board the dogs or pay the pet fee?
Nov 8, 2013, 9:13 am
#1
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board the dogs or pay the pet fee?
Mr. Kipper and I are planning a weekend away, and we're trying to decide if we should board the dogs or pay for the pet fee. If we board the dogs, it's about $150 for the weekend, including doggy day care. If we pay the pet fee, it's about $150. I'm leaning towards boarding them, in part because that way, we don't have to worry about them when we're not in the room.
Nov 9, 2013, 12:04 am
#2
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Do any of your friends or neighbors have responsible teens?
$150 in their pocket to walk the dog several times a day, feed-water and possibly stay over with your pets might be a good alternative. It's what my parents do with their dog.
Less stress on the animal. You can call and confirm everything is ok if you're feeling anxious. And you do a little good for a local person.
$150 in their pocket to walk the dog several times a day, feed-water and possibly stay over with your pets might be a good alternative. It's what my parents do with their dog.
Less stress on the animal. You can call and confirm everything is ok if you're feeling anxious. And you do a little good for a local person.
Nov 9, 2013, 6:33 am
#3
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,735
$150 for a weekend?
Heck, if I lived a little closer, I'd take care of them for that!
Seriously, I pay a neighbor who cat sits for us $10/day. For that, she feeds twice, scoops the litter boxes twice, and spends time sitting on the couch petting all three.
Cultivate your neighbors.
p.s. a bored dog in a hotel room could end up costing you a whole lot more than $150
Heck, if I lived a little closer, I'd take care of them for that!
Seriously, I pay a neighbor who cat sits for us $10/day. For that, she feeds twice, scoops the litter boxes twice, and spends time sitting on the couch petting all three.
Cultivate your neighbors.
p.s. a bored dog in a hotel room could end up costing you a whole lot more than $150
Nov 9, 2013, 2:04 pm
#6
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I'd either board or find some friends nearby who could watch.
While I enjoy being with Holly (the dog), I think she kind of enjoys our trips, as she gets to spend time with either Molly & Latte (who live about a mile away) or Gandalf (lives a few miles the other direction). And it makes her so happy to come back home with us
For Molly & Latte's family, Holly sleeps with a ~12 year old girl, who also takes care of her. We'll pick up some local things for her during the trip (t-shirts and other souvenirs), plus give $100 or so in a card to her when we come back.
For Gandalf, we also watch him when his family goes away. But we'll pick up some t-shirts and things for their kids.
Either way, it is so nice knowing that Holly is well taken care of while we're away. Actually everyone wants to watch her ^
While I enjoy being with Holly (the dog), I think she kind of enjoys our trips, as she gets to spend time with either Molly & Latte (who live about a mile away) or Gandalf (lives a few miles the other direction). And it makes her so happy to come back home with us
For Molly & Latte's family, Holly sleeps with a ~12 year old girl, who also takes care of her. We'll pick up some local things for her during the trip (t-shirts and other souvenirs), plus give $100 or so in a card to her when we come back.
For Gandalf, we also watch him when his family goes away. But we'll pick up some t-shirts and things for their kids.
Either way, it is so nice knowing that Holly is well taken care of while we're away. Actually everyone wants to watch her ^
Nov 9, 2013, 2:42 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,735
The last time we boarded the cats, they came home with fleas and tape worms despite having had flea treatment the week before they went to the kitty hotel. Now they either go with us or the neighbor takes care of them.
Nov 10, 2013, 5:13 pm
#8
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Meet more neighbors? Or maybe hire somebody from your rescue group?
The last time we boarded the cats, they came home with fleas and tape worms despite having had flea treatment the week before they went to the kitty hotel. Now they either go with us or the neighbor takes care of them.
The last time we boarded the cats, they came home with fleas and tape worms despite having had flea treatment the week before they went to the kitty hotel. Now they either go with us or the neighbor takes care of them.
Nov 11, 2013, 9:23 am
#9
Join Date: May 2007
Location: IAD
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I've had poor luck with boarding, even though I carefully screen them and board my pups with only the best facilities. The first time was a doggy day care situation with night time boarding, and during playtime someone got too zealous and ripped into Capri's chest. Greyhounds are tender and delicious with easily ripped skin, so that was an instant vet visit for stitches. The problem was that this occurred on Christmas eve and we were on the other side of the country. The kennel did all the right things and took good care of her for the rest of our trip but it was unfortunate and expensive.
The next attempt at boarding was with a pet resort nearby. That went just fine, except that after we got home (late at night) with the dogs, we realized that our boy had a boot on one back leg that he didn't have before. I took it off and examined his foot but didn't see anything wrong. It was really mysterious.
So for our last trip we boarded them with "granny" (mother in law). That went so well that she greeted us on our return with "bad news.... you can't have them back"!
The next attempt at boarding was with a pet resort nearby. That went just fine, except that after we got home (late at night) with the dogs, we realized that our boy had a boot on one back leg that he didn't have before. I took it off and examined his foot but didn't see anything wrong. It was really mysterious.
So for our last trip we boarded them with "granny" (mother in law). That went so well that she greeted us on our return with "bad news.... you can't have them back"!
Nov 11, 2013, 12:59 pm
#10
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I've had poor luck with boarding, even though I carefully screen them and board my pups with only the best facilities. The first time was a doggy day care situation with night time boarding, and during playtime someone got too zealous and ripped into Capri's chest. Greyhounds are tender and delicious with easily ripped skin, so that was an instant vet visit for stitches. The problem was that this occurred on Christmas eve and we were on the other side of the country. The kennel did all the right things and took good care of her for the rest of our trip but it was unfortunate and expensive.
The next attempt at boarding was with a pet resort nearby. That went just fine, except that after we got home (late at night) with the dogs, we realized that our boy had a boot on one back leg that he didn't have before. I took it off and examined his foot but didn't see anything wrong. It was really mysterious.
So for our last trip we boarded them with "granny" (mother in law). That went so well that she greeted us on our return with "bad news.... you can't have them back"!
The next attempt at boarding was with a pet resort nearby. That went just fine, except that after we got home (late at night) with the dogs, we realized that our boy had a boot on one back leg that he didn't have before. I took it off and examined his foot but didn't see anything wrong. It was really mysterious.
So for our last trip we boarded them with "granny" (mother in law). That went so well that she greeted us on our return with "bad news.... you can't have them back"!
Nov 13, 2013, 8:36 am
#11
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Nov 16, 2013, 10:18 pm
#12
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,735
Today at PetSmart I saw the Potty Patch for sale. Get those, and there'd be no need for the dog sitter to take them outside.
Nov 18, 2013, 2:24 pm
#13
Join Date: May 2007
Location: IAD
Posts: 2,060
Curious, have you trained her to pull a wagon or wear a vest to put things in so that she has a "job"? Geography is a problem, but if walking with the Grands/sitter involved some work along with just walking it may reduce the antics. This is completely aside from your boarding requirement, though, sorry.
Nov 18, 2013, 2:28 pm
#14
Join Date: May 2007
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Nov 18, 2013, 5:15 pm
#15
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Problem solved!
Today at PetSmart I saw the Potty Patch for sale. Get those, and there'd be no need for the dog sitter to take them outside.
Today at PetSmart I saw the Potty Patch for sale. Get those, and there'd be no need for the dog sitter to take them outside.
Curious, have you trained her to pull a wagon or wear a vest to put things in so that she has a "job"? Geography is a problem, but if walking with the Grands/sitter involved some work along with just walking it may reduce the antics. This is completely aside from your boarding requirement, though, sorry.