My life lately!

[Lindsey]

We have not been able to get in touch with the second lady yet, so as of now, we're still going with the first kennel. We leave in two weeks now, so we have to make the decision and start taking Layla for daycare days so she is used to it.

[Lindsey]

Well, we toured both places this weekend.

We went to the first place and the owner was so friendly! He immediately got down on his knees and started petting Layla. His house is just across the yard from the kennel. He showed us around and talked to every dog as he walked by them, calling them by name, telling us who he thinks might be compatible to be beside Layla. He showed us the "quiet" area where the older or special needs dogs are, and said that's where he'd probably put Layla. The others are all pretty rambunctious! He showed us all the kennels, then their little runs outside and the play area outside. He asked if Layla would prefer to walk on gravel or the grass, because they can do either one, and if she doesn't want to play with the other dogs at exercise time, they'd just take her for a walk around the building on her own. He showed us their boiler system that heats the concrete floors, as well as their water filtration (they have city water, and then filter it again so the dogs get the best of the best). Their floors all slope to a drain along the hallways in case there are any accidents, the liquid would run out of the kennel and not be stuck in there with the dog. And none of the kennels face other kennels. There are concrete walls across the hallways, so the dogs aren't looking at each other and they really have their own little private space.

He asked if Layla would have problems on the concrete and said he had some foam mats he could put in the bottom of her kennel so she wouldn't rub her belly on the concrete all day. They have on-site grooming, and the groomer came over and was fawning all over Layla as well! She said she'd love to bring her little dogs in to play with her. We talked about expressing and he asked lots of questions and said they'd do it 4x per day. He would be in charge of mornings and nights (between 6:30-7 am, and then 11-midnight), and during the day there are two staff on that would be expressing her at least two more times.

So then we went to the other place. There is also a person who lives on site, but she was not the one there when we stopped. The lady we talked to didn't know anything about expressing dogs, and just said "one of the other girls deals with that." There were two buildings, she just showed us the first one we had to walk through. There was no grass outside, just gravel. The dogs all looked very stressed and she ignored them all. They all had access to outside so Scott asked if they are just left open all night, and she said no, the doors are closed up when they close for the night at 6 pm. The dogs go out again in the morning at 7." I was shocked! They just leave all those dogs for 13 hours without a bathroom break? I guess when the business closes, they just stop everything. The house must have been 20 feet from the kennel. We told her Layla can't go that long, so she said "Well then I guess the girl who lives here would come out and do it, but that's something extra she'd have to do for you" She didn't talk to Layla or pet her or give her any attention.

We got in the car and I told Scott that was an easy choice! The first place it is! It is still going to be really hard to leave her, but it's the better choice. We are taking her this Wednesday for her first full daycare day there, and we'll take her twice next week as well, before leaving her for 9 days. I really hope she likes it! She seemed pretty calm there though. I'm just going to be a worried mom for a week!

[DIANE W]

Oh Lindsey............poor you, you will be so worried, i agree the first place really does sound the better option. I think its good that Layla is going to get to visit before too, that way it will be familiar to her.

[gja1000]

Lindsey, the first place sounds wonderful - but I agree, I'd be a worried mom too! I know she will be fine, but you will still worry and that is OK!

[Lindsey]

We are taking her there for her first "daycare" day tomorrow. The vet tech doesn't start work until 10, so we'll go in at 7:45 and show them how to express her properly. The tech should be there to teach them for noon and afternoon expressings as well. I am having anxiety already!

[Lindsey]

We took her on Wednesday for daycare. We showed the owner how to express when we got there, but he couldn't get it so we just emptied her bladder for them before leaving. I worried about her all day but she was happy when we got there to pick her up. They told us their vet tech tried to express her around 2 pm, but she couldn't get anything out. She should have been able to though. Layla's bladder was full when we got there at 5. The tech was gone by then, so we tried to teach the owner and he still couldn't get it. We took her again today. We spent 45 minutes with him this morning and he still couldn't get anything. We emptied her bladder for him again before leaving (and being late for work by an hour). I just want to cry!!! We leave in a week.

[DIANE W]

Lindsey.......... i am sure you have considered it, but could she not go with you, even left in a hotel room, you maybe could get back to see to her at times????

I am only guessing, poor you, i too would be worried sick.