Puppy in kennel

SarahSassy

We have an 11 week old lab. My oh has to go away with work for a month from dec 5th and the location is pretty exotic. I have the option to go with him but would not like to leave the dog for so long. I would think of going for a week but would feel guilty for leaving him in a kennel at approx 19 weeks. Any advice? Has anyone done this? Is 19 weeks to young (all shots will be done)

Whispered

It's not ideal to be honest. This is a time where the pup will be earning how to live in a house, how to interact with people, house training etc. He will get none of this in a kennel.

However, it's such a huge opportunity for you, I would consider spending the extra money to hire someone to take your pup into their own home and pet sit him there. This will go a long way to ensuring that his house training and his more formative weeks are looked after while you are away.

Make sure you are 100% happy with the person you choose. You will want them to love dogs, even when they are causing trouble, because lets face it, pups do get up to mischief, you will want to know that when the pup chews their skirtings or something like that they will be ok with that.
You should meet them a few times and maybe even have your pup spend a night or two there so that you can see how he is when he comes home.

I think if you decided not to go, you might regret it. If you put a lot of research into it and make sure you pup will go somewhere good it should be ok.

Fosters around that age never seem to sufer from moving around, so long as the foster home is a good one. I would imgine that for your pet, it would be the same.

andreac

Tbh is think it is far too long to leave a very young pup in kennels, id be hard pushed leaving my 3 year old dog in kennels for 2 weeks let alone a month, but thats just my opinion.

Have you a friend or relative who might be willing to take on the pup while you are away? Its a big thing to ask as im sure you are still house training it and so on.

Did you know your partner had this chance to go away before you got the dog?
Imo it would be very unfair to leave a pup in a kennels while hes only young, it can be very stressful for any dog and even more so on a pup.

star-pants

SarahSassy wrote: »

We have an 11 week old lab. My oh has to go away with work for a month from dec 5th and the location is pretty exotic. I have the option to go with him but would not like to leave the dog for so long. I would think of going for a week but would feel guilty for leaving him in a kennel at approx 19 weeks. Any advice? Has anyone done this? Is 19 weeks to young (all shots will be done)

Just to highlight that bit there.

IMO - it is a little young to leave the pup in a kennel, but what Helena has said sounds like a good idea - someone to mind him in your home (if possible) or to go to their home for the week. That way they get their training/routine kept as close to what you had and you know they'll get the attention and care they'll need. (not saying they wouldn't be cared for in a kennel, but they're not going to get a 'mother' in a kennel).

Sigma Force

People need a life and as long as the dog is in a good kennel I don't see the problem. It's not forever although a month would be very long for any dog a week isn't going to do any harm.

The pup will be nearly 5 months at that stage so perhaps consider a home boarding facility like Yuppi Puppie where your pup will get to mix with other dogs. It would be very good for the pup to mix with other dogs good for socialisation.

Wouldn't put a pup that age into a standard kennel but something like Yuppie Puppie is perfect. Well socialised, brought on walks daily, kept indoors would be no different than leaving the pup with a relative.

It would only do harm if the pup was placed in a badly run kennel where the pup was out in the cold, not walked and not given the attention he needs.

Our pup is 6 months and although I wouldn't put him in a standard kennel, I would have no problems and would not feel guilty about putting him into yuppie puppie or another well run place in fact he would love it.

Go and enjoy yourself for the week or even two, your pup has the rest of his life to spend with you. This oppertunity might not come up again.

SarahSassy

I could go for the month but would not think that fair so i am not considering going fir that long. Didn't think a week would have been that much of a problem. Will look into all options. My oh had dogs in city west before and they were v well minded and he knows the owners

Whispered

Sarah, I'm sorry, I misread your post. I thought you were going for a month. If it's just a week then a well run kennel should be ok. Like the one GPR recommended.

SarahSassy

helena.ryan wrote: »

Sarah, I'm sorry, I misread your post. I thought you were going for a month. If it's just a week then a well run kennel should be ok. Like the one GPR recommended.

Thanks Helena, would love to be away for a month but would not do that to the pup. He us so used to having one of other 24 hours per day that it would be mean. We are trying to think up of friends of family who would help but given that it would prob be st stephens day til new years day it hard to ask that of people. we will get something sorted

lorebringer

One week ina kennel would be fine for a pup of 19 weeks, just make sure it is a good kennel! If you could get a friend or a family member to watch him for the week, quite a few people will have time off around christmas/new years time so there would probably be someone at home most of the time in the house you leave him in. Good luck finding somewhere!