Mama's Monday - Vacation

Hey y'all! The Mama here - I have returned in triumph from my wee Tuscan vacation, and am very, very glad to be back home with my baby bears. You know you miss your pets when you find yourself showing random airport strangers pictures of them...

The lovely thing about vacations is that they are a chance to get away from everyday life - but for some it can be super-stressful to leave their pets. I knew that the boys, the cats, and the sheep were all in good hands, (my husband's to be exact), but if I had to leave them in a kennel I would have been a wreck! So I thought it might make a good blog post, to write about the different methods by which you can insure your pet's comfort while you are away from him or her.

Pet Sitter/House Sitter: Of course the best option for most is some variation of home care. To me, a house sitter is an ideal solution - someone willing to move into your home while you are away and to take care of your pets in their own environment. And because I have three cats, two dogs, and six sheep this is pretty much a necessity for me. Have you ever tried to make a boarding reservation for six sheep? Good luck. House sitters can come in a variety of guises - a trusted high school or part-time college student from the neighborhood, a family member, a vet tech from your vet hospital who wishes to earn a little extra on the side, or a professional service. And house/pet sitters come in variety of availability - some may only come two or three times a day to feed and walk your pet, while others are willing to come as often as desired and a few will sleep in your home and spend the majority of their time there, with your pets. I have no problem using a pet sitter for the cats that only comes twice a day to feed and play with them, because our cats barely notice us when we are home and I don't think they mind all that much, but for the boys I feel they need more human contact.

Pet Sitter/Boarding: The next best solution is a pet sitter who takes your pets into their home while you are gone. These can be hard to find because most pet sitters have their own animals who may not get along with yours. Some pet sitters will board your pets in their home just as though your pet was their own - without cages - while others will crate your pet. You should discuss your preferences thoroughly with the pet sitter during your initial conversation. Nanook and Pooka often go to stay with their Mormor when I am away from home, and they are kept free in the house although they aren't permitted to mingle with her Golden, Chance, because he has a dog aggression issue. So some parts of the house are Chance's while Nanook and Pooka are there, and other parts are Nanook and Pooka's territory.

Doggy Day Care/Boarding: Further down the list of options, check for doggy day care and boarding facilities in your area. Many doggy day care locations also offer boarding options - so your dog will be kenneled during specific hours of the day and night, but he will ALSO be offered lots of free play time with other dogs during large portions of the day. The extensiveness of the exercise will help your dog sleep better in the kennel environment, and cut down on stress. I have yet to find a doggy day care facility I really like in our area, I think cleanliness is a big issue, but I think this option is vastly preferable to a normal kennel situation. And many doggy day care options come equipped with web cams that you can use to check in on your pet while you are away.

If you decide to go with this option, make certain that in the weeks leading up to your trip your dog goes to stay at the day care facility during the day for playtime so that he has a chance to acclimate to the environment, and so the staff of the facility gets to know your dog. Having your dog and the staff comfortable with one another well in advance of your departure will make you feel much more relaxed about leaving!

Dog Hotels: Ridiculous but true! Hotels catering to dogs are popping up everywhere! These aren't human hotels that accept your pets with you, these are top-o-the-line cage-free kenneling facilities where your dog will enjoy day care play groups, twice-daily feedings, classical music or television in his suite...depending upon the luxury of the package you select he may also enjoy twice daily walks with staff in addition to play groups, premium bedding, and a peanut butter kong or bully stick at night. This is another place where you can expect web cams. Expect to pay an outrageous sum for the privilege - but many may consider it worth the extra expense since these establishments depend upon their spotless reputation for their continued operation - and will therefore bend over backwards to provide exemplary service for your pet.

Your Breeder: A big step-up from your local kennel - see if your breeder might be willing to board your pet while you are away! Some may not be comfortable doing so, and it will likely depend upon the relationship you have with him or her, but it cannot hurt to ask. Depending upon their schedule they may well be willing to have your puppy return to them for a visit while you are on vacation. It's likely that your dog will be kenneled, since your breeder will have quite a number of their own dogs on the property and most of them will not be neutered or spayed, but you will have peace of mind knowing that your dog is staying with someone who completely understands his breed.

Kennel: The bottom rung for pet care - a kennel is a place where your dog will be caged for the vast majority of the time you are gone. He or she will go for very short elimination walks, and will experience a bare minimum of human contact. Some kennels are better than others, and some will offer options regarding exercise and play.

Notes: It's important when arranging for any sort of vacation care to REALLY discuss with the care provider exactly what, how, when, where and by whom. Some pet sitters will come personally to your house and explain their service, and never mention that they have other people that work for them that will be the ones ACTUALLY feeding and walking your pet. This happened to me! I found out later that the dog sitter had many other people who "helped" walk and feed the dogs - people I never met. So make certain that you ask a LOT of questions.

Things you should be certain to ask any care provider:

"Are you a member of the American Boarding Kennels Association?" (If it's a kennel.)

"How do you handle a dog fight?" (A good question for everyone, especially places that include play time or walks in their pricing - a dog fight can happen at any time - even if the dog walkers are walking your dog alone on your street.)

"What are the symptoms of bloat?" (While not all dog breeds are prone to this lethal issue, mine certainly are and any kennel or boarding facility ought to know the signs - it's a good question to ask to see how informed the care givers are.)

"How often are the dogs exercised, for how long, and by whom? How much human interaction will my dog get?"

"Will you feed according to my directions - or do you insist on feeding your own brand - will you feed two to three times a day instead of once?" (This is important for giant breed dogs who are prone to bloat, especially.)

"How do you handle veterinary emergencies? What is your in-case-of-illness policy?"

"Can my dogs be kenneled together?"

"Is there a web cam?"

"What is the human to dog ratio during play group sessions?"

"What cleaning products are used in the kennel and play areas?"

"Training certifications? First Aid certifications? Is there a quarantine room where sick dogs wait to be picked up?"

"What vet is used for emergency care? Is any staff present overnight? How are overnight emergencies handled? Will the emergency vet come to the facility if the dog is too large to be moved or has a broken bone?"

"If there is a play group - how are aggressive dogs handled? Are toys allowed? What is the flooring type in the play room?"

"Is water provided and is water intake monitored for giant breeds? Is there shade if the play area is outside? Are dogs monitored for heat stress?"

"Are dogs ever left unattended?"

"How is misbehavior corrected/reprimanded? Is there a time out area for naughty dogs?"

"Am I allowed to bring a bed/blanket/toy?"

"Can I provide a list of my dog's commands so that his training is consistent while I'm gone?"

"Is the indoor/kennel environment climate controlled?"

"What is the pest/parasite policy? Fleas, ticks etc." (Many kennels will check your dog for pests before admitting him or her, and will insist on a flea bath immediately if fleas are detected. Which you will pay for. This is a good thing because it means your pet won't come HOME with the little suckers that he picked up from someone else.)

"What vaccinations are necessary?"

"For long stays, is there a complimentary bathing/grooming session?"

That's all I can think of at the moment! The boys will be back with many new and interesting stories about their week without their Mama, but in the meantime, enjoy your Monday...