Quote: connie sutherland

Maybe I sound too overprotective, I don't know ..... but I agree with Randy. I'd do just about anything to avoid boarding a dog with anxiety and reactivity around dogs.

"My hope is that because he is forced to deal with other dogs being around he becomes desensitized to it and this tums out to be a good experience."

No. Flooding is not my choice, ever. Very slow careful desensitizing at my hands and under my guidance is the best way, IMHO.

"Forced to deal with" (flooding) may work in the hands of extremely good, very experienced dog behaviorists. (Even then, it's better, IMO, to choose methodical desensitizing/counterconditioning.) In a boarding kennel -- for me, personally, it would have to be a real emergency to make me decide on that.

JMO!

My personal experience here...

I've done "exposure therapy" myself.
I found it exceedingly cruel, and completely counterproductive.
It only made the ghosts in my head bigger and scarier.

I jumped ship in the VA and found a civilian therapist willing to do gradual desensitization. Much more better.

So far I found a sitter that will come 3 times per day but wont sleep over. She charges $20 per visit ($60 per day)
She came recomended by my vets receptionist who I know pretty well. Meeting her tomorrow,

I would much prefer to get someone that will sleep over so my serarch is not over. I am convinced that boarding is not an option.

Hmmmm, sure there isn't a simenar or trial in your part of the world I want to attend that week?
I could use the $500 for attending. I ain't that far away.

Then you would need someone to watch your dogs.

Not a problem, my other half wouldn't be happy and neither would the the dogs, but they'd live.

If you can arrange a decoy seminar, it's a done deal on this end.

Three times a day works out great. I've done it both ways...sleep over and 3x per day. Not entirely sure the sleep-over people really sleep over anyway.... So, I stick with 3x per day. So much less expensive than boarding, and the dogs are safe and happy in their home environment.

Good luck!
Tracy

Here's the other thing - your dogs are going to be alone all night regardless, either in a strange place filled with anxiety, or at your house.

We board dogs at the vet, and I would NOT board my dog there, unless it was a dire emergency, or my house burnt down.

$500 for 4 days, even for 2 big dogs, is crazy. We don't even charge that much for boarding special care (diabetic, epileptic, etc.), extra-large dogs.

If I were you, I would maybe even try and find a friend to hang out, give them some cash or a gift card, and all they have to do is eat your food and let the dogs out for a pee.

The dog sitter came over today and I am happy to say it seems that my dogs took to her and she was very comfortable with them.

She's got the job. I think I dodged a bullet. thanks everyone for you ideas and suggestions.

That's great news, Alec. Is she going to be able to spend the nights, too, or just come during the day? Either way, I agree that it'll be much better for them to be in their own home at night even if they are alone.

I can already see mine....asleep on the bed going "Ours! It's all ours!!!"

I will defend boarding to the point that I can count on one hand the dogs that don't do fine boarding even when they have issues. DA dogs tend to be fine. (worst for me are fear biters) Placed in a run as was described to you the issue would be if he could deal with the situation at all.
And to me it is a life skill for the most part. Better that a dog can learn to be boarded when healthy and planned then wait til it is an emergency and stress is high and or the dog is sick or injured. And once they live through a couple day stay the next stays are simple.
As for pet sitters. I have done the sitting numerous times. I have also owned dogs that would NOT accept a sitter but would board in a kennel just fine. New place actually reduces the issues.
That said, if an idiot is running the kennel it could do harm. But if you check out the place first that is less the issue.
I tend to put DA dogs between empty runs or total sweethearts or deaf old things and pretty soon everyone settles.
And I do NOT charge for the special care either...that is rediculous to me, charge extra for an owner to take care of their pet. Though I will grant that timing insulin is a PITA, it is not insurmountable.

If I were you and your dogs are crate trained I would get a good friend to stay at the house.