Vacationing Without Your Pup
Our first vacation without Willa - Boarding or Live-in Sitter?
It happens sooner than you think! Our puppy was around 3 months old when we left her for one night with Grandma, which was easy/no problem - she was comfortable at her house and loves her Grandma.
Then when plans fell through for a longer trip that we had to go on, we adjusted our plans to be only 3 nights instead of 6, then the ✨panic✨ set in trying to figure out the best possible situation for our little one. The main things that came to mind: Boarding or a live-in sitter? Neither were great options for a little pup but we didn’t have any other choice.
Are you looking for a place to board your dog while you're away, or do you want to hire a live-in pet sitter to take care of your furry friend at home? Either option can be a great solution, but it's important to weigh the pros and cons before making a decision.
Puppy Boarding Info
Boarding your dog at a facility can be a convenient option if you're going to be away for an extended period of time. Many boarding facilities offer a variety of amenities, such as indoor and outdoor play areas, individual kennels or suites, and even grooming services. Some may also offer additional activities, such as training or playtime with other dogs.
Benefits
One of the main benefits of boarding your dog is that you can have peace of mind knowing that your pet is being taken care of by trained professionals. Most facilities have staff on hand 24/7 to provide care and attention to the animals in their charge. In the event of an emergency, there will be someone there to handle the situation.
Drawbacks
However, there are also some drawbacks to boarding your dog. For one, it can be expensive, especially if you need to board your dog for an extended period of time. Additionally, some dogs may experience separation anxiety when they're away from their owners, which can be stressful for both the dog and the owner.
Live-in Pet Sitter Info
Hiring a live-in pet sitter can be a good alternative to boarding. With a live-in pet sitter, your dog will be able to stay in the comfort of their own home and maintain their normal routine. The sitter will come and stay with your dog, providing them with care and attention while you're away.
If you are new to Rover, please use my referral link to book. I’d really appreciate it - and we’ll both get a $20 credit!
Benefits
One of the main benefits of hiring a live-in pet sitter is that your dog will have one-on-one attention and won't have to share space with other animals. This can be especially beneficial if your dog has special needs or is anxious around other dogs. A live-in pet sitter can also take care of other tasks, such as bringing in the mail and watering plants, while you're away.
Drawbacks
However, there are also some drawbacks to hiring a live-in pet sitter. For one, it can be more expensive than boarding, especially if you need someone to stay with your dog for an extended period of time. Additionally, you'll need to carefully screen and choose a sitter that you trust to be in your home and take care of your pet.
Personal Experience
We called the closest and highly rated for each: boarding and on Rover.com. Both of which we did an assessment/meet & greet.
For the boarding, it was a 2-hour session, where we dropped her off and were not able to see what she went through. She was put in a group of dogs her similar size and was told she would only get 15 minutes of outside time in the morning and then the afternoon, otherwise, it was playtime in a concrete room and then nap time alone in a small concrete room. *Within these 2 hours Willa also contracted Kennel Cough. When we picked her up her energy levels were so high, she peed when saying hi to us at pick up and she has never done this before or since. Overall the boarding seemed like an overwhelming and not safe position to put her in at such a young age.
Later that day we scheduled a Meet & Greet with a sitter on Rover.com. We were extremely reserved about having a stranger in our home and someone that you have not had the chance to build up trust with. Our Sitter seemed nice enough and we reviewed Willa’s daily schedule, and luckily Willa seemed to warm up to her quickly. We decided to go with the Live-In Sitter to ensure Willa was comfortable and continued with her routine. The Sitter was unable to live here because we don't have a second bedroom for her to sleep in so she came here at 6:30 am and left at 9 pm each day.
View my Daily Schedule here that was shared with the sitter.
*The Live-in Sitter was unexpectedly the cheaper option than the Boarding. With the extra savings we decided to purchase a home camera to monitor the situation at home. We bought the Euffy and then an SD card, so the price ended up being the same as high-end competitors, but the great thing about the camera is you can turn on notifications for motion and sound and closely monitor your pup and the Sitter.
Using the Rover app you receive many photos throughout your time away and we got The Sitter’s number to get updates throughout the trip.
One small thing we forget to mention to the Sitter:
No off-leash parks. The Sitter took Willa to an off-leash park and she has not been in this situation before, she is not trained enough and we do not trust other dogs. We should have told her at the beginning not to do this.
We were very happy with the experience overall. But on our first day back Willa’s behavior had declined quite a bit. It seems she has regressed in her training and was not listening during the walk at all to her commands, she was picking up and eating everything which is something she had moved past weeks ago. It is extremely disappointing that her progress was lost, however, this is the sacrifice that we made leaving a puppy alone with someone that cannot be held accountable for training. We are working hard to get her back on track, but it is important to keep in mind that you may have to redo / rework on things you thought were engraved into their behavior.
*After 1-2 days of our training, she is back to her normal self!
Ultimately, the decision to board your dog or hire a live-in pet sitter will depend on your individual circumstances and what you feel is best for your furry friend. Both options can be a great way to ensure that your dog is well taken care of while you're away, so it's important to consider all of the factors before making a decision.
Let me know your thoughts? Anything else you like to share with in-live sitters? Have you had good experiences with boarding?