Vacation Blues

My beautiful Maltese named Gidget is 8 mo. old. We have always been dog lovers but this is our first Maltese. She has been much different then other breeds we have had in that she is so attached to us, loves to be with us, near us,on us, by us as much as possible. She is very spoiled and we love her company. Our problem is that we have rented summer cabins in years past for a week or two for vacation and have always placed our dog in a kennel. I feel terrible about this with Gidget because I know how she reacts when I come home from work. She is sooooo happy to see me and she is so sad when we leave. I have tried to find vacation spots for pets but seems no one accepts them. Any suggestions or experience with kenneling your Maltese? I'm just worried how she will do without us around especially at night since she sleeps with us.
Sandy in Michigan

• Boy do I understand where your coming from!! I too, have an 8 mo. old female named Cescie. By my side all the time, I even take yer to my husbands basketball games (he's a coach) and the kids and crowd love her. But for the last 5 mos I have been working my businesses from my home office and Cescie is with me 24 hours a day. I love it, she sleeps in a basket on my desk. I recently had to go to OK City overnight and my family said she did not do well. We have a cruise planned this summer and I would insist on taking her with me, but would be worried about "dog overboard". We have friend who visits often who own a small poodle, Cescie and the poodle play well together and my friends are used to looking after a small dog so they are going to baby sit. I hate to say never, but if possible I will never leave her in a kennel. She is going with me on a two week trip to Calif. this summer, and like I said, to friends while we are on the cruise. She is a great traveler, as we have taken her many, many miles even though she is very young.

  My suggestion is take your puppy with you, if she is not welcome don't go there. I have found if I put on my Joan Rivers act and Cescie pretends she is Spike, very few people even question me. Cescie has even gone shopping in Wal-Mart and some of the best stores. We both just give it our best upper-crust act and keep going. Most people are so smitten by these little white charmers we have never had one single problem.

  Maybe you could work out a sitting trade with another Maltese owner in your area. You are right, these dogs are special and I would not leave Cescie with just anyone, but someone who knows the dog and is willing to treat it like you do would make the seperation bearable for your little one. Still, I say take the puppy with you if possible. Dogs need vacations too, and you would be more relaxed knowing it was ok. Have a good vacation whatever!
  Joeline

• Wow!! Finally someone with my exact concerns!!! I have the same concerns about boarding my 3 yr old Maltese, who is also attatched to me and my husband!! We went to Brazil a couple of years ago and I left him in the care of my sister, who is ok with him. Still I worried about him from time to time. I was wondering about the kennels. I really haven't found one that I would feel at ease with especially at night. I don't want to miss out on vacations because of my anxieties, but what can I do? I love the part of your messege about putting on the Joan Rivers act!! I think that is an excellent idea. One that I've often had to do to get by when in places not too familiar with canines. I would love to go to places that readily accepts lapdogs without batting eyes. Any suggestions would be great for me and my pooch here on the Eastcoast!!

• After reading your messege I was so relieved to see that someone else has the same concerns that I do about boarding a Maltese. I have pondered this over and over in my mind and I can't come up with anything other than taking him with you. I know there are so many places that do not allow pets and that is really unfortunate. I have read brochures that stated a particular hotel would accept pets and when I arrived, much to my dismay, there was a sign saying NO PETS! I really am sorry that I can't offer any real suggestions at this time, but if I run across any good ones, I will be sure to post them. I just wanted to comment since I had the same concerns, kind of out support! I wish mush success and please let me know if yu think of any clever ideas!

• Yes, take your precious friend with you. Tessie and I have traveled all over the US, Italy, Turkey, Germany, Israel, etc. Be sure you choose a US airlines that will let your Maltese fly with you in the cabin in a dog carrier that fits under the seat in front of you. Tessie has always loved her box and often prefers to stay in the box rather than come out and sit in the seat with me. I :>) never give her any kind of medication, she is always calm and never barks or whines. (She only peed on one cusom' s agent.)

  However, be careful of local customs (both border customs and local culture). She was brutally bitten by a resturant owner's dogs in Israel and that owner didn't have to take any responsiblity for our pain or vet bills.

  I agree, a family who loves dogs is a good alternative for a place to leave her instead of taking her along. I wish you all many happy miles with your precious companion.
  Lu Ford

• Our Maltese is just like Gidget with my Mom. Last summer, we had to leave her in a kennel for 2 weeks. We all felt bad about leaving her alone for so long. About a week before we left, my parents began sleeping with a hand towel every night. They would drape the towel over their pillow and then lay on top of it, spreading their smell all over it. When we took Muffy to the kennel, we left the towel there with her. She could lay on it and smell us. That made her feel like we were real close by. Hope this helps!
  Lesley

• We are also having trouble finding a cabin in Minnesota that will take pets. Our family has vacationed at a resort for the past eight years, but it does not allow pets. This year, I searched on the web, throught the department of tourism, clicking on the amenities required, ie: beach, resort, pets allowed, etc. and a list of resort pop up, and then you can access their home pages form this link. We have found a resort in Detroit lakes, that we are going to try this year. We are very attached to our dog, a nd he accompanies us wherever we go, in the boat, floating on the water, biking, (he sits in his pet pouch). He is no trouble at all, and we would miss him terribly, if he couldn't come along. Good Luck!
  Patti

• One caution to LuFord's message and that her Tessie prefers to stay in her box rather than sit on the seat with LuFord. Now, I have never flown on any foreign airlines, only United States airlines, even when overseas.

  On United States airlines, it is my understanding the dog must stay in the carrier. In fact several years ago, I believe it was Zsa Zsa Gabor, who was arrested because she refused to keep her Yorkies in their carriers.

  When I first started flying my Maltese, Amanda, with me, I took her along to the rest room one time because, while I never medicated her she always wanted to know where I was. So I would take the carrier along with me and sit it on the floor of the rest room. On one occasion, the attendent told me the carrier had to stay on the floor and I was even in first class. I personally think the attendent was having a bad day, because on other occasions when the seat next to me was empty, I would put the carrier on the seat and sort of open it. Naturally they will allow you to open it to do things such as give them water.

  Be aware that most US carriers allow only one in cabin pet per class, so if you intend to fly your dog with you, you should make your reservations well in advance, especially at holiday times.
  Rebecca

• If you have to board your "child," see if you can make arrangements for someone close to her to have visiting privileges. When my Lucy was 6 mo old, I went to Mexico (trip planned well before the baby came to my life). She is very attached to my boyfriend and to my son. I put them on the list of approved visitors at the kennel. My boyfriend (who also loves Lucy lots and lots) went to see her every day on his lunch break. He played with her and talked to her and just in general "loved her up." I also sent a towel with Lucy and a t-shirt that I slept in. They let her use these in "her room." They said she did fine, and Michael said she was great when he came and didn't make much of a fuss about him leaving her. Now, when I got home, she was a little miffed at me and wouldn't look at me for about half the ride home, then she started snuggling and kissing. I would find it hard to leave her again, but it helped me to know she was getting regular visits from loved ones while I was away.
  Cathy