Boarding anxiety -- what will make it easier?

[Smiley124]

We are boarding our two pugs in October and I am already getting insanely nervous and emotional! They've only ever been boarded once and it was only overnight but they were completely traumatized (so were we, lol!). I guess that's what we get for spoiling our dogs rotten. They are used to being with us pretty much all the time. Hubby and I work opposite schedules so there's literally someone home with them 24/7 during the week (they are usually alone for a couple hours at a time on weekends depending on what we've got going on). Anyway.....they're pampered and spoiled and they're like kids to us. After we boarded them the first time we swore we would never do that to them again. We haven't for 2 years, but we really need a vacation. We would just take them with us, but it's a trip with extended family, plus we're flying, so it's just not possible.

I booked a "luxury pet suite" at a local kennel just to make things seem a little better, but I am still freaking out! They will be away from other barking dogs which I think will help considerably, plus they won't be stuck in a kennel. It's more like a room, with a bed and tv, plus they get tons of human contact (3 indoor and 3 outdoor play sessions per day). Despite all of this, I'm still really worried about how they'll react (they are known for not eating and also having frequent accidents when they get upset). Is there anything I can do to make this easier on them, and us??? I swear, I would cancel my whole vacation right now if I could. Trust me ladies, I know I am overreacting, but I just can't help it!

[ejs]

If your kennel lets you, take some of your dogs own toys. But be prepared to possibly not get them back. Wear a shirt or sweater for a few nights before you leave and then put that in the kennel so the dogs will have your smell. Take their own food.

If you're so stressed about boarding them, have you thought about having a petsitter come and stay in your house? That's what we do. We have one of our vet techs come stay.

[Jenean]

My DH and I have this problem with our dachsie. In the last year we've tried to have a friend stay at our house with her when we travel, which has gone really well. However, he had a last-minute emergency last week and we had to kennel her for 4 nights. We talk to the kennel owners to make sure they're aware of her issues (nervousness, tends to not eat) and ask that they give her some extra-special attention. They actually hand-fed her chicken last week! We also bring her blanket from home with her so she has something that smells more familiar to cuddle up in. We also try to stay upbeat about it so that she doesn't pick up on our nervousness and anxiety.

Kennels are used to nervous pets and nervous owners and I've found that most go out of their way to keep everyone calm. We call daily for reports on how our pooch is doing, which helps immensely. And we just trust that she's in good hands and will be fine!

Then we lavish her with extra love when we get home. :)

[Smiley124]

If you're so stressed about boarding them, have you thought about having a petsitter come and stay in your house?

I would LOVE to do this, but we don't know anyone in the area who could do it and hubby will not under any circumstances allow a stranger into the house while we're gone.

Bummer.....but thanks for the other suggestions ladies. I will definitely talk to the boarding ppl about our concerns. We are also going to go tour the facility this weekend to see what it's like. If we have any major concerns it's not too late to switch boarding places if need be.

Any other suggestions would be great!

[2 Crazy Pugs]

I also have 2 pugs- we boarded them in July for a week when we went on our honeymoon, and doing that was the most emotional part of the whole wedding process! I went to the kennel we boarded them at a couple times-I just "dropped in", I didn't let them know I was coming because I didn't want them to put on any sort of act while I was there. I also got references and called 3 of them. The day I left them there I was a wreck, but I called later that day, and they were doing great, so I felt better. When I picked them up, my fawn pug almost didn't want to leave! She liked it there because there were a bunch of other little dogs that she played with for the week.