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We travel with our dogs a lot, and once left them in a hotel while we attended a wedding nearby. Granted - it was not a swanky hotel (Motel 6, all are pet friendly and their recent nationwide remodel makes them less dodgy feeling), but we crated the younger one and left them stuffed Kongs. The worst that happened was when we came back the older one had been sleeping on our bed and he felt very guilty!
I would say leave them in the hotel, if you can find a park to run them around ahead of time so they're tuckered out that would be ideal. Or do your dogs do well if you leave them in the car? We've also visited OOT friends and brought the dogs for the road trip, kept them in the car for the non-dog friendly visiting part (make sure it's not hot weather), and then stopped at the beach to run them around before we went home. They were perfectly happy! That way they're only alone the time of dinner. If your dogs don't do well in the car then that might not be a great plan.
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I'd attend dinner or do my best to call every kennel or vet in the area hoping they would have a spot open. I think you can trust a place for a few hours with your pets. I think family time is important and you have a month to find a solution and personally I think it's a little rude not to attend dinner due to a situation that should be able to be fixed with the amount of time given. I hate that you are in this position, but luckily there is some time to find a solution.
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Unless your dogs have very specific needs, I would not be at all picky about boarding facilities or dog sitters in this case. They'll be okay for a few days in any semi-decent place, and it's probably preferable to this logistical headache.
Otherwise I'd go to dinner and just leave in a reasonable amount of time. It's not ideal, but my dogs have been crated for 10 hours or so on one or two occasions (medical emergency and holiday when we ran into horrendous weather on the drive home) and they were okay. If yours are barkers I'm not sure what the solution would be in a hotel. It's a crappy situation, but I wouldn't stay behind by myself.
Your SIL sounds like a real peach
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What's the weather supposed to be like? I have very needy dogs so this wouldn't work for me but if the weather was tolerable, could they come with you to the house, you take them for a long walk and then go in for dinner, leaving them in the car while you eat? Then you come back out and walk with them again or spend time with them?
Note: I'm asking this as a dog owner and lover so I'm not saying just leave your dogs in the car if it's below zero out.
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At this point, I would probably bail and spend a nice, relaxing and romantic Christmas with my DH and puppies. If you have to stay in the hotel, that is no fun for you but if you leave the dogs behind, it might be hard to enjoy yourself.
Heck, they moved the dinner 1.5 hours away from where it was supposed to be!
Seems like you have tried all the different ways to make this work (which I think is so commendable) but, by the same token, it's your Christmas, too! -
Answering the question, yes, I have spent one holiday apart from the DH and it wasn't too bad. I stayed home cooked dinner and had my dog as a companion. Weirdly, I was home with the dogs for Thanksgiving last year and DH was home with the dogs for Christmas. DH was gifted a flight home but I couldn't take off work so I stayed home. Then I went home for Christmas and DH stayed home with the dogs. Also, his two college friends came into town so he wasn't home alone the whole time.
Sucks that you didn't find a boarder to take your dogs and I have taken my dogs with me when I travel but I would never leave them alone in hotel. One dog barks when left alone and has a history of separation anxiety. She's only fine when she's at home.
Sucks that your SIL won't let you bring the dogs. I was going to suggest bringing their crates and keeping them in the basement or garage of where you are having dinner.
If I was close, I would offer to watch your dogs.
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i would not spend christmas alone. ever. i like @mrs.shinerbock:'s idea! leaving them at your in laws house while you're gone at dinner!
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@mediagirl: I was going to suggest that, too. If the weather isn't too bad, my dogs could stay in the car. I would do that, rather than leave them in a hotel where they could possibly destroy the room.
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This may have been suggested but rover.com might have some options. Otherwise, honestly, I would either can the trip entirely or--if you are seeing people on days other than Christmas--expect my husband to stay at the hotel with me.
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I would not.
In this situation, I would push DH to figure out a solution since it is his family causing the frustrations. If he couldn't find a solution, I'd ask him to stay at home with me and we'd do our own thing.
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Honestly - I would just leave them at the hotel. I'm sure they would be fine.
Or see if they can stay in the garage while you eat dinner. Then your SIL doesn't have to see them.
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What a terrible situation! It sucks that they changed the location on you guys last minute. Would it be an option for DH to stay with you and for you two to have your own little Christmas celebration with the dogs? I'd order room service and watch a movie!
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I would look for a dog sitter or another kennel. I don't think there is anything wrong with spending Christmas alone, but I wouldn't let the dogs hold you back from something you want to do if at all possible- whatever that may be.
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I've left my dogs crated at hotels in the past without any problems, but they are kennel trained and do not bark indoors. Is it possible to find a closer dog friendly hotel? I also second bringing them and leaving them in the car if the weather is suitable. But I would not want M to go to dinner without me. Also keep in mind that people change plans, if there is not an opening now, one may present itself later.
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What a fucking nightmare.
Dude, what happened to our vampire plan? It was airtight.
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Our dogs bark like maniacs but when we travel, if we have to leave them in the hotel alone, we put them in the pop up kennel together and cover with dark blanket and turn off the light and turn on the overhead fan. They don't bark because they feel safe in the dark den-like space and the fan helps reduce the strange noises they can hear.
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@alohaorchid: Ok, hold up one second, are you saying that your SIL is going to be a guest at the hosts home and is demanding that NO dogs, even the hosts are to be in the house? Is there a life threatening allergy? I guess I don't understand. If I were the host I would tell her Hell to the No. Your SIL needs to get over her power trip and either bow out or suck it up. I would not leave my dogs in a hotel and risk any damage, or barking, or them being nervous and having an accident.
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I don't think I would go, honestly. Your SIL sounds so heinous I can't think it would be any fun at all to spend the holiday with her.
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@Mrs. Jump Rope: Ohh don't worry, that's my backup plan!
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Is this in a terribly cold place? If not, can you just leave your dogs in the car for the dinner? Maybe with a walk midway through? My dogs have waited out dinners while traveling in the back of our wagon. We just take them for a good walk beforehand, and then they hang out with a bone to chew on.
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Any chance of finding a dog friendly rental on VBRO.con and then leaving them in crates? What about a Petsmart with a "pet hotel" - they aren't bad. You have a month, so maybe you could keep checking out kennels near home or along your route? I'd ask to be put on their cancellation list...someone ougt to have an opening.
I'm sorry! Good luck!
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Crated in the garage of the house dinner is at?
Your sil sucks!!
Eta: what about at your ils? No one will hear them barking there, right? Sorry if that's been suggested already.
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