As we all know, there comes a time for every dog or cat owner when we need to find someone to watch them while we go out of town for work, vacation, etc. Even thinking about leaving my dog makes my heart sink. So what do you do? Where do you find someone you can trust? Should you consider a pet resort or a pet sitter?
If you don’t have any family or friends who are available or who you trust, then you’ll need to start looking online. A good start would be to gather a list of pet resorts in your area, along with reviews, to help make your decision. Easier said than done! If you live in the Phoenix, AZ area, you should definitely start with looking in baileysdoggydirectory.com where we have a comprehensive listing of dog services in Phoenix, including pet resorts, pet sitters, etc.
Some things to consider when choosing a place for your pet to stay is their reputation and cleanliness along with finding out where your dog will spend his/her time. Will they be locked in a cage most of the time or free to play in a safe, secure environment? How many daily walks and potty breaks? How much human attention and interaction do they get? Do they verify all of the dogs have been vaccinated? Do they have cameras installed throughout the facility so you can see your best friend via a webcam while you’re away?
Is Your Dog’s Personality Suited for a Pet Resort?
You’ll need to keep your dog’s personality and history in mind as well. If your dog has never been to a doggy daycare or pet resort, you might want to place them in doggy daycare first to see how they do. Some dogs are more social than others and it will help make their stay more comfortable if they’ve been away from home before. Today, most doggy daycare facilities also offer boarding, so if your dog does well in daycare and you like the facility and the staff, then you’ve found your pet resort!
If after a couple of trials at doggy daycare you find that your dog isn’t adapting well, you might consider a pet sitter instead. Not all dogs do well in a noisy, dog-filled building.
If you do decide to board your dog in a pet resort, make sure you have thoroughly toured the facility and have a clear picture of where your dog will play and sleep. There are so many levels of pampering offered today at pet resorts from suites that would rival our own hotel rooms to a plain cage. Obviously the prices vary greatly as well.
The biggest tip I have is to do your homework well in advance of your trip so you can feel good about where your dog will be staying so you can enjoy your well-deserved vacation!
Happy and safe travel.
