Options For Leaving For 4 Weeks?

[aussielover]

Please don't board your pup at the vet unless it is ill or needs medications that a normal person would be unable to give.

The other two options are good

[cointreau]

Breeder and find a good cattery for your cat. Then you won't worry about them and can enjoy your holiday.

[WreckitWhippet]

I often have dogs that I've bred or rehomed back here to board. The upside is, they fit back in easily and they don't stress. Your breeder will be able to provide exercise, diet and socialisation appropriate for your dog.

A month is a very long time to be locked up in a cage for the majority of time at a vets or to see a pet sitter for an hour or so a day. They are certainly going to pick up bad habits of they are left alone for long periods of time or suffering from boredom while you are away.

Have a chat to your breeder and ask them if the level of care and requirements that would give you peace of mind can be met. I know I cater for exercise, diet, obedience, one on one time and living in the house.

Edited August 11, 2010 by ReadySetGo

[Bjelkier]

Your JS will only be young still when you go away right?

(sorry correct me if I'm worng, I have an aweful memory)

If we are talking about a young puppy then back to the breeders, there is no way I would be leaving it at the vets for that amount of time.

[Christina]

Breeder is best option.

I doubt that the vet or anywhere else would put your cat & dog in a pen together. It would upset other dogs housed there.

Also to consider is that even though they are friends at home cats stress & act it out in different ways to dogs.

In a strange place & caged with your dog the cat may take any stress induced aggression out on your dog.

If you leave a dog for long it will greet you enthusiastically but cats sometimes go very off hand even though they are glad you're back, its a common reaction.

Cat in its own environment with someone coming in daily is best if you can trust anyone implicitly.

[Bubitty]

Back to breeder if you can. I do it all the time and I find it gives the kids a nice change of environment. They meet other dogs, follow stricter rules and get to do different things (last time one of my kids was a demo dog for something or other that my breeder was involved with).

They settle very well when they get home, straight back to their normal life.

The way I see it, the breeders were the ones who gave birth to these babies so they are the second best candidates to take care of them (with you being the first obviously!)

[GoldenWei]

Please don't board your pup at the vet unless it is ill or needs medications that a normal person would be unable to give.

The other two options are good

Where abouts are you? I would definately NOT go with a vet. I did some work experience with a vet in western sydney that did boarding. While the dogs were looked after, they were in a tiny cage with no room to move most of the time, and just got an exercise and toilet break a couple of times a day. If your dog is only young, it's especially not a good option.

[Shakti]

We left our mob with an awesome pet sitter from Happy House sitters. She came out a few times before we went away to meet and get to know them all and also took them on long walks with me before she actually moved in. The animals thrived, were spoilt rotten and our house was left immaculate!! I think she was just wonderful and would really recommend her and the Happy House Sitters site

[natamalie]

Breeder for sure!

[Ravyk]

Breeder

Or hire a dog savvy house sitter.

[casowner]

I agree with the breeder, they will have the dogs best interest at heart but only you will know if you are comfortable with that.

When we go away my mum reluctantly stays at our house as our menagerie is not the easiest to deal with and takes about 2 hours per day just to make different feeds etc and Jake can't be moved from the property as he stresses and I wouldn't ever trust his behaviour with a stranger or even leave him somewhere with someone he knows at their house just in case.

[poodlemum]

Just out of pure curiosity, do the breeders who look after the dogs they bred while the owners are on holidays charge for boarding or just the cost of food? I've always wondered

I have always just charged for the cost of food. I also vote for leaving the dog with the breeder - so much less stressful, like a holiday visiting the rellies

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

Go with the breeder. A month is far too long to go with a pet sitter. My neighbours did this for 2 weeks, their dog barked the neighbourhood down the whole fortnight, she was very lonely indeed, in spite of a daily walk and feed - it simply isn't enough over a long period, a weekend is OK.

I've just returned from 3 weeks away and I can tell you that there is no way your own dogs forget you, mine were very excited.

When I've gone away for a week for work, I've had a housesitter but you need to clear some things up - to my surprise, mine didn't pick up the poo - there was mountains of it after a week and 4 dogs - she doesn't walk the dogs either. Mine are old so it doesn't matter for a few days. It can also be expensive, mine charges $50 per day but she is very trustworthy, I wouldn't be happy with many people staying in my house.