You have a holiday coming up in a few weeks that you have been excited about. However, it has also been giving you some anxiety as you are not able to bring your dog alone.
Finding a dog boarding service would be the best option for a scenario like this. But what if you have a dog that doesn’t get along with other dogs?
Let’s take a look at some of the options worth considering that can put both you and your dog at ease.
Find A Friend Or Relative
They say that ‘a friend in need is a friend indeed’.
If you know of a friend or relative that loves your dog and doesn’t have a dog of their own, make a check to see if that individual is able to look after your dog while you are away.
Chances are, your dog is already familiar with this person due to the constant visits. Hence the time spent at the new home will be more bearable.
Get A Pet Sitter
There are some dogs that have separation anxiety and much prefer to be amongst familiar surroundings like their own home.
You can get a dog sitter to look after your dog while you are gone.
Do note that not all pet sitters provide the same level of service. Some will just come by to feed your dog while others will bring your dog to the dog park for walks.
There are some pet sitters that also offer overnight services if required.
Regardless of the types of services required, always make sure to interview and see how your dog and potential pet sitter react to each other before going ahead with the hire.
Find A Specialized Dog Boarding Kennel
In the event that you are not able to find anyone you know or a reliable pet sitter for your dog, the best option would be a boarding kennel.
Choosing the right kennel is very important given that your dog isn’t too sociable with other dogs.
Here are some checks to do before deciding on the right kennel for your dog.
Tour The Boarding Kennel
This is the most important step that you need to do to ensure your dog’s well being. Even if the kennel comes with glowing reviews and recommendations, you still need to take a tour of the premises.
A quality kennel will be more than happy for you to come by for a tour and meet your dog. Any kennel that isn’t too keen on the idea should be avoided like the plague.
When you’re there, make sure to ask the following questions:
- How often will my dog go be taken for walks?
- Will anyone provide one on one time with my dog?
- Will my dog be kept safely away from other dogs?
- What other activities do they provide?
Check out the important areas like sleeping areas of the boarded dogs, bathing areas, eating areas, etc.
Let the Kennel Know Of Your Dog’s Issue
Don’t hide the fact that your dog isn’t fond of other dogs from the kennel. Doing so will only lead to problems when your dog is there.
Some kennels might not accept dogs with such behavioral issues.
By letting them know early, the kennel can make the necessary arrangements for your dog like having separate or isolated playtimes and dedicated alone time. They might have to assign a handler that has experience in dealing with such dogs.
Emergency Situation Procedures
It is very important for you to know what the boarding kennel will do in the event of an emergency. This could be when your dog is injured or is sick.
Most quality kennels will have an in-house vet that provides round the clock veterinary care for their dogs.
You would also want the kennel to contact you in the event of an emergency and keep you updated on the situation.
Knowing that your furry friend will be well taken care of under such circumstances will put you at greater ease.
Why Does My Dog Not Like Other Dogs?
Dogs are pack animals, unlike cats who are more solitary in nature. Having a dog that doesn’t get along well with other dogs signals a deeper behavioral problem.
Here are some reasons why your dog doesn’t like other dogs.
Poor Socialization
This is a very common reason for dogs with such a problem. It started off when the pup was taken away from its mother and littermates before 6-8 weeks of age.
These puppies weren’t given sufficient time to get properly socialized with other animals or dogs. Even dogs that are well socialized as puppies but not when they are adults can show such behavioral traits too.
Negative Experience
A negative experience could have made your dog feel this way. Some small dogs tend to be more fearful around large dogs as larger dogs tend to be more dominant.
Your little guy developed feelings of insecurities and lacked confidence when interacting with other dogs.
If your dog has gotten into a fight or got bitten by another dog, it might have developed a fear of dogs via this negative experience.
Overly Protective Dog
Dogs are protective in nature but some can take it too far. Some dogs are too protective of their owners and tend to get very aggressive when other dogs are around.
This is also known as resource guarding and such dogs feel threatened by the presence of other dogs.
How Do I Train My Dog To Get Along With Other Dogs?
Having a dog that is fearful or aggressive towards other dogs is not a small issue. It can lead to your or your dog getting injured and it is the last thing you want happening.
If you have a large dog that is very aggressive towards other dogs, it can be very hard to control it when it gets angry or agitated.
You will need to correct behavior once your dog starts to display such behavioral traits. The longer you let it fester, the harder it will be for your dog to correct its behavior.
Here are some ways that you can train your dog to get along with other dogs.
- Basic obedience
- Flooding
- Avoidance
If training your dog effectively is out of your scope, then it would be best to send your dog to obedience school or hire a professional dog trainer.
Conclusion
There are many boarding options that you can consider if you need to leave your dog for a while. Make sure to start searching for a suitable pet sitter or boarding kennel long before you leave and not at the very last minute.
Dogs with special needs require more specialized care to ensure that they are well taken care of while you are away.