When Your Dog Can't Travel With You - Boarding Vs. Pet Sitting ...

Sometimes it just isn?t practical to travel with your dog. Perhaps your dog does not have the temperament to be a world traveler, or maybe you?re going someplace that does not allow dogs. ?Or maybe, like me, you are traveling?for work where bringing your dog might be frowned upon . In those cases, you need to weigh your options between boarding a hiring a pet sitter.

Boarding

When it comes to boarding your dog, you will find everything from a kennel at your veterinarian?s office to a five-star doggie resort. Which you choose depends on your dog and your budget.

• Veterinarian or Small Kennel-?Dogs with significant health problems are prime candidates for boarding at a veterinarian?s office. They will receive the attention they require and owners will have peace of mind. For small fees you can arrange for special walks and playtime.
• Doggie Resort -?If your pet is particularly social and you would like to spring for some special pampering, look for a pet resort in your area. Pet resorts can provide a wide variety of amenities. One advantage to pet resorts is that you can arrange for two or more of your pets to share sleeping facilities. ?But check out the resort to see what they really offer. ?I love my vet and his practice boasts a ?Pet Spa?. ?Well the spa is nothing more than a larger steel-bottomed crate and hardly a spa.

Tip: If you choose to board your pet, pack a few favorite toys and your pet?s regular brand of food.

Pet Sitters

Hiring a pet sitter could mean anything from hiring a professional pet sitting service to enlisting your dog-loving neighbor to care for your pooch, in your home.

If your pet has serious health problems and you are nearing some end of life decisions for it, please think twice before hiring a pet sitter. That is a terrible burden to place on a sitter. If you choose to hire a pet sitter anyway, contact your veterinarian?s office to discuss your wishes and to notify them that you will be leaving your pet. ?Be sure to leave a medical release form and your veterinarian?s contact information for your pet sitter.

I am incredibly lucky. ?My dog sitter is a vet tech and has been sitting for my pups for years. ?When my old girl Molly was nearing end of life I had a stinking work trip that I thought I had to go on. ?No sooner did I get there than I realized my only true place was at home. ?But it would still take me a day or so to get home (snow delays). ?I was so fortunate to have my sitter who had her boyfriend come to my house and hand feed my Molly and just sit with her while my sitter was at work.

Ideally, you will select a pet sitter your dog already knows. If you are going through a service, arrange for a meeting between your dog and the sitter before you leave on your trip.

Some sitters will just visit during the day to feed your dog and let them out for bio breaks. ?Others, like mine, will sleep over with your pup. ?If that is the case, be prepared to leave them food and anything else they might need to know to keep them comfiortable like where the heat and air conditioning controls are as well as the TV remotes

Write out detailed instructions for your pet sitter. Even if you go over everything verbally, it?s good to leave notes to which your sitter can refer. Include your dog?s normal feeding, exercise and bathroom schedule. If they are taking any medications make sure you leave those instructions too including how to administer the meds. ?My dogs are Labrador Retrievers who will eat virtually anything but some dogs are more challenging when it comes to taking medications and may need a pill pocket or cream cheese to swallow a pill.

Tell the sitter about your dog?s quirks. If your dog is likely to try to escape for a swim in the neighbor?s pool, be sure your sitter knows that! My old dog Cooper would hide out in the bathtub if he got nervous. ?My Sophy hangs out in the laundry room. But my favorite quick was dear old Molly. ?No matter what door you let her out of, she would come in another. ?Since my house had about 5 doors in and out, the sitter would never know where to find Molly.

If you expect a pet sitter to collect your mail, water plants, take out the garbage and turn some lights on and off, include that information.

Finally, be sure to include your contact information and travel schedule. Also, don?t forget to take your pet sitter?s contact information with you. Flights can be cancelled and travel plans can change. You will, of course, want your dog cared for in any event!

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Source: http://raisinghealthydogs.com/when-your-dog-cant-travel-with-you-boarding-vs-pet-sitting

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