 To Travel or to Kennel?
#146079 - 06/25/2007 02:13 PM |
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Loc: San Antonio, TX
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I'm looking for some advice (or directions to a good post) on the pros and cons of kenneling your dogs vs taking them with you when you travel. I have 2 GSD's, about 2 yrs old. I'm traveling to my brother's house soon, and am trying to decide what the best option is. The trip will be a really quick one- 7.5 hrs there, spend a day, 7.5 hrs back; 2 nights total. part of me feels like this is such a short trip and long time in the car the kennel would be less stressfull... but the other part of me hates to leave them with people they don't know stuffed in a kennel most of the day. I checked out a reputable one; they can both stay in the same sizeable run with access to inside and out (inside with a/c) and are fed their regular food if I bring it. I toured the place, and although noisy, it was clean and the staff appeared knowledgeable.
Thanks for any advice!
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Re: To Travel or to Kennel?
[Re: Carolyn Pike Roman ]
#146084 - 06/25/2007 02:44 PM |
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It sounds like you found a decent one. Go with your gut. If something doesn't feel right about the place don't do it but otherwise, at least they have eachother. 
You sound like your mind is made up and are looking for someone to tell you it's OK. I would think the ride would be stressful for them as well. If you have been referred by someone you trust whosed used them before, I would kennel them and bring their food. Then again that's like me telling you to leave your kids with a sitter. Gotta be your decision.
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Re: To Travel or to Kennel?
[Re: eric dziedzic ]
#146085 - 06/25/2007 02:49 PM |
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My main issue w/kennels is the ridiculous number of vaccines they require to let dogs stay there. If they're not making you do anything extra, then I don't see the problem, although if it's just a day or two, I'd bring 'em. Mine go all over with me, for much longer trips than 7.5 hours, but they're used to it. If they're not, and are gonna be a pain, then they'll survive being kenneled for 2 days, IMO. Couldn't you find a petsitter for such a short time? Just someone to let them out a few times a day so they can stay home?
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Re: To Travel or to Kennel?
[Re: Jenni Williams ]
#146090 - 06/25/2007 03:06 PM |
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They will require me to get their bordetella updated- I thought about the petsitter, but am not sure I'm comfy with someone in my home... I will look into it though. In the past my bf has been my pet sitter, and he's part of the family to them so it was no big deal. This time we're going together tho-
I've taken them for trips to the park fairly often for walks, and they're fine, but never for a longer trip. Maybe I'll try an hour trip this weekend to check it out.
Jenni- any tips for traveling with them?
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Re: To Travel or to Kennel?
[Re: Carolyn Pike Roman ]
#146091 - 06/25/2007 03:29 PM |
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Well, Bordatella is a useless vaccine, but from what I know, it's also one of the ones least likely to cause a serious problem, so things could definitely be worse on that end.
As for traveling with them, I don't really have any "tips" per se...but then I tend to do things in a little more relaxed manner than most. In two steps, this is what I do:
1) Put dogs in car
2) Drive away
Seriously, don't over-think it. It's fun and easy, especially if you don't have to stay in hotels. I feed raw, so I just stop at a grocery store along the way or when I get there. I don't have any neurotic dogs, but mine seem to be much happier just being with me, wherever it is I am, than staying home. Really, it's quite simple usually, and I'm much more able to enjoy being away if I'm not worrying about someone having problems with my dogs while I'm away. This may be a great time to see how they do on a short trip so you'll know for future reference.
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Re: To Travel or to Kennel?
[Re: Jenni Williams ]
#146094 - 06/25/2007 03:37 PM |
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To be honest I'd like to take them with, I hate the idea of leaving them with someone who I don't really know, regardless of their experience and recommendations. I think I'd worry needlessly (I admit it, I'm a worrier). We're planning on renting an SUV so there's plenty of room (both of us drive small cars), and since we're staying with my brother...
I figure I'll just take them for a good walk and wear them out before we jump in the car and just stop as often as necessary. They seem to settle down more on the freeway anyway.
Thanks for the help and suggestions-
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Re: To Travel or to Kennel?
[Re: Carolyn Pike Roman ]
#146095 - 06/25/2007 03:42 PM |
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Renting an SUV? Perfect. Then you can return it with all the fur. Saves on after-trip cleanup.
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Re: To Travel or to Kennel?
[Re: Jenni Williams ]
#146106 - 06/25/2007 05:26 PM |
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LOL!! I never thought of that, but hey- sounds good to me. Its like when I got the oil changed on my car and they offered to vaccuum it out as a complimentary service, I was like heck yea!!
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Re: To Travel or to Kennel?
[Re: Carolyn Pike Roman ]
#146108 - 06/25/2007 06:05 PM |
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Reg: 03-25-2007
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Loc: Wisconsin
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I've traveled a lot with my dogs and I can think of a few tips. Make sure you have them in a crate or harness while driving. If they like to jump right out of the car being crated or tied will keep them safe in a strange place. The crate might come in handy to use where your traveling to as well.
I usually keep bottled water and bowls right in the back near the crate for water and don't feed until we make it to our destination in case of carsickness.
Blankets for them to lay on are always nice. Towels just in case of spillage and paper towels were handy once when one of mine got car-sick (that is how I know to wait to feed them).
One other thing that my sister did, was to get a thermometer to keep in the back of the car to make sure in warmer months that the temps weren't too hot in the back of the vehicle.
Safe travels
Raine |
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Re: To Travel or to Kennel?
[Re: Carolyn Pike Roman ]
#146109 - 06/25/2007 06:06 PM |
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Reg: 03-25-2007
Posts: 200
Loc: Wisconsin
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I've traveled a lot with my dogs and I can think of a few tips. Make sure you have them in a crate or harness while driving. If they like to jump right out of the car being crated or tied will keep them safe in a strange place. The crate might come in handy to use where your traveling to as well.
I usually keep bottled water and bowls right in the back near the crate for water and don't feed until we make it to our destination in case of carsickness.
Blankets for them to lay on are always nice. Towels just in case of spillage and paper towels were handy once when one of mine got car-sick (that is how I know to wait to feed them).
One other thing that my sister did, was to get a thermometer to keep in the back of the car to make sure in warmer months that the temps weren't too hot in the back of the vehicle.
Safe travels
Raine |
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