Please help

Taxuser1

i've a pup Westie who needs some love and attention while we're away on holidays. i'm scared to put him in a kennell after two bad experiences and he's essentially a house dog, enjoying all the creature comforts of living inside. he even sleeps in our bedroom.

i've read most posts on kennelling, house sitting etc but it's all so expensive to keep a dog, especially for anything longer than a week. i will travel if necessary to ensure the pup is well looked after in a house type setting but for the right price.

preferably i'd like him to stay in my own house with someone to stay with him as a guest for a set fee for 11 days. any takers on this please pm me. i'm in the dundrum area.

cocker5

I pay €20 per day for a "home stay" kennel for my dog...
are you willing to pay this??

anniehoo

Home sitting isnt cheaper than boarding kennels tbh. You'll be looking at a minimum of €15/ day. I charge €20 also. You're paying for the convenience of having someone call to your house daily/twice daily or actually staying in your house and not having your pet stressed out in a strange environment. Its not worth anyones time doing it for less.

Good reports about this place if interested. Think they have a collection and delivery service
HappyHound

cocker5

anniehoo wrote: »

Home sitting isnt cheaper than boarding kennels tbh. You'll be looking at a minimum of €15/ day. I charge €20 also. You're paying for the convenience of having someone call to your house daily/twice daily or actually staying in your house and not having your pet stressed out in a strange environment. Its not worth anyones time doing it for less.

Totally agree with you on this one.... i pay €20 per day but my guy stays in her house and sleeps in her kitchen etc... he ADORES my minder...

to be very honest with OP if you can afford to go on holidays then you need to take kenneling costs into consideration... its part of a holiday costs, same as flights, hotels etc...:rolleyes:

Taxuser1

please don't make the assumption that the costs are the only issue here, it's very patronising.

my pup's welfare is the main thing . i've not been impressed with kenneling facilities for pups, older dogs maybe but not pups. they feel safer in their own home but the rates for a minder who travels as you say once or twice a day is quite pricey when added up over a long period.

so if 20 is the going rate, that's fair enough but what does your dog get for that?

cocker5

Taxuser1 wrote: »

please don't make the assumption that the costs are the only issue here, it's very patronising.

my pup's welfare is the main thing . i've not been impressed with kenneling facilities for pups, older dogs maybe but not pups. they feel safer in their own home but the rates for a minder who travels as you say once or twice a day is quite pricey when added up over a long period.

so if 20 is the going rate, that's fair enough but what does your dog get for that?

apologies, i didnt mean to offend at all... its just a lot of people dont take this into account when organising holidays etc ... thats all... you mentioned "its all very expensive" so thats why i mentioned price etc...

My cocker (who is a terrible softie) doesnt do well in normal kennels (ie small run, small bed area.... seperated not much human contact etc) infact he cried solidly when we left him in a place for 5 days when he was a pup...

this is the lady we use : Barbara, 087 260 6095 shes in bray... she keeps my guy with her in her house with her other dogs, he sleeps in her kitchen....he loves it.... she walks him daily (along with her dogs etc) and feeds him (royal canin)... so he is NEVER really alone.. between the other dogs and her .. he is very happy out... to be honest she a tad crazy (in a good way) ... she adores dogs and they adore her... so for us thats all we need...

personally i wouldnt have a sitter call twice per day... i know you mean well but it means that for the rest of the day the pup is alone... a sitter will call in, let the dog out, feed her etc... but its the company a dog needs, so getting a kennel where your pup stays in the minders home would probably be better - IMO

Taxuser1

i know Barbara and i've been in contact with her and she sounds the best of everyone around. i think for peace of mind i'm going to go with her anyway but it was alternatives i was lookig for i suppose. i'm just so confused as to what to do and it's a lot of stress when you just want the best for your pup.

cocker5

Taxuser1 wrote: »

i know Barbara and i've been in contact with her and she sounds the best of everyone around. i think for peace of mind i'm going to go with her anyway but it was alternatives i was lookig for i suppose. i'm just so confused as to what to do and it's a lot of stress when you just want the best for your pup.

I know how you feel....before we found barbara, we tried a number of kennels... to be honest our guy always came back a wreck.... he used to soil the kitchen each night (which he NEVER does), he would whige at the kitchen door to come uo to us etc... so each time we were away we would worry about him etc...

since going to Barbara we have no issues and we text her every few days to see how he is... and her text are sooo correct i.e. (as in most kennels will send a random text ie "having a good time etc")... but brabara would text us saying he moved his bed behind the kitchen door last night etc - which is soooo what our guy does at home... or how he likes to lick the plates from the dishwasher (little fe*ker)... so we know she is spending lots of time with him so we are happy... plus he boots it over to her everytime we drop him off...

Best of luck with your decision... plus ak her for her best rate for the 11 days... she might do better than €20 per day...

Plus your pup will get lots of company from the other dogs which is great for him to be socialising

boxerly

Hi ya ,I have sent you a pm about your pup xxxx.I know a doggie sitter very well xxxxxxx

Sigma Force

My parents are the very same with their dog it's either the dog stays with me or they bring the dog with them. They couldn't bring the dog with them one of the times and I wasn't around that same week so they brought her to Yuppie Puppie and were very happy with the service, if I lived up that end of the country that's where I'd be bringing mine.
Their dog just spent the day pottering around after her , as long as your dog gets on well with other dogs.

boxerly

Sigma Force wrote: »

My parents are the very same with their dog it's either the dog stays with me or they bring the dog with them. They couldn't bring the dog with them one of the times and I wasn't around that same week so they brought her to Yuppie Puppie and were very happy with the service, if I lived up that end of the country that's where I'd be bringing mine.
Their dog just spent the day pottering around after her , as long as your dog gets on well with other dogs.

Where is Yuppie Puppie ?

Sigma Force

It's near Bray http://www.yuppiepuppie.ie/

cocker5

Sigma Force wrote: »

It's near Bray http://www.yuppiepuppie.ie/

same place i suggested... her name barabra - can vouch for it...
she is excellent

cjf

I leave mine with Rhona who runs 'walkies' she minds them in her house and dogs have access all areas. My 2 have a blast when they are there. . although poor Rhona prob does not. . they are bold bold pups! I get updates everyday and she is really great with them they love her to bits and get excited when they see her house! She brings them to the beach, up the mountains and they are in company all day! Really great piece of mind knowing they are in a home from home with other pampered doggies being kept and treated as I keep them!

cocker5

cjf wrote: »

I leave mine with Rhona who runs 'walkies' she minds them in her house and dogs have access all areas. My 2 have a blast when they are there. . although poor Rhona prob does not. . they are bold bold pups! I get updates everyday and she is really great with them they love her to bits and get excited when they see her house! She brings them to the beach, up the mountains and they are in company all day! Really great piece of mind knowing they are in a home from home with other pampered doggies being kept and treated as I keep them!

Rhona is the business... she is my guys dog walker.... and she brillant... he loves her... but when she quoted me for home stay kennelling she quoted me €30 per day, now i know she's amazing but Barbara is €20 per day... so with his dog walking twice per week (€40 per week , every week) plus kennels i feel barabara for us is the better option for now...

but with that said if i have the €30 per day im sure i would pay it... rhona is brillant

boxerly

cocker5 wrote: »

Rhona is the business... she is my guys dog walker.... and she brillant... he loves her... but when she quoted me for home stay kennelling she quoted me €30 per day, now i know she's amazing but Barbara is €20 per day... so with his dog walking twice per week (€40 per week , every week) plus kennels i feel barabara for us is the better option for now...

but with that said if i have the €30 per day im sure i would pay it... rhona is brillant

30 euro per day????????????yikes

Taxuser1

thanks to everyone for your replies.

I use www.thedublinmuttleycrew.com .

She is actually on here too. But she is very very good . Worth a call .

cocker5

boxerly wrote: »

30 euro per day????????????yikes

to be honest i dont mind paying it... as she is brillant and i totally trust her (my guy's a tad thick when it comes to moving vehicles etc)... and i would pay it no probs if we didnt use her dog walker service twice a week etc.... the way things are at the mo... it all adds up... so until i win the lotto or get better wages, he still goes with Rhona tues and thurs and to Barbara for home stay kennelling etc....

But have to say hand on my heart Barbara and Rhona are both excellent, we highly recommend both for either service