As I posted earlier, Pan's bitchitude is causing me to question whether she
can safely be left with friends that want to watch her. She did very, very
well with the zero tolerance policy, shared couch/bed (under supervision),
and while I wouldn't say she was happy to have Luna around, she knew better
than to get snarky or give the evil eye. I haven't talked to the friends
(rain/snow/sleet/ice conspired to prevent much contact) in any kind of
detail, but will do so today.

Over the last few days, I've been investigating the possibility of leaving
her with a pet sitter of some sort, someone that can take her into their
house. I am no longer comfortable leaving them both at a kennel, with
Khan's last teeth chattering episode (whether it is due to seizures,
something endocrine or some unknown factor, he'd be better off in a home
environment), and Pan does not do well solo; her SA is under good control
with either human or doggie companionship.

Over the weekend, I met a lady that runs a daycare out of her house and
wants to do petsitting on a very limited basis, as and when she is able.
The split foyer house has a baby gate on top of the stairs, so the dog would
have the upstairs, and the kids are kept separated, downstairs. She and her
husband work together to run the daycare, so someone is home all the time.
The lady takes care of the business aspect of it and her office is upstairs,
so she is upstairs with the dogs most of the time. They have a seven year
old daughter, 2 rabbits, a 50 gallon fish tank, a turtle, two African frogs,
a beta, and a 2 year old female Bernese Mountain Dog. Also, more toys than
I've ever seen in any one place, short of a toy store.

Very nice people. The young girl was totally comfortable with Pan. The two
dogs were fine, although their dog is predictably enough, more high
energy/spastic, and Pan did not like having her in her face. When the
weather is cool, Maggie, the Berner is outside on the deck, chilling
herself, and since Pan doesn't like the cold, it sounds like they'll not be
spending a whole lot of time together. Pan is in love with Timothy the
bunny, and spent a majority of the visit staring longingly at him and
whining softly. She was totally okay with backing up to the lady and
sitting her but down on her, and getting butt scritches. If she is left
there, she will get 5-6 walks a day. They seem like really good people,
animal lovers, reasonably savvy about dogs, and I'm thinking that this would
be a good situation for her. I'm also keeping my options open and will be
interviewing a couple of other people.

Now, to my thinking, it would be best if I left her with my friends for a
few days, had her dropped off at the day care for a week or ten days, and
then back to my friends for a week or so (we're gone for 23 days). That
way, she won't get settled in anywhere long enough to get all bitchy. The
downside to that is that she'll be more stressed out with all the moving
around. This is the one thing that Rajesh and I cannot agree on. What do
y'all think?

Suja

In article ,
Suja wrote:
What do
y'all think?

Honestly, I think I'd just keep them both at the petsitter
the entire time, finances permitting. It sounds like a
great situation with excellent supervision, and really, dogs
do much better than you'd expect in those situations. Given
the seizure question I'd probably avoid a conventional
boarding kennel (although back when I had Greta I was lucky
to use a boarding kennel where they kept Greta in the house
with them, to keep an eye on her), but the petsitter sounds
fine. Actually, I don't really understand what problem
you'd be solving by moving them 4 times (to your friends, to
the petsitter, to your friends, to your house). I have yet
to see a dog "settle in" in less than three weeks.
--
Melinda Shore - Software longa, hardware brevis -

Prouder than ever to be a member of the reality-based community

"Melinda Shore" wrote in message:

Honestly, I think I'd just keep them both at the petsitter
the entire time, finances permitting.

I was thinking about just leaving Pan there. The finances are not an issue;
this lady is only planning on charging what a traditional boarding kennel
would charge, and normally, petsitters charge about twice that.

It sounds like a
great situation with excellent supervision, and really, dogs
do much better than you'd expect in those situations.

I guess I'm just really nervous, and possibly just blowing this all out of
proportion. I wouldn't think twice about it if their Berner were male, but
it is another girl, and she is very, very attached to the female owner. She
is the kind of dog that sits at her female owner's feet, every chance she
gets. I don't want any 'My Mommy!' issues to crop up. Also, with Khan in
the equation, there is likely to be 'My Khan!' issues as well. Plus, Khan
does much, much better with people he knows, and the friends we want to
leave him with, he loves. Plus, he loves Luna. There will be no management
issues at all, and he will get to basically have the same routine he's
always had. He'll go for walks in the morning, dog park in the afternoon,
hikes over the weekend, and he gets to chew on Luna when they're home and
he's in the mood.

Actually, I don't really understand what problem
you'd be solving by moving them 4 times (to your friends, to
the petsitter, to your friends, to your house). I have yet
to see a dog "settle in" in less than three weeks.

From previous experience, I'm told that Pan is a whiny PITA the first day
I'm gone, and then gloms on to whatever woman is around, the same as she
does with me. I don't want this to become an issue, wherever she is left,
hence the thinking that moving her around and not allowing her to settle
isn't a bad idea.

Suja

In article ,
"Suja" wrote:

The finances are not an issue;
this lady is only planning on charging what a traditional boarding kennel
would charge, and normally, petsitters charge about twice that.

Is there a reason to not have someone come stay in YOUR home with the
dogs?

--
Janet Boss
www.bestfriendsdogobedience.com

Suja said in part.
what do y'all think?
_______________________
Suja,
I would prefer to board them at a Vet kennel, if your Vet does that.
I don't think jockeying them around is going to be a benefit.
Someone that would be a live in pet sitter would be great, but since
you are not totally sure what is going on with the jaws I just would
feel better with them at the Vet's.
Please keep in mind I am a natural born worrier and take my suggestion
with a grain of salt.
Have a very pleasant trip, whatever you decide.


Be Free.....Judy

Judith Althouse wrote:
Suja said in part.
what do y'all think?
_______________________
Suja,
I would prefer to board them at a Vet kennel, if your Vet does that.

No way!

Would you board your kids at a pediatrician's office?

Can you think of a better way to expose your dog to god knows what?

"Janet Boss" wrote in message:

Is there a reason to not have someone come stay in YOUR home with the
dogs?

If we knew someone we trusted, it wouldn't be a problem. As it stands,
there is a bunch of confidential/sensitive information hanging around the
house that we can't really afford to have a stranger paw through.

Suja

Suja wrote:

snip
Now, to my thinking, it would be best if I left her with my friends for a
few days, had her dropped off at the day care for a week or ten days, and
then back to my friends for a week or so (we're gone for 23 days). That
way, she won't get settled in anywhere long enough to get all bitchy. The
downside to that is that she'll be more stressed out with all the moving
around. This is the one thing that Rajesh and I cannot agree on. What do
y'all think?

Suja

I wouldn't move her that many times. Can you try Pan out with Luna's
owners for a weekend before you go? They sounded like dog savy people,
and you seem to have found out how Pan has to be handled around Luna.
Otherwise can you try out Pan with the family over a weekend to see how
she does with the Berner?

In article ,
"Suja" wrote:


If we knew someone we trusted, it wouldn't be a problem. As it stands,
there is a bunch of confidential/sensitive information hanging around the
house that we can't really afford to have a stranger paw through.

That's what lockboxes and locked desk drawers are for!

I've had a number of people stay with my pets, from relatives to friends
to professional pet sitters. There's never been any evidence that
anyone has pawed through our stuff.

--
Janet Boss
www.bestfriendsdogobedience.com

In article ,
Janet Boss wrote:
I've had a number of people stay with my pets, from relatives to friends
to professional pet sitters. There's never been any evidence that
anyone has pawed through our stuff.

The situation can be a little different for people who work
with proprietary, sensitive material. Seriously.
--
Melinda Shore - Software longa, hardware brevis -

Prouder than ever to be a member of the reality-based community