Hello, I'd welcome your guidance please:-
We will be staying in the Creuse next year and will have our dog Ronnie in a long term rental. Ron will be all suited and booted with his pet passport.
We need to be back in the UK for a family wedding part way through our stay in France. Allowing for all the usuals we will need to be away for 5 or 6 days.
Our questions are:-
Is it better to leave him in suitable care whilst we are away or take him with us? By better I mean perm any one of less stressful (him or us), cheaper or simpler.
If leave him, does anyone have any good recommendations? We will be in the north west Creuse, near Dun-le-Palestel.
Either way, what requirements are needed re documents or arrangements please? We know he will need to be treated for tapeworm by a French vet before any return to UK. Will the kennels / sitters need any documentation etc?
Ronnie is a very large and fit 6 year old Labradoodle. Lovely natured too.
Thanks in anticipation.
Both John and Brian illustrate the point well that before putting dogs into kennels, pay a visit. John's comment about dogs coats being matted laso demonstrates the point about management. A good kennel person knows which dogs need daily grooming, most long haired dogs, and those that don't, the smooth coated breeds.
House sitter do not always know about grooming, of if they do, do not always know about appropriate grooming.
Yes stress can be an issue, but dogs need food, shelter, a social life and a pack leader. Even in the closest relationship between owner and dog, resulting in stress through separation can be overcome quickly if the kennel owner acts to build a relationship with the animal and meets its needs. I have seen owners, including hardened french chasseurs, in tears at leaving their dog in kennels; and seen the dog as happy as a sand boy once the owner has gone.
Marilyn and I often ask ourselves if it is the owner's stress and guilt at leaving dog that transmits to the pet?
Good point about traveling with pens or cages. We have fifteen dogs and during the shooting and field trial seasons can be crossing back a forth between Central and South West France with as many as five dogs at a time. Frequent breaks and walks in the morning and evening allows us to sleep in motels, while our dogs settle for the night in the van. The only difference is that they have a maximum time in traveling of a day in each direction, and the days in between are full of hard work.
Good point about kennels. We had mainly good in the UK but when our regular place was closed for rebuilding and I was away for three weeks unexpectedly whilst OH already gone on a long trip had no choice but to go to the next nearest. It was terrible, the state the then three we had came back in took weeks to shake out of them. That is why I am serious about recommendations, ideally several good reports about one particular place.
We have had some terrible experiences with Kennels in the uk plus our 4 dont like being away from us and do get stressed but as Brian stated you will have to leave your dog alone while you are at the wedding possibly in a strange enviroment plus the travel, is he a good traveller,the stoppng and starting to give him a break to stretch his legs all adds time to the journey, we bought a long wheel base tranny van kitted it out with pens so they could travel in comfort if i picked up the van keys there was a fight to be first to the door and into the van they all knew which pen was theres and loved being driven around plus it was much cheaper than 4 OES in kennels their coats were always matted when they came home, other option put him in kennels and fly back thus cutting the time away by a couple of days, this really is your call as you alone know your dog
My advice is if your dog is a good traveler then take your dog with you, we show our dogs all across Europe including young dogs that we have
If you use kennels then chose very wisely, some dogs like going into kennels short term
Kennels (here 'pension') are usually great, there are exceptions. If possible find out from other dog owners on SFN who live near to Creuse which ones they recommend. Reckon with €10 to €12 per day but don't think money but the wear and tear on the dog's nerves. A family wedding means you will spend a whole day more or less away from him, what then? The journey is two ways, so at least two days of the back of a car. Ultimately a good boarding kennel, which is what we do with our two whenever necessary. House sitters, I think Alan says it all. We actually have a good one for a single daytime at a go but overnight, letting them out in the field alone but having a hunter radar in the back of their heads, not necessarily knowing animal health (we have cats too) and no insurance. Kennels win hands down. Go to the same one more than once and your dog will show you the way in if he likes it there. May sound a bit mad, but I have a theory that dogs like a bit of a 'holiday' from us too now and again.
Hi Adrian,
You could have a look at the site trustedhousesitters.com and see whether you can book someone into care for Ron whilst you are away. You have to pay a fee to join so cost wise there is that to consider but most often the house sitters don't charge. There is also seniorsavotreservice.com ... I am not sure if you have to pay for that or not ...
You could look at local Kennels ... around 10 euros a day ... I put mine into kennels ... there are some very professional ones around. If he is travelling into France with you, then all the formalities that are needed for his pet passport is all that is needed for the kennels.
Or perhaps there will be a neighbour or someone local who can help out ... worth looking at the notice board in the vets when you arrive.
Anyway, some food for thought. I think I get more anxious about leaving my rabble then they do. My view is as long as they are fed, warm and safe, then a change of routine/environment for a short period is more than acceptable.
Have a great stay in France ... Best, Shaka
A lot of people talk a great deal of poppy cock about dogs being stressed in kennels. It depends on the way the kennels are run, and the proprietors attitude towards those animals in care. If staying in kennels, he will need his Pet Passport which will show his vaccination record. Do not be tempted to leave him with a house sitter / dog walker. They will probably not be covered by insurance, not have basic animal first aid experience and not hold a Certificate of Capacity. Just 'loving doggies' is not enough.
As for taking him back to the UK, only you can asses the cost/ stress that will occur. Maybe the best option would be to take him back to the UK, and just pop him into a UK kennels for 24 hrs the night prior to the festivities. Kennel costs in France vary, we charge 12€ a day including food, but would not be of any use to you as we are too far away from Creuse.