As many of you know, I have a 12 week old Australian Shepherd. By all measures I know, training is going well. She's comfortable in her kennel though I do take her out every few hours for play and exercise. We're still working on walking on leash, but she's fairly well behaved. I've officially started marker training after having watched more than half of Ed's video on it. She's had some vaccinations, but not others. So far, I've only given her two of three distemper and parvo vaccines.

My problem is that my family (my parents and sister and I) have booked villas on North Myrtle Beach, SC for this summer. We've done it many years, but we missed last year due to my wife and I's poor scheduling. So it's really important that we go this year. The bad news is the facilities where we're staying don't allow pets. Months ago when we made the reservations I had no intention of taking a dog with us. Our house dog typically stays with our next door neighbor while we're gone. There's no way our neighbor is going to keep my Aussie too. That's just too much for her. I've already called the manager down in SC, but he said that unless I had some documentation that she was a service dog (or a service dog in training) on government letter head he couldn't allow the dog; no matter how much I begged.

So here are my options as I see them. First, I could find a friend that I can impose on enough to accept what will be a 5 month old puppy for just over a week (Friday through the next Sunday). Second, I could find a good boarder here in the Cincinnati, OH area to leave my dog. Third, I could find a boarder down in SC. At least with that last option I could visit her daily.

In looking for a kennel here are the things I think I want. First, I don't want them to require a big long list of vaccinations. Second, ideally I don't want her having any play time with other dogs. Third, they need to accept the diet that I feed her and be willing to follow my instructions on that. Fourth, she needs an appropriate amount of exercise.

What are your suggestions? What things should I look for in a kennel? Do you know of any kennels in either Cincinnati or Myrtle Beach? What do you guys do with your dogs?

Be VERY careful about boarding kennels. Most of them require at least the core vaccinations as well as Bordetella (kennel cough). Depending on state laws rabies may not be required (here, the law is it must be given by 6 months, so 5 months of age it would not be required yet.)

Also, kennels sometimes impose their own diets and training regimes to your dog without your consent or knowledge. If you do a search on here you will find threads from members trying to undo the "training" done by these boarding kennels.

If boarding is your ONLY option, I think a boarding facility that will let you visit is a great idea. Most probably don't allow it (because of time, contamination, risk/insurance etc) but if you can find one, awesome.

Also check out in-home boarding services (the ones that come to your home). If you do that you can specify you don't want the dog walked or trained, just let out in the yard, to play ball or whatever. Also they will have no choice but to feed the food you left for the dog (as they don't bring their own LOL). In addition being in her own home will be easier on the dog.

The other option that might work is a private individual (dog walkers sometimes offer this) who would board her in their home. I have seen this offered in my area...

Any commercial boarding facility will want proof of vaccinations, or titer results, and may insist on a bordetella (kennel cough)vaccination.

Maybe hiring a teenager (with a car) from church to come into our home two or three times a day is the best option. I have the meal plan prepared and food available and ready. I can specify what they should do: just let her out to go potty and play fetch with her for a bit and then crate her again.

When I was consulting - traveling all across the US - I had employed a "pet sitting service". They would come over, spend some time with the dog, feed him, walk if I wanted - basically did whatever I wanted to have done.

AND - it was MUCH less expensive than a boarding kennel !

 Quote: Lynne Barrows

The other option that might work is a private individual (dog walkers sometimes offer this) who would board her in their home. I have seen this offered in my area...

We take this to the next level and ask friends to come stay in OUR home with Oscar! Actually, they're our neighbors teenage daughters, who serve as our new dog sitters since we moved - they have a big dog at home who would not make it possible for Oscar to stay with them, so we just give the girls the option to stay in our house while they're taking care of Oscar. Works beautifully, and Oscar gets to stick to his routine, in his own surroundings. I obviously wouldn't do this with a stranger, but if you have good friends who are willing, asking them to house sit with the pup might be an option - this also means their home doesn't suffer any accidental consequences of having a furry litter terror roaming about.

We have a somewhat difficult dog, so I've never felt comfortable leaving him with anyone except very responsible, trusted friends (whom he knows, loves and respects already). Whether it's in our home, or theirs, I just feel best about doing it this way - and we avoid vaccination issues and the stress of a foreign environment on the dog. There are probably great kennels out there, and if that's your best bet, just make sure you research your options and REALLY get a good feel for the staff and services.

~Natalya

Having been the person who went and stayed at others houses who went on vacation I think this would be a great option if you have someone you can trust. I have been doing this for years for friends and friends of friends.

 Quote:

We take this to the next level and ask friends to come stay in OUR home with Oscar!

This is what I'll do if/when I can bring myself to leave the animals.

One possibly good source for finding a house/pet sitter is your vet. Vet techs often earn extra money as pet sitters and it's a real plus if you happen to have a dog with medical issues who needs medications, injections, or treatments. 2 of our techs started their own pet sitting service and were very highly-regarded by the people who used them.

Additionally, your vet's office may know of good, reliable people who offer pet sitting services. Most offices won't recommend just anyone who stops in and leaves a business card.

 Quote: Sarah Morris

One possibly good source for finding a house/pet sitter is your vet. Vet techs often earn extra money as pet sitters and it's a real plus if you happen to have a dog with medical issues who needs medications, injections, or treatments. 2 of our techs started their own pet sitting service and were very highly-regarded by the people who used them.

What a great suggestion! I didn't even think about that possibility, but it makes good sense. I'll have to remember this if we ever need a back up plan...

~Natalya

I kennel Yote with the Vet because they know him and take good care of him, and don't scoff when I call daily to check on him, He is just too much dog for me to feel comfortable asking anyone else to watch, especially with the issues him and Loki have with eachother.

The other two are easy peasy, I have my teenage nephew stay here with them.

He used to live with us so they know and love him and he knows what to watch out for with Nicos ears and skin and what to do if she has a flair up.