Leaving the little man behind

So we've booked a holiday to Turkey this summer! Yay! but I don't want to leave Bane behind

We've been in touch with a dog sitters and we're meeting a family on Sunday to see if they are suitable to look after him but I feel so guilty leaving him! Never had experience with dog sitters before so not really sure what we should be looking for or asking!

Any advice?
I'm feeling like if I don't like them I'm calling the whole holiday off and staying with him What if they don't tuck him in at night or let him snug on the sofa in their blanket...or roll around with him like a nutter making silly noises...Oh dear what happened to me haha

How does anyone go away and leave them?

Ha ha... It's hard the first time. I leave Flo with Family and her Bloodhound Cousins and they adjusted to her.

With the sitters, try and get to know them. You'll get an idea of what they are like fairly quickly Emma, first impressions and all that. I'm sure they are looking forward to having him otherwise why would they offer. They won't do all the little things you do but I'm sure he will be well looked after and he'll enjoy the change.

Whilst your away will you be able to keep in contact by e-mail... If you can perhaps you can ask them to send pics

Go for a walk with them and let them have control over Bane. If you don't like what you see you've still got plenty of time to sort something else out.
Pete

I just cant lol. all my holidays involve the dogs. I'd be too worried that marley would get away from whoever was trying to walk him anyway. there is only two people I would trust to look after them and one cant walk them both together so im stuffed for exotic holidays.

Lynn&Pete wrote:Go for a walk with them and let them have control over Bane. If you don't like what you see you've still got plenty of time to sort something else out.
Pete

That's what I do as well

we have had tessa for nearly 3 years and have gone from having 3 or 4 foreign holidays a year to not going abroad since.
tessa is the reason we bought our holiday home in cornwall.
fairplay to people who can go away without them but we can't.

That's sensible advice, Pete. I think you'll also get a fair idea of what someone's like when you meet them. Just watch really carefully and see how they react to the different things Bane does. Maybe set up some situations like having him on furniture and stuff, to see if they look even slightly unhappy.

I would ask for references and what experience they have with staffs as above you will know in your heart if they will be suitable they should also have had police checks done on them also. I would ask about their experience regarding banes diet too .

I wish we could leave him with family! But the OH family don't do pets...I was considering driving 180 miles and back to drop him at my parents for the week but everyone will be out at work all day so he'd just be shut up! Guaranteed to get spoilt the rest of the time though!

I didn't think about going for a walk with them! Thanks guys All I know is they are a family, two boys aged 16 and an older son too so hoping if they have some general dog experience, Bane shouldn't be a problem!

Crystal, the diet will be an interesting one Here's to hoping the teenage boys think it's cool and will be up for feeding him if the parents are a bit squeamish!

specially if theyre vegetarians

Sure all will be fine Emma, though rather you than me

he will be fine,enjoy your holiday and try not to worry,easier said then done i know we have it when we leave sasha and come home to find she has been fine and then we have to deal with the sulks

It went amazingly well I'm so relieved!!

The lady is so nice, she has 4 years of dog sitting experience with all sorts of breeds. She even has regulars Bane was allowed everywhere in the house including sofa and upstairs (he went and fetched her son down when we arrived nosey bugger)
He LOVED the garden! Was bombing around playing with toys and coming back to say hi and have a fuss then off he went again.

She has loads of amazing walking routes close by, has raw fed before and basically fits everything around the dog! I'm sure he will be well and truly spoilt I'm now looking forward to my holiday! I'm even thinking that he is going to have a better holiday than us

Class. Over the moon for you Emma.
Pete

Thanks Pete

We are so happy with the family! I don't know why but I'm sure I was expecting someone who had never looked after a dog before...Duh why would they be a professional dog sitter?!

Ah it's natural to be unsure on the first occasion Emma. So pleased that you felt he would be right at home. Happy holidays

So pleased for you Emma. I couldnt leave Pixee cos of the way she just is. Thats why we brought another caravan and have caravan holidays instead, it was holiday cottages before. Pixee loves the caravan holidays and is very well behaved on camp sites, we are lucky there. You look forward to your holiday, and I agree looks like Banes holiday is going to be better than yours

We left Milo with a pet sitter when we went to the states for two weeks and he was fine. I too was worrying soooo much. The lady sent facebook vids every day of him in the house mixing with the other dogs. Milo is quite a baby and did cling to her even to the point where she couldn't even go loo without him following and whining at the door but she was so kind to him. I definitely would leave him there again.

She offers a FREE half day doggy daycare trial too so that she can assess each one before accepting them. This is so that she can make sure they are friendly and sociable with other dogs.

Happy Holidays indeed! I will still worry though...But I think that will be more me missing him and wanting cuddles!

Lynn, having a holiday cottage or caravan sounds great! At least that way going on holiday is familiar with them too and not stressful

Jenny, sounds like great fun for Milo! I'm hoping to receive holiday snaps from them too Our dog sitter only takes 1 dog at a time unless they come as a pair from 1 family, so at least we don't have to worry about him being a pain in the bum there

glad its all turned out ok emma aye im sure the dog will have a better holiday than you