Don't Trust Anyone to Look After Ellie

L

Lahree

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My husband and I want to go to Oregon (where I am from) to visit family, but the problem is what are we going to do with Ellie while we are gone?

We don't trust anyone to take care of her! Ginger's (her BFF) parents owe us BIG TIME but we do not find them to be responsible people to take care of Ellie. We are afraid of long periods outdoors unsupervised and a gate getting open and then bye, bye Ellie.

We have a magnificent "pet spa" up the road from us that claims individual playtime (you pay for extra for that of course) and they even have rooms where the dogs can watch TV in a home-type environment (you pay for that too, of course). They have access to outdoor fenced-in areas and then they come in at night to cement areas.

My fears? Who knows what goes on when the owner is gone. They have no obligation to play with the dogs, they can put them in with who-knows-what other dogs, if Ellie got loose while they were walking her or for what other reason ::SHUDDER:: I am paranoid thinking about it! Ellie is picky about playmates and I don't want her forced into a pen with intimidating dogs.

A home sitter--don't know anyone and that means I would have to trust someone I don't know to fulfill their obligation to be on time to come over and feed Ellie and get her outside and have some kind of company or stimulation.

Ellie has had someone with her at home 99.999% of the time for 3 years. She has never stayed anywhere else except when she was with a boarding-trainer. That person has Shelties and has a daycare/boarding facility, but again, she has no obligation to have Ellie play with the other Shelties instead of the regular boarders when we are gone (she keeps her Shelties totally separate from all other boarders and day care dogs).

Having Ellie stay somewhere has kept my husband and I from traveling anywhere together for three years. We are not resentful of her because of that, but, gee, it's time my husband actually got to go somewhere!
 
I completely understand! I am really picky about Gavin, too. Lots of people offer to take him for weekends and the like, but it is so not gonna happen. I have one friend I will let watch gavin overnight, but that's about it. I have 1 family that are good friends that would love to have him, but I have nightmares about them letting him outside by negligence and of course he wouldn't come when called

So we have a local doggie daycare that boards gavin. they keep him with the smaller dogs. they aren't perfect (gavin gets diarrhea there-not unexpected-and I have them bathe him before I pick him up, and they never bother to tell me that is having issues when i bring him home) but gavin seems exhausted when i come home and has never had a scratch on him.

It's a tough call. you need to find dog people who understand that Ellie is not a lab (why the world thinks all dogs behaves like labs is beyond me) and requires a little more careful handling.
 
I totally understand this anxiety. Most people just don't "get" Shelties, especially their flight risk. I have been blessed with a number of great housesitters, though. Found them through friends. They come live at the house when we are gone. Maybe your vet's office could refer you to someone? Of course you would call their references to make sure they are OK, but we really have not had an issue with any of our sitters over the years.

We also have two families that are actually responsible, and will keep the girls for a weekend.

You deserve to be able to travel and leave Ellie occasionally. Maybe you could try a housesitter out for just a weekend, see how it goes, then plan a longer trip?

Otherwise boarding is really your only other option.

It's especially difficult if you haven't left her since you've had her. We have always traveled at least twice a year, so our pups have gotten used to it. As much as we love them, we all need some breaks from our regular lives now and then!

I leave an exhaustively detailed list of instructions, too so there's no relying on people's memories for their care.

Assuming you are thinking you would fly to Oregon, not drive.
 
Unless Ellie had a bad experience at the trainers, I think I'd choose that over the other options. Is her breeder local? Perhaps they'd consider keeping her for you. Just a thought.

Good luck finding someone. I know it's hard to think about someone else caring for our babies.
 
Yes, we would be flying so that would negate taking her with us.

Her breeder is not local. :no:

That is a good idea to ask the vet for house sitting references. I will give that a try.

Her trainer with the Shelties would be a pretty good option if I can get her to positively agree that Ellie stay with her Shelties (I haven't asked her yet).
 
I know exactly how you feel. I don't feel comfortable allowing anyone else to watch our dogs for a number of reasons.

I know it's probably ridiculous, but I would never take my dogs to a boarding kennel. Number 1, Lexi would be extremely nervous (she doesn't like other dogs and is often scared of new people when we're not around), and number 2 it's not a home situation. My two like sitting on the couch with us, and being near people ALL the time.

My parents have watched the dogs before, and so have the IL's, but it's just not the same. Bentley came home one time with a ton of eye goop in the corner of his eye. Guess only mommy and daddy know to scrape it out with your fingernail! They also refuse to put the dogs on our feeding routine ("but they look soooo hungry, I just gave him a few potato chips!") which I find irritating.

I think leaving her with a trainer is the best option (if you know how their dogs are treated).

Good luck!



NOTE: Yes, my dogs are spoiled. :smile2:
 
corbinam said:
I know exactly how you feel. I don't feel comfortable allowing anyone else to watch our dogs for a number of reasons.

I know it's probably ridiculous, but I would never take my dogs to a boarding kennel. Number 1, Lexi would be extremely nervous (she doesn't like other dogs and is often scared of new people when we're not around), and number 2 it's not a home situation. My two like sitting on the couch with us, and being near people ALL the time.

My parents have watched the dogs before, and so have the IL's, but it's just not the same. Bentley came home one time with a ton of eye goop in the corner of his eye. Guess only mommy and daddy know to scrape it out with your fingernail! They also refuse to put the dogs on our feeding routine ("but they look soooo hungry, I just gave him a few potato chips!") which I find irritating.

I think leaving her with a trainer is the best option (if you know how their dogs are treated).

Good luck!



NOTE: Yes, my dogs are spoiled. :smile2:
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Yes! That's exactly how I feel. I don't want Ellie to stay at a boarding facility! I think she would be overwhelmed! Like I said in an earlier post, she is really picky about interacting with other dogs. I don't want her to be forced into a pen with other dogs--I don't care if they are small dogs or not.

Our next door neighbor would be perfect if she were home more often. She is a dog person (even though she owns "the stupid neigbor dog," lol) and very trustworthy and a really nice person. She is a nurse, but she works graveyard shift, so her schedule would be so different than what Ellie is used to. She also does a lot of activity on the weekend--often being gone for the whole weekend.

Ellie is used to a quiet home with two people. She gets walks every day but I would NEVER EVER trust ANYONE else to take her on a walk! NEVER!! A petsitter would have to play with her in the nicely and securely fenced backyard.

Yes, I am a paranoid Sheltie owner. Raise your hand if you're not! :lol: :wink2:
 
I am fortunate that my parents live a mile away so Sca goes to the party house :biggrin2: That said be honest with yourself on what part of your concern is paranioa and over protection :wink2: We ALL have some of that (like Sca isn't spoiled :rolleyes2:) and shouldn't base decisions on that part.
 
I think most of us on the forum can sympathize with you. I also would never leave Bailey in a kennel. She would have a nervous breakdown.

I went on vacation for a few days over the summer and left Bailey at my parents' house. Bailey did live with them for 2 years, so of course they love her and she's comfortable with them. The only issue they had was walking her. Their lazy dogs make on pads, so my mom wasn't used to physically walking a dog. :lol:

I was also very concerned that Bailey would run out of the house to look for me. I made sure they knew not to open the door if Bailey is near by. I even put a sign on the door. :wink2:

I'm not sure what I'd do if my parents couldn't watch Bailey. I do have a friend who is sleeping over for the night to take care of Bailey while I am at a wedding, but she wouldn't be able to that for more than a day.

I have a friend who won't go on vacation unless she can take her dogs. Personally, I needs a few days vacation from my dog!

I agree with Suzie and Ashley. Sounds like your trainer might be your best option.
 
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