leaving the pooch behind

The dog may take this separation harder than you. especially if you tell it you are going to Italy.

Leaving my dog and finding just the right house sitter is one of my travel challenges. But like air travel it is a necessary cost to seeing the world. What helps me is my "dog cam" located where my pooch hangs out most of the day. https://amcrest.com/ $99. No matter where I am in the world as long as I have wifi I can check on him and see that he is perfectly fine and yes this is harder on me. My oldest son gave it to me as a Christmas present so his "crazy mom would relax" on vacation. Secretly I think the adult kids are more put out that I worry more about leaving my dog then I did when they were kids.

A trusted sitter is our key to feeling the cat is safe and reasonably happy. We miss her terribly an talk about her daily when we are away, depending on the cat sitter to update us and send pics. As long as she is in her own home and has a lap to lay in, it seems to go well. I could never put her in a kennel.

Luckily we have used the same doggie sitter for several trips, so we can relax and wait for her email updates every few days. On a two-month trip we paid for her to come in twice a day. He hardly noticed we had been gone.
(But the first big trip was tough on US.)

Yes, our high-maintenance hound is cramping our style a bit. $40/day at the local doggie jail, in PC. So far, nothing more than 11 days. But it has to be, and longer trips will just have to wait for a while.

I leave my beloved "sons" home with my husband and enjoy my trip! Been to Europe a dozen times, husband doesn't like to travel, so he stays home with the dogs. Best babysitter in the world!! I Skype with him so I can see the dog. I love my husband, but I really miss the dog :)

I also have a trusted sitter that visits my cats twice a day. I don't think they care who comes as long as they are fed🐱🐱. But I have found that I find animals on my trips. One hotel had a resident dog another a cat.

I probably miss them more than they miss me,

In two months the dog may decide he likes the family better than you. -- Called bonding....... Remember dogs are pack animals. They want and need a pack. Different with cats.

For next trip you might be inspired by Maggie who frequently visited Venice with her service people.

Jim,

It's great that you have trusted family to "dog sit", as the dog is probably used to them and therefore there may not be too much "separation anxiety". I have a trusted pet sitter who boarded my faithful companion for as long as two months in her house along with other dogs she was looking after. My dog didn't really seem to mind that fact that I was gone for awhile (at least he never complained). My pet sitter usually dropped him off at my house a few hours before I got home, and he was always so very happy to see me when I walked through the door, so I don't think he was holding a grudge.

Dog sitting added a significant amount to the travel budget but I didn't mind as I wanted him to be happy and well looked after. Unfortunately that's no longer something I have to budget for.

FYI everyone, We have used www.TrustedHouseSitters.com and been delighted with the new friends we've made and the excellent care our home and cats have received. We have a young couple set up for 2 months this fall. They stay FREE so no $40-day kennel fees, Sam.

My 4-legged buddy's needs are even more complicated. Logan is a horse with special needs - laminitis prone, insulin resistant and Cushings. I arrange way in advance to board him with one of two trainers who will give him with meds, soak his hay 3x's a day, watch for laminitis flare-up and arrange for someone to ride him occasionally. I haul out his two specialty foods, saddle, tack and multitude of supplies. I also have to coordinate with the shoer and the vet.
Bottom line, I miss his horsey nickers and kisses when I'm gone and worry about his health.

We are sent several photos a day of our pet engaging in activities and just before bedtime. This is a big deal to me. I make sure he goes for regular play dates in addition to our trips so he maintains contact with the other dogs, who are also regulars, and the lovely people who care for them. This is part of keeping him properly socialized with other similar dogs on an ongoing basis. So our trips aren't sudden changes for him as far as who he is exposed to. I make sure he has been groomed just before taking him so he is more comfortable.

Skype. Have the sitter hold the critter up to the camera and say Hi.

We've been lucky to have friends or family who stay with our pups in our home. I think that makes it so much easier on them, and it eases my mind, too. They send updates and pictures regularly.
I gave our friends (young and poor) some money but nothing like what a kennel would cost. I repay family by keeping their dog when they need me to. It works out.

Hi Jim
My friend asked me to "dog sit" while he went to mexico for a month or so, thankful i said yes, which started a trend taking care of other "furry friends". I just packed up a suitcase and move in for however long they were gone on vacation. Everyone happy and no worries, sent pictures to show how spoiled they are with me. Know how hard it is to find someone to care for your pets plus allow in your house, one of my friend's husband had to "interview" me LOL, now he calls me when they need the sitter. Love animals and can't see them in a kennel, now i'm "aunty" to my furry friends. Thanks for the post.
Aloha Princess Pupule

It is really great if you find a trusted person to live in your house while you are gone. Keeping the same routine your pet is used to. That is ideal. "Trusted" is the key word

We also use Trusted Housesitters and have been thrilled with the quality of the people who have stayed with our dog. They are happy to send you pictures and updates on a daily basis (or less - whatever you request). Based on some of the videos our sitters have shared with us, our dog hasn't missed us in the slightest. It's always wonderful to get the picture/video updates - fills the gap.

If you already have trusted caretaker lined up, here are my further recommendations:

1. Get pooch into the vet for a health check before you go. Take it from someone who experienced tragedy shortly after returning from Rome.... you want to know you left your dog in good health while you were away, especially if pooch is a senior or has a chronic illness.

2. Pet cam! I have a Petzi pet cam that lets me talk to and shoot treats at my dog while I'm away. It gives me serious peace of mind!

3. Keep it calm in the few days leading up to your departure. A little extra affection and treats can't hurt, but no dramatic goodbyes. This will only distress pooch.

4. Get your critter fix abroad. Wait for dogs to approach you with a nice soft swing tail and ask permission to pet. Be cautious, obviously, but Italian dogs need love too!

5. Request updates from the caretaker. And pics!

My cat really dislikes anybody but me and will hide when they come in and feed her. I too have the Petsi. It shoots treats (but it is a bit forceful and won't do it if she is near the camera) and I can talk to her. She runs in the bedroom and stares at the camera until she is no longer amused. Gives me peace of mind. You have to have wifi access to make it work but well worth the money - I got mine at Bed, Bath and Beyond with a 20% coupon.

I always use MEEOW CHICAGO in Chicago for my cat. They are not a kennel, the rooms are huge and spacious, with lots of furniture, toys, and bubble windows top and bottom, they slso take turns going to the cat playroom.

The staff drives to pick up and return the cat, and wiil also drive the cat to the veterinarian if needed. All this costs extra but all worth it. Great staff who pet and play with cat and post daily photos on their Facebook page!

I often took my 3 20 lb. dogs of lively temperaments (Miniature poodle, miniature dachshund and a Westie) to a doggie daycare retreat during the day when I had extra long work hours. The dogs were given plenty of attention and play so I felt comfortable boarding them there for my 2 week vacation. It was a disaster. The Westie couldn't bark when I returned home, the dachshund was in horrendous messy condition and the poodle was just traumatized.

I discovered a superb Pet Nanny service that employs a number of bonded, insured and vetted pet lovers. They visited the dogs 3 times a day for a total of 90 minutes each day, looked after the home (mail, papers, lights, etc) and kept great notes about the dogs behavior. They administered meds properly and had backup employees ready in case. When I came home the dogs were not frantic and upset like they were at the retreat. They sort of looked up calmly...oh....you're home. They do better in their normal surroundings and routines.

I spent the same of amount of money for the pet sitters as I did for boarding. All concerned were much happier with the nanny service.

A benefit I discovered is that I can call the pet nanny service at any time to get an emergency visit to my home if I can't be there. Once I had to stay much too late at work and the pet nanny fed the dogs asap!

Our two Bernese Mountain Dogs visit our pet sitter when we travel. She send photos every couple days and adds comments. Which can be good and bad. I miss them when we travel so I take lots of videos and photos the days before we leave and review them often. Occasionally we have asked a friend to stop by the pet sitter to touch base for us.

I have a pair of cats who are now 14. They stay at home and a lovely teenage neighbor comes in every second or 3rd day to scoop litter, replenish dry food and water and talk to them. We draw up an approximate schedule for her each trip , based on her ball games, if my housecleaner is coming in, etc. She gets a combination of cash and commemorative swag (ie pencils and magnets). Her eleven yr old brother is always very interested in the swag and wants me to know that when she is too busy he's ready to step in. When i was leaving for italy with a soggy basement floor, her dad monitored that for me, because they also had dehumidifiers running 24/7. That family has a dog, and we all use the same veterinarian. They keep the spare key to my house at this point.

I took a 12 day domestic trip in july. One of the cats was really depressed and showing his age when I returned. I may limit trips to one week to spare the young sitter and the cat undue trauma.

I just want to say thank you to all the responsible pet owners who make arrangements for their pets and then go on their trips.

I have recently flown with some extremely obtuse people who feel having their pet with them is more important than the needs of everyone else on the plane. I have no trouble with true service animals. The "comfort" pets have become a huge joke where people just throw a little vest on their dog and then think they can do anything. Recently a woman put down the tray table and sat her dog directly on it. for the flight. The dog was terrified of flying and the woman kept trying to comfort it. I think she had the idea of a comfort animal a little backwards......