[Anne1377]

Hi Friends,

You may remember a while back when I asked about getting a puppy. I have never had a puppy/dog and was concerned about what to expect. Hubby and kiddies really wanted the puppy.

Fast forward three months and we have a puppy. We actually got her at the end of March. She is a beautiful golden retriever. She is quite active ( that is an understatement!!) but really a good dog.

We are going away for a few weeks and need to board her. I interviewed several dog hotels ( friends from my past laugh at this because I was the one who was NEVER going to have a dog!!!) and found one that I really like.

Okay...this may be a dumb question but I am going to ask anyway.......I am a big proper transition girl. ... ie-my kiddies visit schools SEVERAL times before they start new schools...I took them back to visit the camp they have been at for years before they started today, etc . Anyways, I am big on proper transitions.....

Ok.....the question.....do dogs need lots of transition time? Should I start by bringing her to spend a day at her doggie hotel and then another day next week, and then a few overnights before I leave her for a few weeks? How much transition time will she need?

What do I do?? Please help!!!

Thanks,

Diane

[ladyjubilee]

I don't know that a dog needs transition time....their memories work differently from ours and as Cesar Milan says they live in the moment.

[Slatond10]

I can't answer the question on the transition time but my dog is like another child for me. When I leave her with family or a close friend( BTW I have never boarded her). I always leave something for her to sleep w/( i.e blanket that is hers) and her favorite toy.

I made a trip not long ago for work and my parents were unavailable to keep DD or dog (Sadie). I was disappointed to discover there were more people that I felt comfortable leaving DD with than Sadie with. Because they might treat Sadie like a dog! ( heaven forbid)

Teehee...honestly if u are a person that prepares for transition I would do what makes YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE for the transition of the dog. So you aren't worried at all while vacationing.

[peregrinerose]

Dogs are much more adaptable than people, for the most part. I have 2 geriatric dogs though, that I really want someone good to care for. So instead of taking them somewhere else, a dog sitter comes to my home 3 times a day (an hour each visit) when we are out of town. She stays with our schedule, feeding times, go outside times, and routine, so the dogs can stay home and be happy. It's cheaper than boarding too. $15/visit instead of about $25/day per dog (and I have 3 large dogs).

[beejay]

I have 2 dogs. My thought would be take him there for a day of play. Maybe do that once a week till you trip. They remember more than they get credit for. Always take a toy and a blanket with your scent on it. Just my thoughts!

[sheababy]

We usually take their pillow just because our dogs are so big but I wouldn't worry about transition time. I kind of think since my dogs sometimes go to the kennel overnight for grooming and then sometimes for 10 days at a time, they know where they are but still have no idea for how long.

Dogs adjust pretty quickly and he will be happy to see you when you get back.

[Hopingsoon]

I had one kennel tell me to do that, but others have not. I also had one place tell me to sleep in the same t-shirt for a week, and leave that with the dog so he'd have something with your scent on it to comfort him. LOL - use an old one, you probably won't want it back after that!

[dance_muffin]

I don't think you have to worry about transition. As long as they give her lots of attention; she'll be fine. I would send her favorite toy and her bed (or what she lays on). I would also send the food you feed her. If they use a different brand; she can get diarrhea when switched. Also, very important to get her vacccinated for kennel cough before you board her.

You are such a good mommy to your furbaby!

Enjoy your trip!

[linda512]

I boarded my dog a few weeks after getting her because I had to travel for work. SHe was about 9 months old. They told me not to bring her bed because they had beds for her but when I got there, they didn't really have anything that I thought would work. I did bring a tshirt of mine. I left crying and stopped at a pet store and bought a bed and brought it back for her! I was extra emotional because I had lost a dog 2 months before to a car accident.
Anyway, you are not crazy and I would bring more than you think you might need- you can always take it back with you.

PS- the dog did absolutely fine .

[whereintheworld]

I haven't worried that much about transitions. But, I DO worry about how they exercise/have playtime with the dogs!

One kennel we used a couple of times would exercise large numbers of dogs at the same time. Our beagle would come home from there with some less-than-desirable behaviors. Another kennel was VERY picky about exercising the dogs and how many and which ones were together. They "yellow-carded" our beagle a couple of times, requiring him to take his "recess" separate from most of the other dogs, because of his "lack of manners" in group settings (I'm not being sarcastic....the beagle had a 'tude and was better alone or with only 1 or 2 other dogs).