Boarding a pup

CreamyShibaMomCreamyShibaMom
edited July 2009 in General
Hi All,

I need advice or at least get this off my chest...

We "need" (that's a whole argument in itself)...to board the pup for 12 days in a week since we're going abroad...we've decided to go with the Vet since it's cheapest and I would say trustworthy (they're not going to lose their customer)...plus the kennel staff / vet techs walks the dogs about 4 times a day, not just let it run loose by itself in a dog run.

My hopes is that she'll actually enjoy the new people, and probably constant attention... but my gut feeling is that all hell will break loose and she won't eat (we had her over my parents this weekend and she didnt eat / play the 2nd day until we showed up).

So what are your thoughts on boarding for so many days? Is there anything I can do to make her stay more comfy and my sanity better (besides drinking the entire time I'm away).

Thanks in advance as this is driving me crazy..

--Irene
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Comments

  • KFontaine04KFontaine04
    edited November -1
    No one to house sit while you are away?

    I have boarded dogs in the past, but am lucky enough now to have a wonderful dog sitter (Tucker's Mom) whom we swap dog watching services with.

    Im sure Shao New will be fine. If you want to send her to me I will watch her for 12 days....but then she will become mine :)
  • CaliaCalia
    edited November -1
    That'd be cute, I'd love to see Shao New and Sake play.
  • McYogiMcYogi
    edited November -1
    We used a pet sitting service when we were out of town for a week. Since it was per visit and not per dog, we got a MUCH better deal than taking all 3 to a kennel. Plus we have the birds and fish, which would have needed housecalls anyway. Staying in their own environment was the best option for us, but if it's not available to you then kenneling is really the only other choice.

    I used to work in a doggy daycare and boarding facility, and some dogs really appreciated having their own bedding instead of the provided beds. If your vet allows, I would bring Shao New's bedding, toys, treats, food, and also anything that smells like you such as worn t-shirts or socks. Whatever you can stuff into the kennel or run, and whatever they allow you to bring, I would. Also, calling every day or every other day wasn't uncommon, especially for stays over a week. The staff should be able to keep you updated on how she eats and behaves.
  • KFontaine04KFontaine04
    edited November -1
    She might not eat for a day or two but as long as she is drinking she will be fine. Whenever there is stress in Miso's life he stops eating for a day or so. When we moved he refused to eat for nearly 3 days! Eventually he got hungry though :)
  • CreamyShibaMomCreamyShibaMom
    edited November -1
    Thanks guys, and Kristin, I would love to hand her to you, I'd pay you too LOL...though I might miss the plane driving up there and back ....ohh might not be a bad idea...

    Calia, I know! can't wait to see them play in Sept.!

    McYogi, the vet said I could bring stuff--i think i'll bring everything and have them tell me what to take home.. (Vet wants me to bring her food and fish oil/claritin plus explicit instructions on how /when to feed)....better to go overboard..their kennel staff will think I'm nuts.....and yeah, I really think I will call from overseas everyday or every other day...why not, right? And realistically if there is an emergency my parents are 10 min away.

    Pet sitters are crazy expensive here, and I don't know if I trust them with a shiba..they all seem to entertain the cutsey kind...

    I"m soo going to be crying on the plane. I hate when I get like this, i feel like smacking myself and saying "get over it!!"
  • KFontaine04KFontaine04
    edited November -1
    **SMACK** Get over it!

    I call Peggy every day when we are gone away from our kids so don't worry!
  • Two SocksTwo Socks
    edited November -1
    Great question.I wish I had some advise for you,12 days is a long time.We struggle with this same problem every time we go away too.We don't have any real options but to kennel them.Kennels are typically chaotic and our dogs are not used to that type of environment .It goes without saying that everyone gets stressed out. Is it possible to have a friend that your pup knows and trusts visit him & even walk him everyday ? That might help a little.
  • tsukitsunetsukitsune
    edited November -1
    I have no boarding advice, we bring our dogs with us when we go, luckily!

    OT, what is Shao New's claritin dosage??
  • CreamyShibaMomCreamyShibaMom
    edited July 2009
    Jen, it's 5mg, we cut the 10mg in half and feed every morning as a treat..be careful though, it's small and they will spit it out even wrapped in goodies..sneaky shibas..

    Kristin, *hand on cheek* thanks I needed that LOL.

    2 socks, no, nobody to watch on a consistant basis..everybody works their butt off and I can't ask even my parents to change their routine for 12 days to accomodate our dog (if it's for a few days it wouldn't be a problem). She's also super used to taking crazy amounts of walks with us everyday, so I reckon come the 4th day w/out enough excersize she may be a terror. The only couple I can think of is my friend's parents who are retired..but the JUST lost their shar pei a few months ago...so might not be a good idea (plus I've actually never MET her parents lol)...but her parents literrally live down the road from the vet, so kinda pointless i guess.

    And in case you're all thinking..why not change your plans...b/c it's my in-laws...gotta do the wifey thing..
  • sunyatasunyata
    edited November -1
    Irene, you are more than welcome to bring Shao New down to Virginia for a couple of weeks! Bella and Nola would love the company. She can help Nola with her plan to rid my neighborhood of birds. :)

    The longest I have ever boarded my dogs was three days... and it was not an easy three days for me. I worried the whole time. The dogs did fine though, but were very happy to see me and come home at the end of their stay. I am very lucky (now that my circumstances have changed) to have my mother to watch them if I do happen to have to leave them for a period of time. However, if at all possible, I usually just take them with me wherever I go.
  • shimaurashibalover92shimaurashibalover92
    edited November -1
    when are you guys going away?
  • CreamyShibaMomCreamyShibaMom
    edited November -1
    OMG guys, don't tempt me..everytime I think about this I want to cry.

    Joe/Dawn, we're going away next Friday, I gotta drop her off Thurs..and if Katsu wasn't in post-op I would have begged you guys already, seeing as they get along, she knows you two, and are both crate trained.

    What bugs me is that my husband doesn't get it! This is a LONG time, and he won't let me fly in later by myself for his cousin's wedding.. ARGH! We even fought about last Friday, b/c he didn't see what the problem was with the pup being alone all day and we would be out until 11pm at least. Meanwhile my parents were offering to watch her for free!!

    ARGH, I know these are personal issues, but I seriously got to vent to people that understand!!
  • KFontaine04KFontaine04
    edited November -1
    Katsu will be totally fine by next Friday...Joe/Dawn don't you want to know what it's like to live with two Shiba Inu?
  • CaliaCalia
    edited November -1
    Yeah...

    Dawn, this could be your opportunity to talk Joe out of having a seconds dog

    Joe, this could be your opportunity to talk Dawn into getting a second dog
  • CaliaCalia
    edited November -1
    If I had my own place, I'd so offer to care for Shao New during the time you're gone. But where I am now would make it very difficult to add another dog for more than a day or two. Oh, if only you guys were going sometime in December.
  • CreamyShibaMomCreamyShibaMom
    edited July 2009
    lol now is prrooobably not the best time to pressure them about this ;-)

    I am crazy busy at work today, don't know why...but thanks for the thoughts guys..i'll log on again when i can breathe!
  • CreamyShibaMomCreamyShibaMom
    edited July 2009
    ok in all seriousness guys, I can't ask Joe/Dawn/Katu to do this for us with Katsu barely recovering a week after her hysterectomy...I know it took Shao New 10 days to REALLY recover. :-/ Thanks though.
  • xremiixremii
    edited November -1
    I worked at a kennel and we had dogs that didn't eat. What we had done is put Parmesan cheese or some chicken base in the food to be more enticing. Don't worry, they'll most likely call you if they can't get her to eat within a couple of days. Bring some very delicious food so that Shao new will be more willing to eat. I'm sure they have a fridge so it could even be deli meat or chicken. We had this one dog who ate raw XD That was pretty gross.
  • shimaurashibalover92shimaurashibalover92
    edited November -1
    Funny you mentioned it, I was talkiing it over with Dawn. I'll talk to her more tonight. I think it'd be a great opportunity for us. We'll see how the brat does over the next few days. Do you guys have to let the vet know at a certain point?
  • shimaurashibalover92shimaurashibalover92
    edited July 2009
    Damnit, I forgot we're going to be away the 8,9,10th because of a wedding. Stoopid Weddings! Maybe next time. Sorry guys. I was already planning all the Spuddy and Brat spam.
  • CaliaCalia
    edited November -1
    Well, if you guys want to take Shao New for most of the days, I can take her on the days your away. Or would that be too much for the pups.
  • CreamyShibaMomCreamyShibaMom
    edited November -1
    I know, stupid weddings got us into this stupid mess. Thanks so much (everybody) for even considering it. Spuddy and Brat spam would have been awesome :)

    If she really goes into the suicidal " i won't eat " mode, it may really be best at the vet, at least i can OK the IV and catch the first flight back...hubby would be in REAL trouble then!
  • SayaSaya
    edited November -1
    I'll be boarding my pups for Thanksgiving it'll be so hard to do this since it'll be their first time except for our older dog Dink.

    The vet that we take our dogs to they board dogs, but the dogs there bark alot I'm sure that's normal since they're in a new place, but I'm afraid that my two pups will be barking all the time and loose their voices, but hopefully things go ok for me it's sad I don't know anyone that'll be able to dog sit for me.

    I hope things go ok for you Irene.
  • CreamyShibaMomCreamyShibaMom
    edited July 2009
    So we dropped off Spuds today...I bawled my eyes out before we left to bring her to the vet, so I wouldn't do it there.. and she's so good to let me snuggle her in this heat and all . What irked me was when we got there, they said she couldn't have any toys/bedding b/c they were getting in trouble with customers that would freak out if they were missing something so they JUST changed the rules. They did let me give her her dinosaur nylabone, so at least she has something to chew on. I feel like i've sent her to jail, granted one cushinoed with pillows...but still..isn't she going to go bonkers?? Should I speak to my vet tomorrow and beg to have my parents bring the toys to her...or am I over-reacting? My vet, not his vet-techs was the one who told me she could bring toys and blankies. I don't want to raise hell either since she's in there, though i doubt they would do anything bad to her.

    I know, i should just relax, and pretend she's on a vacation from me. Now she could lounge around and snap and give people the middle paw just b/c she felt like it and get away with it, right? That's about the only thought keeping me sane at the moment...
  • shimaurashibalover92shimaurashibalover92
    edited November -1
    hang in there. hopefully it''ll be over before you know it. I really wish we could have watched her. Maybe next time.
  • CreamyShibaMomCreamyShibaMom
    edited July 2009
    thanks Joe/Dawn. With any luck there won't be a next time, at least not for this long! Anyway, i had a thought overnight, and am calling Vet and having him autho the toys and I'll have to run over there today sometime btwn getting off work and the stupid flight, or maybe have him get his staff to buy some and then bill me.
  • shimaurashibalover92shimaurashibalover92
    edited November -1
    I'd drop them off. You never know what kind of toys they would buy. Here look we bought you a 500 chew toy!
  • CreamyShibaMomCreamyShibaMom
    edited November -1
    I don't think they'd do that..we've seen them 3 times already and our total bill hasn't come past 100 yet so I think we're ok....wait till I come back and see the boarding bill though LOL.

    I just called them a while ago, and Spuds is good and eating and drinking (YAY!)...they all seem to really like her in there, and she was really happy to be there yesterday..so aside from your house, this was probably the best place for her really.
  • cmmookiecmmookie
    edited November -1
    Wow Irene, that is great news! You must be so relieved! :)
  • CreamyShibaMomCreamyShibaMom
    edited November -1
    I am...though the girl came back and said "he" is doing well...I did correct her though b/c i'm a crutty mood ;-)
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