Dog sitter or boarding kennel?

catkins

krlyr wrote: »

But equally, I've heard of several stories where pet sitters haven't visited the pet every day, haven't done more than walk in and put food down before leaving again, or have even had someone else (so not the "qualified" person you thought you were employing) do the work for them. Doesn't make every pet sitter bad, just like you'll get good and bad kennels.


Ultimately, obviously a pet sitter can offer many more home comforts - especially if they do it within your own home, the dog gets its every-day environment. But sometimes a kennel can be more practical - for example, often dogs that suffer separation anxiety at home may actually be OK in a kennel, so that's less stressful than being with a petsitter who will have to leave them at some point. A dog with human-aggression may not feel comfortable with a sitter, so the isolation section of kennels may allow it to relax slightly more.
It'll vary from dog to dog, and situation to situation, I don't think there's a black and white answer.

Of course that's true. My dog goes to someone in their own home though. I know she and her husband are genuine dog lovers. I know they definitely give the dogs walks as they have taken pictures of them and my dog on a walk but even if they didn't, they have a very large secure garden for the dogs to run in.

They let the dogs sleep on the sofa if that is what allowed at home. The husband works part time but the wife doesn't work except for the dog sitting and she says should would never go out and leave the dog unless it was an absolute emergency. That is what I personally like as I don't work so my dog (and my previous dog) are used to be being at home with them the majority of the time. Kennels just can't provide that amount of company

xxdeebeexx

Thank you for your help, links and advice.

I still haven't found anywhere yet.

A friend of a friend has offered to look after our little Jack Russell for us but wants us to reciprocate by looking after his huge German Sheppard cross .... I simply too wary of big dogs.

I have a meeting today with a pet sitter. She said that she might be able to 'squeeze' my dog in since she is only small.

A girlfriend said that she could have our dog for a weekend, but no longer.

My sister that lives 4hrs away said 'no way' ......

I haven't looked at boarding kennels yet......


Unfortunately we might not be able to get away this time but, I need to keep looking so that , when another opportunity arises, I have a list of 'vetted' sitters to fall back on.

thanks again

dx

sewandsew03

Ive never used kennels for our dog, I know she would not deal well with it, she is a lap dog who is used to me being home all day.
However after my previous home boarder retired I had to find a new one for this years holidays.
I've came home to an absoloute nightmare.
After promising me she would be the only dog, I've found out they had several other dogs there too. Our dog has been jumpy and subdued since we got back, she's also lost a fair bit of weight....I wish she could talk.......

elsien

Are any of these anywhere near you? http://www.animalsathome.co.uk/dogcare.php
It probably depends on the individual franchisee as to what sort of service you get, but I've used a couple of their host families, always got to meet them first and have always been very happy with the service provided. Mutt was the only dog there, they stick to your rules, and I'd happily use them again.

xxdeebeexx

Thank you!

We went to visit a lady today with the view of her sitting my dog...... We met on the road, first of all and the dogs got used to each other. We then went to her house to meet the 'others'.

My son and I counted 9 dogs in all :eek:. My little dog shot off into the bushes and hid. When she felt able to, she came across to me and sat on my foot.

It was bedlam. One dog had diarrhea and was messing in different parts of the garden. The noise was awful.....

Shortly after I got home I was contacted by this company to say that they had space available with a local retired couple. My dog would be the only visitor and the cost is £3 per day cheaper than the place I had visited earlier.

Gosh it has been an education. I have the weekend to find a holiday. I am certainly going to need one as I have found this very stressful.

dx

365days

My friend dog sits at her own home.(Max 3 dogs at a time) She is licensed through the dog warden I believe.

Maybe ringing the dog warden would be a good starting point for anyone looking for someone.

peachyprice

xxdeebeexx wrote: »

Thank you!

We went to visit a lady today with the view of her sitting my dog...... We met on the road, first of all and the dogs got used to each other. We then went to her house to meet the 'others'.

My son and I counted 9 dogs in all :eek:. My little dog shot off into the bushes and hid. When she felt able to, she came across to me and sat on my foot.

It was bedlam. One dog had diarrhea and was messing in different parts of the garden. The noise was awful.....

Shortly after I got home I was contacted by this company to say that they had space available with a local retired couple. My dog would be the only visitor and the cost is £3 per day cheaper than the place I had visited earlier.

Gosh it has been an education. I have the weekend to find a holiday. I am certainly going to need one as I have found this very stressful.

dx

Goodness, mad dog lady sounds awful, were they all boarding with her or were some of hers? Hope your dog is ok now.

Only one of my sitters has ever had other dogs at the same time, and that was only when she knew my dog well and knew the other dog and had permission from both owners that they could both be there, even then it was only for a couple of overlap days, not the whole stay.


I've used homefromhome, I've had two lovely sitters from the Essex branch, one a retired couple and the other a dog show judge, my dog was really happy with both of them.

MatyMoo

I am so lucky, my dog walker does home boarding, so my dogs go to her if I need to be away.

They already know her and see her twice a week and love her to bits, she is also a dog trainer so won't stand for any nonsense.

They love to be with her.

-F*Dragonfly-

We don't use either as when we got our dog that was the end of holidays abroad as we have no one to look after him for a week. I recently went to my sisters wedding and my partner couldn't even come to that as we just won't leave our dog with just anyone, plus the fact that he's a little nervous and timid with others and especially other dogs.

My partner has had dogs before and put his last in a kennel while he went on holiday abroad and when he came back he found the dog had refused to eat and was in a right state and had started with separation anxiety because of the incident. He said then never again will another dog of his set paw in a kennel and I fully agree, no person would like it so why would a dog.

If you must leave your dog, then home sitters (if you find the right one that isn't going to have loads all stock piled in) then that is better but I'd try and let the dog have a few visits beforehand to at least be familiar with the person if it were me.