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ozzyandstella User is Offline

Posts:0

06/25/2008 4:39 PM
I feel a little bit uneasy, I have never written into a dog site before, and I'm not sure if I will make any sense to anybody, but I need to ask. I didn't even think that I was really liked animals that much, but I have these 2 dogs and we are going on vacation. My son and his family are staying at our house while we are gone and the dogs are going to stay home, so they will be watched. Yet I have been so emotional and it has been really hard to leave them. I know that probably sounds crazy, sorry. I honestly can't believe that I am feeling all this anxiety! It's like my son won't take as good care of them as I would, etc...... They are dogs. Do you think that they will really know that I am gone? I don't know that much about a dogs intelligence, I just know that my dogs are really smart! (lol!!) Does anybody know what I am trying to say?!?!?! Really, I'm not the crazy dog lady! Help! Thanks, Arizona I

cosnowflake User is Offline

Best of Breed
Posts:229

06/25/2008 6:00 PM
You are not a crazy dog lady!! I am sure most of us on the site feel the same way as you do. I have been on this site for many years, and everyone I have known from the time I joined on through are just as into our pets as you seem to be. I think it is natural for one to be worried about your pets when you are away. They will be taken care of and be fine, I am sure! However, it is not the same as you being there. You are a parent to those dogs, and care for them differently as well. Supposedly, somewhere I read that dogs sense of time is different than our own. They know that we leave, but do not have a strong sense of the time that has elapsed in between us leaving and returning. I hope this is true! I used to have to leave my dog in kennels, where they had doggie play time, and treat time, but I still felt bad. I usually now try to take him with me whenever I can, although he has never flown yet. We are in the middle of our summer trip as I write this...despite the crazy gas prices, we drove about 1800 miles one way to visit my family. It has been totally worth it for me,and to have him by my side as we visit the beach, and vacation together. Anyhow, you are very lucky you do not have to kennel your dogs. If I were you, I would probably even call home and see how they are doing, even if your son thinks you are silly! I wil lbe taking a quick trip from here to NYC for the week for a conference for work, and I will be doing the same thing-calling my parents who will be taking care of my dog! welcome to aa! snow and Blackberry

PedigreeChallenged User is Offline

Best in Group
Posts:1001

06/25/2008 7:16 PM
I agree with Snow - you're not crazy!! Anyone who loves their pets and worries about them is a good pet parent. Lucky for you, the dogs are able to stay home and can stick to their usual routine, play and feeding times. I have never boarded my dogs (but would on an emergency basis). I've always taken my dogs with me on vacation and/or had a family member come to stay with them. Much less stressful.

cacky

Best of Breed
Posts:214

06/25/2008 7:18 PM
I just came back from vacation and had 2 separate dog sitters while I was gone. I made 3 phone calls to them in one week! Everything turned out fine. I came home to 3 animals who were obviously well taken care of and given lots of attention. I have been leaving my animals while on vacation for over 16 years and before every trip I am anxious (sometimes I do take them if it's convenient). It's the same as leaving a child. Once I'm at my destination I'm ususally fine. I do call and check on them and I also pay my sitters well so they do a good job and want to return! I know exactly how you feel

ToofysMom

Champion
Posts:38

06/30/2008 11:11 AM
I am very anxious when I leave my pets for more than a few hours. I left for just 3 days last year. I hired someone I could leave my dog with full time, since he has separation anxiety. But I left the cat at home and hired a pet sitter to come in and feed and play with him once a day. Well, the pet sitter lost the key to my house! She left a message at my home phone (which I don't check remotely). She had told me that I didn't need to leave enough food and water for 3 days, because she's a "professional." She assured me that nothing ever goes wrong. I'm very thankful that I'm so cautious that I left tons of food and water "just in case,", or my cat would have been suffering horribly. I have made specific arrangements so I wouldn't have to go out of town again. I would love to travel, but it's hard to know who to trust. Another time I asked a friend who is a big cat lover to come in and feed my cat. She came in, played with the cat and forgot to give him water! When she realized it later, she didn't bother to go back to my house to give him water. So he went a day and a half with no water at all. At this point, I just don't trust anyone to watch my pets overnight. If I have to go out of town again, I definitely won't go for more than 3 days. I probably didn't help your anxiety. But you have to decide for yourself if your son is trustworthy and responsible. Does he really understand about animals needs for food, water, and play? You have to make sure he is the right person to do the job.

couldbeu1

Champion
Posts:16

07/04/2008 7:49 PM
Oh yes, they will notice, trust me! Wait til you get back and you'll see. Yes dogs are far smarter than most of us give them credit for. I saw a show quite recently about it and you would not believe, truly. As far as feeling emotional, it's because you love them and you are a good dogmom. Simple as that. You are completely normal

ozzyandstella User is Offline

Posts:0

07/07/2008 7:30 PM
I just got back from our trip and checked my e-mails. Thank you guys for replying to my "owner's anxiety" post! Man, do I feel validated! Thank you so much! I did take my dogs with me. My son was very willing to take care of them and I explained my anxiety about leaving the dogs and he was very understanding. I didn't think he would be mean, I just have this anxiety every time I leave them with somebody. And I'm soooo glad that I'm not crazy! (lol!) thanks! I appreciate you taking time to respond to my message. ozzy and stella

ranaes

Champion
Posts:24

07/17/2008 9:30 PM
All of us have gone through this -- it's hard to leave our 'babies.' But, if you have a good place to leave them, then you can be reassured. I've gone through four kennels in my town before I found one that I felt comfortable leaving my brood. Although my two labs will go anywhere someone will pet them, I have a little deaf/blind terrier mix that needs special attention. I've found a great place that loves my menagerie almost[ as much as I do. A good border will ease your mind any time you need to leave your four legged friends.

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