A Doggy Holiday – Picking the Right Sitter or Boarding Facility for Your Pup’s Staycation

The holiday season can be hustling and bustling, full of parties, shopping, and for some – travel!  Many of us go to visit family near and far over the holidays and while we wish we could take our furry family members with us, sometimes we just can’t.  When our dogs must stay behind, how do we help make their staycation holiday the best it can be?

​When your dog sees that you are preparing to leave him, the world that he knows is already turning upside down a bit.  Unless you are a frequent traveler and he is used to you coming and going, your packing up and leaving him behind can cause him some concern.  He may display a lot more anxiety, seem “on edge”, and show some “side effect” behaviors (that you don’t typically see) as a result of his heightened emotional state.  So it’s important to make your holiday travel as casual and seemingly innocuous to your dog as possible.  This means who you choose to care for your dog while you are away, and where you are selecting for him to spend his time away from you, is key to making his doggy holiday staycation a positive one.

In-Home Pet Sitting or Boarding Facility?
If we throw our dog into a situation that is not right for him, he (and we) may not like the outcome.  Having a negative experience while you (his familiar and loving doggy parent) are not there to help him can result in accumulated stress and long-term negative associations to other dogs, people, novel environments, noises, etc. Staying in a kennel environment with a bunch of other dogs is fine for some dogs.  It can be uncomfortable, overwhelming or terrifying for others.  Each dog is an individual, processes emotion differently, and has different likes/dislikes. 
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Think of YOUR dog’s personality and preferences – what would HE feel most comfortable with?

If your dog is...

• Confident and stays pretty even-keeled in novel situations
• A social dog who enjoys the company of other dogs (of various sizes and breeds) in group play.  Will engage but can also settle comfortably in the presence of other dogs (doesn’t try to play nonstop)
• Not fazed by noises like doors/gates closing, hoses, dogs barking, echoing acoustics
• Not concerned by small spaces/tight quarters
• Friendly with a variety of new people…

Then he will probably do just fine in a boarding facility.

If your dog is...

• Nervous or overly excitable in unfamiliar situations (heightened emotional state resulting in activation or inhibition), or generally anxious
• Reactive or selective with other dogs; prefers people over dogs and is not comfortable in groups
• Skittish/Reactive to noises, novel objects or in tight spaces
• Likes routine and has a hard time adjusting to changes
• Takes a long time to come back to a calm and comfortable emotional state
• Takes some time to warm up to new people or is selective about the people he enjoys interacting with

Then he will probably do best staying at home with a sitter he knows and trusts.

Now how do you choose the RIGHT one?
There are a plethora of pet-sitters and boarding facilities out there, but they are not all created equal.  You love your dog, right?  So you want to give him the best experience and make sure he is in capable, caring hands while you are away.  Here’s a checklist of some things to consider when selecting an in-home pet sitter or boarding facility, along with some of the ones I am happy to refer clients to:

In-Home Pet Sitter:

• Will they be living at my house with my dog during the duration of my time away, or will they be coming multiple times per day (as specified) for interaction and to meet my dog’s needs for walks/feeding/etc?
• Will they love my dog as their own and be willing to adapt to his schedule, preferences, and more (within reason)?
• Are they insured, licensed, bonded?  Do they have training in things like CPR/emergency protocols and canine body language,
• Are they willing to come for a visit to get to know your dog, his routine and preferences with you there to answer questions prior to any pet-sitting needs?

Here is Blissful Buddha sitter Christina with my kitty Abby. Abby isn't always social with people other than her immediate family, but she took to Christina right away! :-)

Blissful Buddha Pet Services, based out of Savannah, offers several options for in-home pet-sitting to meet your dog’s needs while having their own little staycation.  Owner Tess Amick prides her company on giving clients total peace of mind while they are away.  “Our goal is to make sure your pet is safe, comfortable, happy and loved while you are away.  Your pet will be in his own home and excited to play with an old friend.” 

An in-home pet sitter will allow your dog to feel some semblance of normal routine even when you’re away.  For example, if your dog is used to daily walks around his community (and has his favorite spots to visit), enjoys relaxing on the sunporch while you clean, or loves laying on the couch with you and getting his belly scratched, the staff at Blissful Buddha is happy to do all of that!  Prior to sitting your pets, staff from Blissful Buddha will do an in-home visit with you and your pets to get to know their preferences and needs.  Clients LOVE knowing their pets are getting this individualized attention (I know I do)! 

You will receive sitting reports via text or email (whichever preferred) after every visit, complete with photos and a recap of what transpired during their time with your pet.  They don’t shy away from special needs or requests (like a dog’s needs for a special diet or supplementation) but make sure everything is done exactly as asked.  But they don’t just take care of your pets while you are away; they will also collect the mail, water the plants, and do some light cleaning so you come back to not only a happy pet but a happy home as well!  And to top it all off, Blissful Buddha also offers transportation to taxi pets to/from the vet office or to pick up medications/food/etc. as needed.  They really are a full-service pet care company!

Blissful Buddha Pet Services is bonded and insured, and only employs people with animal care backgrounds (some even have veterinary technician certifications).  Sitters undergo a national criminal background check, work history and reference check, and must complete a fairly rigorous training program (including passing a test that indicates they are suitable for animal care).  They will care for pets across Savannah, Pooler, Bloomingdale, and the Islands (Wilmington, Talahi, Whitemarsh) and for a travel charge will also visit Port Wentworth and Tybee Island. 

Sitters from Blissful Buddha will come to your home at the intervals you choose and which are most suitable for your pet’s situation.  For example, they can come two or three times a day for either half hour or hour visits, or they can stay overnight (10pm to 8am) - like for geriatric or sick animals that need some extra care.  An overnight on its own is $75, two 1-hour visits during the day plus an overnight is $110 and three 1-hour visits plus an overnight is $130.  To find out more about Blissful Buddha Pet Services, visit their website at www.blissfulbuddhapetservices.com.

​If you have multiple animals, having an in-home sitter can save you money from having to incur separate boarding/daycare costs for each animal, as many in-home sitters have only one fee regardless of how many animals you have.  For more sensitive animals, like young pups or the elderly whose immune systems may be more susceptible to infection, having an in-home sitter means your pet’s risk will be much more reduced.  They will not be exposed to foreign animals and they will be less stressed staying in their own environment.

​​Knowing friends or family members who have used a particular pet sitter and have had a positive experience, rather than picking the most convenient one from an online search engine, can make all the difference between any run-of-the-mill pet sitter and the quality sitter who is really going to love your fur-babies and keep them safe for you while you aren’t home. 

Some of my clients recently had a wonderful experience with Betsy Weathers of A Loving Heart Pet Care and I’ve had the ability to meet Betsy.  Her passion for caring for peoples’ pets really shines through!  Betsy offers a personalized, detail-oriented pet service that includes pet-sitting in your home, daily dog walking or mid-day visits, geriatric care, overnights and more!  And she doesn’t just sit dogs.  “Whether you have dogs, cats, birds, livestock or any other kind of pet we are here to make your life easier so you can travel worry free. Our goal is to make your pets feel secure and comfortable, and we'll always tailor our schedule to their needs — they'll never miss any scheduled feeding, playtime, medicine or potty breaks. Whether you go on vacation, a business trip, need a midday visit to walk, feed, cuddle, or medicate your pet, A Loving Heart Pet Care Sitting offers loving pet care, when you’re not there!” says Betsy.

​A Loving Heart Pet Care has been serving the Pooler and surrounding community areas for over 5 years.  Betsy got her start working in the field of pet-sitting with Cat Nip and Biscuits owner Cathi Denham (see below), before starting her own business.  You can learn more about Betsy and read some testimonials from other happy clients on her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pg/A-Loving-Heart-Pet-CareLLC.

Boarding Facility:

• Do they require you to fill out a detailed application, including your dog’s history, preferences, any special needs, and vaccination/medical details?
• What is their evaluation process to ensure a dog is comfortable around other dogs and fit for group play?
• Do they recommend your dog has a short-term/daycare visit prior to their boarding visit so the staff can ensure your dog is happy and comfortable before a long-term visit?
• Do they allow you to bring your dog’s own items (like blankets, toys, chews, etc) to make their stay feel more like home?
• Do the dogs have access to both indoor and outdoor time?
• How does the staff monitor group play and what is the ratio of staff members to dogs?

On a recent visit to Catnip N Biscuits, a boarding and daycare facility (also in Savannah), I had the privilege of sitting in on a couple of their new dog evaluations and witnessed first-hand how they determine whether or not a dog is comfortable with group play and how they facilitate introductions.  I was happy to see that their staff was well-versed in reading canine body language (they go through a special training program) and understood the importance to introducing one dog at a time so as not to overwhelm the new dog.

​Owner Cathi Denham says she opened Catnip N Biscuits because she wanted a place that was trustworthy, with a caring and attentive staff, to care for Savannah’s cats and dogs while their parents were away.  After seeing some other boarding kennels that were in great need of updating, she made it her mission to ensure that her facility had modern amenities – like televisions in each of the dog suites, cat suites that contain separate compartments for litter boxes, outside dog exercise areas with artificial turf for easy disinfecting and playground equipment for enrichment, and indoor dog exercise areas with rubber flooring (which is easier on joints during play).

​Cathi wants the pets who stay at Catnip N Biscuits to have a safe, comfortable and enjoyable time during their time away from home.  Each of the dog suites are equipped with easily washable dog beds so your dog can curl up and relax when he’s not out playing with his doggy friends.  You are welcome to bring your dog’s favorite toys, chews, and even his favorite blanket that smells like you to remind him of home!  And Cathi wants peace of mind for the owners too – they can watch their dogs on webcams from their smartphones or tablets while they are away!

Little Crumpet here sure looks happy to be at Catnip N Biscuits!

Unlike some other boarding or daycare facilities, the staff at Catnip N Biscuits will be willing to work with a dog who does better in small group play than large group play, or even a dog that requires private boarding (in which the dog would receive personalized play sessions and outings with staff several times a day rather than group play).  Before accepting a dog into boarding or daycare, the potential client must fill out a thorough application.  Once that is complete and vet records are received, the staff will then meet with you and your dog to get to know your dog and go over options.  The staff will then take your dog for a socialization evaluation as I described above, where he will get to meet some other dogs and they can determine his comfort level. 

Rates and package options for both daycare and boarding at Catnip N Biscuits can be found on their website at www.catnipnbiscuits.com. In addition to managing Catnip N Biscuits, Cathi has also been offering at home pet-sitting services since 2000 through her At Home Pet Sitters business (find out more at www.athomepetsitters.net).  She takes great pride in caring for pets of all ages!

No matter where you choose to have your pet spend this holiday, you can feel comforted knowing there are some great options out there to give your pet the love and care he deserves.  If you visit any of my friends above, just tell them that Maria sent you!  And don't worry about your fur-babies...  Sometimes taking separate vacations can have its advantages after all!  :)