog as we leave her but I'm happy that she is looked after on a much closer basis and I'm sure she'd hate the alternative. If your in South Wales then I can recommend some sitters if you let me know x

pingufan

http://www.nhbr.co.uk/index.shtml


Try this website xx

meames_2

I've had sitters who came to my house, that was fine although expensive. I have put him in a dog sitters house, he doesn't really get on with other dogs, he can be ok and then just seem to get fed up and snap. So this dog sitter was great because he would be the only dog, unfortunately she decided last year that Womble was too old. So I had to put him in kennels. I couldn't take him in or I would have cried, rang up everyday to see how e was. The 2nd time the kennel owner made me take him to the kennel. Little bleeder hopped into his run without a backward glance! I did ask for him to have a kennel so he wasn't facing another dog, so less stress for him.

Goo d luck. Womble was a rescue so I knw how you feel, but you dog is probably more resilient than you!

Padstow

Home care all the time. Ask yourself how you would choose if your family were leaving you behind as a human?
Behind bars on a concrete floor or in a comfortable home like your own?
My little Pat leaped into my arms when they opened the kennel door. I would never subject him to that feeling again.

I'm going to look for a substitute mum as well. I'd love to find someone who'd have mine at short notice. I needed to fly to Glasgow recently but my appointment didn't fit with the last flight home so I didn't go, I had to get home for my Pat. Had I been able to just take him somewhere, I could have booked a cheap hotel and come back the day after.

I swear he couldn't care less who he lives with, unlike my last dog. He wants food, walks and affection, but not sure in which order. He devours the gardeners who attend this rented house with such love and kisses, that they want him for their own.

Who to choose? My ex neighbours had Barking Mad and they were thrilled with them,but they were staying thousands of miles away. Used them every time they went away. I was not so thrilled by the constant barking of two very bored GSDs.

From what I saw, two fat ladies plonked themselves into the luxurious home and there they stayed with their feet up. Dog walking wasn't on the agenda. When I told my neighbours this, they didn't want to know.

I would love to find someone who would share Pat with me for payment.