[sendmorecops]

Originally Posted by SouthernBelleInUtah

Sendmorecops' post reminded me that dogs need seat belts as much as people. They make vests which can be attached to seat belts. Much safer than having your dog get thrown out of the car or becoming a missile aimed at your head!

Yep, the bigger dog has one, the little one doesn't because now that my husband is home, she's always being held in someone's lap. I really need to get one and make her sit in the back, though.

[AnalyzeThis]

Thanks all for the many suggestions! It's giving me much to think over. Unfortunately the airline does not have any direct flights to cities around the area I am going to (the airline with the climate controlled cabin). At this point I am starting to think of driving and just breaking up the trip between two days. I just don't know though. That would mean I would travel back on the 2nd and 3rd of Jan which is sure to be a very congested and frustrating trip.

Leaving them here is just really not going to work unless I cut my trip down substantially. I was looking to go for 15 days. At a cost of atleast $55 a day, I'd be looking at $825 just for boarding. Not to mention the stress of constantly worrying about my little one. I am just really not sure yet!

[AnalyzeThis]

Originally Posted by gentlearts

They are DOGS. Put them in a top quality kennel and go on vacation.

They are not just dogs to me. They are family. They have been with me through a marriage, a divorce, three different cities, numerous trips, 1 surgery, 3 apartments, 1 townhouse, and 1 house. For me to go on a vacation knowing that I am leaving one of them in severe emotional distress is extremely cruel and it is not something I could knowingly do. If my solution was that easy I would not have posted for ALTERNATIVE suggestions

[AnalyzeThis]

Originally Posted by SouthernBelleInUtah

Sendmorecops' post reminded me that dogs need seat belts as much as people. They make vests which can be attached to seat belts. Much safer than having your dog get thrown out of the car or becoming a missile aimed at your head!

Great suggestion! They were actually in the car during my last road trip to FL when we had the rollover accident. It was only the grace of God that they were not injured (more than I can say for myself). I am really not sure how they managed to escape unscathed but I will definitely be getting them both a car seat if I choose to drive.

[kek1993]

For that amount of money, could you find a pet sitter? That the dogs could stay in their own home, with a dog sitter coming over, or maybe someone you know could stay with them? Make sure you get references though for the pet sitter. When I was out waking my dog, I often met people who had dogs, and we became friends, and would trade off on taking care of each others dogs.

[LittleDolphin]

Maybe of all the good suggestions others have made, if it were me, I'd go with having a pet sitter come stay at your home with your two pups...maybe a dog-loving college student or retired senior with some Pom experience? Great references, of course. Heck if I were closer, I'd do it myself! I've pet-sat in friend's homes for their dogs and cats and it was fun. The pets knew me already so we all got along just fine.

Having a live-in-sitter has worked fine for me and my dog, too...he prefers to stay in his home surroundings, he's never been in a kennel, and doesn't do well only having a dog sitter come over twice a day--he's very much a velcro dog used to having us around all day.

We've taken him on long car trips before but with him now being a senior dog, it's easier on him physically to stay in familiar surroundings and have someone come stay with him.

If the dog sitter had a few meetings with your shy dog first maybe it wouldn't be quite so traumatic for him during your vacation. Good luck, I'm sure there's a good solution for both you and your pups and you'll find it...

[ShelbyGirl1]

Don't suppose you have a travel companion who love to fly to fl. with you? Then you could take both dogs in cabin. One for each of you.

[dmwlakewylie]

If you decide to have a pet sitter come into your home, start now if you can afford to do so . Have that person visit with you and the pups on several occassions before your trip - lots of treats, loving, etc. so they associate the pet sitter with good things. Have him/her stay overnight a few times before your trip, so once again the pups associate this person as an ok substitute. It may help them to have some familarity with the person before your trip. I feel for you - I worry about mine also if we travel.

[AnalyzeThis]

Every one, thank you for all for your suggestions and understanding. At this point I am leaning towards driving and making a two day drip out of it. That will also allow me to have my car for the weeks that I am there. My brother has offered to fly up here and drive down with me, then drive back up with me and fly back to FL. He has quite a bit of time off as well. He also offered to fly up here, and then we all fly back together (the flight is only about 2 hours), and then we fly back up here and he flies back down (not all on the same day he wants to stay a few days here). This will allow me to take both my dogs in the cabin with me. Of course, I would have to buy my ticket, his ticket, and then pay for both my dogs. So I am looking at about $1,200 for that scenario. Still not convinced yet, but at least it's an option. Thanks again!

[netwit]

I know how you feel. My dogs have been with me through a lot of things and I don't go on trips without them. That has meant driving. It is a small inconvenience to stop every few hours to let them run as compared to the worry I would have leaving them at home.

Until last fall I had 4 dogs: two are German shepherds and very attached to each other, but also the one is particularly attached to me. The other two were older dogs but they also had a bond. All the dogs but one liked travelling. Due to this one dog's age and hatred of travel, I left the two dogs home last summer, taking the two GSDs along.

I had family my dogs know and like stay with the two left behind. When we returned from our trip, I was surprised to find neither dog at the door. I followed the sounds of crying to the bedroom where they both were crying quietly to themselves and the one dog whose dislike of travel caused me to leave her home, with her best dog friend, died that October. Of old age. But it haunts me that maybe something in her gave up due to the days we were away. She disliked travel but I think she disliked being without me even more.

I think the dogs thought we would never come back. Anyway, that did it. I will never, no matter what, go on a trip without all my dogs. I'm not putting them or me through anything like that. Pet sitters are a fine idea and may in fact cut down on some stress as opposed to having the dog in a kennel but ultimately it is their people that they miss.

They are family and I don't feel in the least apologetic about it.

I don't have a suggestion other than what has been made: do the best you can and I really hope you take the dogs along one way or the other. It hurt my heart reading how the shyer dog reacts when you're gone.