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#1
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Separation Anxiety for Me
We're going on our first every "vacation" in 11 years. Actually we're just
going back to NJ where my family lives for several days, leaving on Monday and coming back on Friday. I have spent the last month driving around to "drop-in" on every boarding facility in the Charleston area. That in itself has been exhausting. We can't take Fancy, Pebbles and Ely because my mom's dog is female aggressive and I will not leave them in a Wildwood or Cape May motel all day while I'm doing the touristy thing for Scott and Amie (who've never been). None of the petsitting services were suitable enough for me because they'd only come a certain number of times per day and none late at night. I don't know anyone I trust to live in my house with them while I'm gone so that is out also. I found one newer facility that I was comfortable with (paying a fortune for connecting "suites" giving the dogs a 6 x 12 indoor space of their own w/tv and music) but they forgot to put my reservation in so now they're full next week. I finally relented Monday to the 2nd choice which is just a 4 x 6 pen w/cinder block walls and a gate door. My concern was to not have Fancy in a situation that is similar to a shelter. I wanted her to be in a space that had walls around it rather than caging. While this other place is smaller (she and Pebbles sharing a pen) its either that or call off the vacation. I have not left Fancy since the day I got her so I'm really working myself into a tizzy about how she'll react. She was so emaciated when I got her and it took her a good 6 months to really start settling in and trusting us which is weird for a Boxer. As many as we've had in rescue, some we know for a fact were beaten and majorly neglected, they all take to their new handler within a matter of days. So I'm worried that she'll go through shock with finding herself in a boarding facility that can get a little noisy due to the other dogs there, that she won't eat (I sometimes suspect the reason she was so emaciated was due to self-imposed starving from being stressed) and that even though it'll only be 4 nights, we will have to start back at square one with her. Scott is also concerned but not to the degree I am. He says that I'm being too protective and paranoid. He had to go with me to view the 2nd choice boarding place because I had already been predisposed to not liking it (due to it the pen not being as isolated as the one I'd already chosen) and would be so busy thinking of new questions to ask the staff that I wouldn't actually listen to their answers. Judging by the look on the girl's face (the one who showed us around), I don't think she's used to being grilled with so many questions. She was surprised when we showed up and I told her I needed a tour before committing to my reservation. Anyway, now Ely is off to one of the volunteer's houses for boarding because due to his demodex he cannot get his rabies vacc which eliminates him from being boarded in a facility. Fancy and Pebbles will be sharing, at my request, a pen because I felt that Pebbles' presence would provide some measure of comfort for Fancy. Pebbles won't have a problem with being boarded. I got my vet to give me a prescription of Clomicalm for 5 days *just in case* Fancy needs it. I have already given instructions to the facility that should she go without food for more than 2 days, seem stressed, rigid or scared, that they're to give her the medication. Scott is ready to kill me because this is all I've talked about for the last week. I even proposed leaving Thursday night so that in case of a car emergency, we would still make it back on Friday before closing to get our dogs back. I'm being totally anal about this, I recognize that, but cannot seem to help it. I purchased 10 pigs ears to be given to them each day, once in the morning and when the staff is leaving for the night. I plan to take their dog bed even though they have raised cots for the dogs. Can anyone think of anything else that I should take? I'm only allowed to bring 3 items for the dogs -- Tara |
#2
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"Tara O." wrote: I'm only allowed to bring 3 items for the dogs -- Tara Could you bring the dogs and find a place to board them when you are doing all the touristy stuff? That is what I would do. At least that way I could still visit them daily. Oh well I am a bit neurotic when it comes to leaving my dogs. And I certainly have no one that I would trust with them. Nothing like the grand arrangement Suja had with Khan. If I did I would not be so reluctant about it. OTOH I do have my 23 year old son that I could always pay to come stay at my house for a week. Gwen |
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"Tara O." wrote: Scott is ready to kill me because this is all I've talked about for the last week. I even proposed leaving Thursday night so that in case of a car emergency, we would still make it back on Friday before closing to get our dogs back. I'm being totally anal about this, I recognize that, but cannot seem to help it. I purchased 10 pigs ears to be given to them each day, once in the morning and when the staff is leaving for the night. I plan to take their dog bed even though they have raised cots for the dogs. Can anyone think of anything else that I should take? I'm only allowed to bring 3 items for the dogs We board our dogs all the time with our former trainer, and they love going. I can imagine the stress of leaving them somewhere new. I'm sure they will do OK, try not to worry. We always send the girls beds, usually in a pretty worn, smelly state (not recently washed, so it seems like home). You are sending their food, right? We always send their biscuits (get one before bed). We usually don't send toys, but if they have a kong or nylabone that is safe and they use, you could send that. A tshirt of yours that you've been wearing might bring some comfort. Having them in the same pen is a *very* good idea I think. Our trainer says our girls are always hanging out together (I actually think Bonnie is hanging out by Molly and Molly is too lazy to move). Good luck and enjoy your trip! Mary |
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"Gwen Watson" wrote in message
... "Tara O." wrote: I'm only allowed to bring 3 items for the dogs -- Tara Could you bring the dogs and find a place to board them when you are doing all the touristy stuff? That is what I would do. At least that way I could still visit them daily. Oh well I am a bit neurotic when it comes to leaving my dogs. And I certainly have no one that I would trust with them. Nothing like the grand arrangement Suja had with Khan. If I did I would not be so reluctant about it. OTOH I do have my 23 year old son that I could always pay to come stay at my house for a week. I imagine there are some new boarding places on the shore but its been so many years since I've lived there that I only remember a few dinky ones. I couldn't bring the dogs with plans to board them without having been able to tour the boarding facilities first and I don't trust my mom to give me an accurate account or I'd ask her to do it. I have a 19yo stepson who is home from college for the summer but he's always off doing something that I'm afraid having him petsit would be worse than having them boarded (him likely not being around much). -- Tara |
#5
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"Tara O." wrote in message
... Can anyone think of anything else that I should take? No, but I just want to say I can relate to your situation of working yourself into a tizzy about leaving Fancy, and my excuses aren't even as good as yours. All I can say is: Try to relax enough so that you actually enjoy your first vacation in 11 years. Cate |
#6
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Tara O. wrote:
Scott is ready to kill me because this is all I've talked about for the last week. I even proposed leaving Thursday night so that in case of a car emergency, we would still make it back on Friday before closing to get our dogs back. I'm being totally anal about this, I recognize that, but cannot seem to help it. I totally understand. We had someone we knew and trusted take Khan, and I still panicked. Are you sure you can't board her some place where you're going? Better still, maybe you can get your mom to board her dog and keep your two g in the house. If you don't trust your mom to give an accurate report of the kennels there, maybe there is someone here who lives close enough that they can poke around and report back for you? Barring that, start telling yourself that everything will be FINE. We don't give our critters nearly enough credit for being as resilient as they really are. Leave something with your scent on it for them to help ease the transition, and check in on them periodically so you'll have some peace of mind. Suja |
#7
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Subject: Separation Anxiety for Me
From: "Tara O." Date: 7/16/03 1:08 PM Pacific I have not left Fancy since the day I got her so I'm really working myself into a tizzy about how she'll react. Understandable, Tara, you are just being a good Mom. Will they take them out for bit each day? How does that work? (I'm getting antsy myself). It's great Fancy and the Pebster will be together and it sounds like you have done absolutely everything to make their stay as comfy as possible. Can anyone think of anything else that I should take? While Shi was in the hospital I took a 'used' (read sweaty) t-shirt and they told me she slept with her head on it. I think something of you and Scott's scent will help them. Deb Shi the Survivor Georgie the Kid-Snarker |
#8
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"Suja" wrote in message
... Tara O. wrote: Scott is ready to kill me because this is all I've talked about for the last week. I even proposed leaving Thursday night so that in case of a car emergency, we would still make it back on Friday before closing to get our dogs back. I'm being totally anal about this, I recognize that, but cannot seem to help it. I totally understand. We had someone we knew and trusted take Khan, and I still panicked. Are you sure you can't board her some place where you're going? Better still, maybe you can get your mom to board her dog and keep your two g in the house. If you don't trust your mom to give an accurate report of the kennels there, maybe there is someone here who lives close enough that they can poke around and report back for you? I'm sure My mom won't board her dog to make room for ours and I totally understand that. I wouldn't board my dogs for somebody else either. I don't think anyone here lives in that area of South Jersey but even still, we've now decided to take the pick-up because its a more comfortable ride than my Stratus and while there's a club cab, 2 dogs, Amie, myself and Scott inside the truck for a 10 hour drive would be a bit much. Barring that, start telling yourself that everything will be FINE. We don't give our critters nearly enough credit for being as resilient as they really are. Leave something with your scent on it for them to help ease the transition, and check in on them periodically so you'll have some peace of mind. Thanks. I'm sure all will be fine in the end but I know I won't rest easy until the trip is done and my dogs are back home. We plan to start travelling up there once a year so I really need to get used to the idea of boarding the dogs anyway. -- Tara |
#9
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We all empathize with you. Tara. Hope your vacation doesn't give you
an ulcer. Do I have my drugs mixed up? I thought Clomacalm took some time (14 days?) to build up. This past 4th, a friend had a good experience with Valium for fireworks trauma. It seemed to work within an hour. This site: http://www.marvistavet.com/html/valium.html says a side-effect is appetite stimulation. Just because humans are slow and can't smell or hear very well doesn't mean they don't possess a primitive type of intelligence. |
#10
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I totally agree with suja in leaving something with your scent on with them.
I understand what you are going through as my boys have never been left. I work from home and the few days I don't work somebody else is here working so they always have company. I'm lucky enough that my sister in law has our dogs when we go away but sometimes I worry she won't give them back as she thoroughly spoils them! Shell see my boys at http://uk.f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/hollyputt "Suja" wrote in message ... Tara O. wrote: Scott is ready to kill me because this is all I've talked about for the last week. I even proposed leaving Thursday night so that in case of a car emergency, we would still make it back on Friday before closing to get our dogs back. I'm being totally anal about this, I recognize that, but cannot seem to help it. I totally understand. We had someone we knew and trusted take Khan, and I still panicked. Are you sure you can't board her some place where you're going? Better still, maybe you can get your mom to board her dog and keep your two g in the house. If you don't trust your mom to give an accurate report of the kennels there, maybe there is someone here who lives close enough that they can poke around and report back for you? Barring that, start telling yourself that everything will be FINE. We don't give our critters nearly enough credit for being as resilient as they really are. Leave something with your scent on it for them to help ease the transition, and check in on them periodically so you'll have some peace of mind. Suja |
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