Kenneling Dogs

[trifecta]

If you are neither comfortable with leaving dogs in kennels nor comfortable with a stranger dog sitting in your home, then another alternative is Don't Fret Pet.

I have never used the service, but do know someone who was a minder for a while. She was a lovely lady & highly competent so it would seem (& one would expect) minders are thoroughly scrutinised.

To my mind the service is horrendously expensive, but I am fortunate to have a lovely lady who comes to my property 3x per day & charges me less per day than boarding costs for two dogs. However, I guess it depends how much you are prepared to pay for peace of mind? Worrying about the dogs can negate the purpose of a holiday!

[Panto]

I understand where you're coming from... I've rarely left panto in the care of others who aren't family or a best friend, even flatmates I seldom have entrusted care to them (feeding etc). unless just for a night.

I recently learnt that 'overnight' care at the vet doesn't mean there is anyone there! I opted to bring her home as soon as I could and work from home (when she had gastro).

[Dogsfevr]

I understand where you're coming from... I've rarely left panto in the care of others who aren't family or a best friend, even flatmates I seldom have entrusted care to them (feeding etc). unless just for a night.

I recently learnt that 'overnight' care at the vet doesn't mean there is anyone there! I opted to bring her home as soon as I could and work from home (when she had gastro).

This is common with alot of vets & they also don't have yards to get out many you have to pay extra for a walk which is appalling .

We have a clinic here that charges crazy prices especially for dogs that require meds.

We board stacks of epileptic & diabetic dogs & never had any dramas.

Infact most dogs that come in boarding require some form of pills or have health issues .

The key is to make there time stress free & that is very easy ,plenty of outside time & human time & the dogs cope very well

[Panto]

I understand where you're coming from... I've rarely left panto in the care of others who aren't family or a best friend, even flatmates I seldom have entrusted care to them (feeding etc). unless just for a night.

I recently learnt that 'overnight' care at the vet doesn't mean there is anyone there! I opted to bring her home as soon as I could and work from home (when she had gastro).

This is common with alot of vets & they also don't have yards to get out many you have to pay extra for a walk which is appalling .

We have a clinic here that charges crazy prices especially for dogs that require meds.

We board stacks of epileptic & diabetic dogs & never had any dramas.

Infact most dogs that come in boarding require some form of pills or have health issues .

The key is to make there time stress free & that is very easy ,plenty of outside time & human time & the dogs cope very well

I felt that it was a common practice, so I didn't question it - they have always provided excellent care and if in an overnight stay such as the one she had, often comes home washed (kennel hand bath, rather than 'groomer's bathing them). Still... I am not one to leave a dog alone overnight if I can help it. I know there are people who go on holidays and just ask people to come feed them, spend a little time / exercise or walk them whilst owners away on holidays, but I can't do it, I would prefer she has someone around for the better part of the day even if on/off.

Edited August 19, 2013 by Panto

[Malakita]

We used a kennel for a couple of weeks when we went away earlier in the year. Our girl was 10 months. She had been away before when she was 16 weeks, she went back to her breeders for 2 weeks whilst we went away. But that was different, she knew them and would be inside with them.

I was incredibly stressed about her being kennelled. She is an inside dog and used to us being with her a lot. What about her toileting? She was toilet trained and knew how to ask to go outside. What if she came back naughty and just peed and pooed anywhere? Would she miss us? What if she fretted? The kennel didn't 't know her like we did blah blah.

Admittedly I did tear up when I said goodbye but I wasn't a hysterical mess. My husband walked away quickly but his eyes were a touch wet. I had even packed her a travel case crammed with her toys, blankets and loads of treats.

The next day I rang to see how she was, and once we were on the plane, there was nothing we could do.

Anyway, fast forward 2 weeks later, and I honestly don 't know why I had spent all that time having a break down about how she would cope in the kennels.

She was excited to see us, got in the car and everything was absolutely fine! It was like we were never separated. She settled back into her old routine with no fuss. So when I have to do it all again, I know she (and I ) will be completely fine.

[~Anne~]

Would you consider a house sitter? I tried kennels after a nightmare experience years ago. The kennels were great and phoned me to say Esme the Stafford wasn't coping. I came back a day earlier and collected them. Now I use sitters. All dogs cope differently though and Esme is very sensitive. I just prefer having them at home. But then there's the drama of finding good sitters, it's been a bit hit and miss. I have found the best ones have been people through DOL instead of professional sitters..

Agree with this.

We go on regular holidays and we always get house sitters to look after our house and pets. I haven't used anyone from DOL though. I am lucky that people who have adopted from me over the years, and with whom I developed a friendship with, have always offered. They bring their pugs and enjoy the change of scenery for a few weeks.

[Clyde]

I wouldn't have a problem finding sitters if they could bring their dogs. Unfortunately I am a visiting dog free zone so it really limits things.

[shapeshifter]

My OHs parents use the local vets home feeding system. They have 3 big GSPs who all have their quirks, they feel more comfortable leaving them at home and having one of the vet nurses come in morning and night to feed and check on them. They go overseas once or twice a year for three weeks. We were going over once or twice a week to let them out of their enclosure to have a good run around the property but that's about it, they seemed to cope really well.

Thought I should add that the person doesn't have access to the house, just the garage with all internal doors locked.

Edited August 20, 2013 by shapeshifter

[WreckitWhippet]

Maybe look for someone that has a kennel set up and boards on a part time basis. I look after quite a few dogs that the owners won't leave in kennels for various reasons. I've had them both short and long terms and there are quite a few people that provide such services, it's just not advertised and you need to ask around.

[Salukifan]

My OHs parents use the local vets home feeding system. They have 3 big GSPs who all have their quirks, they feel more comfortable leaving them at home and having one of the vet nurses come in morning and night to feed and check on them. They go overseas once or twice a year for three weeks. We were going over once or twice a week to let them out of their enclosure to have a good run around the property but that's about it, they seemed to cope really well.

Thought I should add that the person doesn't have access to the house, just the garage with all internal doors locked.

Can I just say, I'm SO not a fan of this.

Twice a day visits don't tell you how often or for how long the dogs are barking, won't give you early notice of a missing dog, and certainly would be too far apart for successful intervention in the event of a veterinary emergency like bloat.

Whereever you leave your dogs, leave them somewhere with better attention and monitoring than twice a day visits to an unattended home. If you live in the burbs, spare a thought for your neighbours and don't leave dogs home alone for long periods, especially overnight.

Edited August 20, 2013 by Haredown Whippets

[megan_]

My dogs would not cope with being left alone, visited and fed - and neither would I. They go to a trusted carer (cosmolo) and I know they are safe and having a ball. Lucy has fear issues, but she loves going there and I know they will ensure that she is supervised with their dogs and only interacts with dogs that won't overwhelm her. It is more expensive than a standard kennel or house sitter, but is well worth the money. I never stress when I leave them there.

Edited August 20, 2013 by megan_

[Podengo]

Elsie usually stays with my mum & dad, but now that my mum has passed away I'm not too sure what we'll do. My dad can still look after her, but he works long days... Though I can't bear the thought of leaving her in a kennel

[The Spotted Devil]

My Dally doesn't have a particularly good "off switch" when he's away from home and sleeps very heavily after spending time in kennels. He would be one of those dogs that is delighted when everyone leaves for the evening as long as he is warm and comfortable. I always board them off peak and they spend a good proportion of the day in the exercise yards. Boarding is never ideal, especially when your pets are used to a lot of human interaction, but my lot tend to respond better each time they are boarded. And I'm very fussy about where I leave them.

[smisch]

the kennels I work at shut at 6pm to the public but doesn't mean everyone has gone. in busy times the owners will be down in the kennels until 7-8pm and then arw normally opened up by about 7am they live on the property about 800m away if that and have CCTV and everything is locked up.. during the day after the kids have had their morning sessions which finish at 11ish we lock up the gates but everyone is in their day yards/runs with the exception of escapees and barkers who remain on lock down LOL (they're all just a inside) until about 2-3ish but the owners are usually around the property doing jobs and having their own life too.. its just the wayof iinsuring we don't have people constantly in and out so staff can get things like shopping and mowing done without having disruptions. but 9/10 after a run and breakfast everyone curls up on beds for a day of sleeping

[wayrod]

The trend nowdays is that many of the newer larger kennels are being built in industrial zones..... the zoning then doesn't allow to have any premises or even an overnight caretaker but I think you would find that the clients might not actually be aware of this. Staff get in at 7ish in the morning and are usually gone by 7 or so at night.... Thus most of the kennels don't have staff wandering around for 12 hours or so. If they did you could double the price of boarding immediately, Hanrob already charge way more than many others.

Local councils are making more difficult to get boarding kennel licenses so I doubt many new ones are being opened on private properties. Nillumbik, and Hume councils in the north of vic are basically no go zones for new kennels and even trying to squeeze out the older ones.

Hume Council recently approved a new kennel and the requirement they have is that someone (responsible person over 18 years of age) must be onsite 24/7 if there is an animal on site.

How are these Industrial zone facilities getting away with no one on site 24/7? Are councils, when issuing permits, not requiring responsible people to be on grounds 24/7 or owners of these establishments not abiding in an effort to save some money?

It appears the $$$$$ come before the animals in their care!

Maybe DPI should mandate that owners sign waivers to state that they are aware that there is no one on site between certain hours!

The practice of no one on site should be stopped before it becomes the norm.

Traditionally many kennels in the past have been family businesses whereas over than past few years a few are trying to commercialise them, owning more than one establishment and having a management staff operating them.

If dog breeders & chook farmers have been getting people jumping their fences and having people entering and filming their sheds/facilities, what is to stop people from entering boarding kennels?

Surely having happy pets in your care also has to ensure their safety and security whilst in your care.

Edited August 22, 2013 by wayrod

[OSoSwift]

One of the kennels here is run by managers and they are there only morning and evening. Our local laws state someone muct be one site or sufficiently close to keep an eye ont he dogs and be able to respond quickly in an emergency situation. The shires position is no-one has complained therefore there is nothing they can do - which I think is rubbish.

[Santo66]

My OHs parents use the local vets home feeding system. They have 3 big GSPs who all have their quirks, they feel more comfortable leaving them at home and having one of the vet nurses come in morning and night to feed and check on them. They go overseas once or twice a year for three weeks. We were going over once or twice a week to let them out of their enclosure to have a good run around the property but that's about it, they seemed to cope really well.

Thought I should add that the person doesn't have access to the house, just the garage with all internal doors locked.

Can I just say, I'm SO not a fan of this.

Twice a day visits don't tell you how often or for how long the dogs are barking, won't give you early notice of a missing dog, and certainly would be too far apart for successful intervention in the event of a veterinary emergency like bloat.

Whereever you leave your dogs, leave them somewhere with better attention and monitoring than twice a day visits to an unattended home. If you live in the burbs, spare a thought for your neighbours and don't leave dogs home alone for long periods, especially overnight.

What's the difference when the owners go to work all day and an evening out........plenty of dogs are left alone during the day and at night and cope well. For dogs used to living like this and there are plenty, a home feeding service is far better than the dog adjusting to a strange environment in a kennel

[Clyde]

My OHs parents use the local vets home feeding system. They have 3 big GSPs who all have their quirks, they feel more comfortable leaving them at home and having one of the vet nurses come in morning and night to feed and check on them. They go overseas once or twice a year for three weeks. We were going over once or twice a week to let them out of their enclosure to have a good run around the property but that's about it, they seemed to cope really well.

Thought I should add that the person doesn't have access to the house, just the garage with all internal doors locked.

Can I just say, I'm SO not a fan of this.

Twice a day visits don't tell you how often or for how long the dogs are barking, won't give you early notice of a missing dog, and certainly would be too far apart for successful intervention in the event of a veterinary emergency like bloat.

Whereever you leave your dogs, leave them somewhere with better attention and monitoring than twice a day visits to an unattended home. If you live in the burbs, spare a thought for your neighbours and don't leave dogs home alone for long periods, especially overnight.

What's the difference when the owners go to work all day and an evening out........plenty of dogs are left alone during the day and at night and cope well. For dogs used to living like this and there are plenty, a home feeding service is far better than the dog adjusting to a strange environment in a kennel

I agree. I leave my house dogs with my neighbour checking twice daily. I used kennels for them and they fell apart, I hired a professional in house pet sitter and my Pug disappeared for 5 days. The yard I leave them in is hotwired so no getting out, barking isn't an issue and checked twice daily (like many dogs with owners working). I dont agree with doing it for such a period that the dog will get lonely, but for a short period (2 or so nights) sometimes this is what suits the dogs best. You can only go by what you feel is right for your own dogs. THe Maremmas are best left at home too.

Edited August 22, 2013 by Clyde

[Dame Aussie]

I'm changing my circumstances (thank Dog) and will be at home during the day now, but till now I was working all day and no-one was checking on my dogs

Not everyone has the luxury of being able to afford to pay people to check on their dogs, and not everyone has friends close enough or neighbours trustworthy enough to check on their dogs multiple times a day.

I don't think people should feel bad about this.

Edited August 23, 2013 by Aussie3

[Guest hankodie]

I hired a professional in house pet sitter and my Pug disappeared for 5 days.

omg this is my worst nightmare. I can't imagine what I'd do if that happened to me, I'd be completely beside myself.

Like JulesP I have a dog with a very serious liver condition. I'm lucky enough to have found a small kennel where they look after her special needs and have no problem with administering her meds/looking out for any symptoms. The staff are wonderful and they care about dogs immensely, the owner also lives on site and is very familiar with my girl's condition. I lucked out finding this place and I don't know if I could leave her anywhere else after the bad experiences I've had with kennels. I've thought about a home sitter but I'd question my dog's safety the entire time.

We have basically put off travelling for awhile because leaving her the last couple of times has just been too stressful of an ordeal. I really sympathise with you OP! It's definitely not easy, just go with your gut and try not to worry too much (easier said than done I know).