We are going away for 4 days in Septemeber so i asked my parents to look after the dogs for me. They live about 30kms from us and have a HUGE yard and my dogs get so excited to go there and play and run with their 2 Jack Russells.

But my mom phoned me yesterday and said she would rather not take on that responsibility in case they fall in the pool or get out the gate. And she feels like she would have to put them inside if they went out somewhere and her dogs stay outside and doesn't want to "make them jealous"

So now I am going to have to put them in kennels for those few days and it's KILLING me I have sent my previous dog to kennels in Ballito and they are really top class. the dogs are bathed on arrival and bathed again on departure (at my cost unfortunately) and the kennels were very clean and the dogs were let out during the day to play. I have never seen such clean kennels before! My mom had to put her 2 in kennels a few months ago and sent them to this kennels neighbour (there are 2 boarding kennels right next to each other) but this lady keeps the dogs inside a normal room if they are small with her and not in outside kennels and they have a much happier stay and daily runs in the country. And they get their own normal food which I can ssend for them.

Am I cruel to put mine there for 3 nights? I'm really torn about what to do I cant leave them at home alone and ask someone to come and feed them because that is even worse. and I have no one to come and stay in the house either because we dont live near to anyone.

Would any of you put them in kennels? The one i have used before is Paws for Thought and the one im looking at now is Ballito Kennels. Am i even going to enjoy my holiday worrynig about them? it's like sending my kids to boarding school For all i know they will have a blast but im still worried

OH BOY!!! TaylorWoods, that is a very tough one. I would rather stay home before putting my puppies in a kennel. I would definately prefer the one that keeps the puppies inside in a room than outside kennels. Have you tried putting a add a paper asking for somebody to puppy-sit for you while you are gone? I know their are student always looking to make some extra pocket money.

Taylorwoods, I understand your worries completely. When we go on holiday, I usually make sure that we go somewhere where the dogs can go too. But sometimes they just can't go with you, like on our hiking trip during easter weekend.

I agree with Amoureux, try to find someone to housesit for you. With two dogs, that's more affordable and minimal stress for the pups. Or find an alternative to a kennel.

When I went away for 10 days in December, I found a lady who dog-sits at her house in Tableview. The dogs have the run of the house and garden. She even has a dedicated fetch corridor, where they can run a long way to get the ball. She fed them their own food, she had jars of dog treats everywhere and best of all, she sent me regular sms's to tell me how well they are doing, how is winning in fetch, etc.

I hope you can find a solution that works for everyone! You can leave them with me

That is a tough one!!! We usually get my husbands brother to house sit for us and take care of the dogs. If its a trusted kennel, I am sure they will be fine!!

It's a pity you live so far away! I let yorkies come stay by me when their parents go away, kind of like a kennel but my doggies run freely in the house.

That is nice Jeanique!!!

Do you charge the owners at all? Its a pitty you are so far from us!!!! Its nice to leave your pets with someone that understands the breed!! You know they will get the best care!

Im just so disappointed in my mom turning me down My dogs are both very well behaved and would rather be playing outside in their garden than sitting indoors making a mess or wweing etc. my dogs both stay outside in the day time anyway. Taylor knows all about the pool and Trigger has been shown and im sure he will stay clear of it. besides that, they have a gated area in the front yard which is really big and the full length of the house where they are safe. so i feel very let down because i would take her dogs in a heart beat if it was the other way around.

I know in kennels they are safest but im not going to relax knowing they arent in a happy familiar place. I trust my mom with my dogs but I certainly dont trust a stranger unless they are yorkie owners.

I do have a friend who lives not too far who has Yorkies...perhaps she will be willing to come and stay. I will keep you all informed of what i have to do. this kills me. we are going to Pogola and it's too far to expect them to travel and Im not even sure if we could take dogs with us. there are wild animals around! eeek! normally they ALWAYS come with because we only ever go to the farm. this is our FIRST holiday away together in 5 years to any other destination since we met.

Aww Kristin!!!!! Im so sorry to hear that I know how you must feel!!!! We also usually count on my husbands brother. If he was refuse the day, Im not sure what we will do.

I really hope you find a way out that will put you at ease and that will be the best for the yorkies!!!

well, my mom wont change her mind

So I phoned a lady called Aloma at Ballito Kennels which is where my mom sent hers. She is great! the small dogs stay in the house with her and she says normally when she gets Yorkies they sleep in her bed as long as they are under 7kg! i have never seen a 7 kg Yorkie! She laughed when i told her the size of mine was 2.2kg!

during the day they can run around outside and play in a safely confined area which she says i can go and see beforehand if i want to I have the choice of sending my own food too which is great.She feeds them Montego kibble so i will send my own and they cook up veggies and chicken mince for them. quite honestly, treatment like that will make them want to stay there forever!

I feel better knowing they will be safe there and well cared for. she said someone's yorkie wee'd on her bed last night (LOL!!) but she doesnt mind because she just loves them! mine arent THAT bad!

She asked to send their favourite toys for play time and for comfort and their own bed if that will make them happy so it sounds very nice. i know the neighbour where i sent my previous dog was top class and my mom said this lady was even better. it's R50 a day per dog and she will bath them when they leave if i want that done (at a small cost)

I would prefer them to be with my mom and save me R400 but i know they will be fine there at least they arent behind bars like normal kennels. she is more a pet sitter at her own home if you know what i mean?

That sounds great Kristin!!!

I am glad you found a good place for them. At least you can also enjoy your holiday knowing that they are safe and well looked after!!!!

Im STILL going to stress!

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

this is the link the the neighbouring kennels that i have used once...you can see how top class they are kept. my mom says the lady i am using is better in her opinion so I know they will be ok

Wow, they look very professional and well organized??

I wouldnt mind leaving my doggies there (But only if there is no other way).

But they do look good!!

I am so happy that you found someone you can feel comfortable with.

Next weekend is our weekend away and Im just a ball of stress taking my dogs to kennels Im going to try and bend my mom's arm once more but I know she wont cave in. besides the cost factor Im just uneasy about leaving them with strangers for 4 days I know they will be perfectly fine but Im still nervous! I think it's mostly because the thought of not seeing them for 4 days drives me insane. I will miss them

I understand how you feel. I cant even think about leaving mine!

I hope your mum reconsiders!!!!

I dont know if I will feel at ease leaving them either!!!

I agree with you Marilize. I just cant do it! Go away and leaving them. It is terrible because I never go anywhere, but I dont work so I am with them the whole day so I cant handle leaving them and going away.

For me it's just that normally when we go away we go to our farm in the Drakensberg and take them with us as well as the 2 big dogs...it just feels odd leaving them behind. I feel selfish! But they will be ok and I suppose I will get over it!