Pet taxi or something???

krlyr

I'd second the recommendation of an in-house pet sitter. Doggy gets to stay in his home environment, and you get to have a few days off (if he's a reactive dog, I know from my own reactive doggies that it can be bliss to have a day or two off from the stress of negotiating walks and so on!).

You could meet the sitter beforehand (I would personally avoid the franchise type places that refuse to let you know who's dog sitting - I know some companies do this to supposedly protect the pet sitters, but it's not something I would agree with) and get to know them. There's a dog trainer who now lives literally on my road, and she employs a sitter, so I know in a real pickle that I could use them and I trust that the trainer has picked someone with a good amount of dog savvy (have met the trainer with one of mine before and she spoke a lot of sense regarding his reactivity).

I also agree that I wouldn't write off kennels completely. A friend of mine has a dog and people reactive dog (friendly enough when you knows you, but being a huge dog it's a bit intimidating!) and has slowly gotten him used to kennels. She's switched to one run by a trainer (who she's had a few sessions with) who has experience with reactive and aggressive dogs, and her dog is basically labelled as a "no handling" do so just fed, watered and let out into his run I think. Saves her the worry of thinking someone may have ended up injured by his behaviour, and although it's taken some adjusting, it's not killed him to stay there. It can be useful to get a dog used to kenneling, especially if you don't have many friends or family who can help out, just incase you were incapacitated by illness/injury or hospitalised for example.


Or how about getting involved in some dog groups (are you on Facebook? Several local group pages and also nationwide pages for dog training, owners of reactive dogs, etc.) and finding someone local to get to know - it may help with your dog's behaviour and you may make a buddy who you'll eventually trust to look after him in the future?

Person_one

wiggywoo9 wrote: »

Ah, it seems unless I meet a nice helpful friend willing to watch my dog I'm going to have to put off any holidays.

I just looked at car hire- £140+ for 1 week and that's for a driver aged 24+. I thought about lessons but the £25 a week on income support isn't really possible. That's food and two bills for me! I pay a childminder to be able to do a placement to be more employable so that's the highest ticket thing I can squeeze out at the moment. Hello day trips

I'm afraid most people who aren't working do have to do without holidays until they are. Try not to feel too down about it, there are some really great days out you can enjoy on a budget. I think there's even a dedicated board on here...

rising_from_the_ashes

Person_one wrote: »

I'm afraid most people who aren't working do have to do without holidays until they are. Try not to feel too down about it, there are some really great days out you can enjoy on a budget. I think there's even a dedicated board on here...

And many working ones!

I've not been away since 2010 and that was a one night city break!:o

Last proper away holiday was in 1999 ....

BUT that's the sacrifice I make because I have the pets

narabanekeater

there is a dog friendly hotel in Yarmouth. My friend stays there with her dog every year. I will ask her the name of it and post it but meanwhile i'm sure it would come upon google. You could send all of your luggage which i'm sure would only really be clothes by courier before hand i'm sure they wouldn't mind ( assuming the hotel provide bedding and towels) The haven in Yarmouth is called Seashore and they do allow dogs in the basic standard caravans.

duchy

Honestly if £25 a week is such a massive budget breaker at the moment I really do think that accepting you are time rich but cash poor is the way to go.

At 2 and 3 Wiglet isn't going to care if you take him crabbing at Yarmouth or tadpoling in your local park..... a picnic a ten minute bus ride away will be a big adventure in his world .......save the bigger stuff for when he's bigger and your career is underway and you are getting a decent salary.
Money spent on a holiday now could be saved towards lots of days out or better still half towards days out and the other half towards a driving lesson fund for later on not only making holidays easier but also widening the area you could apply for jobs. Don't feel a toddler needs holidays (no matter what other family members may think -no toddler ever suffered for not having a holiday ) they like routine and fun -both of which can be done from a home base.

sleepymans

OP
I dont think it is fair on the site owners or future holiday makers to take a dog there if it wets on beds!!

If I were you I would have a break closer to home maybe take days out, that way only you the owner has to deal with the bed !!!!ing outcomes.

I also cannot believe that a toddler's only treat is a holiday! Maybe a bit of projection there!?? He only actually needs at his age, your unconditional love and some educational outings and the sort of freedom that running about in a local park or open space could fulfill.

When that bed-!!!!ing dog passes away, dont get another and then you will have more options and your child will be older and more able to benefit form a Haven holiday (maybe).

dandelionclock30

What about asking a friend or family member etc if they want to go on holiday with you? Then they could give you a hand with the dog/toddler.
Otherwize just go on day trips like others have suggested, sometimes they are more interesting anyway.

heartbreak_star

I am another one that is appalled you would even consider leaving the poor dog to roam for a few nights, or outside in a garden! Even the thought makes me upset. I really hope I have misunderstood this too.

We also have a dog, and luckily enough OH's parents take her when we go away. But when they can't, one of us forfeits our hobby weekend and we take turns as to who it is.

It's an occupational hazard of having pets, I'm afraid!

If you ask your vet, they might be able to recommend you a pet-sitter.

HBS x

MrsAtobe

heartbreak_star wrote: »

I am another one that is appalled you would even consider leaving the poor dog to roam for a few nights, or outside in a garden! Even the thought makes me upset. I really hope I have misunderstood this too.

HBS x

I really think you have misunderstood, HBS, I can't see anywhere that Wiggy suggests that she was going to do that.

Wiggy, does your son's dad drive? Could he take the three of you down?

heartbreak_star

wiggywoo9 wrote: »

and he'd get sad just being let out then left alone for a few nights.

First post...that's why I hope I misunderstood.

OP, is it maybe worth putting an ad in your local paper to see if anyone would do the trip for petrol money?

HBS x