Its not tough to travel with a dog thats crate trained. Our Rott has been on every vacation we've taken over the last 7yrs. All over the coasts of Oregon, California,State Parks,National Parks, Yosemite, Disneyland, everything.

We have boarded some of our dogs though. For me personally, I just want a clean place where they are secured. They are going to stress a little no matter what, so I just don't want to be worried about them getting out.

Okay, so my plan so far is to take him his normal food (obviously, right?), take him his bed with our scent, his toys, lots of treats, and I'll definitely be printing out a sheet on specifically how I want him handled (example: must sit and wait before being fed). Any other ideas? I'm taking him on Monday to get a refill on h/w prevention so I am going to tour the kennel area then with him and meet the kennel staff.

8 hours from Georgia can't be that cold this time of year, or even in three weeks from now!

Clubs are out eh?

We are going to the mtns of NC. Usually snowing and freezing there that time of year. No clubs that I can find but I'm still looking.

Take him with you and board him there? This way you could visit with him every day as much as you'd like. Get him to meet the dog-friendly members of the family.

Have the husband stay home with the puppy? Unless he really really wants to meet those relatives...

 Quote: Olivia Brown

Okay, so my plan so far is to take him his normal food (obviously, right?), take him his bed with our scent, his toys, lots of treats, and I'll definitely be printing out a sheet on specifically how I want him handled (example: must sit and wait before being fed). Any other ideas? I'm taking him on Monday to get a refill on h/w prevention so I am going to tour the kennel area then with him and meet the kennel staff.

They're not going to do anything like make him sit. They'll do things the way they do them for their own safety and from their experiences and the way they were trained.

I wouldnt leave anything thats not completely indestuctable.

Hmm....just found a really nice boarding facility that may be close to my grandparents. It's pricey but would be worth it I think. Going to call them monday and see if they have any space.

If it's reasonably close, you could even go there, pick him up, do some serious training with him to get him good and tired and then take him back. A heavy duty recreational bone and he'd be good for a few hours of chewing and then sleep would take over.

Is there anybody in that area that does in-home boarding? You could do the same thing with him staying over night at the person's house with serious training in between.

I'd be cautious with that situation at your vets office. If I remember right, Vader is about 5 months old. 3x daily potty breaks/play time are NOT ENOUGH for a pup that age. I also would not depend on them to uphold your training (sit wait for food) a different person is likely to be working each shift- it's a lot to remember. I'm sure he'll need a reminder when you get home about proper manners, even if they do follow directions exactly.

You should be able to find a large style boarding facility in your area, or near your relatives home.
It'll be far from the ideal situation.... but they may have more space to give him then a small indoor only kennel like your vets office. See if you can find something that is going to be at least 4' x 24' (the common size around here) and has indoor/outdoor access for each dog. Dogs can burn off A LOT of energy pacing the fence line.

You could also try contacting local rescues that work from foster home- see if they would do a temporary foster. He'd get more one on one time there.... but you'd still have to trust a stranger with your hopeful to-be-working dog.

Spend the time looking for clubs in your area, relatives area, or along the way- at least then he'd be in a place with working dog people. That is a far cry from most vets offices (and thats coming from someone who is a vet tech. I'd never trust my dogs to a vet for boarding)

I'd be cautious leaving him his 'good' bed. He's libel to get bored, and we all know how good bored dogs are at destroying things.

Again- it's far from ideal, but I can sympathize with your situation. Good luck!

That's what I'm thinking too...I could pick him up, go for a long walk, do some intense training, and basically only leave him at the boarding facility at night and when I have family obligations.

I will look into the in-home boarding idea too.