When you go on vaca, who will care for your dog?

[BostonBanker]

We relax with dogs, I am always on edge without them. We gain pleasure seeing them happy. It's really a to each their own thing.

This. And I think it depends on what you consider a "vacation". Partying all night and spa time and shopping is pretty much my idea of something to run away from. Although I'm not sure what I would do on a vacation, it's been so long. Hiking and dog beaches and take out in the hotel with a movie sounds pretty good to me.

I admit that I am planning to go to NYC for a couple of days next summer, and the dogs won't be coming for that. I'd be half tempted to take at least one of them (the hotel does allow dogs), but I think both of my country kids would be incredibly stressed with the traffic and everything.

 

[Red.Apricot]

For me, vacations are usually camping, so taking the dogs doesn't really add any extra work. :]

 

[sassafras]

I get a lot more vacation time than my husband, and so I take a fair amount of solo mini-vacations most of which are either dog friendly or dog-centric. Just camping, or up north for scootering/skijoring. The former is no fun ALONE alone... who would I hike with without a dog along? And the latter is obviously dog-dependent.

My husband and I do take at least a couple of long weekends or a longer vacation together without the dogs every year, though. It is nice to sometimes have that total lack of responsibility or awareness of time passing.

 

[Toller_08]

The Dobermans always stay with their breeder. Keira doesn't really enjoy it there (she's beyond overstimulated), but I know they're being taken care of appropriately.

Dance stayed with a chaz member (Zhucca) the first time I went on vacation a couple of years ago, and then this past summer a friend of mine took care of her. She lives with her dogs very similarly to me, and I'm actually pretty sure Dance would trade me in for her haha. She loves her (and her husband) so much. She'll probably always stay with that friend when I go somewhere as long as they're able to take her. If not, I'm not sure where she'd go. She's not the easiest dog to leave always.

I've not taken a vacation since I've had Journey except for the one that I took her with me on. I'd ask my dog friends though (not the one who cares for Dance as that would then be 5 dogs in her house and I'd feel bad) and see if one of them could. Otherwise, I'd honestly probably just opt not to go. I won't leave my dogs in a kennel/daycare/boarding type situation. I would be worried the whole time. I just don't like those situations for leaving my dogs. I wish Journ's breeder was closer, as I wouldn't hesitate to leave her there. But, a 5 hour flight or a several day drive is a tad far.

And if/when I go on a vacation without family, I'd ask my mom to take care of Dance and Journey. She does a great job with them and that would be the most ideal situation for them... but so far, my mom has been along with me on vacations as it's usually family trips we do.

I also meant to add that I really enjoy taking a dog on vacation. I really, really want to do a roadtrip with my dogs. Whenever I go without them, I miss them, and I also see pretty photo ops and wish they were there haha. But yeah, generally if I am staying within Canada, I try to take one of my dogs with me. Sometimes it is nice to leave them behind too, just so I can spend all day out and about doing things without worrying about getting back to my dog to let them outside or feed them. Not having to be responsible for a dog for a week every once in a while is definitely relaxing. But at the same time, my type of vacation is usually one that just involves visiting with people I know and hanging out and doing outdoor things, all of which can be more fun (to me) with a dog. The only times I've not taken a dog with me were when I went to Mexico and a couple of times when it was clear that the dogs were not invited.

 

[AllieMackie]

As much as I dislike vmills posting yet another blogspam, it's sparked an interesting discussion.

Jess watches Finn and the ferrets frequently, and if she can't my friend Sylvie is also happy to stay here and watch them. It makes life easy for my non-dynamic dog and to not have to haul the ferrets anywhere. I take up to two long vacations a year, plus semi-frequent full-day/weekend trips, so it's very important to me that I'm not just plopping my pets in a boarding situation every time. I consider myself very lucky to have two friends who are happy to stay at my place with the pets. (I try to treat them well in return!)

Count me in the "no pets on vacation" category, with the exception of travelling for a pet-centric event that I'm not working at. Finnegan often stresses when he travels, and loves his sitters. I prefer to have him stress-free at home, and me stress-free on vacation. It makes us both happier when I get home.

 

[frostfell]

Id have to say I dont go on vacations. Im such an earthy homey sort of person, and so in love with my wisteria and my jasmine and my dogs and my patch of dirt, I dont even like leaving it to go to work, much less pack up and TRAVEL. The prospect is horrifying rather than relaxing. I think the only travel-to events I would ever go to are dog things anyway, so of course they would come.

 

[Kayota]

My dogs will be staying with a neighbor the next few trips. They already know said neighbors and their dogs and I feel comfortable leaving them with them. Although the large majority of my trips are to see family and friends; when I do something for fun it's just a day trip and the dogs either come with or stay home with plenty of puppy pads and kongs (never more than ~10-12 hours or so, usually much less).

 

[k9krazee]

We take Crossbone almost everywhere with us....except if we're flying somewhere (which usually happens at least once a year). In that case, he stays with my parents and they ADORE him. It's like a vacation for all of us!!

 

[JessLough]

Jess watches Finn and the ferrets frequently

^^truth. Most of my "vacations" are just getting away from my house :lol-sign: I go to Florida annually, to watch Jessie's dogs.. then multiple "vacations" to Allie's... to watch her dog... recently went on a vacation to Oklahoma, to meet some dogs


Rosey always stayed at home, with my parents and sibs. The ferrets also stay at home with the parents and sibs. When we'd go on family vacations when I was younger, we just had Rosey, and my grandmother (who she adored/who adored her) would stay at our house and spoil her.

Now, if we all went on vacation, the ferrets (minus Nacho) all get along with any ferrets in somebody else's house that I'm sure it'd be easy enough to convince somebody to take them. I'm sure I could find somebody to watch any future dog, as well. There are always options.

 

[JacksonsMom]

I also meant to add that I really enjoy taking a dog on vacation. I really, really want to do a roadtrip with my dogs. Whenever I go without them, I miss them, and I also see pretty photo ops and wish they were there haha. But yeah, generally if I am staying within Canada, I try to take one of my dogs with me. Sometimes it is nice to leave them behind too, just so I can spend all day out and about doing things without worrying about getting back to my dog to let them outside or feed them. Not having to be responsible for a dog for a week every once in a while is definitely relaxing. But at the same time, my type of vacation is usually one that just involves visiting with people I know and hanging out and doing outdoor things, all of which can be more fun (to me) with a dog. The only times I've not taken a dog with me were when I went to Mexico and a couple of times when it was clear that the dogs were not invited.

This is me too. Sometimes I admit it's somewhat nice to just... not have to worry. About letting the dog out, having to feed, getting him his exercise, etc. I visit people that are like family to me that live in SC and they're just not quite 'animal people'. They love my pics of him, my stories, etc, I just don't think they want him staying in their house and I'm fine with that. It's easier to fly down there anyway. So I leave Jackson with my dad but after a few days, I always miss him, and like you, see great opportunities for either photos or walking, etc, and then I just really wish he was there LOL.

I've only ever left him at my dads house though. He is the most comfortable there and I know he gets spoiled and taken care of. I would worry far too much with him being anywhere else, so it just doesn't happen.

 

[skittledoo]

I have a tough time going anywhere without at least one dog. I just can relax without having a dog close by. I have gone on family vacations without my dogs and I've been miserable every time. I don't think I will agree to go next year unless I can at least bring Cricket along.

Cricket stayed with a coworker of mine last time. I do not like her in a boarding situation at all. The boys will board at my work if I can't find anyone else to take them. Joey stayed at a chazzer's last time (sweet72...). Bamm didn't stay with her because a lot of neighborhood kids running around and he isn't all that kid friendly.

I don't like to board the boys at my work so I only do if I have no other options and when I do I leave a LONG novel of a note to my coworkers letting them know what I expect especially with Bamm since he is iffy sometimes.

 

[SpringerLover]

My dogs have been boarded at a regular kennel, they've had house/pet sitters, they've stayed with people, they've gone to A Dog Spot, and sometimes they come with.

Most recently, Bailey has someone stay with her at (my mom's) home, Lauren watches Buzz (though, he did go to A Dog Spot with Frodo while we went camping), and Gaby still has rescue sitters to watch her.

If I'm actually out of town, I need someone to watch my cats, too!

 

[ACooper]

We normally try to go places/do things they are allowed to do with us.....visiting friends/family, camping, cottages, cabins...etc. The few times we haven't, we have a friend come here to care for them.

 

[Dizzy]

They stay with their nain and taid, failing that we enlist friends. Although Fred hasn't stayed with friends yet as we dont feel comfortable with that yet.

 

[Beanie]

Most of the time they go with me. If they don't, they stay with my parents. They could stay with my sister if I needed them to. The other option is to "board" them with Auggie's breeder - in other words they go have a sleepover at her house - but I've only done that once for Auggie though. and He's almost 8. Shows how often I go do anything that requires somebody else taking care of the dogs...

 

[~Jessie~]

For long trips, Jess watches my dogs

For shorter trips, either my sister will watch them or I have my pet sitter watch them

We generally do one big trip a year and it would be impossible to take the dogs with us. I miss them tons, but it's worth it for me to leave them while I'm on my vacations. I wouldn't be able to see the cool places I've seen if I stayed home with the dogs.

 

[Kootenay]

I rarely leave them, but if I do I leave Jasper at my dad's place, Yarrow is really tough to leave anywhere, I prefer people taking care of him at my place, but I have once left him at my dad's as well.

My sister babysat Onyx one night once, that's the only time I've left her so far.

I can't stand being without the dogs, I worry about them constantly, so it has to be something I REALLY want to do, otherwise I just won't go. Or I will only do stuff I can bring them with me on.

I would never send them to a boarding kennel. If friends or family couldn't take them, I wouldn't go.

 

[mrose_s]

Quinn stays at the kennels that our boarding & training dogs board at. I'm there most days anyway so I know the staff well, they know Quinn and she's effing LOVES the kennels. It's like her favourite place. She's there with me a few days a week as is so she's very used to it.
She's spent a couple of nights at my bosses house when it makes sense.

I've relaxed with her a lot, for a long time I wouldn't consider kennelling her, thinking it would stress her too much. But she does enjoy it.

 

[Hillside]

Saga used to stay with my ex boyfriend and his wife, but now stays at the dog facility that I work at. Nico will stay there too, but usually he goes with me because most of my "vacations" are Malinois/dog related.

 

[sparks19]

Our dogs never go anywhere with us lol. Belle is a puker and we just din't go to dog friendly places. So the girl across the street watches them for us.