Do you trust people to watch your dog(s)?
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Typically we only go away once a year, and it is only for a few days. This year, we took both Harlow and Tulsa. The previous year, we only took Harlow and had left Rider and our two fosters at the time home.
I always ask people to come to the house, whether they stay the night or just stop by to let them potty. It is either my mom, Danielle, or my friend Erin.
If for some reason they were not available, I would probably cry. I wouldn't feel comfortable sending them to a boarding facility (even my own) because of dog-to-dog interaction types with mine.
I always ask people to come to the house, whether they stay the night or just stop by to let them potty. It is either my mom, Danielle, or my friend Erin.
If for some reason they were not available, I would probably cry. I wouldn't feel comfortable sending them to a boarding facility (even my own) because of dog-to-dog interaction types with mine.
For me, I don't really trust many people to watch my dogs. But I think that is because one of my moms boyfriends a long time ago with a previous dog I had took her for a walk and was watching her while my mom was at work and I was at school. I came home to find out she was hit by a truck.
Since then I haven't really trusted people with my dogs. My family all likes dogs, but they are more of just pet dog people and don't always do things the way I would. So if we are up at their cabin and they offer to watch my dogs I don't let them, or I keep an eye on my dogs anyway because they get to talking with one another and forget to watch my dogs, and my dogs will stay around if you keep calling them and keep an eye on them, but if you don't they get to sniffing and exploring.
Chloe has some behavioral things that I have been working really hard on and want to make sure she has good successful interactions and to make sure people don't do stupid things around her that will scare her, and cause her to possibly bite them.
Angel I keep an eye on because she isn't always good around other dogs, and I need to watch her and the other dogs body language closely. She is fine if they leave her alone. But if they are rough or staring at her she doesn't like that and so she can sometimes start fights that way. She also tends to not let other dogs take her toys away unless I tell her to leave it. And I have had other peoples dogs attack her for it, even if she was just holding the toy. So I am always cautious if she has to be around other dogs and want to make sure it is a successful and good interaction.
So I don't really trust people to be aware and watch for these things. If I need to leave my dogs somewhere I have a few family/friends I would leave them with, but I would definitely make sure they had them on leash or in a fully enclosed fence to go potty. Among other things.
Since then I haven't really trusted people with my dogs. My family all likes dogs, but they are more of just pet dog people and don't always do things the way I would. So if we are up at their cabin and they offer to watch my dogs I don't let them, or I keep an eye on my dogs anyway because they get to talking with one another and forget to watch my dogs, and my dogs will stay around if you keep calling them and keep an eye on them, but if you don't they get to sniffing and exploring.
Chloe has some behavioral things that I have been working really hard on and want to make sure she has good successful interactions and to make sure people don't do stupid things around her that will scare her, and cause her to possibly bite them.
Angel I keep an eye on because she isn't always good around other dogs, and I need to watch her and the other dogs body language closely. She is fine if they leave her alone. But if they are rough or staring at her she doesn't like that and so she can sometimes start fights that way. She also tends to not let other dogs take her toys away unless I tell her to leave it. And I have had other peoples dogs attack her for it, even if she was just holding the toy. So I am always cautious if she has to be around other dogs and want to make sure it is a successful and good interaction.
So I don't really trust people to be aware and watch for these things. If I need to leave my dogs somewhere I have a few family/friends I would leave them with, but I would definitely make sure they had them on leash or in a fully enclosed fence to go potty. Among other things.
No, but probably because Crystal would assume they were an intruder and eat them. 
We usually put her in a boarding center when we go on vacation and specify no dog to dog interaction.
ETA: I've also heard far too many horror stories of dogs accidentally slipping through the door / escaping and becoming lost. Nope, not going to even let there be a chance of that happening.
We usually put her in a boarding center when we go on vacation and specify no dog to dog interaction.ETA: I've also heard far too many horror stories of dogs accidentally slipping through the door / escaping and becoming lost. Nope, not going to even let there be a chance of that happening.
I do trust some people.
I work with a gal I trust really well. She's a dog trainer and has worked in a daycare facility for years, so she will keep Recon at her house or visit to let the dogs out.
Meagan I trust, especially because she put up with Patton for a week when he was a puppy!
My parents are fine with whomever.
And I have a friend who runs a boarding kennel I totally trust when I need to board someone.
I work with a gal I trust really well. She's a dog trainer and has worked in a daycare facility for years, so she will keep Recon at her house or visit to let the dogs out.
Meagan I trust, especially because she put up with Patton for a week when he was a puppy!
My parents are fine with whomever.
And I have a friend who runs a boarding kennel I totally trust when I need to board someone.
I totally agree, having people come to your house and letting them out is ideal. Right now I live in an apartment over an hour away from most family/friends so I would have to bring them to them. Only one person I would have them stay with has a fenced in yard.. But it is not fully fenced, so I would ask they all take them out on leash if they didn't put a barricade up for the part of the fencing that is missing for their second driveway.
I also am uncomfortable with boarding facilities and a lot of them letting dogs out all together, I have no idea how competent the staff are and would not feel comfortable either way because things can happen and my dogs are small and would probably be on the losing end of the battle if it was with a bigger dog. Or just promoting barking as they wouldn't have people working on them and telling them no and rewarding for good behavior. I have been working a lot with Chloe on her barking and we have come a long way but I need to stay on top of it!
I also am uncomfortable with boarding facilities and a lot of them letting dogs out all together, I have no idea how competent the staff are and would not feel comfortable either way because things can happen and my dogs are small and would probably be on the losing end of the battle if it was with a bigger dog. Or just promoting barking as they wouldn't have people working on them and telling them no and rewarding for good behavior. I have been working a lot with Chloe on her barking and we have come a long way but I need to stay on top of it!
Neither of my dogs are great for people to watch. I don't trust Froman with strangers, and Siri would probably drive people nuts because she wouldn't want then touching her. Also I wouldn't ask people to take Frodo out when there are so many people/dogs in our building. I pretty much only trust Megan with that.
Fortunately they both do great at the special needs boarding facility we use. They never complain about Siri, and always talk about how much they want a JRT when I pick her up, so she must not make it too hard on them. She also gets there and asks to go outside and could not care less when i leave. Brat. Frodo loves them
Fortunately they both do great at the special needs boarding facility we use. They never complain about Siri, and always talk about how much they want a JRT when I pick her up, so she must not make it too hard on them. She also gets there and asks to go outside and could not care less when i leave. Brat. Frodo loves them
No, but probably because Crystal would assume they were an intruder and eat them. We usually put her in a boarding center when we go on vacation and specify no dog to dog interaction.
ETA: I've also heard far too many horror stories of dogs accidentally slipping through the door / escaping and becoming lost. Nope, not going to even let there be a chance of that happening.
We usually put her in a boarding center when we go on vacation and specify no dog to dog interaction.ETA: I've also heard far too many horror stories of dogs accidentally slipping through the door / escaping and becoming lost. Nope, not going to even let there be a chance of that happening.
I do trust some people.
I work with a gal I trust really well. She's a dog trainer and has worked in a daycare facility for years, so she will keep Recon at her house or visit to let the dogs out.
Meagan I trust, especially because she put up with Patton for a week when he was a puppy!
My parents are fine with whomever.
And I have a friend who runs a boarding kennel I totally trust when I need to board someone.
I work with a gal I trust really well. She's a dog trainer and has worked in a daycare facility for years, so she will keep Recon at her house or visit to let the dogs out.
Meagan I trust, especially because she put up with Patton for a week when he was a puppy!
My parents are fine with whomever.
And I have a friend who runs a boarding kennel I totally trust when I need to board someone.
It depends on the person, but generally yes, I'm pretty trusting and my dog is pretty easy. He doesn't have any behavioral issues beyond being an obnoxious teenager and occasionally dog reactive, and he likes strangers.
Currently my parents watch him while I'm at work, because we're staying with them on weekdays due to job stuff. I would trust them to watch him long term if we went on vacation. Previously they lived 8 hours away, but now they are close so they will probably be our go-to dog watchers.
Otherwise, he's stayed at a kennel for 2 days but that's it, but I would prefer he get to stay with someone in their home rather than a kennel for longer than a day or two. He's a big baby with some SA, so I don't think he's happy or relaxed when he's in a kennel environment.
We've only had him for 2 years and except for one trip he's gone with us every time we left town. I do have a pet sitter for the rabbits who I could call, but she would just stop in a couple times a day and he needs more interaction than that (or to be kept in a kennel where he can't destroy my house).
Currently my parents watch him while I'm at work, because we're staying with them on weekdays due to job stuff. I would trust them to watch him long term if we went on vacation. Previously they lived 8 hours away, but now they are close so they will probably be our go-to dog watchers.
Otherwise, he's stayed at a kennel for 2 days but that's it, but I would prefer he get to stay with someone in their home rather than a kennel for longer than a day or two. He's a big baby with some SA, so I don't think he's happy or relaxed when he's in a kennel environment.
We've only had him for 2 years and except for one trip he's gone with us every time we left town. I do have a pet sitter for the rabbits who I could call, but she would just stop in a couple times a day and he needs more interaction than that (or to be kept in a kennel where he can't destroy my house).
I've had a couple dog sitters come by. I will probably use the same girl I used over thanksgiving if I need to again. She sent pics of the dogs to me and handled them well.
My last dog sitter informed me that Mia was Satan when he left. :rofl1: (He's a friend)
Mia also ran away from one dog sitter and had some er.... issues being put back in her crate. She's toned it down thankfully.
It is annoying how many instructions I have to have.
Ok so this one has seizures and needs meds 3x a day
This one is antisocial. Don't touch her or look at her.
This one is wild and likes to bite and shreds everything.
HAVE FUN!
My last dog sitter informed me that Mia was Satan when he left. :rofl1: (He's a friend)
Mia also ran away from one dog sitter and had some er.... issues being put back in her crate. She's toned it down thankfully.
It is annoying how many instructions I have to have.
Ok so this one has seizures and needs meds 3x a day
This one is antisocial. Don't touch her or look at her.
This one is wild and likes to bite and shreds everything.
HAVE FUN!
No. I really don't. I fully recognize that there is probably something wrong with me.
My parents take care of the dogs when I'm at work, and that is mostly fine (although I do sometimes worry about one of the dogs getting loose and hit or something, and my stomach drops any time I'm away from them and get a phone call). Meg has stayed maybe 2 nights at the house when I wasn't there; short overnight trips. Actually, maybe only once. Gusto hasn't spent a night without me since I've had him (over 3 years).
Meg did stay 3 nights with a friend of mine years ago, and it was totally fine. I would still trust that friend if I really had to leave the dogs, but her life has changed a ton and I don't think my dogs would really enjoy staying there - but I'd trust her to keep them safe. I have a few other friends from agility that I would trust the same way - absolutely they would manage the dogs well and take fabulous care of them, but the management aspects of my dogs + their dogs would make it not the best time ever.
I don't really vacation. I don't travel unless it is for agility events, where the dogs obviously come. Some of that is just my choice - I'm not a big travel fan, and love nothing more than staying home. But it is also a very strong desire to not leave my dogs.
I tell people that, and they ask if the dogs have separation anxiety. No, not the slightest bit. But my own is terrible.
My parents take care of the dogs when I'm at work, and that is mostly fine (although I do sometimes worry about one of the dogs getting loose and hit or something, and my stomach drops any time I'm away from them and get a phone call). Meg has stayed maybe 2 nights at the house when I wasn't there; short overnight trips. Actually, maybe only once. Gusto hasn't spent a night without me since I've had him (over 3 years).
Meg did stay 3 nights with a friend of mine years ago, and it was totally fine. I would still trust that friend if I really had to leave the dogs, but her life has changed a ton and I don't think my dogs would really enjoy staying there - but I'd trust her to keep them safe. I have a few other friends from agility that I would trust the same way - absolutely they would manage the dogs well and take fabulous care of them, but the management aspects of my dogs + their dogs would make it not the best time ever.
I don't really vacation. I don't travel unless it is for agility events, where the dogs obviously come. Some of that is just my choice - I'm not a big travel fan, and love nothing more than staying home. But it is also a very strong desire to not leave my dogs.
I tell people that, and they ask if the dogs have separation anxiety. No, not the slightest bit. But my own is terrible.
Oh I would be so happy if I had someone I could count on reliably and they sent me photos!!! And hahaha how could Mia be Satan? (I'm pretty knew to the thread so I don't know peoples dogs too well yet, so maybe I'm missing something lol.
I definitely understand with the fish thing, so many people also don't understand how delicate the ecosystem you created can be. I would get hired out several times to look after people's saltwater aquariums. It's hard to find someone they trusted and I was willing to do it and worked at a saltwater fish store for over 6 years, so they trusted me!
I definitely understand with the fish thing, so many people also don't understand how delicate the ecosystem you created can be. I would get hired out several times to look after people's saltwater aquariums. It's hard to find someone they trusted and I was willing to do it and worked at a saltwater fish store for over 6 years, so they trusted me!
In short, yes, I do!
I used to rely on family/good friends to watch them when I lived up north, but now that we're down here I've had to branch out and use a pet sitting service. She's great, and sent me text updates every single time she stopped by the house to let me know how everybody was doing, which was nice for my worried self. LOL I left her, like, three pages of instructions (not bad for four animals). She let me know when Cynder had a regurgitation issue (mild) and she was frank that Abrams throw a FIT when she first tried to walk in the door and she was afraid he wouldn't let her in the house, but then he settled down and didn't give her any more issues. I'd use her again if I need to, although now that I have more friends down here I'm hoping I'll be able to utilize one of them vs shelling out $40-$60 a day.
I wouldn't mind boarding them if it wasn't for the fact that a.) they'd stress, b.) Cynder wouldn't want to eat and c.) Abrams would be a giant pain in their rears and I don't like to inflict him on people if I can help it. So when they have to be watched, I prefer someone to come to the house. I wouldn't want my dogs to go to someone else' house. I'd rather board them than do that.
ETA:
I totally would NOT be comfortable with someone walking my dog off my property (or outside of a boarding facility) with the dogs, especially Abrams. I actually explicitly told the pet sitter to NOT take them for a walk and that they were only allowed out in the fenced in backyard.
I used to rely on family/good friends to watch them when I lived up north, but now that we're down here I've had to branch out and use a pet sitting service. She's great, and sent me text updates every single time she stopped by the house to let me know how everybody was doing, which was nice for my worried self. LOL I left her, like, three pages of instructions (not bad for four animals
). She let me know when Cynder had a regurgitation issue (mild) and she was frank that Abrams throw a FIT when she first tried to walk in the door and she was afraid he wouldn't let her in the house, but then he settled down and didn't give her any more issues. I'd use her again if I need to, although now that I have more friends down here I'm hoping I'll be able to utilize one of them vs shelling out $40-$60 a day. I wouldn't mind boarding them if it wasn't for the fact that a.) they'd stress, b.) Cynder wouldn't want to eat and c.) Abrams would be a giant pain in their rears and I don't like to inflict him on people if I can help it. So when they have to be watched, I prefer someone to come to the house. I wouldn't want my dogs to go to someone else' house. I'd rather board them than do that.
ETA:
I totally would NOT be comfortable with someone walking my dog off my property (or outside of a boarding facility) with the dogs, especially Abrams. I actually explicitly told the pet sitter to NOT take them for a walk and that they were only allowed out in the fenced in backyard.
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Yes, I trust people to take care of Leo. Honestly, pretty much most people would do great. He is just so so easy.
His only issue is that he pulls on leash, and they need to make sure that they cross the street if there is another dog approaching on the same side as he will get way too excited. And I think most people can deal with that fairly well, plus taking him to the dog park instead of walking him works way better anyways.
I have had friends who are not really dog people take care of Leo and absolutely LOVE doing so. As long as I give detailed enough directions about when to feed him, how often to take him out etc., they do great with him and he does great with them.
His only issue is that he pulls on leash, and they need to make sure that they cross the street if there is another dog approaching on the same side as he will get way too excited. And I think most people can deal with that fairly well, plus taking him to the dog park instead of walking him works way better anyways.
I have had friends who are not really dog people take care of Leo and absolutely LOVE doing so. As long as I give detailed enough directions about when to feed him, how often to take him out etc., they do great with him and he does great with them.
It's not even necessarily trust, it's just who I know Jackson would be comfortable and okay with. He's not cool with lots of handling/petting, does not want to picked up, and if he doesn't know you well enough, he's likely to not get very close to you, etc. God forbid there's a weird noise or something that gets him spooked. He's just... not easy for other people anyway. He's super easy for ME lol.
My #1 choice is always my dads house. He's such a good grandpa to his granddog he even sleeps upstairs in my room with him when he's being a weirdo who won't sleep in my dads bed. He gives him lots of treats and attention. He understands his quirks and takes notice to what's going on/how he's acting/etc. They have 2 other dogs plus a nice fenced in yard so I feel confident that he won't escape or anything.
My #2 choice I suppose would be my mom and step-dad, which is where we live. And that's only because he's comfortable with them and the house since we live here obviously. But they're not very... aware to... things lol. They would likely not even notice if something was going on with him or he and Lola were fighting and not playing or forget to feed him or something. So really would prefer no longer than 1 night leaving him there lol.
Other than that? I don't really have many options just because of the way he is. My uncles, aunt, and grandma have all offered up to watch him and while I *trust* them, he would be miserable there with their dogs. I wouldn't put him through boarding. Very last ditch resort, I'm sure an in-home dog sitter would be okay if he met her a few times beforehand with me.
I'm aiming to have nextdog be okay with things like daycare and boarding etc because it surely would be convenient at times.
My #1 choice is always my dads house. He's such a good grandpa to his granddog
he even sleeps upstairs in my room with him when he's being a weirdo who won't sleep in my dads bed. He gives him lots of treats and attention. He understands his quirks and takes notice to what's going on/how he's acting/etc. They have 2 other dogs plus a nice fenced in yard so I feel confident that he won't escape or anything. My #2 choice I suppose would be my mom and step-dad, which is where we live. And that's only because he's comfortable with them and the house since we live here obviously. But they're not very... aware to... things lol. They would likely not even notice if something was going on with him or he and Lola were fighting and not playing or forget to feed him or something. So really would prefer no longer than 1 night leaving him there lol.
Other than that? I don't really have many options just because of the way he is. My uncles, aunt, and grandma have all offered up to watch him and while I *trust* them, he would be miserable there with their dogs. I wouldn't put him through boarding. Very last ditch resort, I'm sure an in-home dog sitter would be okay if he met her a few times beforehand with me.
I'm aiming to have nextdog be okay with things like daycare and boarding etc because it surely would be convenient at times.
I kind of have serious separation anxiety from my dogs. They're totally fine with people, I just don't function well without them. So we've pretty much been booking all of our hotels through bringfido.com lately and we plan to buy an RV so we can just take them with us everywhere we go.
I've vetted out boarding places I can/will take them, but I prefer not to use those places. If anything I prefer to yelp daycare places in the area and just drop them off for the few hours I can't have them with me. That said, once we get the camper I plan on just crating them in there if we can't take them somewhere.
I've vetted out boarding places I can/will take them, but I prefer not to use those places. If anything I prefer to yelp daycare places in the area and just drop them off for the few hours I can't have them with me. That said, once we get the camper I plan on just crating them in there if we can't take them somewhere.