Dog doesn't eat when @ kennel . . .

[rdldbb]

Unfortunately most of our family members aren't as keen on our dogs as we are and we always have to kennel the dogs when we go on vacation or leave for the holidays. Auggie, our oldest, barely eats enough to sustain himself while he is at the kennel. It is obvious that he is totally stressed out at the kennel and doesn't have an appetite b/c he misses us. We have tried sending canned food to be mixed w/ his dry food (he is fed dry food on a regular basis, but absolutely loves canned food) in hopes that he would eat more, but that doesn't work. Our vet basically told us not to really worry much b/c dogs won't starve themselves. Lolli, our youngest, has absolutely no problem eating when she is at the kennel. Auggie probably had lost more weight than he ever has when at the kennel over Thanksgiving. We went on a 10 day vacation and when we returned he literally looked emaciated - ribs, hips, spine, shoulder bones all sticking out of his skin - Lolli on the other hand might have gained a few lbs. Of course he was elated to see us and ate like mad when he got home. It has been a little over 1.5 weeks since and he is pretty much back up to his regular weight.

I was wondering if others have had this experience and if anyone has suggestions on helping the poor guy eat while he is at the kennel.

 

[Austin's Mom]

No offense but if my dog got that upset at being left in a kennel he wouldn't be left there at all.

 

[sandy's mom]

My Sandy used to do that. Now we have found someone that boards dogs in her house. She only takes 5 dogs and they get lots of one on one attention.
We left our two during Thanksgiving and both did great. They didn't really want to go back home. They had someone different to play with.

Maybe you can find someone in your area that does this. Ours is a trainer.

Good Luck
Debbie

 

[Angie K]

I have a female with a heart condition and I found a person who pet sits in their home just like the previous poster said (sorry my short term memory has lapsed as to your name). She has her yard fenced off in two play areas one for big and one for small dogs. She has crates for them to sleep in and they also eat in the crate but other than those occasions they are free to roam in two large rooms in her house (one is the family room so she is always there) and they have a doggie door to the back yard for potty time. She is great and has been doing this for over 20yrs. I never thought my female would get along with little dogs but after a vacation we picked her up and she said she was snuggling with the yorkies she watched and made best friends with a grey hound she had also for the week. The price is actually the same as the kennels we looked into so that was good. We do bring our own food and she also askes that you bring something of the dogs like if they have a certain blanket or pillow for in the crate. Any toys she always says she can't guarantee someone else will not rip it apart so no toys. We usually bring her a nylabone and it is kept in the crate with her.

 

[rdldbb]

Thanks for the suggestion Sandy's mom. That is really the only scenario in which I think that Auggie would be relatively comfortable - and then I'm not too sure how he would do with eating. He just hates it when we are away in general. It really isn't an option for us not have them keneled when we are out of town so I'm just trying to see if it happens to others and what they have done to remedy the situation. I'll have to look and ask around to see if anyone in our area watches dogs at their house in a more comfortable environment. I have a friend who will come to your house and let the pets out, but this will not work for us b/c we crate the dogs. We actually tried this when we were going to be out of town for one night - we had our friend come over 4 times during the day to let Auggie out and the last time she came over he had managed to get his metal crate apart and ripped down all of the mini-blinds.

FYI -

The kennel that we take the dogs to is really a great place. The people have a number of indoor/outdoor runs built into their basement. They live in a rural area so they have a huge fenced in area for the dogs to play 2-3 times a day. The kennel area is climate controlled for each season.

 

[sandy's mom]

The kennel we used was great too. They were very attentive and everything.
It is just he environment. Sandy would just be so unhappy, even when we got her home she would just sit and look at us for a while. It was heartbreaking. We kinda thought it was because she was a stray and maybe she thought we were not comming back. That didn't happen this time.
I don't think she even noticed when we left. She was already having fun.

Good Luck!

 

[kassa]

Don't assume that the dog was necessarily miserable, especially if it's otherwise well socialized and good in strange places and new situations.

A friend who's a boxer owner/breeder/handler has worked in kennels for 20+ years and told me that the vast majority of boarded dogs in her experience have a good time -- even some of the ones that don't eat. Sometimes they don't eat because they're too busy bouncing and barking and carrying on watching everybody else's business.

Sensory overload can be an appetite suppressant, of course, and there's certainly an argument to be made that that much excitement is too much stress over a long period of time. However, she said people's fears that their dogs are curled up in a corner, all forlorn and hopelessly sad, unable to eat or drink simply aren't true in the vast majority of cases. A handful, to be sure, and they tell those people straight out that the dog isn't a good boarding candidate for the future (or even call the emergency contact if it's desperately unhappy).

I have friends who took a pet puppy from me. They occasionally board her for a week and I stop by mid-week to check on her. She invariably is thin (they've learned to fatten her up a bit before boarding) but she trots out to see me, happy as can be, then when we're done with our visit, she trots back to the kennels equally happy to go along with the total stranger holding her lead. She knows the place by now and doesn't show any sign of reluctance at being left there -- in fact, she drags them in, in typical boxer excitement (most of mine do this at the vet, too!)

I know this bitch and I know she knows how to dig her feet in and refuse to go somewhere she doesn't want to go. So despite her weight loss each time, I have no serious concerns about her happiness there.

 

[harleyboxer]

I work for a vet with a boarding kennel and agree that most dogs are perfectly fine there. Even the really timid ones come around. The ones that don't eat are usually the really old dogs. They seem to be more depressed, but then again there are old dogs that are happy to be there also.

 

[courtney323]

Sandy's Mom -

My Madeline would originally go to her "grandma and grandpa"'s house when we go out of town, until this past year. Now we have to board her, as my parents have a dog that doesn't get along with our Maddie.

We do tend to travel every 6 weeks or so. What I noticed is that the first few times, Maddie wouldn't eat. But as time passed, I think she became more familiar with the kennel, and now she's fine. Perhaps this will just take your dog some time to get used to..?

I agree with Kassa, and with your vet. Your dog may not be miserable or terrified. Also, he won't starve himself. He's probably just overwhelmed and over-stimulated there. Ask the kennel tech how he is doing during the day at doggy day care. Does he play? Does he seem to have fun?

Good luck, and don't worry too much

 

[Sadiesmawme]

Yes, Our Sadie did that when we went to the beach for a week. I picker her up at the vet and sobbed the entire way home. Any time since then we have FOUND someone to keep her. I can not make myself leave her there.