Is this a normal feeling? I may be flying up to see my Dad for a day or two. I'm thinking of having my older son house sit and watch the dogs. I don't want to put them in a kennel.

I absolutely feel the same way.
We've had posters who've had dogs abused or maltreated in boarding facilities. While that's RARE, your concerns aren't entirely unfounded.

Lucille, I think you're fortunate to have a family member you trust to do this!

I hate using kennels unless I absolutely have no other choice.

The only place I will board my dogs is at the Vet, I trust them to give very good albeit very basic care.

I still hate every minute of it though.

I have used a bonded and insured pet sitter in the past and that was a good choice for my easy going pet dogs.

Always go check out a kennel first, if that is the option you must take. Go in without calling first, ask to see where the animals are housed. Is it clean? Are people friendly? Interview them. I have found a great facility, and I still hate leaving the dog. My kennel is also with my vet.

My daughter found a kennel where she lives (Albuquerque) and THEY interviewed she AND her dog. They were asked to come in for a chat and tour and then Mikey had to go for a play day prior to an overnight stay so they could get to know him.
And it is not a pricey place, just one where animals are loved. Plus, they have webcams so you can watch your dog.

See for me it's the exact opposite. Once when Booker was a puppy I had my brother watch him. I was very clear in my instructions. Do not leave him outside, especially unattended. He was tiny as a pup at that stage at 1.5 lbs.

So I place a phone call three days into my week long trip to see how he's doing. My brother put the puppy in the backyard, went back in the house and by the time he had returned and the puppy "vanished." After an hour of looking it turned out he had squeezed under the fence, gone through the daycare yard next door, squeezed under another fence and was in the backyard two houses over. Turned out the only reason my brother got him back was the last name on the tag matched his last name and the neighbor was kind enough to actually return the papillon puppy.

That was the last time I allowed family outside of the home to watch my dogs. I love my family, I adore my dogs, and I want to keep those emotions without conflict or potential for blame.

 Quote: melissa thom

That was the last time I allowed family outside of the home to watch my dogs. I love my family, I adore my dogs, and I want to keep those emotions without conflict or potential for blame.

Melissa! I sometimes worry about family inside my home for an overnight away. My husband is still unsure about the raw diet, so I would have to spend hours preparing the meals in addition to the explicit instructions...He makes a big enough deal about "fending" for himself when Maggie and I go visit my daughter.

It's completley normal....Even when it's not a "what are they doing to my dog" case it's difficult to find the perfect kennel that doesn't take an arm and a leg...

The first time I put my dog in a kennel he came back much lighter and absolutely miserable. It wasn't that the kennel was bad (they had excellent reviews and were a nice clean facility). It just wasn't a good match. They were trying to be a "home away from home" to all the dogs...my dog doesn't like people....he hated it. They thought his aloof nature was a sign he was sick and when he refused to eat (because they stood there watching him) they tried hand feeding him...he doesn't take food from strangers....poor puppy just couldn't win.

I have my parents or upstairs neighbor watch my pup now...My father is good with him and apart from not getting his commands (No matter how many times I write them down I get the "uh so....what's the command for dropping a toy again?" as I here Ryuk growling latched onto something in the background). It works out muuuch better. If you've got the family that you trust and that like your dogs go for it (I find giving them free access to the fridge helps)

I have boarded at my vet's office with ok results, but I hated every minute of it. I tend to take my dog with me everywhere now that I only have one.

My daughter is the only person in my family I trust to be able to HANDLE my dog. I'm lucky, my family is comprised of top-notch, pet-dog people with healthy dogs (my sis even feeds raw) but they aren't really big on setting limits (let's all share beds and toys and be nice little fur people). With their happy-go-lucky lab mixes that works, with my dog that's a disaster waiting to happen (a potentially bloody and expensive one).

My daughter worked in the kennel with me, she gets the raw-feeding deal, she knows the drill. Unfortunately I usually want her with me whenever I go anywhere

Ok, from the point of view of a kennel owner I will say...it is normal for many people to not want to leave their dogs. It is normal for folks to leave them with no problems. Every person and dog is different. Some pack more for their dogs than I send with my kid to camp, with bagged by the day of the week food and treats and toys and some don't even bring a leash.

As was noted by one person...some places may not match what your dog wants. Some places will not match what you want. These two things are not necessarily the same.

Honestly I tend the dogs with healthy indifference. No dog wants a stranger in a strange place to hug, cuddle or play with them. That takes trust and time. Dogs that don't want to eat generally get sick if you make them eat ....especially with bribing with canned or some other nummys. If your dog comes home lighter I would ask how they ate. Some dogs sulk and don't eat as much as at home. Some dogs just don't eat much...especially without mommy and daddy shoving human food into it and making it all wonderful so that their 40# beagle will eat his dinner. Happily it is a rarity for me.

I let the dogs come to me by sitting off to the side while they are out in the yard. Or, if they are overwhelmed...in their run. Most dogs settle down for me with my just being around them a day. I also verbally praise everything they do that can possibly be called right. Non cooperation is ignored and bribery is used to get the dog to do what I need. ie going in and out of their run. Barking, growling or any show of aggression is likewise ignored.

All that said. MANY people, working in a kennel or not, try to force themselves on dogs or tell them what to do. This generally rubs the dogs the wrong way and stresses them.

Dogs that have been to my kennel more than twice usually come in the door pulling their owners and looking for a run. There will always be dogs that don't do well boarding and don't adjust...so every minute of being away from home is horrid. You can't make everyone happy.

I will also say I have had several people who board now because getting the neighbor or a petsitter to watch the dog or cat didn't work out....cat's ran off, dog wrecked the house, they overfed, underfed or didn't vet a sick dog etc.

I have had people show up unannounced and I have been nice even when I am in the middle of something...I know they are trying to 'catch' the place filthy or chaotic or with me pulling toenails out of kittens in the back room. Personally I think it is rude but I understand and I am honest with them. You may walk in on a stinking nasty smell because ONE of the 25 dogs was stressed and ill during the night. You may come into a near empty kennel that is cleaner than my kitchen.

I will tell you a couple easy ways to find out if a place is good. ASK the local vets, ASK your neighbors, ASK for recommendations from pet stores. And if you call around at the last second on a busy holiday weekend and they have a vacancy....run. Unless they had a last minute cancelation and by some freak didn't have a waiting list of long time customers it is because they SUCK at what they do and you shouldn't trust them with your dog. YES, ask for a tour. I invite people that want to see the place at it's worse to come at 7:30 am on a Saturday. No time is busier and the animals have had all night to make it horrid. Funny, but I have not ever had someone show up then.

Also, all our local vets that board charge nearly or more than double what I charge...and I don't have sick animals housed in the same building. Not knocking vets but the only upside is if you have an already ill animal or one that loves it there. My vet even says....you get the same or better care elsewhere. I am in the country and the dogs have in/out runs all day long and access to a playyard. In town / city kennels have specific run times due to ordinances or too much noise and neighboring homes complaining.
ASK to see the runs, the yard, and ask for a typical day schedule. You might actually find someplace you like.