When you are in a situation wherein you must get out of town, it can be very stressful to figure out what you should do with your dog while you are away. Whether you are going away for a vacation or other circumstances that force you to leave your pet behind, you must consider how your dog will be taken care of.
If your dog has serious separation anxiety and behavioral issues, then this is something that you should plan carefully and should not be taken lightly. Fortunately, nowadays, there is a wide range of options that can be customized to suit your needs as well as your pet’s. The following are some of the important things to consider if you want to leave your dog while you are away.
Will Your Dog Think That You Abandon Him When You’re Away?
If you are going out for a vacation, then it is only natural that you will get worried that your dog might think that you’ve abandoned him. Additionally, if your pet has separation anxiety, then the more you will be concerned.
Ultimately, dogs are social animals and when their owners leave them, it can certainly affect them. Nevertheless, dogs are also very adaptable. This means that they can adjust even if you are not around.
Just be sure that you have properly prepared for it. Another important thing to consider is that dogs can sense your emotions. Therefore, if you get worried and act anxious, they can sense it and in return, your pet will also get worried and anxious.
Depending on the arrangement that you have planned, there are some things that you can do to make this a better experience for both of you. You could spend some time together so that he can feel some love before your departure.
If you want someone to take care of him, then be sure to arrange for a meet-and-greet session, especially if your dog is not familiar with that person. Leave some things that remind him of your presence, for instance, a blanket or a shirt with your scent.
In this way, he can still feel your presence even when you’re away. There are several tips and tricks, just be sure to implement them before you leave so that both of you can feel comfortable while you are not around.
Feeling Anxious About Leaving Your Dog While on Vacation?
As we’ve mentioned a while ago, your pet can sense if you feel anxious. It is completely natural to feel anxious and emotional about leaving your dog behind. However, it is also important that you should not show your feeling in front of him because this can only make the situation worse.
If you feel anxious, then all you must do is take some deep breaths and as much as possible try to avoid showing your feelings to your pet. You can take him outside so you can play and clear your mind. Or you could enjoy some cuddles on the couch. Aside from making you feel better, it can also extend your bonding time before leaving, which is important.
Where Should You Leave Your Dog While You’re Away?
After considering your and your dog’s feelings before your separation, the next thing to think about is your options and the good news is there are plenty! Before making your decision, there are some important things to think about such as your budget, its health situation, and its attitude. So, let’s explore what may or may not work.
Should You Leave Your Dog at Home?
You could leave your dog at home if you are worried that he might not adjust well to unfamiliar surroundings. If you allow him to stay at your house, then he will be in his own space with his own stuff, which can be a real comfort. This can be possible in a lot of ways.
Leave Your Pet Alone at Home
It goes without saying that leaving your dog on his own alone in your home for a longer period without care may not be a good decision and is irresponsible as well. Even if you provide him with his essential needs such as food and water, he can’t get his frequent baths and some things might go wrong when no one is monitoring him which can be unsafe and dangerous.
With the huge number of options that are available out there, it is always great to either find somebody to care for your dog in your home or find appropriate places for him where he can get adequate care.
Dog Watcher
If you can find a family member who is willing to watch over your dog while you are away, then it would be a great option. Moreover, since your dog is already familiar with this person, then there won’t be any problem.
Just let them know how you want your dog to be taken care of so there won’t be any issues while you are away. For instance, you might tell a family member that your dog should not be fed from the table. Or you don’t allow your pet to jump around on certain things.
Looking for a responsible family member that can help you in caring for your dog might not be easy. However, if you can’t find someone like this, then there are other options.
Pet Sitter
If you can’t find a dependable family member who is willing to help you in taking care of your dog, then another alternative would be to find someone else that can look after your furry friend in your home while you are away.
There are several companies that offer dog-sitting services while you’re on vacation. Some companies also offer household services such as watering your plants, handling your mail, etc. This can give you peace of mind knowing that there is an experienced professional in your house that does not only care for your dog but also for your house when you’re away.
Be sure to get your dog acquainted with this person before letting them stay in your home and don’t forget to leave detailed instructions. Even if you think that this is too much information, this can be helpful to the sitter and can make you feel comfortable knowing that there is a document that they can refer to in case they have some questions and you’re unreachable.
This information should include his food and potty schedules, sleeping habits, favorite toys, medicine administration (if any), and most importantly, a veterinarian contact.
As much as possible try to provide more information. Also, be sure that you have a reliable way of communicating with your pet sitter. In this way, you can get some updates and pictures of your pet every now and then to see how he’s doing.
Conclusion
More than anything else, you are the only person who knows your dog best. You are aware of what will work best for both of you while you are away. Hence, it is important that you should do some research and consider different factors before deciding. With the number of options that are available right now, most likely you can find something that can work for everyone in the long run.
The most important thing is you can have peace of mind and feel at ease and comfortable knowing that your dog is in safe hands and is well taken care of even when you’re away.
Pets Are Inn can provide cuddles and not cages. For more information about our services, you may call us at 972-424-8400 or email us at petsareinnplano@sbcglobal.net.