Who would you trust with your doodle?

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I have been asked to go to Washington DC for a few days next week and am dreading the thought of leaving my doodle behind. She has been on a sleep over with a friend once while I recovered from laser eye surgery but I was mostly drugged up and unable to see so I wasn't in the right frame of mind to miss her too terribly. She was back before I knew it. The second time was when I had a wedding in Toronto. My friend (same as above, one of the few ppl I would trust with my doodle) had to bail on me at the last minute. I had no choice, Sophie had to go in a kennel. I felt so guilty I cried and worried and worried so much that I came home a day early, barreling down the highway in a rainstorm - "hang on SophieBear, Momma's comming home!!!". She barely noticed I was gone, but holy cow did I ever worry about her.

 

So now my dilema, this is going to be a really great opportunity for my career, but my doggy loving friend isn't available to sit. I have a friend from Toronto staying with me for a few weeks, a friend who is not all that fond of dogs, including my SophieBear (yes, in case you're wondering, she is crazy). She said she would look after her, but I know from her efforts over the past couple of weeks she is not quite up to the task (nothing too harmful, but skimping on walk times and forgetting to give her water in her dish, gets annoyed/intimidated when she gets hyper, etc...). She is certainly not going to be able to get Sophie to settle down to put the special drops in her ears, and she is afraid to take Sophie into the dog park. Then there's my cousin, but he once looked after his sisters cat and forgot to feed him for 3 days (!!). I have other friends in mind but they all seem to be busy. So I'm running out of options.

 

What should I do? if I put SB in the kennel again my heart will break, if I leave it to my friend I will worry so much, my cousin is out of the question, if I don't go on the trip my boss will be very angry with me and I will miss out on an important opportunity.

 

I know I'm being over protective, but I can't help it. I'm a first time dog mom and so I can be a bit of a nervous nelly.  Who would you trust with your doodle?

 

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

I don't blame you for being anxious.  We all worry about our babies when we're not with them.  Fortunately, our daughter (a true dog lover) lives nearby, so we can leave Sedona with her whenever we need to be gone.  We also have a great cageless doggie daycare/overnight care that's great.  Dogs are screened before being allowed to attend.  Sedona's been there a couple of times and we've been happy.  Do you have a similar facility in your area and do you have time to check it out before your trip?  Good luck!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

What if you had a real "heart to heart" conversation with your friend who is staying with you, telling her how important it is to you that Sophie Bear not be kenneled again, and asking for her support in taking care of her.  You could make an actual schedule/list of things that she is expected to do (including refilling the water bowl).  I would think that after letting her stay with you for a few weeks, she must have a good sense of your routine.  I wouldn't worry much about the dog park, but if she could commit to taking care of all the basics with Sophie that's probably better than the kennel.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

Can your breeder watch her??  That way you can pick up Lime boy when you get back!!! LOL... Have you joined Dog Sitting Exchange and looked for other members in your area?  This has worked for some people.  We are lucky to have a dog sitter who has been able to stay overnight in our house but we have only done this twice.  With the options you presented, I would say board her, she will be the safest there from what you say...wish we were closer, I would watch her for you!!

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

ha ha. I like the way you think. Actually, the breeder is a 5 hour drive away, and I swear if she were any closer I'd have my own litter of doodles by now. :o)

[Lindsey]

I'm funny about leaving my furbabies with just anybody too, so I understand...However, you can't stop living YOUR life, just because you have a dog.
I would honestly suggest going to a few different kennels and doing the walk through tour, find one you really like and feel really comfortable with, then start slow- take her there for maybe a daycare visit- then an over night visit. Let them gain your trust and then start your travels without fear!!
We finally found a kennel we trust, after manyyyy tours and "interviews". They feed the food we bring, when we want them to feed and they excercise them often. They also have a clean place for sleeping and allow us to bring our own beds and toys for our pups.
We travel and we miss our dogs...but we don't let them hold us back from doing "human- no dogs allowed" activities.

[Connie & Bocelli]

I agree with Lindsey.  While boarding isn't always the first choice, there are some awesome boarding facilities out there that really do take really good care of your dog.  I would look around.  Find one (if it's in your budget) that will not keep them in a cage all day.  Some facilities doggie daycare places have great boarding facilities attached and they would get the double benefit of daycare during the day and then being boarded in a nice bigger 'room' at night.  

I'm sure if you look around, you can find a place where your SophieBear will be safe, secure and have fun to boot!

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

You need to find a dog sitter.  I have one that keeps Rooney in her home - she can sit 4 dogs at one time, they all have their own space.  She loves and cares for him like I do and Rooney leaps out of the car and runs to her when we arrive.  Ask around, if you find someone wonderful - it will ease your heart and make your life easier.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

this would be ideal for sure.

[NewfoundlandNic]

Try your local Kijiji for dogsitters. Go meet them, interview them. See how they are with their pets. We have an awesome one now and Georgia loves going to her house for any length of time. She also comes home exhausted because she has had so much doggy fun. Oh, I also bring her own crate to the sitters, so she has her own ``bedroom``.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Do you have any doggy daycare places near you?  That is my go-to for Peri if my parent's cannot watch her.  She goes to Dogtopia for daycare and if she has to be boarded there, she is only in a crate during naptimes, breakfast, dinner and overnight.  Then she gets to play the rest of the time.  It is a chain, but franchised and I know our local owner, who is incredible. I trust them completely.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

yes, there are a few, but some I don't trust (like Pet Smart Pet Hotels). I just haven't gotten around to doing my research. I never expected this last minute trip to come up. silly me, I should have been more prepared!

[Diana Erhart]

See if you can find a pet sitter in your area.  I did alot of google searching for my area and happened upon this wonderful lady to watch Charlie when we are gone.  She keeps him in her home and treats him just like we do.  That is her policy with all the dogs she keeps.  If you crate them, she does.  If they sleep on the bed at home, they sleep on her bed while there.  I know I was lucky to find her but look around and you may get lucky too!  I think she even spoils Charlie more than I do.  She has even taken him to Tai Chi class, Home Depot, any errand that she needs to run and visits her elderly neighbor every night with him while he is there.  These Doodles sure know how to worm their way into people's hearts!