Don't Trust Anyone to Look After Ellie

Years ago I had to board my sheltie, Pal. I left a happy, healthy dog and came back to a dirty, skinny, sick dog. It took weeks to get him back to his happy, healthy self. I kept apologizing to him through tears and vowed never ever to leave him in a kennel or boarding facility again. To this day I could never board Danny and really do not trust others to watch him. Just thinking about what happened to Pal makes me want to cry today.
 
I am glad you started this post. I know how hard it is to leave them. My husband and I are going out of town this weekend (for a Dallas Cowboy game) and have to leave Sassy with a friend. I am sure she will be in good hands but I am worried about her. She is just getting used to us after 3 months & she still won't potty for anyone else but me. I know the lady who is keeping her will give her lots of TLC I just hope that is enough. Good luck with finding the right fit for you and your baby.
 
We have some very upscale "pet hotels" around here now ... the kind where the dogs get their own room, individual attention, play time, etc. My son has used them for his dogs but I still would never board my dogs anywhere. I usually strongarm one of my grown kids to come and stay at the house or I hire someone to come stay here. I used to pet-sit professionally also and I've always found that dogs are more comfortable in their own homes.

I'd carefully vet the sitter though, as others have said. We have a visit or two before the trip so they get to know the dogs and I leave pages (I'm not kidding...can you say paranoid??) of instructions that no one probably reads but it makes me feel better. I also call several times a day, LOL!

I'm very lucky in that missjennygirl, who bred both Barkley and Checkers, takes my dogs when she can too. That's the only place I'd ever consider leaving them. It's like Sheltie Summer Camp!
 
I also would never leave Domino in a kennel - I am sure he would absolutely hate it. BUT and please don't take this the wrong way - I don't mean it as criticism at all - we all need "time out" from our daily lives occasionally and you need to learn to let go of the control a little and really enjoy your vacation. I understand the fear and the guilt you feel at leaving her with someone you don't trust (Im sure we all feel it) but it sounds like you just don't trust anyone. Could the problem lie more with yourself (and having been through so much with Ellie?) than the boarding options that you have?

Unfortunately you can't expect that a friend will look after her exactly the same way that you do - she WILL be in a different situation but will more than likely adjust quickly. I am by no means suggesting that you consider leaving her with someone irresponsible but maybe just lower your expectations a little bit. She may surprise you at how well she does with a change of routine!

For example, like alot of shelties, Domino is not comfortable around big, boisterous, playful dogs. I have a good friend that has a young German Shepherd that just loves to play and she offerred to look after Domino for me for a weekend while I was away. In my mind it wasn't a great option - I felt exactly as it sounds like youre feeling now - but it was so much better than a kennel and the best option I had. At the end of the weekend Domino was absolutely fine - he and the GS had figured each other out and were even happy to lie on the bed together. Basically he did so much better than I had expected - I learned to let go of the control I had (I normally would never let him be around a larger dog without me there - he does not go to daycare for this reason) and now I can go on vacation without worrying all the time!

Please just try to weigh your options - pick the best that you have - and know that you did the best you could for Ellie and enjoy your vacation!
 
PROBLEM SOLVED!!

Hooray! I was at my hairdresser's today and he was talking about how he was petsitting for a week for this client and I suddenly went, DUH! I totally forgot this guy does house/petsitting! I have known him for about 10 years and he is a dog person. He had two Poms that unfortunately passed away since I have known him. He is dogless now.

He has been to the house before and has met Ellie and said he would be delighted to do it! I totally trust him. His dogs were spoiled and meant the world to him and I know he would be good to Ellie and follow the rules, lol.

He will live in our house for the week and a half that we will be gone. I feel very comfortable about this. He is a great guy and a very responsible and caring person.

::DANCING AROUND THE ROOM::
 
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