[nagdu] what do you do with your dog when you go away?

[PICKRELL, REBECCA M (TASC)]

I'd try t otake your dog on these trips. Any reason why you can't? 
I'd have your dog stay at a guide dog school given the amount of time that you'll be gone. His training will be kept up and in theory anyway, he won't be able to develop bad habbits. 
If he does stay with someone, that person or people needs to insist on correct guide dog behavior, basically whatever you do to keep you guys a functioning team. When walks are taken, the dog must stop at curbs and stairs, stuff like that. 
Me though I'd seriously do what you can to take the dog with you on these trips.

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of GARY STEEVES
Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 2:20 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: [nagdu] what do you do with your dog when you go away?

Hello Everyone:

As many of you may recall, I'm a fairly new dog guide handler. Over the next several months I must go away almost once a month. Bonn germany for 5 days in February, Turkey in end of march for 8 or 9 days, Montreal at the end of april for 4 days and then a holiday to hawaii in May for 10 days.

I'm curious what others do with their dogs when they can't take them with them?

I have several options for many of these trips. The first one is that bogart stays at home and will just have to be at home alone while Susan, my girlfriend is at work. Her thought is that although he will be stressed with me gone and being at home alone for 8.5 hours, it will be in his familiar surroundings with his toys, our guinea pigs and my smells (and Susan of course0). 

Second option is my supervisor at work has offered to take him for any/all of these trips. She has two dogs at home and her husband stays home all day. He takes them out for a couple of walks a day and they have a back yard. Bogart really likes her which could be both good or bad.


We have another friend who also have two dogs, a whipet and an older lab, with a back yard and  robert works from home most days.

The last option which I am looking into now is if the local guide dog school, who my dog is not from, would offer any kenneling services (for a fee of course) or access to any of their puppy raisers who would be intersted in looking after bogart for some of these trips for a fee as well. My thought is this option, if possible, would best keep bogart's training at a reasonable  level. :)

Do any of you have thoughts on what you think would be best. I've left a message for my trainers at my school as well to bounce these options off her too but the more thoughts I have I think the more I can look at pros and cons.

Thanks
Gary
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