I am in a quandry and would appreciate some perspective.....
We are booked to go to Disneyland Paris in May - before booking my in-laws agreed to have Honey. However a commitment they had the following week has now been brought forward and they can no longer have her.
In her 10yrs, she's only ever been looked after by them or us.
But I now need to find an alternative.... my heart says boarding... but she's a tricky dog, and I'm not sure she'd settle with another dog in the home, and I'm not sure she won't find someone else's home and routines rather stressful even if it was a dog free home. Primarily I worry about a boarding person managing her behaviour - she's fine with us as we know her and she trusts us, I can read when she is unhappy about the way another dog is approaching, I can tell when she's nicked something she thinks she needs to guard, and my kids respect her space. I wouldn't trust her in close proximity to an unknown child.
My head says kennels - no risk of visiting children, a clear (albeit not as personal) routine and expectations.... I doubt she'll enjoy the experience, but I think she'd bounce back pretty well.
I would love to think of her cuddled up in a home-from-home, but if she's stressed she's more likely to guard, and she will actively look for something to guard if she thinks she needs to (whether that be an empty crisp packet or a peice of paper). That said, I don't think she's ever stolen/guarded stuff at my in-laws. She does, however, terrify the postman
and has taken 9yrs to accept their next door neighbour.