Holidays: how do you manage?

Cinnamontoast

Cinnamontoast

Fais pas chier!
Joined
6 July 2010
Messages
38,753
Visit site
Having not gone on holiday for two years due to various dog related issues (pups were too young to leave last year etc), we'd love to go this year. The OH is determined to do the usual big American road trip.

Previously, my parents have house and dog sat Brig and Jake, who were grown up, 'easy' dogs. They would jump in the car, follow my Dad round the woods, get back in the car, no problems. However, pups are more of a handful and Dad is getting old and weary and I couldn't in all good conscience expect him to look after the three of them, especially as occasionally, Zak disappears and you have to run after him!

I really can't fancy kennels, don't think I could do that to my boys. Has anyone got any suggestions, therefore (ones that actually involve us having the holiday!)?
 
I take mine with me. We are going to the isle of man next week, Dylan is going to be on seagull overload.....


Could you go away with them now in the UK, and next year they will be older and you might be more comfortable leaving them at a kennels.
 
Friends of mine use house/pet sitters. My OH won't leave our current dogs so we always take them on holiday with us, and haven't been abroad for 4 years (even though his family have their own villa that we used to go to all the time :() Have to admit though, we do prefer fell walking to lying on a beach, but just sometimes when it's chucking it down and I'm freezing on top of a mountain, I think it would be nice to lie in the sun just for a change ;)
 
Big dog goes to boarding kennels, small dog goes to my friends, Brat Camp! :p
Both are not straightforward dogs but they know the people they stay with and they always come back happy. And better behaved :p
There are pet 'resorts' and home boarding out there (Cayla, cough cough :p)
 
Mine all go to friends as do theirs in that they come to me. atm I have a friends Greyhound whos crashed out on the sofa with mine after a long walk.

All the dogs get on and are happy to be left as they are all familar with my friends and their dogs.
 
If you could find a decent kennel (namely one that actually walks them, spends time with them)then I dont see the issue, unless of course you dont vaccinate. There are lots of dog sitter companies on the web though, definately not the cheap option its around twenty five quid a day for one dog round here.
 
CaveCanem said:
There are pet 'resorts' and home boarding out there (Cayla, cough cough :p)
Click to expand...

I think even Cayla would quail at the madness of three springers! Plus she's up north and I'm down south-4.5 hours to Newcastle, slightly less to Cayla's, I guess.

I vaccinate so boarding is an option, but I think I'd rather have a house/pet sitter, regardless of expense.
 
Stan goes back to his breeder and joins her 20+ terrierists bombing round her farm, sleeping in her kitchen, digging in her muck heap, and generally causing mayhem. He comes back exhausted, stinky, covered in cow poo, happy and a bit more dog-sociable. I don't know if you have that option with yours though OP?
 
we have never had a holiday abroad because we wont leave the dogs.. our honeymoon was to the hebrides, dogs included:D

however this year i just felt for the first time i had to get away properly. I can honestly say leaving them was the hardest thing Ive done:o We got some sheep trials people we know who have fab boarding facilities to take them. I went down a few times with all the dogs for lessons so they got used to the place and they were absolutely fine. Tbh I preferred the idea of secure kennels and a secure exercise field as I just dont trust anyone else to have my lot off the lead:o Im very picky and wouldnt for instance let them off in woods in case they hurt themselves charging through the undergrowth,as they would. I cant risk lameness so they only get off in fields round us or at the beach. Are there any gundog people you know who could take them?
 
I bribe a friend to stay and house/dog sit and give her £20 per day plus I pay my dog walker to come in and walk as well so its not a cheap option but less stressful for the dogs. Staffords are notorious for disliking kennels as well. Fee might well need to go up now I have 3 though..

Should say my friends are fairly robust and used to Staffie mugging. I left my jeep for my friend last time too so she could sometimes take the dogs upto the yard to harass their other human friends (and dogs) and leg it around the yard as well.
 
My parents have dog sat in the past and probably would do in the future if needed (once pup is a bit older).
Barking mad are really good if you don't like putting your dogs into kennels.
They pick the dog/s up from your house, place them with a suitable host and then drop them to your door when it's time to have them back.
They go with a schedule detailing the dogs routine and the host follows that. Each host only takes your dogs during their stay (they might have their own dog/s but only if your dogs are fine with other dogs)
Not sure how much they cost, other than multiple dogs get a discount.
It's def something i'd go with if my parents weren't available. I wouldn't like to pt my 2 to kennels, having worked in a few boarding kennels, I was maybe unlucky with the places I worked of course, but it has put me off big style.
 
bex1984 said:
Stan goes back to his breeder I don't know if you have that option with yours though OP?
Click to expand...

Sounds ideal! Sadly, Zak and Bear's breeder ignored me after I mentioned that Zak has mild HD. Funny, that. We didn't stay in touch with Brig's breeder who live in a remote Welsh border area.

The_original_Kao said:
Barking mad are really good if you don't like putting your dogs into kennels.
Click to expand...

I'll google, thanks. I really can't bear the idea of kennels: I did it once with Jake and Brig: never again. They came out subdued, stinking, lame immediately after a walk so obviously hadn't been exercised. :mad:
 
:DThat's what I'm here for!!!!! I look after dogs in my own home, treating them as part of our "pack" and have DOZENS of "regulars"! I've never had problems with visiting dogs getting along with my own dogs and people keep coming back to me, so I must be doing something right!;)
 
keeperscottage said:
:DThat's what I'm here for!!!!! I look after dogs in my own home, treating them as part of our "pack" and have DOZENS of "regulars"! I've never had problems with visiting dogs getting along with my own dogs and people keep coming back to me, so I must be doing something right!;)
Click to expand...

Seriously?! I bet you get booked up quick!

As you probably know, I have three springers. Zak can be a bit funny with other dogs on initial meetings. None are neutered: that could be a huge issue, couldn't it? Big dog doesn't know that girls exist, never really encountered any problems with pups, but they're only 16 months.

Ooh, ooh, can I maybe pm you?
 
cinammontoast said:
Sounds ideal! Sadly, Zak and Bear's breeder ignored me after I mentioned that Zak has mild HD. Funny, that. We didn't stay in touch with Brig's breeder who live in a remote Welsh border area.



I'll google, thanks. I really can't bear the idea of kennels: I did it once with Jake and Brig: never again. They came out subdued, stinking, lame immediately after a walk so obviously hadn't been exercised. :mad:
Click to expand...

I wasn't going to go into the whole reasons why I hated kennels after working there but that was 1 of the reasons. 1 place had outdoor and indoor kennels. The outdoor kept lot never got out their kennels the whole time they were there. The indoor lot who were in small pens, got out into the outdoor run twice a day for 10 mins whilst you cleaned them out. There was no time to spend with individual dogs at all either :(
 
We go camping quite a lot and take the dogs with us. They both love it and so do we.. if you enjoy that kind of thing! We walk for miles so they get plenty of exercise and we choose dog friendly pubs to go to. It's still a holiday after all! :D
 
The_original_Kao said:
I wasn't going to go into the whole reasons why I hated kennels after working there but that was 1 of the reasons. 1 place had outdoor and indoor kennels. The outdoor kept lot never got out their kennels the whole time they were there. The indoor lot who were in small pens, got out into the outdoor run twice a day for 10 mins whilst you cleaned them out. There was no time to spend with individual dogs at all either :(
Click to expand...

Exactly one of the reasons I don't send mine to kennels. I did work experience at a kennels when I was younger and it was the same. The dogs were walked around a field on the lead for about 10 minutes twice a day, were cooped up in a tiny indoor kennel which was bloody cold or shut outdoors in the concrete run.

Both my dogs thrive on attention so they would hate kennels!
 
My two Collies have passports as we love going to my sister in laws place in rural France.This country is incredibly dog friendly.The passport system works well but you have to be well prepared in advance of a foreign holiday.You need rabies vacs.There are changes fro 2012 which DEFRA have announced on their website.You no longer will need to have the blood test to check for antibodies from Jan 2012,or need Tick treatment before returning to the UK.Also the time lapse between the jab and travelling back to the UK is reducing from 6 to 3 months.Neither of my Collies would ever cope with kennels,hence this is a lovely way to holiday with your dog.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top