Now that you have a Golden Retriever, traveling for vacations or being away overnight may require a little more thought. If you have more than one Golden Retriever and a cat as we do, it requires a lot more thought. This is not however a bad thing. If you elect to not take them with you then the following may help you decide how they are cared for.
There are five options that we’ve researched and/or tried. See the bullets below for details.
- Dog stays with friends/family.
- This can be the best option but not always. Your friends or family may not be used to dogs, be allergic to dogs, already have dogs that are not nice or don’t get along with others, not prepared to handle MORE dogs or not have current vaccinations for their dogs and other pets. They may not have proper fenced areas to let the dogs safely play and eliminate; the list goes on-and-on. The good thing about friends/family is that you KNOW them and should be able to TRUST them but be sure it’s a good safe place and that the humans are truly willing and able to be comfortable the extra pets and are physically able to safely handle them (energetic Goldens may not be a good option for an infirm 75 year old due to falling risk for example). Some friends/family will agree to do it even if they are not prepared or don’t really want to; this is not the best of scenarios. You should also evaluate how often that person will be home. If they work all day away from home that may or not be acceptable.
- Dog sitters in your home
- Having strangers in your home when you are not present can be a little scary, so we suggest the following.
- Use a bonded and insured sitter with good reviews. Don’t be a pioneer, let someone else be first. This person will be responsible for most of what you own along with your pets; don’t go cheap here. If you are in the San Antonio area we use Homey Hounds Pet Sitters and we’ve been very pleased with them thus far but do your own research.
- Use a combination lock with a special combo for the sitter or re-key one lock in your home (easy to do with modern kwikset locks) then remove their access when you are home. The last thing you want is copies of permanent keys wandering around outside your control forever.
- Meet and interview every human that will be in the home in advance and be clear that only those people are allowed inside. Also let your pets meet the sitters. You dogs are sometimes the best judge of character and it’s critical that your Goldens trust the sitter.
- If your dog needs special care (medicines, heat, geriatric assistance, etc) make sure the sitter can demonstrate experience and willingness to do what is needed.
- Carefully decide based on your dog’s needs how often they will visit and if they will stay overnight. Typically, you will need at least three visits per day if not staying overnight and the first visit should be quite early, and the last visit should be quite late.
- Negotiate the length of their visits and assure they will also play with your dogs to keep them happy and give them exercise.
- Assure your sitter has all your vet information and that your vet knows the dogs are being left home and with who.
- For the most part, if you expect anyone else to visit while gone (family for example) try to prevent this. The sitter is also in a strange home and being alone with other strangers can be uncomfortable. Try to respect the sitter’s comfort.
- You may want to install cameras in your home if that will make you feel better and can afford it. This should not be required but it can allow you to view your babies while gone. If you do this, be sure to advise the sitter of their presence.
- Always keep your cell phone on and handy while gone and expect/demand communication.
- Advantages
- The Fur Babies get to stay in familiar surroundings with comfy beds
- No strange dogs around them upsetting them all day and night
- No increased risk of communicable disease from other dogs.
- The sitters serve as security of sorts since they will visit and show activity in the home. They usually report via email for every visit as well so you get constant updates.
- Sitters also take care of your cats, feed your fish, etc. many are also willing to bring in the mail, newspaper and packages.
- Disadvantages
- Can be more expensive, but not always. Our sitter does not charge more for extra pets and we have three Golden Retrievers and a cat in our home with more Goldens coming soon.
- Visits only, not 24×7 supervision
- Strangers alone in your home
- Having strangers in your home when you are not present can be a little scary, so we suggest the following.
- Dogs stay at sitter’s home
- We consider this better than a kennel usually but research your sitter carefully.
- The sitter should be at least insured for pet sitting
- The sitter should be experienced and have many good reviews. Don’t be the first – leave that to someone else.
- If there will be other animals, carefully evaluate what they are, their health/vaccinations and ability to get along with your dogs.
- Some sitters keep cats, not dogs and others, dogs not cats. In any case, evaluate the combinations and if you have a cat this becomes even more important.
- Tour the home and insure it will be a good place for your babies.
- Interview the sitter. If you are in any way uncomfortable, leave.
- We consider this better than a kennel usually but research your sitter carefully.
- Dogs stay in kennel/Doggie Hotel/etc
- This is our least favorite option. While it’s typically safe and some very few are comfortable, those are the exceptions. Typically, the sleeping quarters are concrete floored kennels surrounded by other dogs that bark all day and night. It’s scary for a Golden and can add stress. There is also the risk of disease and kennel cough in these environments. Kennels can be good for a quick few hours out or maybe a day or two in a pinch but be prepared.
- Choose a kennel with many good reviews. Don’t be a pioneer.
- A “puppy hotel” or “Doggie Resort” can be the exact same thing as a plain old kennel. A “Deluxe” kennel may be the same old cold concrete enclosure with 4 extra square feet and an old towel thrown in the floor. It’s entirely possible the accomodations are as good as you dream based on their descriptions but ignore the marketing and do your own research.
- If they don’t ask for and require your dog’s health history and up-to-date vaccination records including kennel cough in the past 5 months, leave immediately.
- Physically inspect the kennels and ask good questions about cleaning practices.
- Be careful about kennels that insist on bathing your dog just before you pick them up. If they are doing that, there is typically a reason they need a bath.
- We like the ones that “interview” your dog before admittance best. They are trying to assure your dogs (and every dog in the house) will get along with other dogs. Goldens will always pass the interview but the important bit is they interview ALL the dogs, not just yours. This is a preference, not a requirement
- Tour not only the kennels but the play areas. Assure that your dog will be allowed out on safe natural ground on a regular basis to eliminate and play. Don’t make them do their business on concrete or in their kennel.
- Try to get a kennel that also has a private outside “run” attached to the kennel so that your pooch can get onto natural ground and has room to move around when they want to.
- Assure that the inside kennel has proper climate controls and is CLEAN.
- We left our Goldens at one for a few hours during a funeral that had cameras that allowed us to view our dogs on our phones at anytime from anywhere – that was way cool.
- Assure the kennel will allow you to provide your dog’s own bed and/or some towels that smell like home as well as a few toys.
- This is our least favorite option. While it’s typically safe and some very few are comfortable, those are the exceptions. Typically, the sleeping quarters are concrete floored kennels surrounded by other dogs that bark all day and night. It’s scary for a Golden and can add stress. There is also the risk of disease and kennel cough in these environments. Kennels can be good for a quick few hours out or maybe a day or two in a pinch but be prepared.
- Doggie Day Care
- This is where you will leave your Golden Retriever for just a few hours during the day or while at work. This is not a bad option but can be expensive if you have more than one dog. These operations typically have several to many dogs kept in the same room for the time you leave them there. There is the risk of some other dog that does not get along with others, so the daycare places the “interview your dog” before admittance are best here.
- The center should REQUIRE up-to-date vaccinations including a kennel cough vaccine in the past 5 months.
- A remotely viewable camera is ever-so-cool here but not required
- Again, don’t be a pioneer here. Only use an established company with many great reviews.
- The best daycare centers separate dogs into groups by size and temperament. This is typically not an issue for Golden Retrievers, but it does show care for the animals.
- There should be at least one human in the room per 10 dogs always and “messes” should be properly cleaned up in real time.
- Good pet sitters are cheerful and obviously love animals. If you do not get that vibe; leave.
- This is where you will leave your Golden Retriever for just a few hours during the day or while at work. This is not a bad option but can be expensive if you have more than one dog. These operations typically have several to many dogs kept in the same room for the time you leave them there. There is the risk of some other dog that does not get along with others, so the daycare places the “interview your dog” before admittance are best here.
Conclusion
The decision to leave your well-loved Golden Retriever behind with someone else for some number of days can be scary and for good reasons. Carefully research, investigate and qualify whomever will be watching your dog and the facilities they use. Think of this as getting away care for your infant child. Your fur baby is completely dependent on whomever keeps and cares for them. Unfortunately, there are some few dog sitters that do what they do because they cannot do anything else and that is not a good place to be. Some kennels struggle financially and cut corners. Some kennel employees are not dog lovers and remember, once you leave, they are no longer in your sight. This is not to say that kennels, doggie day cares, pet sitters are all bad; they are not; some are in fact, excellent. What I’m trying to say is that you should first think it through, then research, verify, then test, think it through again, then trust; in that order. You should be able to enjoy your time away without constant worry about your fur babies.
About the Authors
Bryan and Terri Curry love all dogs in general, especially Golden Retrievers. They have had dogs for all but 6 months of their long lives and all have lived happy and much longer than average. Bryan and Terri are co-owners of Texas TLC Goldens; a small responsible breeder producing high quality Golden Retriever puppies.
Note to Webmasters and Facebook friends
Please consider sharing links to our blog posts if you find them interesting. It is a simple thing to do and sharing links not only spreads what we hope is good information, it helps our site.
If you are a webmaster and would like to post this article in it’s entirety, please contact us.
Thanks!!!