Can't bring myself to leave him - anyone else have this problem?

[Sandy]

I cannot bring myself to go away overnight, and leave Toby with someone else, or heaven forbid, at a kennel.  I just can't do it.  I know - my husband and son tell me I "humanize" Toby too much,  but with no small children at home, it's easy to do.  :)  I worry that it will throw him off his routine, which is that he sleeps in his crate, in our room, and has never, ever made a sound in there or balked at going to bed.  He stays in until we wake up in the morning.  I would hate to ruin that.  I can't stand the thought of a kennel - I feel like he'd feel abandoned.  I'm probably being silly, but I'd rather stay home, or go somewhere that he could come than leave him.  Am I the only one?  :)

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

Sandy, I think I might be worse than you are. Webber is two years, 3 months. I was forced to leave him once, a command from my mother for her 85 th birthday 3 thousand miles away. I interviewed a pet sitting service; where he would be in their home. When they mentioned they would only leave him to go to dinner and a movie, I bailed! I ended up having him go back to the breeder for the five days I was gone....yes, only five. Since then, I haven't gone anywhere that I couldn't take Webber. My family, on the West coast, don't understand why I won't either board him or fly him out in the cargo area of a plane. My son tells me Webber is just a dog. I would rather drive across the country with the dog than leave him and fly. How nuts is that!!! If you are silly, so am I.

[Sandy]

We need a new group on here - "Silly Doodle Owners". :) I could never put Toby in the cargo area of a plane. That sounds terrible. And please "Just a dog". Don't say that to me. :)

[Natasha]

We have a great place that Rouser frequents regularly: once a week for training (outside, it's really nice for the whole family); once every other week for day camp (so he gets time with other dogs and to run around and play like crazy and finally wear himself out); and for boarding when we travel.

He ADORES the people at our pet resort. He knows them (tail wags crazily as he tries to pull to greet them) and they know him by name, know his good and bad habits, and just love to see him. When we go away, we tell them that they can use Rouser for training, like when they need a dog to pass by another dog, etc. which is helpful for them as well as for us because he gets a little extra training time each day. Rouser has also found a little girlfriend at day camp. Apparently they stick together like glue all day which is funny because he tends to just run around like a crazy dog with no purpose when he's around a pack of dogs.

He gets so much attention when he's being boarded - between the playtime with other dogs, the playtime with the people, and then the special attention he gets because the staff just loves him so they check in on him regularly and give him extra pets, I almost think that he doesn't have time to miss us.

If you can find a similar environment, I highly recommend taking Toby there for camp now and then so that he gets to know the people and other regular dogs. Also, you will get a sense as to whether he likes it there or not (does he wag is tail, pull to greet the staff members, etc. or does he cower a bit?) before you may need to board your dog. Better to have a backup plan in case something happens that is out of your control.

[Doris]

I have this problem too. I am very lucky to have a good friend who will take Bodi. He went there for two days last summer and is already booked for three days this coming summer. I worry and I text . . . ALOT! But as I said, I'm lucky. He is treated like a family member at their house - sleeping on their bed and getting lots of kisses!!

[Debbie and Thomas]

I used to feel like this with my late dog, Buddy. I worried the entire time I was away but I DID leave him. Even though he was well taken care of, I knew it just wasn't the same. Now with the doodle Thomas, he stays with his dogwalker and his wife who was Thomas's trainer. They have 3 border collies and usually another dog that they are boarding for the night. I have left him there 3 times now just overnight and once for three nights. He had a blast. So, we go to Florida for a week on April 4th and Thomas will go to Waynes for a week of fun. Of course I will again worry but I know he is in good hands and much better than asking my kids or sisters to have him. One other solution I thought of was to ask a friend that has a dog if he could stay with them and then return the favour when they needed a sitter.

[Leslie, Dexter & Kirby]

We leave Dex and Kirby at Camp Bow Wow when we travel and they do well there. They play with the other dogs during the day and then are just in their "cabin" at night. They have a webcam and we will watch them if we can and they always seem fine. They are a tiny bit off for a day or so when we get home, but otherwise do fine there. I do agree though - I don't like to leave them, but we like going on vacation and don't have anyone else to leave them with.

I could not bring myself to leave them in a traditional kennel unless it was an emergency. I know they would be miserable in a crate all day and all night.

[Suzanne & Jack]

We have also used Camp Bow Wow and liked the idea of being able to watch them on the webcam. My DH is actually more attached and crazier than I am. With our old set of dogs they were all much older and sedate. The first time we had to leave them, my mom stayed at our house with them. She considered it her own little vacation. Even with all of that DH stayed in the room most of the time and called home probably 10-15 times a day. (We were at the Atlantis in the Bahamas). Two years ago we went to Disneyworld and boarded our old schnauzer at the vet thinking he would be well cared for. WRONG. They called on the second day and said he was not doing well. DH took the next flight home and got all of the boys. He was happy to be with dogs. I stayed for the rest of the trip and had a good time.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

That's exactly what we do - at Dogtopia. These daycare places are great.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

There is absolutely no way that Gracie Doodle will ever go to a kennel! Yes, she is my baby and I hate to leave her. I do go on trips quite often though but my DH is at home with her. They are usually 3-5 day trips and I miss her the entire time. When we both travel together then she goes to a dog ranch that I found in the backcountry of San Diego where we live. She gets to be a dog and do anything she wants. Roll in the dirt, play in a natural waterfall/pool, sleep, play with the other dogs...whatever she cares to do. They are all bunked down at night with their choice of pads, floors, crates closed or crates open. They do all eat separately. There is a monitor in the bunkhouse connected to the family house. The owner is with them from sunrise to sunset and takes them on hikes up and down the hills of his property (4 acres). No Alpha dogs allowed!! When they bunk down they are literally "dog tired". Gracie comes home dirty and happy. After a bath she sleeps for two days! We call whenever we want to check on her and if I leave a camera, they take pictures of her activities. There is a Vet on call who comes to the ranch. This is the only way I can go away and visit my grandchildren and children with my husband. I would consider a local person who wants to take Gracie into their home but I would have to know them very well!!!!!!! She is a most precious Doodle and owns my heart!!!

[F, Calla & Luca]

I have left the dogs with Luca's former trainer . She has several dogs, knows dogs, knows my dogs and they know her. She has a big backyard and they've seemed fine when I picked them up. I don't know what I'll do if she's not available when I need to go away.

[Linda,Yankee & Finn]

I can't leave my babies or I haven't yet. I planned my vacation by car so they could come with me. I once left Yankee overnight to go get Finn at the breeders. He stayed in our home with my daughter whom he adores but he wouldn't eat and was a bundle of anxiety. I'm sure going to try to avoid going anywhere without them.

You certainly are not the only one.

[Sally]

I found a wonderful solution. Fetch! Petcare. It's a franchise so there might be one near you. (you can check on their website) They offer in-home overnight sitting. Duncan's routine can stay exactly the same. I schedule walks for 12 and 4. And the overnight sitting comes with a 6pm walk, dinner feed, breakfast feed the next morning and a morning walk.
He can spend the hours alone in his own dog bed or on my couch where he would normally wait for me.
It's made me feel much better about going away. Granted for longer trips (like a week) I usually drop him with my brother's family so he has more company. But honestly he comes home with loose poop and extra anxiety. But after a day or so we're back on track. You have to just expect that Toby might be a little out of sorts without you but he'll be fine. I would try and avoid kennels if you could. Just seems they are isolated too much.