Pet Sitters Or Dog Kennel?
Most people consider their dog an important part of the family and their happiness and well-being is as important as a human member of the family. Unfortunately, our ‘fur kids’ cannot always accompany us on vacations or business trips. Many of us stress over what to do with our pets when we must leave them behind.
As a pet sitter and dog owner, and foster mom, I have some ideas to consider. The truth is there is no one right answer. The alternatives include kennels, friends and neighbors, or pet sitters. Things to consider include the age of your dog, his need for social attention, his exercise level, health, length of trip, and your budget.
Let’s start with dog kennels. If you dog is a dog’s dog, a kennel might be a great solution. If he likes being around other dogs and the sound of other dogs barking does not stress him, this is your easy answer. Senior dogs or puppies, high stress/intense dogs, or dogs with medical issues may not do well in this situation.
Friends or family may or may not be a good solution. I once had a dog that bolted at the first sight of an open door. I was in tune with this, but other people were not. While everyone loved her, I would not risk leaving her with friends or family who could accidentally let her out. The only way I could enjoy a vacation was knowing that she was in Fort Knox! Also, consider how a mishap on either end would impact your relationship. Ie: dog fight with their dog resulting in injury, dog messing on carpets, dog not sleeping through night, dog biting someone. The list goes on. Sometimes the savings is not worth it. But, sometimes it is. If you have a low maintenance dog, this may be a good alternative.
Pet sitters can be a good option if your dog is more sedentary and independent and does well left alone at home. Especially if the trip is short. Some dogs do just fine with a few daily visits per day. Their routine is not interrupted and it is a low stress option in many cases. The dog also is not exposed to outside viruses, such as kennel cough. If there are multiple pets, this option may be more economical as well.