Vacations

chowfrnd88 · Post by **chowfrnd88** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 3:56 am

Hi All, last night I had a discussion with a friend about traveling without your pup. I told her all about my speration anxiety from Special the last time, and told her that the majority of that stemmed from my constantly wondering if he was okay, happy, etc.

We ended up try to figure out what the best thing to do is when you just can't take your non-fur kids with you. Well, I'm just not sure and wondered what you all thought. Is it better to have the pup stay at home and have someone come walk them, etc? Or have them go stay with someone they already know? Boarding? I kind of thought it might be best for them if they got to stay home, that at least they'd be in a familiar environment. But then they're alone most of the day waiting for someone to come and let them out. My friend asked me what if your dog is an only child and then stays with someone who has multiple dogs...is that stressful or beneficial? I'm not sure, I can see it both ways. Considering we have a conference to go to later this fall, I wanted to ask you all what you thought so I could plan now! Just thinking about it already makes me sad!!!

Odessa's mum · Post by **Odessa's mum** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 4:24 am

Leaving Odessa at home and having someone come to walk her -- no way, I would find that too stressful as I'd be constantly worried and wondering if she was ok, had food, water, was not too hot, etc etc etc, even if the person was reliable.
Ask around, maybe even your vet, for good boarding. We visited a few places (and some were pathetic, with dingy kennels with no light

) and now have a really nice place that we leave Odessa when we go away. Even though is was the farthest of the lot, it's worth it as she is happy, jumps out of the van and walks in. The staff there love her, take her for three or four walks a day and the kennel she has is spacious with has an "outside" room too so that she can walk out for some fresh air and sunshine (enclosed) if she likes.
Of course she always frets the first day and does not eat but then is fine. And they allow visitors if we inform them in advance as I normally have a couple of friends call and / or visit her. The longest she has stayed there is 3weeks.
Of course if you have someone who you can leave her with, nothing like it. We did that the first time we went away and my baby girl was thrilled. Unfortunately though the folks got so attached to her that they cried when we went to pick her up two weeks later

Research first and then decide.

Mildred

**** Her Highness Odessa here -- I do not agree with you leaving Special, if you cannot take him then you should not go

, I try telling my mum that and she seems to have understood now as the last holiday she and my pesky non-fur brother went by themselves and left dad for me to look after

***

Roxana · Post by **Roxana** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 5:58 am

Hi,
I have never left Dakota in a kennel in all of her 13 years. Before she went blind, when we did go on a vacation where she couldn't come with us, she would stay at my Mom & Dads. Last winter when we went to Hawaii, my Mom came and stayed with her at our house which made it much easier on her as she's so much more comfortable in her own space.

Most of that of course is because she's blind, your situation is a little different of course. I've always felt that whatever causes them the least amount of stress is the best route to take. If you have someone that you trust and that Special knows & loves who can come and stay at your house while your gone, that would be my first choice. Second choice is having him stay at someones house, and my last choice would be a kennel.

We even contemplated NOT taking our trip last winter cause we were so worried about leaving Dakota (that was our first time leaving her since she went blind)

My mother assured us she would be fine and she was! I think its much harder on us than it is on them.

Roxana

Post by **Auddymay** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 7:43 am

I usually go on vacation without my husband, as he would rather vacation in October and November in order to hunt. I had no problem leaving Pip with him, but I couldn't with Lily, she just won't come to him! Also, I haven't worked since getting Lily, so I haven't taken any vacations yet. I do plan on taking her camping with us in July, but even then, we are only going 6 miles away to the state park!

Victory · Post by **Victory** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 9:28 am

I took a vacation 4 years ago and had someone come to just feed them and walk them. I still worried about them a lot. I'm taking a vacation in a few weeks and I'm haveing someone come and stay in the apartment with them, feed them, walk them, play with them etc. I think that might work better.

If I was going to board them, I'd check with other chow chow owners or breeders first, sometimes they'll board the. If I couldn't find any of them, my first question would be "have you any experience and what kind with Chows." Mostly because a lot of boarders are into high activity, lots of play time etc, and let's face it; if you leave your chow somewhere for a few days they are most likely going to pout, mope and be a little to very standoffish, if a boarder worker isn't expecting that they may not understand.

I'm thinking of taking two weeks off next spring to go to Canada for a vacation and I'm taking them...it wouldn't be a vacation if I worried about them for two weeks, two days is hard enough.

Roxana · Post by **Roxana** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 9:37 am

Oh Victory,

Where abouts in Canada are you thinking of going?!

Jeff&Peks · Post by **Jeff&Peks** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 2:07 pm

What kind of vacations do you guys go on that you can't take your Chows, I have never gone anyware with out Pekoe, The best thing to do is take your Chow with you then find a kennel when you get where ever it is your going so you have a convenient place to just drop them off and pick them up later if you want to go out , when we go skiing we take Pekoe with us then leave her at the resort kennel or a close by kennel. . Allot of the hotels, and resorts allow dogs and most have kennels. Not to scare you but I have heard many terrible stories of Dogs left with family members or friends or boarding kennels, Dogs running away, getting sick, ran over, all kinds of stuff. I would never trust anyone with Pekoe. You have to be extra Careful leaving a Chow with someone because the first chance they get they will leave and look for you, Just remember, No one will ever watch or take care of your Chows like you do, Just to walk a Chow a person needs to be trained.

Plus if you take your Chows with you that means you have to go out and enjoy nature not sitting in some smoke filled casino gambling and smoking, losing money and getting stressed out. Take your Chow it will be a much healthier and enjoyable vacation.

Judy Fox · Post by **Judy Fox** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 2:19 pm

You got it Jeff! If we need to go away without M & M our granddaughter comes and lives in our house.
They love her and she knows exactly how to look after them and what they need to eat etc. The only thing she does not do is take them for a walk but they have their garden and they are safe.

And we trust her completely so we are happy

Victory · Post by **Victory** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 6:52 am

Roxana wrote:Oh Victory,

Where abouts in Canada are you thinking of going?!

Galiano Island, British Columbia. They have this little village called Driftwood where you can take your pets! Little cabins to stay in walks in the woods and on the beach, just a place to retreat and renew.

Roxana · Post by **Roxana** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 7:43 am

Victory wrote:
Roxana wrote:Oh Victory,

Where abouts in Canada are you thinking of going?!
Galiano Island, British Columbia. They have this little village called Driftwood where you can take your pets! Little cabins to stay in walks in the woods and on the beach, just a place to retreat and renew.

Sounds wonderful! If you ever get the chance to make it up into Alberta, let me know. Dakota and I would love to meet you. I'm not too far from Banff & Jasper and theres nothing quite like hiking & camping in the Rocky Mountains with your 4-legged friends.

chowfrnd88 · Post by **chowfrnd88** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 10:49 am

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. It's so hard, this is just a conference... what am I going to do when we decide to visit our family overseas. I already told my husband we just can't go!

As far as vacations go, we're only going to places where we can take him with us.

Jeff you so nailed it when you said it would be a better and healthier vacation if we could just take him!! I just know I'll be thinking about him the whole time and I'll be stressed if he's okay. I know you're right about him probably trying to get away too, I think I mentioned that if we're in my parents backyard and we go in to use the bathroom, he starts trying to dig out of there to come with us! So one of us stays out with him all the time. It's hard because we can't ask family members to help out either because they don't share our love of animals. Special's not even allowed inside the house there.

I really appreciate all the suggestions. I guess I have time to figure things out so I'll keep all that in mind.

Victory and Auddymay, your upcoming vacations sound heavenly!!

-----------------
Odessa, my dear friend, thank you for speaking up for me!!

You're right, if they can't take me...what's the point of going? There isn't anything anyone can do anyhwere that's more fun than being with a chow!!!

Purple kisses,
Special Dark