Planning Ahead!

I've had two clients call this week worried about what they will do with their dogs when they travel this spring and summer.  These are clients whose dogs are special needs; one has a dog who can be unpredictable and aggressive, and the other has a deaf dog with separation anxiety. Both clients have managed (up until this point) to not be away from home with their entire family in tow.  Both of these dogs are fine as long as their routines are in place and a familiar person in the immediate family is there with them.  Family vacations are important, but these two clients have been putting them off as they didn't want to face the inevitable. So, what should they do if everyone is going to be gone at the same time?

Given that both of these dogs feel most comfortable at home, my first suggestion was to see if there was anyone these owners trusted to come into their homes and take care of their dogs. While the deaf dog with separation anxiety could, in theory, be kenneled, he would have to be kenneled someplace with 24 hour care, and the aggressive dog wouldn't be a candidate for kenneling as new environments and strangers are triggering. The other option would be to "board" the dogs with someone they trust in that person's home.  The aggressive dog has a couple of dog friends and the owner trusts those dogs' owners, so perhaps a trade could be made where my client would watch one of their dogs in her home in the future in exchange for watching her dog now.  She does need to be transparent, however, about her dog's aggressive behavior.  She's always been very forthright with new people who meet her dog, so I feel confident that she can make this work, it just may take some time.  The deaf dog with separation anxiety may end up spending a few days staying with someone who operates an in-home daycare.  That dog has no aggression issues and can be around other dogs, care just has to be taken not to leave him alone and to make sure he is always on leash when outside as he will wander off and can't hear his name being called.  He does respond to sign language, but finding a caregiver who signs may be just more than my clients can find in a few months' time!

The bottom line is this:  with some planning ahead, I anticipate that both of these clients will be able to safely leave their dogs behind for a few days while they vacation with their families.  By planning far in advance, they optimize their chances for success and ease their minds about leaving their dogs behind.  Not every boarding or kenneling solution works for every dog or every dog owner.  And dogs with special needs like those I see on a daily basis, need just a bit more work to find the perfect fit.

As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.

I hated the thought of leaving Ozzie when he was just a 6 month old puppy!  

However, he stayed with friends who reinforced boundaries, including naps in the x-pen, and basically made sure that he was well-cared for in our absence.  In return, we watch their dogs with an equal amount of love and care when they are gone!