First time boarding our dog—please help reassure us!

[Anonymous]

We are soon leaving our dog for the very first time while we head out on a much-needed, long-planned vacation, and DH is really struggling with it. He’s worried the dog will forget us, forget the house or the things he’s learned, feel abandoned, hold a grudge, or that we’ll somehow have to start over from square one when we get back.

Dog is a rescue and bonded very quickly and deeply with DH and the rest of us. He’s already visited the kennel, and because of his background he’s actually very comfortable in a crate—it’s his preferred comfort/safe space and where he goes when he wants to relax or decompress. Rationally, I think he’ll be okay, but emotionally DH feels incredibly guilty about leaving him.

I really do empathize and understand why this feels hard, especially with a rescue dog you feel protective of. But people leave beloved dogs for trips every day, and I’m hoping others can share reassurance or experiences from the other side.

Did your dog bounce right back after boarding? Did they remember routines/training/attachments just fine? Is there anything especially helpful I can say to ease DH’s fears that the dog will feel abandoned or permanently affected by this?

[Anonymous]

We had several rescue dogs ( one at a time) and they all did fine with boarding. They absolutely remember you, their home, routines, etc.

Send the dog with a few of his own toys. We sent a carton of our dog’s food so he didn’t have any stomach problems switching to a different food.

Your dog will be thrilled when you pick them up! Our last dog fortunately loved the kennel-was happy to go there and happy to go back home.

[Anonymous]

Remind DH that the dog is a dog, not a child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Remind DH that the dog is a dog, not a child.

Second this. Too many people do this and dogs end up with all sorts of problems. If you really love your dog you will treat and interact with it from a canine perspective and not a human one. Your dog will be fine if you placed them in a good boarding. They don’t think like us and will probably do better surrounded by other dogs than you think.

[Anonymous]

From the photos they send, our dog looks happier at boarding than at our home. She loves other dogs. If she sees we’re getting close to the place she boards, she starts getting excited in the car.
Wags her tail right through the front door and really doesn’t look back at us at all. I’m the one looking back and missing her already.

[Anonymous]

When we boarded our rescue the first time, there was a bit of backsliding in training (leash walking mostly), but he was thrilled to see us when we picked him up. He remembered our house, was happy to be back, and got back into our routine fairly quickly. That was after we’d had him only a few weeks too (the trip was planned before we got the dog, it wasn’t ideal but we’ve had him for 4 years now almost).

[Anonymous]

Sorry to be so crass, but the only way your dog forgets you or your house is if he has a stroke while you're gone. Seriously, 0% chance of this happening.

Dogs have tremendous olfactory memories. So here's what your dog remembers: The smell of this person makes me think of food and treats, belly rubs, and feeling safe. I love this person!

He won't forget.

[Anonymous]

Why are you boarding? If he’s feeling guilty is there another option? We have 2 rescue dogs and pay an older teen to stay at our house.
When I only had one dog I traded off with friends? There’s far less guilt involved doing this.

If you absolutely have to board, make sure the kennel is staffed 24/7. Dogs left in cages overnight in non staffed facilities have died in fires.

[Anonymous]

We rescued our dog at 2 and he is an absolute Velcro dog. He LOVES his boarding place. I actually dropped him off there this AM because we were going to be busy with a surgery in the family. He was jumping up and down and whining with excitement when he saw me get his food together. When he got there, he eagerly went with the worker and started straining for the elevator to be brought up to the play area. He absolutely thrives playing with other dogs, and he's usually so tuckered out that the sleeping alone part doesn't seem to bother him. We send him there for daycare a couple times a month too, so he stays familiar with the place (and like I said, he loves playing with other dogs)

When I pick him up Thursday, he will resume his typical Velcro dog ways. He has never had any behavioral changes.

[Anonymous]

We boarded our dog in a kennel once and I’ll never do it again. It was so loud and chaotic even though we got the “luxury suite” for him. Prior to that experience he slept in a crate at night and he refused his crate after the kennel.

We now have our dogs (we have two now) stay with our dog walker and they love it. Can your dog stay with a trusted person?