Recs on how to plan our first vacation without The Fats :(
Submitted by Fatboy on June 10, 2014 - 10:41pmMy husband and I have booked our first vacation without Fatboy. Fatboy has been on every vacation we have taken. Being this upcoming vacation is a Caribbean cruise, we cannot take him this time around. Normally we would ask the breeder to watch him, but his breeder became upset with us for missing an appointment a couple of years ago without calling ahead (my dad had an emergency surgery and I completely forgot to cancel with the breeder, so I can understand). Plus I don't know which city we will be flying out of (a toss up between Austin or Los Angeles). Luckily we set sail in March, 2015, so there is time to plan.
I was thinking of contacting members of the local bulldog clubs to see if anyone can pet sit while we are away. I'd feel better knowing someone knowledgeable of the breed is watching our Fats. And if this is not possible, I would have to have Fatboy sent to my mom's (out of state). The problem here is he would have to be professional "shipped". I've found the IPATA organization. Does anyone have any experience or knowledge of them?
If anyone can give an alternative, it would be greatly appreciated.
Fatboy aka Stinky :)
I have some ideas for that cutie pie! :-)
Awww, it's hard, isn't it? Like you, we've been taking them on the road trips with us and finding pet-friendly hotels...and
also---like you---we want to someday take the kind of trip where we'd HAVE to leave them (sad face!) :-(
1. Does your VET have boarding availa---bull? When we left Meaty with our verrrry bulldog-friendly vet, we felt VERY
unworried, and OMG---they had SO many bullies kenneled there, (holiday, so very busy!!!) never seen so many! :-)
2. We can TOTALLY relate to you wanting a facility that really KNOWS bulldogs.....so I always worry that no matter where
we would board our babies, what if they let them play too long with the other doggies that don't have flat faces....., or they accidentally stayed outside too long...etc. The
good thing is, in MARCH, heat won't be an issue......Have you considered one of those fun
places such as "Camp Bow Wow", (they are nationwide, but I realize you may not have one close enough)......You could
check on/ skype with Fats ANYtime, 24--7 via their cameras......awww!!!! :-) If we ever leave our babies at a place like
that, I will ask them if I can make SIGNS with friendly reminders..."PLEASE don't let them play as long as the other dogs!"....
"PLEASE, if it's warm..... watch them closely when they're outside to potty! Make it FAST!" etc.....
3. Here's a place where when we HAD to board Meaty a couple times, we LOVED that there was NO WORRY ABOUT
**OUTDOOR** HEAT issues, nor was there a problem with them maybe letting Meaty play too long......PETSMART HOTEL! :-)
The doggies NEVER go outside, (taken to a "special potty" room a few times per day) And, I like that
they can NOT be overexerted, because you pay for their "play periods", so they are timed. (That is a BIGGIE for me,
since there was one time a lonnnnnng time ago that I took Meaty to a doggie play thing for 2 hours and he almost
passed out.....talk about feeling TERRIBLE!!!! I only took him so he could have fun and be with other doggies.....but
I was new at this and didn't know better!)
Again, dunno if you have those near you, I think some states may not have the "HOTEL" option.
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Hope this helps you a bit.......I also like your idea of a trusted doggie sitter. Annnd, maybe I'm too much of a worrier, but
my thing with a sitter---no matter HOW good they are----what **IF** they didn't do the harness correctly and he got away?
Or, left a door open accidentally........And would they know what to do in emergencies......etc. etc. etc.....
Our sweet Archimedes "MEATY" Bones (or as we say...boneSHHH!) ---born 11/28/08---- our first bullllyyyy!!!
And SOPHIE Bubbles *Rapscallion* (LOL!) ---born 4/3/11----our second bulllllyyyy!!!!
**UGH! SO sorry---I meant to INDENT all my paragraphs....my
post will be veryyyy hard to read----again---sorry!!!!! UGH!
Our sweet Archimedes "MEATY" Bones (or as we say...boneSHHH!) ---born 11/28/08---- our first bullllyyyy!!!
And SOPHIE Bubbles *Rapscallion* (LOL!) ---born 4/3/11----our second bulllllyyyy!!!!
Check with your vet and...
see if any of the techs pet sit or know of someone who does. That's where we found our sitter, and she's wonderful, been with us for 10 years. She stays with them, sleeps here, also gets the mail, etc. I personally would never ship a bulldog, our guys would get so stressed, who knows what would happen. I think they are more relaxed and comfortable in their own home too. We just got back from an Alaskan cruise, it was great! I know you will have a good time.