Boarding for a not so typical dog

[vintageogauge]

We have a 30 lb. miniature Labra-doodle that we would like to board on occasion for a night or two. This is sort of a different dog needing a little extra care. First of all he bites if you try to put his leash on, men can usually get it on but women don't have a chance for the most part. At 8 years old he is still pretty high energy and needs room to run around or at least 4 walks per day. He can not be put in a cage or crate, He is also very spoiled and only eats dry food mixed with cooked meat, and he will only drink from a freshly filled water bowl and will not go near a community water bowl. Otherwise he is a very lovable dog needing lots of belly rubs, he likes his treats that he will do trick to get, he does not shed at all, and he has not had an indoor accident since he was a puppy. If you know someone that would like to try him out for a day to see if he will fit in, or if you know a cage free boarder that you think can give him a lot of exercise time, please let us know. One last thing, as long as we are not present he gets along very well with dogs his size or smaller but does not get along with larger dogs at all, he was attacked and injured by one when young and ever since wants nothing to do with them. Thanks for any help.

[DAVES]

We have a 30 lb. miniature Labra-doodle that we would like to board on occasion for a night or two. This is sort of a different dog needing a little extra care. First of all he bites if you try to put his leash on, men can usually get it on but women don't have a chance for the most part. At 8 years old he is still pretty high energy and needs room to run around or at least 4 walks per day. He can not be put in a cage or crate, He is also very spoiled and only eats dry food mixed with cooked meat, and he will only drink from a freshly filled water bowl and will not go near a community water bowl. Otherwise he is a very lovable dog needing lots of belly rubs, he likes his treats that he will do trick to get, he does not shed at all, and he has not had an indoor accident since he was a puppy. If you know someone that would like to try him out for a day to see if he will fit in, or if you know a cage free boarder that you think can give him a lot of exercise time, please let us know. One last thing, as long as we are not present he gets along very well with dogs his size or smaller but does not get along with larger dogs at all, he was attacked and injured by one when young and ever since wants nothing to do with them. Thanks for any help.

I'm not sure if this is serious. Perhaps, you should be looking for a dog trainer.

[vintageogauge]

I'm not sure if this is serious. Perhaps, you should be looking for a dog trainer.

Tried that several times over the years to no avail.

[Mortal1]

Sounds more like a spoiled child who has been allowed to have their way....perhaps the "parents" should be more involved personally in the training. A dog will not be obedient if the person giving the commands isn't letting the dog know who is in charge. Treat training doesn't do a very good job at doing this.

Also if you treat the dog like a person the dog is training you. Good luck finding a sitter.

[vintageogauge]

Sounds more like a spoiled child who has been allowed to have their way....perhaps the "parents" should be more involved personally in the training. A dog will not be obedient if the person giving the commands isn't letting the dog know who is in charge. Treat training doesn't do a very good job at doing this.

Also if you treat the dog like a person the dog is training you. Good luck finding a sitter.

We had no problem finding boarding for him before moving here and when we go back to visit family in Ohio he fits in very well in the cage free boarding facility that he has been using for years. To give the reasons he bites here based on the information given to us by his trainers would take too long, he is what he is genetically, there are many facilities in this state that will have no problem with him at all and I'm simply asking if anyone knows of a cage free boarding facility. I will state that the trainers all stated that it was not something we did in the early stages of training, we did exactly what we were taught to do, the same training we used on several other dogs, this one is a lot more complicated. He's not aggressive to the point he will attack someone or another dog, women cannot put a leash on him, other than that he's great, quirky but great. Rather than going off topic with replies, if you don't have the information I need it is better that you don't reply at all. Thank you for understanding.

[Thaxxx]

I have a very special needs Great Dane.
I got him as a 5 year old rescue.
He had a pretty rough life.
I had to go into the hospital for about 6 days for a surgery last summer.
I took him here.......

Village Pet Villas | Pet Boarding (https://www.villagepetvillas.com/)
They were glad to take him in.
They aren't the cheapest, but your dog will have his own private room indoors with T. V. and bed. Yes I said TV. LOL
Give them a call, tell them your dogs needs. Hope they can help you.

[Topspinmo]

I only get recuse dogs, they need second chance, being they were improperly trained or abused, with them you inherited there problems. Yes, just like having baby or small child, very needy. Good luck finding any good and caring border. Nobody really knows what goes on behind closed doors?

[villageuser]

Tried that several times over the years to no avail.

You may want to try Leah of TrinityK9.rocks. (352) 727-3354 She does all kinds of training but is also a canine behavior therapist, which includes “canine manner refinement and behavior modification and management”. I can personally vouch that she is amazing. She was referred to me by my vet, for which I am very thankful.

[banjobob]

How deep are your pockets ? Anyone doing that for a dog for a couple days would want a large fee. This sounds like a serious need for a dog trainer,

[FromNY]

What about a pet sitter in your own home? Ask your vet for recommendations?

[Carlsondm]

Why not try Rover.com. Locate different pet services and interview a few. You may want someone to come to your house daily and walk and play with your dog.

[Two Bills]

Cesar Millan Kennels.

[BobTina]

We have a 30 lb. miniature Labra-doodle that we would like to board on occasion for a night or two. This is sort of a different dog needing a little extra care. First of all he bites if you try to put his leash on, men can usually get it on but women don't have a chance for the most part. At 8 years old he is still pretty high energy and needs room to run around or at least 4 walks per day. He can not be put in a cage or crate, He is also very spoiled and only eats dry food mixed with cooked meat, and he will only drink from a freshly filled water bowl and will not go near a community water bowl. Otherwise he is a very lovable dog needing lots of belly rubs, he likes his treats that he will do trick to get, he does not shed at all, and he has not had an indoor accident since he was a puppy. If you know someone that would like to try him out for a day to see if he will fit in, or if you know a cage free boarder that you think can give him a lot of exercise time, please let us know. One last thing, as long as we are not present he gets along very well with dogs his size or smaller but does not get along with larger dogs at all, he was attacked and injured by one when young and ever since wants nothing to do with them. Thanks for any help.

You might want to consider Behavior Specialists, since trainers are not helpful for some issues that your furbaby have. I hope you find a good boarding place for your fur baby.

[Sandy and Ed]

We board our dog at Bed Time Tails, 6804 SE 144 Pl Rd, Summerfield. 352 347-7183 Your Pampered Pets Home Away From Home! | Bedtime Tails Luxury Pet Hotel (http://www.bedtimetailsluxurypethotel.com). Only takes personal checks. Also has a day camp. We provide them with our own special dog food concoction. Not caged. Has a small “room” and gets to go outside. Don’t know about the nipping issue. Will have to talk to owner who worked at vet office before starting kennel. Good luck - we have a “unique”, but loved, Yorkie rescue and appreciate your concern

[GolfGirl122]

Miss Kate’s Bed and Biscuit is in Oxford - off of 44. Big and little dogs are separated. The littles can roam from inside the house to the yards. Very nice facility. Give them a call, visit and try it for a few hours. 352-575-2020.

[CZN715]

Sounds like my dog. I had dogs for 40 years and used the same vet who assured me that it wasn't me. It was not because I was a "bad" mother, it was because the dog had issues. All my other dogs were perfect angels. No amount of training helped this guy. The sad part was they said if I ever gave him up, he could never be "re-homed" because of his behavior. Ofcourse I would never give him up anyway. I think they are looking for an understanding babysitter, not a lecture on bad parenting.

[CFrance]

What about a pet sitter in your own home? Ask your vet for recommendations?
Most pet sitters that come to the home are women. If the dog won't let a woman put a leash on him, that would be a problem.

There is a place in Belleview that has rooms instead of kennels. They don't cage or crate. (Although if a dog won't go into a kennel, not sure how it would view going into a room.)

Bed Time Tails Luxury Pet Hotel About Us (https://bedtimetailsluxurypethotel.com/about-us/)
I've never left our dog there, but they did take excellent care of our Cockatiel on several occasions.

[Ele201]

Wondering about something the OP said. Not sure why the sex of someone would matter with leashing this dog. Women can be strong too. Why does dog reject all women collaring or leashing him?Most pet sitters that come to the home are women. If the dog won't let a woman put a leash on him, that would be a problem.

There is a place in Belleview that has rooms instead of kennels. They don't cage or crate. (Although if a dog won't go into a kennel, not sure how it would view going into a room.)

Bed Time Tails Luxury Pet Hotel About Us (https://bedtimetailsluxurypethotel.com/about-us/)
I've never left our dog there, but they did take excellent care of our Cockatiel on several occasions.

[vintageogauge]

Sounds like my dog. I had dogs for 40 years and used the same vet who assured me that it wasn't me. It was not because I was a "bad" mother, it was because the dog had issues. All my other dogs were perfect angels. No amount of training helped this guy. The sad part was they said if I ever gave him up, he could never be "re-homed" because of his behavior. Ofcourse I would never give him up anyway. I think they are looking for an understanding babysitter, not a lecture on bad parenting.

Thank you, you hit the nail on the head, most of the replies here are from would be canine phycologists rather than staying on topic and recommending somewhere to board him that can handle a dog with a few issues. We too had many dogs that we trained and all were well behaved, this one is by far the most intelligent of all that we had but that comes with an issue or two. Our vet knew when he was still a pup that his occasional nip or bite was going to be a lifelong issue as does our current vet.

[CFrance]

Wondering about something the OP said. Not sure why the sex of someone would matter with leashing this dog. Women can be strong too. Why does dog reject all women collaring or leashing him?
It happens. We had a rescue Springer Spaniel who would not let a man (or a boy) feed him. We had some evidence, from people who knew the former owner, that the dog was abused by the male of the family.

I would be more concerned about the fact that the dog doesn't like bigger dogs. It would be important to let the boarding facility know that and ensure that they separate the dogs by size.

I suggest OP call the places recommended here and take the dog out for an evaluation by the boarding facility. He would get an idea of how the dog would respond to the facility.

[vintageogauge]

Wondering about something the OP said. Not sure why the sex of someone would matter with leashing this dog. Women can be strong too. Why does dog reject all women collaring or leashing him?

I'm asking for recommendations for boarding not looking for behavioral questions. Please everyone stay on topic, as I noted earlier he has been through multiple trainers and vets and is what he is, no need to raise questions or offer advice unless you know a boarder.

[BoatRatKat]

I get it, the rescues are unique and have been through a lot...they have their quirks and God bless those that take them in, love them and make them spoiled members of the family. I wish I could help you out but the nipping part would make the walks undoable. I gave up long ago trying to find anyone that I felt comfortable leaving my pups with so we just make sure they can always come wherever we go. It works very well. Good luck, I hope you find someone that can help.

[Ptmckiou]

Dog trainers will always tell you....it’s training the parents, not training the dog. Parents “enable” the bad behavior in their dogs.

If you Google dog boarding there are several facilities that have rooms for boarding, and not “cages”. Most upper tier boarding g facilities no longer use pens or cages anymore. They usually have wi-fi cameras so you can observe and the dog has TV with animal planet on.

[rayloyko@gmail.com]

Central Florida K9 does boarding, large indoor, outdoor pens, all trainers, lots of dog time. you may want to call and talk to them, excellent advance trainers also. 407-926-8100, they are in Eustis, have used them for several years for our labradoodle for boarding and training.

[SeaCros]

That is one of the main problems out here on this forum. When folks ask for advice for something they get a myriad of answers and many go off topic. Hopefully you will find a good place for boarding your dog

[vintageogauge]

I do not know you, or your dog. I will bet you are the one to feed the dog assuming you are married or living with a woman, the reason the dog has bonded to you.

Truth, your original post I did wonder if you were teasing.

A lot more complicated. Not at all you are not able to control this dog. His fault or yours it does not really matter.

We both feed the dog and both give him treats and get him to do tricks, my wife does most of the walking with him but I put on his leash, he lays with her to watch TV, etc. he is bonded to both of us, probably more to her than to me. When we took him to the vet for advice early on she told us the problem is genetic, he has that tendency and it is most likely from the breeding of several types of dogs and that extensive training will not change that fact. She stated in conversation that we have all heard of loving family dogs that one day just snapped and attacked another dog or a person, noting that no amount of training would have stopped that attack, it's in their genes. Our dog is not an attack dog, just has that one issue with some women and his leash. Our groomers have always been women and he does not bite them when putting on the leash but they all know that he has that tendency. Our boarding facility in Ohio is run by all women and in 8 years he has not bitten any of them while putting on the leash however they do know that he has done it in the past and I would never board him without disclosing that to the facility management.

[Ponygirl]

Check out Village Pet Villas- Lady Lake - 352-751-0008 The best. Individual rooms and dogs have toddler beds to sleep. Susan is fantastic

They also have doggie day care and affiliated with Village Vet

[MizJodi]

My son was very pleased when he left his German Shepard there the week he was visiting me.

[Willow&Darla]

My two little Dachshunds dig the Village Pet Spa on Rolling Acres. They come home with a report card on how well they behaved during their stay. Wonderful employees. Very clean area with no odor! They will take you on a tour so you can check out the facility for your dog. Village Pet Spa - 37601 Rolling Acres Rd. - Fruitland Park - 352-751-5711

[vintageogauge]

Thanks to all of you that offered names of facilities that might except him.

[J1ceasar]

A muzzle solves the biting if you're giving to a sitter for temporary , I would think giving to a sitter or boarding place. Its a safer solution if untrainable. Dogs get used to that, we have sat for dogs that don't get along .. humane way....

[vintageogauge]

Cesar Millan Kennels.

Cesar had an episode with a dog having a very similar problem, he was a great dog except the owner could not get near his food bowl as he would bite them, they also had children and were fearful that something would happen to them. Cesar came to their home to show them how he could handle the dog by taking the food away from the dog, the dog bit Cesar, Cesar lost it and hit the dog, a big no-no on his show. He took it with him for training and was un-successful recommending that the dog be given up to a home without children. So there are dogs that have the genetic issue that even Cesar cannot fix. Our's is not vicious like that but just goes to show you that all is not perfect in the doggy world.

[Nick B]

I use ABCD but you would have to ask if they could deal with a problem child.

[Velvet]

OP, you guys sound like saints to put up and keep loving this dog. Woofie is very lucky. If he were mine I’d hire a pet sitter for him.

[Barborv]

OP- People are very brazen when sitting behind a computer screen. You seem like a very loving mom to your fur baby. Spoil him all you want! Every dog has a unique personality. You are forthcoming about your dogs behavior and needs. Kudos to you!

[Gulfcoast]

We have a 30 lb. miniature Labra-doodle that we would like to board on occasion for a night or two. This is sort of a different dog needing a little extra care. First of all he bites if you try to put his leash on, men can usually get it on but women don't have a chance for the most part. At 8 years old he is still pretty high energy and needs room to run around or at least 4 walks per day. He can not be put in a cage or crate, He is also very spoiled and only eats dry food mixed with cooked meat, and he will only drink from a freshly filled water bowl and will not go near a community water bowl. Otherwise he is a very lovable dog needing lots of belly rubs, he likes his treats that he will do trick to get, he does not shed at all, and he has not had an indoor accident since he was a puppy. If you know someone that would like to try him out for a day to see if he will fit in, or if you know a cage free boarder that you think can give him a lot of exercise time, please let us know. One last thing, as long as we are not present he gets along very well with dogs his size or smaller but does not get along with larger dogs at all, he was attacked and injured by one when young and ever since wants nothing to do with them. Thanks for any help.

I'm not sure when you moved to TV but I can see that you joined TTV in 2016. If that is the year you moved to TV then that means that you moved here around 5 years ago when your dog was roughly around 3 years old.

I only mention that, because if it's true that you haven't boarded your dog since he was just a few years old, you can't assume that he will do well in a boarding facility now. He's used to lots of attention and being at home.

If I were in your shoes, I would try to find an experienced trainer to either sit for your dog in your home or, perhaps, their home. Do you have a fenced in yard?

[PugMom]

not sure if this matters, but when i worked @ the vet's, we had ways of leashing special pets. it's all technique on how it's done, nothing inhumane. thanks for all the good ideas posted-i'll remember them when it's time to board mine :). good luck & thanks for being an excellent pet owner

[mojoslacker]

Hopefully this post doesn't double as my first one I included a website which takes the post into moderation (spam checking). Stephanie Wapp is an in-home (your home) pet sitter / boarder that is also a certified dog trainer that offers training and/or boarding - Ph (262) 930 0389. I am a customer and was very impressed with her skills and ability to manage and improve difficult pet behaviors. She recently relocated to The Villages and is updating her website for The Villages and Tampa Bay markets.

[Cdivito09]

He is so lucky to have such loving parents.

[Seashell888]

I am a groomer and quite a few dogs have a problem getting a leash or loop on or picking them up, getting out of cages.
Think about it... people coming at you must look like giants, it gets scary
I am sure the vet checked his eyes, sometimes when their vision starts to fade, they get that way too
This is pretty normal, the problem is he has big teeth!
Just visit some places, bring him, they know how to handle this. I get nipped at every day, it’s normal

[vintageogauge]

I'm not sure when you moved to TV but I can see that you joined TTV in 2016. If that is the year you moved to TV then that means that you moved here around 5 years ago when your dog was roughly around 3 years old.

I only mention that, because if it's true that you haven't boarded your dog since he was just a few years old, you can't assume that he will do well in a boarding facility now. He's used to lots of attention and being at home.

If I were in your shoes, I would try to find an experienced trainer to either sit for your dog in your home or, perhaps, their home. Do you have a fenced in yard?

Enough said about trainers, I stated multiple times here that we have gone that route. We moved here in 2017 and if you would read all of the posts you would know that our dog still goes to a cage free kennel in Ohio multiple times per year, the most recent being this past March of 2021 and February of 2021 before that. They have never had a problem with him nor had his groomer however I must advise any kennel of his tendencies. My post was asking for the names of kennels that are cage free, I'm not looking for training advice and no we do not have a fenced yard.

[vintageogauge]

I am a groomer and quite a few dogs have a problem getting a leash or loop on or picking them up, getting out of cages.
Think about it... people coming at you must look like giants, it gets scary
I am sure the vet checked his eyes, sometimes when their vision starts to fade, they get that way too
This is pretty normal, the problem is he has big teeth!
Just visit some places, bring him, they know how to handle this. I get nipped at every day, it’s normal

Thank you Seashell I'm glad to hear he is not alone and I will take him to the places that other replies have mentioned.

[Seashell888]

Thank you Seashell I'm glad to hear he is not alone and I will take him to the places that other replies have mentioned.

Good luck!
You’re a good person to care about your dog so much!

[Gulfcoast]

Enough said about trainers, I stated multiple times here that we have gone that route. We moved here in 2017 and if you would read all of the posts you would know that our dog still goes to a cage free kennel in Ohio multiple times per year, the most recent being this past March of 2021 and February of 2021 before that. They have never had a problem with him nor had his groomer however I must advise any kennel of his tendencies. My post was asking for the names of kennels that are cage free, I'm not looking for training advice and no we do not have a fenced yard.

I missed that you have been returning to Ohio and were boarding him at the kennel there.

I wasn't trying to offer you training advice, I have 3 dogs (actually only 2 dogs now, our 14 year old dog passed away a month ago. I still think of her as with us) who all do better staying at home with a dog sitter. Our dog sitter happens to also be an experienced dog trainer. Even though we've never asked for the trainer to "train" our dogs because we are lucky that our dogs don't really have any behavior issues to fix, we have found that our dog sitter has a nice way with our dogs. Our dogs get sad when we leave for vacations and the sitter does things for them that makes them less sad which has helped to prevent potential behavior issues from developing in the first place. At any rate, that was where I was coming from when I mentioned getting a sitter.

I hope you find a kennel and staff that will be a good fit for your pup, it sounds as though your dog does well in a cage free environment where he can be around other dogs. Good luck.

[Fredman]

Miss Kate’s Bed and Biscuit is in Oxford - off of 44. Big and little dogs are separated. The littles can roam from inside the house to the yards. Very nice facility. Give them a call, visit and try it for a few hours. 352-575-2020.
Second miss kates

[DavidCovid]

My two little Dachshunds dig the Village Pet Spa on Rolling Acres. They come home with a report card on how well they behaved during their stay. Wonderful employees. Very clean area with no odor! They will take you on a tour so you can check out the facility for your dog. Village Pet Spa - 37601 Rolling Acres Rd. - Fruitland Park - 352-751-5711


I may be wrong, but last week, I saw a "For Sale" realtor sign outside Village Pet Spa and not sure if they are leaving, but other than that, this place is very nice.

[CFrance]

I may be wrong, but last week, I saw a "For Sale" realtor sign outside Village Pet Spa and not sure if they are leaving, but other than that, this place is very nice.
I saw that sign too and mentioned it above, but another poster disputed it. Best to call and ask, I guess.