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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My dog recently died. He was elderly, blind, deaf, and quite ill, so his last six months involved a lot of care. Before  he got  really really ill, the last 6 to 9  months of his life,  we were becoming quite hesitant to leave him and our other dog at a boarding place, as we had  been doing, because he was too old.  In his last 2 months we really couldn't even leave him alone in the house at all even for errands, so  my husband and I tag teamed. We were working from  home anyway. He died in July.  
This week, we had friends over for dinner and one said something to the effect of "I'm so sorry about ( DOG),  but I guess you feel freer now and relieved that you guys can take a trip. It was probably  hard not being able to do that  this year. " Then she  went on to discuss  her latest trip and another one,  exclaiming " "We aren't going to get a dog again ( they had one dog many years ago), because a dog is just going to hold us down."  Okay, I understand. I do, and people do  say weird things after  a pet  dies, so  I didn't take offense in that way,  BUT-
I had to walk into the kitchen where  I did a quick dash to the bathroom. Why? I couldn't control myself- I was literally heaving with tears. I was stunned by my own visceral reaction. I couldn't even  stop crying.  After collecting myself, reapplying basic makeup  upstairs,  and reentering the group,  no one was the wiser, except me. What I learned  was there was nothing,  not a trip,  freedom of time or responsibility, money, etc , that would have ever superseded my love for my dog even during those last tough months. It was an honor  to care for  him, F everything else. Really.  Also,  when he was healthy and we picked them both up at the boarding place up after a trip, it was, hands down, the best part of the trip.  I'll take the dogs,  everyone else can have the big trips.

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Thanks for sharing PP (this is OP). I’m sorry for your loss. I understand this 100% which is why I’m having a tough time deciding what to do. [/quote]

Dogs are so worth whatever inconvenience,  and very soon the priorities are revealed- you wouldn't trade your dog for anything.

But- if you have a travel lifestyle,  can't be home much, are sick,  etc, then no, those would be  deal breakers.  However,  a couole of trips a year can be worked out. 
Good luck OP.[/quote]

I don’t agree with this.  We travel quite frequently (Christmas week, Presidents Day weekend, spring break, multiple times during the summer) but our dogs have been boarded at a doggy day care type place since they were little.  In addition to boarding, we take them in for play days.  It’s something we started with them in the puppy ages so that they were comfortable with the social setting.  If this is a lifestyle your dog(s) is used to, it works out great.  You do need to get trip insurance or have a backup plan like a family member to step in in the unlikely event something happens - if Fido gets sick, you can’t board.  But in close to 15 years of having dogs, we’ve never had to cancel a trip due to dog boarding.[/quote]
I was the PP who you are responding to. Generally I would agree, however it isn't realistic to travel a "lot" with having to deal with one dog,  much less 2.

Boarding is fine if-
1. You have a budget for it. It's very expensive 
2. You have a trusted boarding place- sometimes that is hard
3. Your dogs are social with other dogs. 
4. You are ready to cancel your trip at the last moment  due to a boarding or illness  issue. At a certain point, the age of the dog will impact that. 
5. A constant trusted person to serve as back up or decision maker for dog while you are traveling.

Increasing the trips increases all these issues- it is not a quick and done problem solver. So, if it works  for you- great! But all these things impact most families. I couldn't afford  that much boarding for 2 dogs. Also, my Nextdoor is filled with notices of lost dogs from Rover type home sitters. They  aren't fully aware of all the dog's pecadillos vis a vis  the house-and dogs get out a lot, with often tragic consequences.

I think everyone should still travel and get a dog, but I wouldn't recommend a lot of that if your dog (s) are habituated to family and home. Your travel schedule isn't particularly  too much, I was thinking of people who travel regularly for work or take very long trips.  Boarding is usually hard on dogs- they don't get why they are there.  Secondly,  there's been a lot  written about the efficacy of doggy free play and dog parks and yards- not actually positive experience for a lot of dogs. Lastly,  dogs are considered property legal-wise. There are a lot more injuries in these day cares and boarding facilities than you'll ever know about because  it's not reported. [/quote]

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