I’m the sort that if I can, I try to take my dog everywhere with me. This isn’t always possible if you need to go to work, go on a business trip, travel out of the country, etc. Here I’ll cover different options for your dog when your away from home, and the pros and cons of each.
Non-Traditional Boarding/Daycare Facility
Non-Traditional Boarding means your dog gets to play all day along with daycare dogs in a supervised environment vs. traditional boarding where they are kept caged, only let out a few times a day to potty and stretch their legs. Non-Traditional Boarding/Daycare is a good option for people who have a high energy dog, or a dog that is destructive when left home alone, or if they have no other option.
Pros
Always Someone There– At these facilities, as long as dogs are out interacting with each other, there will always be (or should always be) a staff member present to make sure that everybody is getting along and doing well.
Enriching– Your dog’s mind will be kept active between dogs coming and going, playing, and following the staff around as they complete their daily tasks of cleaning and such in the daycare.
Your Dog Will Be Tired– Even if you have a dog that doesn’t really play much, they will be tired just from watching the constant hustle and bustle of everybody else. Some dogs are not used to that much activity, and often end up going home sore and tired for several days after they are picked up. If you have a senior dog you may want to request that they get naps away from the group.
It Can Help With Socialization or Behavioral Issues– Dogs who aren’t around other dogs, or people, that often, can display either aggression or fearfulness. They can benefit from being in a room full of other dogs and staff in a neutral environment. A good facility will have staff equipped to help integrate your dog into the pack, though in severe cases, you may have to find a trainer to help, or do some ground work yourself by visiting dog parks, and warming your dog up to the idea of being around other dogs. I’ve met dogs that are aggressive and protective at home, but do well in daycare where it’s a neutral environment. With dogs that are terrified of other dogs to the point of snapping, with a little time and patience, they’re able to adjust and adapt to being around other dogs.
Cons
Increased Risk Of Getting Sick/External or Internal Parasites– Despite the best of cleaning practices, and/or your dog being fully vaccinated, there will always be a risk of your dog catching a cold. It’s no different than your child going to daycare and catching something from the other kids. The risk goes up the less your dog has been around other dogs. The healthiest animals I’ve seen, are those that started daycare early, or going to dog parks at a young age. This is because frequent or early exposure has allowed their immune systems to adapt early and get stronger. If you’re dog’s never really been around other dogs’, you may want to either consider a different option, or just note that your dog will likely catch a cold during their first stay. A good recommendation would be to take you dog to a daycare facility that you intend to leave your dog at, days or weeks prior to doing overnight stays, this way they can get used to the facility and see that your coming back for them, as well as build some immunity before you go. NEVER bring a sick animal to a facility, you don’t want to contribute to the spread of anything going around. As for parasites, common ones that tend to go around include giardia, lice, and depending on where you live, fleas.
Increased Risk Of Injury– When you have that many personalities in one room, accidents can happen. Most likely injuries are the result of rough play. Serious fights are generally rare but can happen. Dogs will be dogs and communicate with their mouths. It’s up to a good staff to recognize when a dog is about to get out of control, or stir up trouble, and handle the situation accordingly by either interjecting, or placing the dog in a temporary time out to calm down.
Cost-Daycare and boarding can be expensive depending on your finances. Many of these facilities offer multiple pet discounts or bulk packages that don’t generally expire that can help lower the overall cost.
Can Create Behavioral Problems– I know I mentioned earlier that behavioral issues can be solved through daycare/boarding, but the opposite can also happen. This is usually the case for dogs that come every single day, or very frequently. It really depends on the dog and their particular personality, but I’ve seen dogs that are completely fine with attending everyday, and others that do well initially before they get a little too comfortable, and begin to display signs or aggression or boredom. I’d generally recommend daycare 2-3 times a week, or every other day so that your dog hopefully doesn’t get bored. You could also try multiple daycares but that can sometimes contribute to spreading illness between daycares.
Pet Sitter/Dog Walker
Pet sitters/dog walkers are a good option for those who have a dog that just doesn’t work out in daycare/boarding, whether they are too aggressive, scared of other dogs, or if you don’t leave town that often. This gives your dog the option to stay in the comforts of home while your away, and you just pay a pet sitter to either check in on your dog, give them a walk, or even stay the night with your pup. It’s important to look up a pet sitter from a reliable source so you can get someone you can trust. A good pet sitter should be licensed and insured with good references.
Pros
Comforts Of Home– Your dog will feel the most comfortable being in the comforts of their own home. This is most ideal for older, more mellow dogs.
Customize– You should be able to customize your pets care based on the availability of the pet sitter. These could be things like when your pet gets a treat, how many times your dog is checked up on, different kinds of walks whether it’s on leash around the neighborhood, or on a local off-leash hike somewhere.
Other Pets– This may depend on what the pet sitter is comfortable with but I know there’s ones out there that will also care for additional pets in the household whether it be a cat, lizard, guinea pig, bird, etc.
House Upkeep– Depending on who you go through you can generally request other services when you’re away on a trip such as poop clean up, getting the mail, watering the plants, etc.
Cons
Expensive– Because this is more personalized care, it can be even more costly than a daycare/boarding facility. For many people, it’s well worth the cost.
Reliability– Make sure you know who you’re hiring. I’ve knew a dog sitter who was more focused on other things in their life verses their job, which led to accidentally leaving the front door open for the pet cat to escape, or not properly latching a fence, allowing the dogs to get loose.
Time Constraints– A pet sitter usually has many other pets to attend to in a day, and can therefore can only spend so much time with your pet. Usually, a check in will be roughly 15 min, unless you also paid for a walk which could be anywhere from 15 min to an hour.
Anxious Dogs– Some dogs get very anxious when left home alone and can also become destructive. It may be best for these dogs to stay with a friend or family member. Daycare or boarding may also be a good option as it will wear those nerves down from all the activity.
Friends/Family
Pros
Economical– Someone you know is most likely not going to charge you much, if anything, to take care of your pet.
Familiar Face– Your dog will feel more comfortable and at ease to be around someone they know verses a total stranger.
Cons
Reliability– You’ll want to make sure that you really know and trust the individual you have take care of your pup. How much time will they actually be with your dog. It may also be a good idea to set your dog up with a daycare facility in the event that your friend or family members has their own emergency or errand to run, and needs to temporality place the dog somewhere.
Care Quality– Because they are most likely not getting paid and are doing you a favor, your dog may not get the attention you’d like such as going on walks, correct feeding, etc.
Lack Of Experience– Many people mean well when they help you out, but many also do not have the experience behind them to do a good job. I’ve had multiple negative experiences with this, one of which our dogs were fed pelleted fish food! But that’s a whole other story.
Vet/Traditional Boarding
Pros
Special Needs Dogs– This is a good choice for someone who has a dog whose health is a concern. For instance, if you have a dog that just had surgery and needs supervision, or a dog that is in a fragile elderly state where getting around in general is a pretty big challenge. It can be comforting to know that your dog is in a facility equipped to take care of your pet’s unique medical needs.
Cons
Caged– Vet are generally traditional boarding, so your pet would be in a kennel most of the day, only being let out a few times a day to do their business and stretch their legs.
Expensive– Kennel space is generally limited at a vet clinic so boarding prices can be higher than a facility that specifically does boarding. The cost can also increase depending on what special care your dog requires during their stay.
Whatever the choice, do what’s best for your pup to keep them happy and healthy while your away.
