In two weeks time we go to the beautiful North Yorkshire Coast. We are taking Otto, but I'm feeling rather worried about this. We all felt he was too young to leave with strangers in kennels, and we don't have anyone else to have him for the whole week. He's really doesn't travel well, vomiting, and for a family that has a member with emetophobia, that's not been easy, believe me!
I'm not sure if this week away will feel like a holiday, we will have to think about Ottos needs all the time. He will bark again at nighttime if his routine changes too much, we are staying in a holiday park so I don't want him disturbing others. We won't be able to go out for our meals like we have done before on holiday, we very rarely go out to restaurants as a family so on holiday I like us to have a treat. I'm beginning to think we shouldn't have booked a holiday this year.
When we went away last year we saw lots of families happily walking their dogs along the beach, I had imagined us doing the same. I'm having a big wobble at the moment about it all. Maybe it will be fine, he might just happily fit in with what we are doing, I hope so.
PLEASE, if any of you have any advice of holidaying in with a small, high energy, yappy dog, I'd be soooo grateful. I really want us to enjoy our week with him, and if it doesn't work out that way, any advice on finding a great kennel for next year?!!!
Thanks,
Amanda :) xxx
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I'm not a dog owner yet, so no tips I'm afraid. You are blazing the trail for me, I'm learning a lot from you about having a puppy. I hope it goes well with him, hopefully you'll find some dog friendly places to eat - maybe somewhere you can eat outside and have him close by. Might be worth looking online before you go to see if you can find somewhere suitable. If it doesn't go well then next year you can drop him off at our house and the littlest boy will entertain him all week. He might struggle to give him back afterwards though... CJ xx
ReplyDeleteHe, he...you're on! ;) xxx
DeleteAll the travelling, new experiences and running around on the beach should tire him out (hopefully). It does with our two.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I'm hoping! ;) xxx
DeleteWe have cats so our holiday dilemmas are different but I sympathise with wanting to do what is best for them. Having shared life with dogs I find that they always need more support when young so I think you have chosen correctly for Otto. My dogs settled in unfamiliar places as long as I was there with them. Such trust they show us. I hope that your holiday will be brimming with beach walks, fish and chips and many wanderings with a happy dog. They change our lives, mostly for the better, like children. x
ReplyDeleteI think that's it, he's still young and finding out about the world, I'm sure he will settle in the future ;) xxx
DeleteBest wishes for organize and arrange everything best and enjoy your holiday!
ReplyDeleteBig hug,
Miriam
Thanks Miriam :) xxx
DeleteHi Amanda, we always take our Parsons Jack Russell with us, he has been in kennels when we first got him but doesn't do well. It's nice to have him with us too!
ReplyDeleteWhen travelling try Otto in his crate with a cover over it, so he can't see out. That makes a big difference. You can also get a gentle sedative from the vet if needed.
If you don't want to take his crate from home there are folding canvas ones, I think ours is a Croft make, a bit more expensive than some but worth it in the long run, we had a cheaper one first but it was more flimsy then the zip broke too.
Also if you look on the internet you can find dog friendly eating places once you know where you're going. Sometimes this means sitting in the bar area instead of the restaurant area but we've never found this to be a problem. I usually make a list to take with us if it's somewhere we haven't been before, the tourist information people could probably help with suitable places too.
You could also take some new toys for Otto then produce one as a distraction if he's being a barky nuisance.
Try not to worry, it will all turn out to be fine!
Great advice Jan thank you. I think a blanket over the crate will help, and I've been looking up dog friendly eating places. Our spending money budget is much reduced this year so we will only be able to eat out a couple of times anyway! ;) xxx
DeleteOh I do sympathise.
ReplyDeleteThis page had some quite good tips for dealing with pets and travel sickness, like making sure they are happy in their cage and not anxious before they get in etc. http://forum.champdogs.co.uk/topic_show.pl?tid=67177. Or there are tablets, if that's a possibility with Otto's size and age.
Holidays with very young children and animals aren't always relaxing but there WILL be good times along with the vexations.
Would you be able to go to a pub/restaurant where you can sit outside with Otto. Alternatively take-aways will be fun.
I hope you have a great time.
Thanks so much Liz, I will look at that website, he does seem to feel really secure in his crate so that's a good start! ;) xxx
DeleteMy sister's dog goes to her dog sitter for the week. But it's not going to kill him to go to a kennel, but I would have sent him for one night, a few times, to get him used to it. Is it too late to find one? It doesn't sound like he will be great on holiday either travelling or staying.
ReplyDeleteI think over this next year we might try the odd night somewhere, see how he goes, the idea of a sitter is a good one too thanks :) xxx
DeleteMy experience of using kennels has been a positive one, they've made sure they have blankets from home, same food and similar routine. My son used a home service to have his dogs cared for, the people are registered and it costs less than kennels as well as the dogs getting much more attention (you could perhaps still choose this option). We also have had the car sickness problem, the advice our vet gave was to keep taking her for short car journeys helping her to adjust being in the car. Sorry that's not more helpful, have a great break away xx
ReplyDeleteThanks Cheryl, we've been doing short trips but he still can be sick even on a 5 minute journey, poor thing! I think medication might be the way to go :) xxx
DeleteI think I read on instagram you are worried about car sickness, I am sure the vet can help with some medication. Long walks on the beach should exhaust him and hopefully he will sleep soundly and not bark. Have a lovely time wondering where about in Yorkshire you are going, I live here but have not been to the coast except once to Scarborough, should go really as can get a bus there and being an OAP it is free. Have a lovely time, shame you cannot eat out, though you might find some pubs/restaurants with outside seating so you could take Otto too
ReplyDeleteMargaret, please visit the coastline around Whitby, it's beautiful, I'm sure you will love it, some many cute little coves and villages :) xxx
DeleteZylkene! I'd heard great things about it and tried it with one of my cats that was stressed - amazing stuff and we only needed to keep him on it for 10 days to break the habits he'd built up. It's turned him into a relaxed and stress free moggy and I'd recommend it to anyone in an instant.
ReplyDeleteSound brilliant, thank you :) xxx
DeleteI can't offer much practical advice I'm afraid but am sure you are doing the right thing and everything will work out fine. Far better than leaving Otto in kennels - which would be far more stressful for both of you I think -and that trips away from home become part of his routine for the future. Could your vet suggest something for the travel sickness perhaps?
ReplyDeleteI am lucky to have retired to dog friendly SW France, where our little fox terrier has been welcomed everywhere (except a lot of beaches in the summer months) However, I lived on the Lancs/Yorks border for most of my life and and Yorkshire is such a beautiful county, hope you have a great time.
I think France is much more accepting of children and dogs! Thank you Julia :) xxx
DeleteHi Amanda, our dog Daisy used to get car sick when she was younger. The vet prescribed a sedative , it worked..she slept,didn't get sick. Only down side was she was a little dopey for a while after the journey. But it was worth it. Thankfully she grew out of the car sickness.
ReplyDeleteRegarding kennels, Daisy did go to once or twice, she did frett a lot.
Luckily we then, through our vet found a lovely lady who now looks after Daisy in her house when we're on holiday.The lady actually sends us photos of Daisy to reassure us she's happy. Perhaps you could a similar dog sitter.
Hope it works out for you this year and you have an enjoyable holiday.
Trish.
Thanks for the information Trish, I really hope Otto grows out of it, seems a lot of dogs do :) xxx
DeleteMy first dog Patch was sick EVERY time we were in the car - until she travelled in the front by y feet and then she was ok, as long as we stopped every 45 mins or so for her to stretch her legs. It worked for us! We took Anni (our black lab) to a holiday park near Pickering 2 years ago and she loved it. We took her blankets etc so she had her normal smells with her. Her day on the beach wore her out so she defo slept that night :-) Hope you have loads of fun and Otto loves his holiday too. x
ReplyDelete