Dog question

[HottyToddyChick]

We have a reunion coming up several states away, and this is the first time I've ever had to deal with the "what to do with the dog" thing.

Keeping in mind that we'd like to spend as little money as possible, here is what I'm thinking:

* We board her and fly down. I don't know how well she'd do being boarded though. She's hit and miss with other dogs, and the thought of her being constantly cooped up just drives me insane. She also has separation anxiety and I'm worried she might get mistreated because of the whining.

* We drug her, drive down and find a dog-friendly hotel. We have to drug her because she has what I can only describe as panic attacks in the car. It's a prescription, so even though I've never given it to her, I feel pretty comfortable doing that. My concern here is that I don't know how long she'll be in the hotel. The upside to this though, is we would have our car so we can come back. My other concern is the separation anxiety. Of course we would kennel her while we're gone (the difference from boarding though is that she doesn't sleep in her kennel). We'd have to kennel her because she jumps at the door when we leave and I don't want to pay damages. But she whines and it's loud and obnoxious (and heartbreaking). I'm scared we'd get complaints and have to find another hotel.

* I did ask my mom, and she made it very, very clear that she will not be a doggy-sitter, so that option (my particular favorite) is out.

* I could probably find a friend for her to stay with. I'm pretty sure my brother's roommate has a dog, and he adores Riley. But I just don't... I'm not sure I'm comfortable with her staying with a friend. I don't know how well she'd be treated or how much attention she'd get. (Did I mention I am way over-protective of my little baby?) I'm sure she'd be fine at my brother's, but I don't know if it will fly. The landlord is really strict.

What are y'all's thoughts? Maybe someone with experience doing this?

Popping in a poll just to make the end result easier to see.

 

[JanieDough]

Can she not stay at your house and your brother go stay over there with her?

 

[cam elle toe]

Can she not stay at your house and your brother go stay over there with her?

This. She's still getting used to your home environment. If not your brother, do you know anyone that can house sit?

My dogs are being looked after in my home by a friend while I am away.

 

[AstriaPorta]

I can anderstand you not easy what to do with the pets when you need to go away

some pets are great with everyone and everywhere

i have the same problem with my cats
when i had one only cat we went for 4 days in another city we took her to my inlaw
anyway all this days she did not even eat and even didn't use the kitty little she hold it as much as she could and done it in the corner she was scared from my in-law when she was in the house the cat was under a bed all day

they used to be with me only and the house they are

so i think best is some friends can look after her in your house if it is for a day can stay alone and they come to check on the dog
if more days maybe someone you can trust can stay at your house and look after the dog a relative will be best or some friends can take her in their house ..
..

 

[jassilem]

Keep her in her own home is best when you are just getting her used to it.. Putting her in a new environment will cause her distress as well. Or at least that's my take on it.

 

[HottyToddyChick]

She's still going to freak out and need to be kenneled. I don't know how she'll do with other people coming and going. My brother is about the only one I trust to come into my home, and he doesn't have the greatest memory. And I'm worried about how she'll do with so little attention.

We won't leave for another four months, so it's still a while off. Could she be adjusted by then? I mean, I feel like she is already adjusted though.

Honestly, if I had it my way, I'd get a carrier or something and tote her around with me everywhere.

 

[JanieDough]

I don't care how adjusted she is, you adopted her from a home where she lived for five years. I've had my dog for ten. He still kind of freaks when I leave him at my mom's house where he lived for six years with me!!!! (So it's not like they're strangers to him).

I really think your best option is to have your brother stay at your house. If she is good at being potty trained, just have your brother come over once a week and play with her up until yall leave. Then your brother can either stay with her all day and sleep there, or he can just stay the night there and let her out during the day.

Does he work during the weekend?


How long will you be gone?

Also - I bet you won't enjoy having her with you on the trip. She'll be a nervous or excited wreck and she may tear shit up or bark all the time.

And I wouldn't let her stay at a friends because she may get out, get into things, etc. You want her routine and life and comfort zone to stay the same as much as it can.

 

[HottyToddyChick]

He works 40 hour weeks, but does retail so his hours kind of fluctuate. She'd have no schedule.

Shouldn't this be easy to decide?

 

[JanieDough]

I still say your best bet is letting her stay at home.

 

[cam elle toe]

The more you molly coddle her now....the harder it will be later down the track to EVER leave her.

Get her a few chew toys.....and a few good brisket bones for your brother to leave for her through the day.

Then, he can just stay there at night.

You really need to get her adjusted to you NOT being there all the time now....what happens when you start work?

 

[Natasha]

I agree that the best bet is letting her stay in her own home and having your brother stay w/ her. Also, most "separation anxiety" that dogs have is b/c of the way we talk to them when we leave. If we just said "be back later, bye" instead of "mommy loves you...go lay down, mommy will be back soon...oh, it's okay, baby...mommy loves you" they wouldn't have as much separation anxiety. Seriously, ask the "It's me or the dog" lady. LOL

 

[JanieDough]

I agree with Cammie and Tash.

Winston is so chill because I let him have freedoms and I am not overly panicy about where he is what he's doing. He knows the rules and he knows where I am. That's good enough for him to go lay down and sleep.

But then, I started feeling bad leaving him all day and we had people over for a few months so he was never home alone. When they left, Winston started to have anxiety when we were gone. He started stealing shoes. I think it's cute, so I didn't fuss and we just laughed. So now he does it even when we're home!!!

 

[GoldDust Woman]

Honestly, if I had it my way, I'd get a carrier or something and tote her around with me everywhere.

I like this idea. :nod:

You could start some training with her right now to help with her anxiety. Dogs are food motivated... so, I'd practice using the crate and you step outside several times a day. Use treats for positive re-enforcement. Go get her a Kong... each time you crate her, fill her Kong with treats to keep her occupied.

My dog goes almost everywhere with us.

 

[pjbleek]

you should bring Riley to a kennel so she can learn to be social with other dogs and besides dog buddies can be a good thing so when you do go to a park she wont be nervous and shy.

 

[Peter Parka]

Whenever I go away, I have a friend stay over and look after my dog, think that's the best way or if your dog can stay with them. I doubt she'd be mistreated in a kennel, the're trained proffesionals but they are expensive. I don't really agree with drugging animals unnecessarily.

 

[Tim]

The more you molly coddle her now....the harder it will be later down the track to EVER leave her.

Get her a few chew toys.....and a few good brisket bones for your brother to leave for her through the day.

Then, he can just stay there at night.

You really need to get her adjusted to you NOT being there all the time now....what happens when you start work?

I agree that the best bet is letting her stay in her own home and having your brother stay w/ her. Also, most "separation anxiety" that dogs have is b/c of the way we talk to them when we leave. If we just said "be back later, bye" instead of "mommy loves you...go lay down, mommy will be back soon...oh, it's okay, baby...mommy loves you" they wouldn't have as much separation anxiety. Seriously, ask the "It's me or the dog" lady. LOL

:homo:'s

 

[HottyToddyChick]

I agree that the best bet is letting her stay in her own home and having your brother stay w/ her. Also, most "separation anxiety" that dogs have is b/c of the way we talk to them when we leave. If we just said "be back later, bye" instead of "mommy loves you...go lay down, mommy will be back soon...oh, it's okay, baby...mommy loves you" they wouldn't have as much separation anxiety. Seriously, ask the "It's me or the dog" lady. LOL

I don't make a big deal when I come or go. It's really hard coming home 'cause she gets all hyper. But when I leave, I take her out and then fill her Kong up, pop it in her kennel, she goes in, I lock up and then get ready to go. I just say good girl when she goes in and that's that.

When we come back, I put away whatever I have with me, take my shoes off and then let her out to run away and be all hyper before she goes outside.

I like this idea. :nod:

You could start some training with her right now to help with her anxiety. Dogs are food motivated... so, I'd practice using the crate and you step outside several times a day. Use treats for positive re-enforcement. Go get her a Kong... each time you crate her, fill her Kong with treats to keep her occupied.

My dog goes almost everywhere with us.

I love the Kong. But she rarely gets all of it when she's gone. I think she's good for a bit, chewing on it while we're still here, and maybe a little after we leave once she calms down and then I'm sure she goes to sleep. If I just go out the slider she'll lay by the door and wait. If I go out the front, even just to take the two steps to the mail box, she freaks out. But we never actually leave through the slider, just go to the patio, and I think she knows that. She also doesn't attack the bathroom door like she does the front door, so I think she knows there's not an escape hatch. She will lay by it and wait though.

I've got a shadow, definitely.

Whenever I go away, I have a friend stay over and look after my dog, think that's the best way or if your dog can stay with them. I doubt she'd be mistreated in a kennel, the're trained proffesionals but they are expensive. I don't really agree with drugging animals unnecessarily.

It's unnecessary in that there are other options, but if she is in the car for a long trip, she needs them. The fifteen minutes to a friend's house, she doesn't get them because they effect her all day. That short drive is pure hell though. She does this thing where she sounds like a sea otter or something. It's loud and distracting and she tries to drive. Open windows hold no interest for her.

We did have one good car trip. On the way back from the PetCo, we stuffed her Kong and even though she mostly ignored it, she just propped her feet on the center console and was quiet. It was such a nice little drive. We haven't taken her in the car again since we got the Kong though.



I know I coddle her. She gets way too much snuggle time. She has gotten better at just curling up at my feet instead of in my lap. And she's never allowed up without permission. What frustrates me, and what I don't understand, is that she has zero interest in being independent. I know her old owner said Riley just had to be touching her, so I can't help but wonder how the first five years of her life were. I'm working on her independence, but it's hard.

Matt went ahead and booked a hotel that was pet friendly in case that's what we do.

We'll be gone 4th of July weekend, so I guess I need to start asking around and seeing what people's plans are. I'm sure my brother would be staying in town, and I'm fine with him staying here. But I don't want him bringing people over and I don't know if he'd be okay with that. And I'm still worried we'd have the sort of situation where he goes "Oh shit! They come home tomorrow and I haven't been to check the dog!" I can very easily see him doing that.

I understand the whole keep her in home thing, but I feel like she doesn't care where she is, as long as she's with me. If Matt leaves, she's over it in about ten seconds. Just looks at the door like, What, I don't get to go? and then wanders off. He says when I leave, she is jumping on that door like it's the end of the world. I keep reading that I should go outside for a minute, come in for a minute, go out for two, in for two, and slowly build it up, just so she knows that when I leave, I'm coming back.

When I start work, if I can get a "normal" shift, she should be fine, because he works late, so we'd only have a three or four hour gap. If I work his schedule, she'll just be alone a little longer.

 

[hart]

I have a friend that takes care of my dogs when I'm gone on a journey, I have a girlfriend that stops over to our house a couple of times a week to take care of our cats. but u have to have some really good friends

 

[RedRyder]

If you don't use your brother.....

You should start now looking for a professional dog boarder. They should give you a tour of the place and show you where your dog will be at night and how often they let the dog out, etc. Plus you can take your dog's toys and food and bedding, etc. to most of these places.

These places have to be licensed if they are legitimate. Ask to see the license. Ask for references.

And keep in mind that these places require up to date shots and the Bordetello vaccine too. (Kennel Cough).

Good luck.

 

[Natasha]

Also, if you don't like the idea of her being cooped up, find a boarder that has individual runs for each pet. We boarded Shadow just once but we made sure it had individual runs instead of just cells.