Hopefully, they might still have some space still open, since it is just the begining of the month. It would be a much better solution.

Steve's right about..they will do things as they do them. Unfortunately, it is highly unrealistic to expect them to do special things for you or any other boarder.

Anyone here on the board live in that area that would be willing to take a pup for a couple of days, even if it is a holiday weekend & you have your own dogs????. It's only a few days...ANYBODY??

 Quote: Anne Jones

Anyone here on the board live in that area that would be willing to take a pup for a couple of days, even if it is a holiday weekend & you have your own dogs????. It's only a few days...ANYBODY??

Thats the best idea yet Anne!!!

We live in south georgia but will be traveling up through SC to the mtns of NC. We will be leaving the monday before thanksgiving and returning the friday after. If anyone is willing, PM me and I'll give you my exact location. Of course we are willing to pay for him to get good care. He's easy to live with...just needs lots of play and interaction.

Olivia,
The dog will live . Unless the dog has real temperament issues it will be fine. Randy talks like there's clubs all over the place that will dogsit some strangers dog so it doesn't have to be kenneled for a few days, lol, NOT. It doesn't work that way Randy.

Anyway, so goes the life of dogs sometimes, enjoy your family vacation!

 Quote: Anne Jones

Anyone here on the board live in that area that would be willing to take a pup for a couple of days, even if it is a holiday weekend & you have your own dogs????. It's only a few days...ANYBODY??

Could you stay in a dog friendly hotel/motel close to your relatives, if your grandparent's won't tolerate the puppy? Rent a travel trailer when you get there and park it in their driveway?

Al, it's a 5-6 mo old puppy, not an 85# adult dog. Who doesn't like & enjoy puppies. It would be a ton of fun.

Olivia, if you have to board your dog for a few days all will survive!!!!!!!! Trust me, it's going to be lot harder on you then it will be on the pup.

Personally I would feel better leaving my dog at my vets then somewhere where I don't know the people. A busy house around the holidays, an extra dog, and I think there is more of a potential for ah "oh sh**" moment then at a vets where it should be much more controlled.

You are allowed a normal life once or twice a year even when you have a pup. <grin>

If there are issues like separation anxiety that may be different.

It is a wonderful thing that some people live their lives completely for their dogs...

BUT 99% of the dog owning population would put their human family first, and should NOT be made to feel like derelicts or that they should never purchased a puppy. That is ludacris...

Don't get me wrong, my dogs will usually accompany us on family trips, but there are some times that it just can't be. I don't feel guilty or any thing less than a good dog owner. And a terminally ill family member is a damned good reason to make a trip with or with out the dog.

Olivia, your pup will be fine, and will be very happy to see you when you return home. Any lack of training will come back within a couple of days at most and all will be back to normal (how many kids come back from Grandma's house and need to be reminded what the rules really are? ) and your family will be able to enjoy each other for the holiday.

Ask the staff if they wouldn't mind you bringing a knuckle bone (so will not for various reasons) and absolutely bring your own food and directions for feeding. Buy some extra kongs (put your name on them...) and pre-fill them with peanut butter/raw meat/kibble bits/yogurt and freeze them in a zip lock bag with directions to give one a day. Maybe even ask if they would be willing to refill them for you? It will give the pup something to do for at least an extra little bit.

Enjoy your family time!

Olivia,

My husband and I travel internationally once a year, so as much as I hate it, we do board our dogs for 10-14 days a year. Our lives revolve around the dogs 50 weeks a year, my husband says that for two weeks a year, we live for ourselves I think I suffer from separation anxiety much more than my dogs do

This past month when we were in China, my dogs were boarded at a club member's boarding kennel. She is an very experienced handler and I actually felt very comfortable (okay, as comfortable as I could possibly feel when my dogs are not under my care, LOL) leaving them at her facility. Each dog run has an indoor/outdoor area that are connected via a doggy door.

When I leave my dogs at a boarding kennel, I actually prefer them not to be "trained." I don't want others to try to tell my dogs what to do and what not to do, or try to keep up with the training at home. My dogs were boarded for 14 days last month, and once we picked them up, they hopped right back into the rhythm of things at home. One of the dogs is a foster we have been actively training in basic obedience, and she didn't forget any of the stuff we taught her.

Finding a boarding facility in your destination to board the dog would seem ideal, but it would definitely add to your stress level, and I am not sure if it is the best thing for the dog. I mean, when I boarded them at the facility, I left them once, then picked them up, if you board him at the destination, you are "leaving him" after each visit, which the way I see it, it would add to the dog's anxiety level. Maybe I am wrong

When we left our dogs at the boarding kennel, we brought their food/supplements (extra food in case there was a delay), blankets from home (an extra blanket just in case he gets it dirty). I didn't leave any toys as we don't have toys laying around at home anyway, plus I am always worried about them choking on toys when unsupervised. My dogs only get treats during training, so I didn't bring their treats to the boarding facility.

For us, I printed out my travel information, what airline I was taking, and how to reach me when I was in my destination. For you, I think you should have you cell number, the route you are taking (just in case there is a winter storm, and you are stuck somewhere where you can't get phone reception). Since the dog is going to be at the vet, no vet/e-vet info needed.

Maybe some people would ask some stranger at a club to board their dog for them but I wouldn't. Nor would I expect anyone to jump to the conclusion that would be the only reason to talk to any club/s.
What club members will know and can identify are the people that keep multiple dogs and the people that tavel frequently. They keep their dogs someplace for crying out loud.
For instantance a club in my area has a member who IF I absolutely had to leave my dogs behind it would be at her small broading kennel. I won't go into all the pluses her kennel boasts but I wouldn't (and few know of her) know about it but for the club. Though I can't imagine she's a completely isolated case.
Members that travel often can give the low down on what kennels are around as well as how they feel about them and perhaps even a good one in the location Olivia is heading to.

Why in the world would anyone think of asking some wayward club member to dogsit for them is completely beyond me. Very odd.

People put all kinds of things ahead of their dogs.
Shrug, don't make them bad people.

The vet's may be the best place in her area, but she'll never know unless she talks to people that have kept dogs forever. ala, club members.

Love me, love my dogs.
Randy