Ron and I want to take advantage of Columbus Day in
October with a long weekend away as a family. But, what to do with
Sydney, our Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and Blake, our Cairn
Terrier? It's only for the weekend, and they'd really enjoy coming
along, but with the surging popularity of pet hotels, we're also
considering our options.
Based on my research (and that of our editorial team), here are my tips for deciding whether hiring a sitter through Care.com or trying a pet hotel is right for your family:
Consider the Cost
One-on-one time at home with a dog walker or sitter
is always the best option for your pet, and when combined with house
sitting, can even save you money. But, sometimes it's hard to find
overnight care (or a pet-friendly people hotel) at the last minute, so
a pet hotel ($40-60 per night) is a great Plan B to save you the mental
cost of stress and anxiety.
Reservations for a "Pet Palace"
Pet hotels are upscale kennels with loads of creature
comforts. Private rooms ($40-60 per night) come with tons of amenities:
pet masseuses, room service and play time with treadmills and swimming
pools. Wow! When the vacation's over, your best friend might have a
better time than you did.
Be Inspector Gadget
Wherever you decide to board, it's important to
inspect the facilities in a similar way you'd look for a child's
daycare. Is it clean? Is it spacious with good light? Does it smell
good? Are there certifications and background checks for the employees?
And, maybe most importantly, how's the food?
Know Your Pets' Limits
Not every animal is happy being away from home, no
matter how posh the surroundings. We talked to Lisa Katayama, publisher of TokyoMango and a regular writer
for Wired magazine who "broke" the pet hotels trend, about checking her
Miniature Pinscher, Ruby, into the Wag Hotel in San Francisco. They
offered a live, in-room webcam and Lisa spent most of the night
watching her puppy's every move. By 2:30 a.m., Ruby was howling
inconsolably and Lisa rushed to bring her home. After that experience,
Lisa had enough.
"Call me a crazy dog owner," Lisa said, "but I'd rather leave her with a trusted friend than put her in solitary confinement overnight."
No Worries
Camps and hotels give added peace of mind by having
experts attending to your furry family members. For example, we talked
to PetSmart who launched their PetsHotel offering in 2005. Each hotel
has vets on site and every employee has to pass an annual safety
certification with a perfect score. With constant "guest supervision,"
it's nice to know there's always a pair of eyes watching to make sure
no one gets their little, wet nose into trouble.
Take a Test Run
Only you can decide if your puppy or kitten will be
happy in a new environment. If your pet is a either total homebody or a
social butterfly, perhaps they'd be better off staying at home with the
personal touch of a sitter. Try checking Care.com for one in your area.
If you do want to try out a pet hotel, they often provide free
screenings and, in some cases, actually require one. It's a good way
for everyone to test the water before booking Fido for the night.
Finding the right place for your pet goes a long way toward giving you peace of mind while you're separated from your best friend (or friends!)
What about you? Do you take your dogs and cats with you on vacation or go the kennel route? Share your experiences with the Care.com community by posting a comment!
In addition to pet hotels and kennels there are some amazing services out there like ours at Teak Time. We will either come to your home and stay with your pets while you are away or they come and stay with us in the homes of one of our quality pet caregivers. This provides your pets with round the clock care and attention. What better way to leave your pets but in the safety of their home or ours.
Posted by: Michele McCusker | September 30, 2008 at 09:29 AM
I'm not a big fan of hotels or kennels for my dogs. I have a woman that comes to my house and stays. My dogs love her and they are in their own home. If she can't come I don't go. I guess if I had to use one I would go with a hotel.
Posted by: Damon Luyster | September 30, 2008 at 10:19 AM
We do not take vacations. Vacations to us is taking our dogs to one of our other properties in Indiana and watching them run and have fun. Small dogs at our place get one on one in home care. We are still an open kennel so they will play with others. We keep the larger dogs separate.
Posted by: Vernon Taylor | September 30, 2008 at 11:16 AM
I had a pet sitter for the first time come in a few weeks ago. I have 5 little furry kids. It worked out great! They did really well considering this was their first time to be left with a stranger to them. Parents have taken care of them in the past. I think if you can leave them in your own home it seems to work the best. It is hard though to find someone that will stay at your house. But it was worth the $60.00 a day. I think I wouldn't go if I had to take them somewhere. I think they got more attention than they normally do.
Posted by: Mary Adair | September 30, 2008 at 12:52 PM
I don't mind at all.
Posted by: erika washington | September 30, 2008 at 02:03 PM
Hey Everyone! Since I got my beagle in 1999, I have put off going on vacations because I couldn't bare to leave my dog alone. (He is my baby.) Anyway, my family and I made reservations to go to Jamaica this summer, so we had to find a place. I knew I couldn't rely on the people I know to care for him the way I do, so after doing research, I found a great kennel in NJ called Highland Kennels. They really put me at ease! When I went to pick up my dog, he did not cry like he usually does when I leave to run to the store!!
Posted by: Paul | September 30, 2008 at 04:01 PM
I don't mind at all.
Posted by: chanell | September 30, 2008 at 04:59 PM
I know my critters are happier at home with a sitter. I usually have a live-in sitter while I'm away from home. Animals are much more comfortable in their own surroundings with the same routines. If you hire a professional pet sitter you should leave home confident that your fur babies are getting the one on one TLC they deserve.
Posted by: Barnyard Nanny | September 30, 2008 at 05:57 PM
Remember your animals are your special angels, and no matter what, there is no price tags what so ever you should put on them ever. Remember to keep your animals in your own surroundings because they feel safe, secure, and happy, just like you would want yourself. They love you so much, so love them back this way. Angels with wings...and tails too.
Posted by: maureen | September 30, 2008 at 08:05 PM
We rarely take non pet friendly vacations. For short vacations, we generally find pet friendly lodging. For instance, our seven month old chihuahua/pug mix has been to the Westchester Marriott twice, the Kingston Holiday Inn, the Middletown, NJ Comfort Inn and the Inn at Lake Joseph in the Catskills. Our former dog, a Pekingese, had been to most of the above plus Ocean Place Resort in Long Branch, NJ. We do have a kennel that we use and trust and always pay for extra play time if we vacation (such as a cruise) where the dog cannot come with us.
Posted by: Eileen | October 01, 2008 at 05:16 AM
I think you should leave them at a doggy hotel, because I've seen them on TV and it seems like they just about pamper them.
Posted by: Cheray | October 01, 2008 at 11:11 PM
I take care of several pets on a daily basis. Please believe me when I say that when I haven't seen a pet that I have cared for in the past for a while, the pet always remembers me, even if it's been longer than a year.
Our pets are our life an we all want the best care possible for them. When you have a pet sitter caring for your pets while you're away, you know who is caring for them, or should I say bonding with them.
I will tell you that you need to meet the sitter and talk to more than one before you make your final decision. Try to weed out the sitters that are all about the money or all about the distance or just need the job. Make sure they really love animals (Do they have pets of their own? Do they have adequate paperwork for you to fill out? Do they have real references?). In other words, do your homework, even if you have to go through several interviews.
I don't recommend pet kennels or pet hotels because I don't feel the pet is stress-free while there.
Posted by: Tia | October 01, 2008 at 11:46 PM
With my dogs when going on a vacation... We usually just leave them home mainly because I in a family of five and there is barely enough room for us in the car :)
Posted by: ashlynne | October 02, 2008 at 07:19 AM
Sometimes taking your pets on vacation can be more fun for you than your pet. Whatever is less stressful for your pet should be the option you choose. When my husband and I go out of town we always board the dogs at a pet hotel so they can play with other dogs during the day and sleep at night. Or, I have a family member come and care for them at home. Traveling with our pets doesn't seem to be feasible.
Posted by: Tina | October 02, 2008 at 11:00 PM
You know, being that I have a part time Pet Care business for people who need care for their pets while away at work or on vacation, I feel that is a great thing to do. Especially if the pet can stay in his own home and feel comfortable, instead of at a stranger's place. I love leaving my pet with a friend I trust, and if I didn't have anyone else, I would look for someone who would be willing to come to my house every day I was away and care for my pet.
Posted by: Lauren | October 09, 2008 at 06:23 PM
The thing is to get a pet sitter.
Posted by: christine | October 19, 2008 at 06:38 PM
I have my own pets and I provide pet sitting & care in my home overnights for people who travel or weekend trips. They are happy and we play & have fun with lots of TLC. There is always someone @ home with them you should always meet with owners & pets first to ensure they all get along together. All pets should be up to date on shots & preventatives for the safety of all pets involved. We encourage owners to call/check in as often as they like. Contact info, vet used, any meds, or issues should be discussed prior to service date.
Posted by: Sharyn W. | January 05, 2009 at 09:12 AM
Hi one choice is use a petsitter like me I do over nights and stay with your loved ones. I stay with your loved one and play walk jog give them lots of love.
Posted by: Brandy | January 06, 2009 at 09:22 AM
I love animals and I'm good with them. I've had a lot of pets in my lifetime.
Posted by: BRITTANY | January 27, 2009 at 05:04 AM
HI, I am a retired RN. I am very loving, warm and I absolutely "crazy" about animals. We lost our Sheltie one year ago and I am still having a hard time adjusting to it. We have 3 cats and I love them but dogs are different. My son has a cairn terrier(daisy) and she is an absolute scream. They also have a Westie. I met a King Charles Spaniel for the first time while waiting for our departure and fell in love with him.
We preferred a pet sitter to come in because Kobi was a shy Sheltie and had separation anxiety. It really worked out great. I would spend an hour or so each time so I could play with them and take them out again before I left. I am retired now so if they came to my home, I would be with them all day and night. It worked great for us with our first Sheltie and our second one. The cats even got used to the pet sitter coming in. It was great.
Posted by: Mary Janer Gee | January 29, 2009 at 06:14 PM
My two large dogs (Mookie a mastive and Jackson a very large samoie) and I now the problem for finding someone to watch them. I've tried the home thing and I found out from neighbors that they didn't come during the time they said they would, I think its because of their size. :(
When I lived in Maryland I found the kennel Pleasant Groom-N-Inn in Rockville and decided to take them there for a trial, they loved it. Also, after a weeks vacation when I picked them up they seemed like they didn't want to go home. Yeah I know they missed me. When I decided to try the doggie daycare and took them there, after the first day when I'd into Southlawn they'd started jumping and whining, which tells me something and that sounded great to me.
I'm not saying that all home care or kennels are bad, but I was told that someone is there 24/7 and all I do know is that when I've called Pleasant's while on vacation at 1:00am someone either answered or I got a call back very shortly. Also, when I called I hear dogs in the office. That is what I like, someone is there. Pleasant Groom-N-Inn didn't look like much and at first it scared me and my dogs didn't care, they just wanted to have fun and they did.
My company moved to Delaware in 2007 and I had to go but I still go to Pleasants in Rockville Maryland for the long weekends and vacation time and it's every bit worth the drive. My dogs miss going there, still haven't found a doggie daycare here that I like, will keep trying. Hay Sandi come on up to Delaware we need you. Ce
Posted by: C L | February 04, 2009 at 01:01 PM
Hi everyone I myself would prefer a in home pet sitter just because pets need to be in familiar surroundings when owner is away, most animals don't adjust to sudden changes in their daily routines meaning being dropped off at a kennel or pet hotel, when you leave to go on vacation and you have a sitter your pet just thinks you're leaving for work and will be back so there's no stress on the animal and this way you can be sure there's one on one play and attention unlike the pet hotels where one person might be assigned to 5 or six animals and kennels they're put in cages and are there most of the day except to go out to do their business. I live in Las Vegas and on occasional basis do pet sitting for a couple of friends so if you're in the need of a sitter let me know I had 6 cats and 2 Lg dogs at one time my original 6 cats are gone, and my Akita passed in Feb of last year and I'm still not over it he was my baby (big baby) I have references and you can rest assure your pet will be loved and well cared for.
Posted by: Cathy | February 19, 2009 at 10:22 AM
I am willing to for any job.
Posted by: palani | February 27, 2009 at 01:10 AM