Going on Vacation

[Susan & Henry]

We are going out of town for Spring Break and (sniff, sniff, sigh..) Henry is not coming with us. I already feel very sad. We were going to have someone staying in the house but that fell through. I think just having someone come 3 times a day is not enough and the though of him being in the house alone makes me sad so I think we will board him. Any suggestions? I really did not think this would be so hard. But it is. Love my puppy so much.

[Penny & Wrigley]

We just got back from a short vacation and can totally relate. Wrigley is 3 months old. Our neighbors watched him at their house. They have a dog too. I was so sad to leave him. Wrigley is a little depressed now that we are back. I think he misses having the other dog around. He has only eaten half of his normal food. Hopefully he will bounce back. Good luck! I do hear there are some good places out there to board. If I had to, I was looking at one with a doggy day care so he could have played all day.

[Bonne Bouche]

I know how you feel. We'll be going out of town for 2 week in Aug/Sept and I get nervous thinking about what we will do with him, as he can't come with us. We looked into a few kennels, but I cant stomach him in a kennel all day with only short regemented playtimes -- and it is so expensive! 

The current plan is to bring him to my parents and to pay for him to go to a local daycare there every day (to get his energy out!). My parents have a dog that doesn't so much like BB, so its not the ideal solution, it won't be easy for them, but I think right now that is the best we can do... Maybe things will get better for the two of them by September....

Do you have family or some place he can go to stay? I know puppy doodles are a handful, so it might not be easy finding someone who can handle all that energy/fur...

[Anne G.]

We just got back vacation where we left our 1 year old puppy for 6 days. Luckily I had a good friend stay at the house but boy did we miss her! Warning - you may feel a little melancholy the 1st day or so. I'm not sure if it is better to board him or have someone come to the house 3 times a day where he is in his own environment. Is he used to being alone for hours at a time? Either way it may be wise to get him used to whichever option you choose. If you plan to board, take him there a few times to get him used to it. Good luck!! He'll do fine, and so will you!

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

I forgot to mention earlier, that a friend said they found a pet sitter searching through the website:

http://www.sittercity.com/search-sitters.html?ct=2&zip=44011

I think this might be the right link for Avon, OH

Good luck

[Esther and Joey]

check out this new site: http://dogvacay.com/

[Tricia]

Any one from DK live in your area? Many people have offered to doodle sit, on their profiles.Put some feelers out. Good Luck!

[Diane, Hurley and Sidney]

I know exactly how you feel. There is something about a doodle that steals your heart.  Hurley is just turning 4 months old. We are only going away for 3 days in May and I am having "separation anxiety".  We could take him to our son and daughter-in-laws house and in the future we will probably do that.  They have a doodle and 2 labs.

Also, a friend of ours, daughter, house/pet sits but would be at work all day.   So what we decided to do this time is have Hurley stay with his trainer.  She pet sits for only $25 per day. He will stay with her and during that time she will continue to work on his socialization and obedience.   We feel very lucky to have found her.    

Our vet is who recommended her.  Maybe your vet could recommend a trainer or boarding place that others have been happy with.

Friends of ours that have boarded their dogs seem to come home to sick dogs even though the boarding place comes highly recommended and has a good reputation.    They feel the dogs get so upset they are gone that they get sick and that it isn't necessarily about the boarding place.

Hope that helps.