Where does your dachsie(s) stay when you are away?

[Jean]

Unfortunately we can't always take our dachsies with us. Where does your dachsie(s) stay when you're away?

[Uschi]

One of the reasons we go so few places is because we have puppers... We've looked into our vet's boarding, but they can't take our Lab/Chow, Brendan (another reason Dachsies rule: they're small and boardable more places!) The other boarding facilities recommended to me are $20+/day per dog, and with three dogs, that adds up really fast. I've got a HUGE phobia about having people in my house even when I am here <img border="0" alt="[Uh-Oh!]" title="" src="graemlins/uh-oh.gif" /> that I haven't even considered having a pet sitter visit. (We don't even use a babysitter for our 7 year old human kid -- we either stay home or bring her along.) Ix-nay on neighbors for the same reason. I might go for friends or family, but there's none of either that live nearby.

So, it looks like I've phobia-painted myself into a corner. Until the 'paint' dries and I can get over having people in my home, we're kinda stuck. We've all been invited back to Denmark in August for Noggie's mother's 60th birthday (read: at the very least, Noggie MUST go.) Even if we can afford airline tickets, we'll have to come up with a solution for the puppers, which currently looks like an extra $600 minimum. (*cough*cough*gag*gag*) As it stands now, Noggie will go and I'll stay home with the puppers. :(

--Jada & the Misfits (Brendan, Kaze & Ripley) :square:

[two_sassy_hot_dogs]

We don't go to many places that we can't take them alg...but when we are fortunate enough to "get away"..I am also fortunate enough to have wonderful parents who look foreward to seeing them coming. They have a red standard who is an excellent playmate (well...until Gracie decides she needs some of Doc's food and becomes "Alpha Dog"...in Doc's own house)..But anyway...thats my story. Looking foreward to hearing everyone elses.

[Addie's mom]

We kennel them...2 to a kennel with thee 3 kennels in a row. PetSuites of America in KY. They do a great job with them and the girls don't pout too badly. It's all indoors so they are nice and warm.

[assisivk]

I think that I seem to be like most others here.... I don't go a lot of places that I can't take the dogs. It is much easier to travel with Willie... who is about 25 lbs... (standard dachsie). But there is also Casey who is about 80 lbs. with special needs (he's a shepherd/hound mix who lost a leg when he was a pup). Because of the abuse that Casey experienced as a pup, before I got him, he's very difficult to leave anywhere on his own. So if I have to use a kennel, then I send both of them. Willie does fine and Casey can cope if Willie is with him. Years ago (before Willie), I had to leave Casey in a kennel for the first time, and his whole body just drooped and he was very very sad the whole time... refused to eat or even move out of the corner of the kennel. It was like he believed he'd been abandoned. I swore that I would never do it again. So when I considered it through necessity, we tried it out with both. And it went very very smoothly and they had a great time. It's a small, family run kennel and the dogs... because of their unique circumstances, have been welcomed into their home for short periods to help them adjust. Willie just seems to enjoy having more people to impress and Casey just sticks close to him. Both are happy to see me when I get back, but are also quite friendly and interact with the people there so I feel comfortable. The thing is that even though I trust these people at the kennel, I don't like leaving them at all. So I try not to. Home is home and they are just happier here. I have never used a housesitter but am considering it for a period I have to be away in the summer. They're family members in every sense of the word so plans for them are as important as plans for myself.

[sherlocksmom]

I have kenneled out little guy twice. I really like the vet where we kenneled but both times when we picked him up they said they thought he got cold during the night. Well he did seem cold and as he always sleeps under the covers in bed with us and when it is cold even in the daytime we quite often have a sweater on him, I imagine he was very cold. I hated to ask them to keep a sweater on him, but maybe I should have. Has anyone else had this problem when leaving them at the kennel?

[Addie's mom]

No... as I said below my kennel is really great. We send their blankies and pillows and PLENTY of toys... They wash them daily if needed. We also call everyday to check on the girls. I feel that at the price we pay to kennel they can keep my girls clean and dry. I am lucky because they do loke the girls and will frequently take them out to cuddle. Same owners/workers for past 2 years. i also make occasional "drop bys" at different times of day and different days to make sure kennel is well staffed and clean and they never mind and it always is... I'm sure that they think I'm a bit obsessive compulsive but they are our babies.

[crock]

Our furkids (all 3) have it really rough. They have a doggie door in our bedroom that goes out to their own private yard. This is were they spend the day or evening when we are not home. We close the doggie door and they have their yard and a custom heated doghouse. With carpet and blankets, it is big enough that I can stand up in it.
We are fortunate that our daughter and family live just down the street, so if we go out of town overnight Brandy comes down and takes care of them.
So they are always at home when we can't take them. :spotting:

[Heather]

Hans and Bean get to have a sleepover at my in-laws. They really seem to enjoy it. There are doggy and kitty friends, and people to spoil them even more.

[Valdachs]

My dachies and their poodle brother have a doggie door to the back yard, so they can come and go whether I am home or not. When my husband and I go on holiday, the poodle stays with my daughter and my two mini long dachies go to friends who have 13 other dachies.

[DAL]

The Katzenjammer Kids Dad-Since we were fortunate enough to acquire our first Dachshund Sigi 11 years ago, and the second,Otto 10 years ago, we have taken them with us everywhere we go. There is no way we would leave them. Holidays, when they are taken are strictly "self catering".
This means that anywhere except the UK has been "off limits" for us for the last 11 years.My wife and I could not enjoy a holiday anywhere when thinking of the trauma "the boys" would be going through, not knowing if we would ever return. DAL

[KunkMagic]

We have a 1999 Winibago motor home so our dachshunds go with us unless we are going out of the country or a place that isn't dog friendly in which case they stay with my step dad's dad. Grandpa really spoils them and they enjoy this

However they enjoy it much more when they can lay on the bed,floor,or couches in our motor home as we travel. They enjoy the mountains,beach, and even big cities much more than getting left behind. That is why they travel with us more than they stay with Grandpa.

[Brenda]

We don't go away too often but when we do, Rufus is well taken care of at Grandma's house, where he plays with his cousin's Schatzie and Bailey.

Brenda

[Katy]

It is always almost impossible to leave my furry child. Our little black and tan dapple stays with her grandparents if she can't come along, but I have to admit that isn't too often. I have found that most friends and relatives welcome her with open arms (she is pretty hard to resist). What I wanted to let everyone know was that if you are planning a family vacation and you go to Disney World your dachsie can go with you. If you have a motor home your dachsie can stay with you in a certain part of the camp grounds if not Mickey Mouse provides a great kennel. The kennel is by the campgrounds. The people who work their are great and they really care about your precious pup. It was great, we were able to be gone all day without feeling guilty, and we were able to see her as much as we wanted. There is a large field that they can run and play in and there is little traffic in the area. I would recommend this alternative to boarding your dachsie where they might not get much attention. It is the best kind of boarding, they get good care, and you get to see them every day. The only thing you need to remember, is that you are responsible for walking them. This usually means that you will have to leave the parks a few times during the day, but not having to leave your daschie at home is well worth it.

[weathertx]

My little boy stays home with my girlfriend but I try not to stay away too long because I just miss him so much.

He's in good hands and he loves her.

[Marci]

Although we'd love to take her everywhere, Lucy has to stay home sometimes. We are lucky enough to have neighbors upstairs (we live in a 2 family house!)that LOVE her and take care of her if we go away. That way she gets to stay home in her own house! <img border="0" alt="[Bounce]" title="" src="graemlins/bounce.gif" />

[stephanie]

When they don't go with us i have a pet sitter stay with them. One of the best ways to go!!
stephanie :)

[JAAGS]

I've tried them all, kennel, vet, pet sitter, neighbor coming over, taking the pups to a friend. The best is still to take them with me, but taking 4 really restricts where you can go. Fortunately, my brother is living with me while he builds a house close by. He has 2 minis and a Lab and they all get along really well. So, we will be the pet sitters for each other from now on. However, I have found as I get older, that going places is not nearly as much fun as staying home with my babies. I live on a lake and we have lots of recreation right here. We also have lots of people coming here to enjoy the water, so vacations are usually spent at home with family coming here. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

[Heidismom]

Hi! I usually take my dogs with me when on vacation, but when I can't, I have a petsitter here, or they go to a friend's house (I keep her dogs when she's gone - so they all get spoiled!)
Hi,weathertx from Plano! My sister used to live in Plano - she worked for the Lewisville paper. Julia B., owned by Gretl, Siglen (13 1/2 yrs. and 7 years, red smooths), and Brekke (11 month choc/tan longhair mini)

[Mutzie's Mom]

We recently went to Myrtle Beach and had to leave Sheppie at home. Our local veterinary hospital started boarding dogs, so we thought that was the way to go. It was very expensive, but there was someone there all the time. We signed papers that if something happened, they could treat him. They had an 800# that I could call to check on him as many times as I wanted. Every time I called, they had Sheppie running outside with a couple other dachsies. They said he was an angel. <img border="0" alt="[Angel]" title="" src="graemlins/angel1.gif" /> He had those girls eating out of his hands, I could tell. He had plenty of room to play. They fed him Eukanuba food and treats, and gave him a sheepskin bed. I told him he was staying in the "Ritz Carlton" of doggie hotels. I will definitely take him back when we venture to Disney next Spring. Our time share condos do not allow pets. <img border="0" alt="[kfrown]" title="" src="graemlins/kfrown.gif" />

[SandyLynn]

My husband and I haven't gone away overnight for years, except one at a time. We have been taking occasional, short, "his and hers" vacations, mainly because of the dogs! Three of ours (until recently, four, but one went to the Bridge)are old and have numerous special medical needs. Boarding is out of the question - too stressful, and our good kennel that we used years ago is under new, less trustworthy, management. We had a friend petsit for us once when we were gone for about 14 hours, but the medication schedule and idiosyncrasies of our gang are too much for her. It's just one of those things we accept. We don't know how much longer we'll have our dogs, and they're worth the minor inconvenience. Not to mention the fact that the vet bills don't allow any fancy vacations!

[Augie Dog]

We used to kennel at our (OLD) vet. We had a bad experience there and I also say it is not fair for them to "be in jail".

A few weeks ago we had friends next door let them out to go while we went away for the weekend. Aug and Bud have full roam of the house and do very well while we are at work. But, this was different, night came and we did not come home. Seems that when they were checked on they were looking for us and kept looking up and down the street.

I was a wreak too, not sleeping with two brown dogs is odd now.

We will probally do this arangement again.

[WOTANSMUTTI]

Vacation? did anyone say the V word?
Wotan and Dementia learned what fun it is when mommy and daddy are so tied up in them that they have to come with!

So far they have been strickly at home dogs since that is where they prefer to keep me, but had to go visit my mom on an overniter and hubby had to come to to move furniture.

Well- I rushed to the store and got lover-ly harnesses (both misunderstood) for the two and they got to travel in the giant red Go-Dragon.

When Wotan wasn't flopped over my driving arm, trying to put it to sleep- he and Dementia were slobbering around on the windows. Thank the Doggod for window safety locks... <img border="0" alt="[dog]" title="" src="graemlins/dog.gif" />

Lunch was "how much can the dachsie get from the Hoomom or dad???"

My mom loved the little doggies and was totally under their spells. They barked, ran and skidded out on polished floors, begged non-stop at the table and got rewarded <img border="0" alt="[huh]" title="" src="graemlins/huh.gif" /> ,chased mom around nipping at her fuzzy cow colored house slippers, and then- the topper for the long day (after a stroll at the beach of course)- to sleep on mommy and daddy's head in the BED... <img border="0" alt="[oogle]" title="" src="graemlins/oogle.gif" />

so- we are in vacation limbo and will be- always, since I always plan to have at least two little weenie devils! <img border="0" alt="[Devil]" title="" src="graemlins/devil1.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[bigsquaregrin]" title="" src="graemlins/bigsquaregrin.gif" />

[Mom of Freddie and FG]

Since I've had my second dachsie, Funny Girl (a year now), I've boarded them in a kennel twice. Before I got FG, I left Freddie with a family which was perfect and is what I really prefer. The family had a nice secured back yard and two dogs (Labs) that got along well with Freddie. There was also a few neighborhood kids that would play with them (they were good kids that treated them nicely). It was ideal! Freddie stayed with the family 3 times and they just loved him! He was King of the Castle!:D
Then I moved an hour away. I did however leave Freddie with them one time, driving the hour there and back.
Then a year ago I got Funny Girl. Unfortunately she's unpredictable with peeing inside the house.:( She's much better now (thank goodness!) but still has her days. She has access to outside 24/7 via a doggie door.
Well, the family said I could still bring both dogs, despite her peeing, but I just can't do it. So, that combined with the hour drive down and back, I gave up and started kenneling.
Actually I've used two kennels, and both were very good experiences.:) I pay extra for "Group Play". My dogs are good boarders.

Susan