Author Topic: What do you do with your pets when travelling  (Read 7397 times)

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Offline Nay-DMAX

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What do you do with your pets when travelling
« on: April 22, 2014, 08:38:52 PM »
Hi all so we like to take our dogs with us as often as we can but we have 3 horses and a cat to think of also.  We just wonder if we ever wanted to do a bigger trip like even a month perhaps without the dogs depending on where we would want to go.  Are there other swaggers out there with more animals and what do you do with them when you go away? Obviously we would love to just get someone to stay here but it is hard to get someone for a long period of time if we do short trips with the dogs we get the horses and cat fed and the house looked after by friends.

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Offline Memem284

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Re: What do you do with your pets when travelling
« Reply #1 on: April 22, 2014, 09:03:37 PM »
We have 2 cats and 2 dogs. We usually get my partner's son to house sit and we sometimes do/sometimes don't take the dogs with us.
We are potentially planning a 12 week trip next year which is too much for Ben to house sit for, so we may use someone from Ă„ussie House Sitters"  - google the site - it looks pretty good. 

Offline grafy82

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Re: What do you do with your pets when travelling
« Reply #2 on: April 22, 2014, 10:45:22 PM »
We are very fortunate to have an awesome older neighbour next door who feeds our dogs for us and the old lady across the road looks after the bird. Don't know what we'd do without them really.
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Offline Nay-DMAX

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Re: What do you do with your pets when travelling
« Reply #3 on: April 22, 2014, 11:02:50 PM »
We are very fortunate to have an awesome older neighbour next door who feeds our dogs for us and the old lady across the road looks after the bird. Don't know what we'd do without them really.
We do have some good friends who come out to feed the horses and cat but more than a couple of weeks I would want someone here especially if the dogs are not with us as they sleep inside. Will have to keep thinking. Thanks for the ideas

Offline Marcus73

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Re: What do you do with your pets when travelling
« Reply #4 on: April 22, 2014, 11:08:01 PM »
I don't think we could leave our babies for that long.... Our son on the other hand is a different story ;)


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Offline grafy82

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Re: What do you do with your pets when travelling
« Reply #5 on: April 23, 2014, 02:28:04 AM »
We did a long trip with the dogs in the car once because we had to, (getting away from cyclone Yasi). Never again. Dogs farting in the car is beyond a joke! Plus it's a pain to find somewhere to stay with them.
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Offline Hairs

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Re: What do you do with your pets when travelling
« Reply #6 on: April 23, 2014, 05:41:07 AM »
We have 2 horses & 4 guinea pigs that need looking after when we head off somewhere.
We have some good friends that put their hands up to look after these guys for us. I think it is a way for them to have their kids around animals without having to own them themselves  ;D
We have just recently acquired a pup(Now about 5 months old) who we take with us camping. yep, when he farts it can take your breath away, we try to limit his canned food intake, this seems to help reduce the severity of the smell.
We are finding more places around here that allow for pets, which is great  ;D
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Offline oldmate

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Re: What do you do with your pets when travelling
« Reply #7 on: April 23, 2014, 05:50:35 AM »
We always take our 2 dogs. They have never missed a trip their whole life. Plenty of places to stay with them, have never had a problem with that, ours travel really well also. My SIL or neighbour come feeds the cat that stays home.
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Offline Fathom

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Re: What do you do with your pets when travelling
« Reply #8 on: April 23, 2014, 06:44:19 AM »
We have dogs, cats, chooks and fish.
Sometimes we take the mutts with us. But only if it's bush camping.
For shorter trips the in laws will come and feed them all, collect eggs etc, and we take their dog when they go away.
If they aren't available we will get a petsitter in- SWMBO found one that will spend at least an hour or so playing with the dogs etc when they come out.
On the odd occasion we will put them in a kennel - mainly if we think on the weekend we are away there might be fireworks or something.
We have also had house sitters for longer trips - done that 3 times? I think, twice it went badly (minor damage like burnt pots, a broken sliding door etc ) once ok..
We are thinking about a bigger trip again early next year and really aren't sure what we will do yet.
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Offline Hodgies

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Re: What do you do with your pets when travelling
« Reply #9 on: April 23, 2014, 07:06:53 AM »
My sister in law runs a pet nanny business in NSW. She comes to your place feeds/plays/walks your animals. Wondering if their is anything like this in the other states. She has lots of customers.
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Offline richee

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Re: What do you do with your pets when travelling
« Reply #10 on: April 23, 2014, 07:58:45 AM »
My sister in law runs a pet nanny business in NSW. She comes to your place feeds/plays/walks your animals. Wondering if their is anything like this in the other states. She has lots of customers.

This is what we do and we also have dogs and cats for overnight stays. The only trouble is that there is little time for camping!!
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Offline Blackheart

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Re: What do you do with your pets when travelling
« Reply #11 on: April 23, 2014, 08:12:05 AM »
Only have one dog now and being a border collie/kelpie cross she's a lively handful . Have a brilliant neighbour who looks after her when we are away for short stays. Longer stays we have to find a sitter or use a very good local kennel. Unfortunately it's an issue as she doesn't travel well and we really don't like leaving her in kennels for too long.
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« Last Edit: April 23, 2014, 09:01:17 AM by BernieS »

Offline HEM19X

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Re: What do you do with your pets when travelling
« Reply #13 on: April 23, 2014, 08:55:57 AM »
Many, many Tropical fish, don't travel well [nice with chips & tartare sauce though], neighbour feeds them.
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Offline aussie ross

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Re: What do you do with your pets when travelling
« Reply #14 on: April 23, 2014, 09:23:42 AM »
We have successfully used Aussie House Sitters twice to find someone to mind our house and animals. Both times have been over the Christmas holidays and the first thing we have done is contact some of the people who live on yachts in the local marina who are listed on the site. Then list on the site and both times remove within the day because we have a dozen replies. The first time which was 7 weeks we gave it to a grey nomad couple who put their van in the front yard while they looked at the area as a place to buy. No money changes hand it gives them cheap accom and for us our house was looked after and our animals cared for in their home. The second time one of the first people we spoke to were touring Aus in a camper (common bond) but the dates just didn`t work out. They will tell you nearly all house sitting is motivated by pets.

Offline Mrs smith

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Re: What do you do with your pets when travelling
« Reply #15 on: April 23, 2014, 10:18:08 AM »
We also have a few pets, 2 horses, 3 dogs, sheep's X many and 2 cats, must admit we'd get away a lot more if it was easier to find some way of catering for the pets needs and care.
I found this site a while back when looking at options.

http://www.stayme.com.au/

It looks like it may be the answer to our future care needs.
« Last Edit: April 23, 2014, 10:26:10 AM by Mrs smith »

Offline Bunyip

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Re: What do you do with your pets when travelling
« Reply #16 on: April 23, 2014, 02:32:43 PM »
If we cannot take the dog with us we board him in the local kennels. Having said that we don't do more than a long weekend and tend to camp where ha can come with us.

I think if we hooked up the camper then dropped him at the kennel he would never forgive us.


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Offline fishfinder

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Re: What do you do with your pets when travelling
« Reply #17 on: April 23, 2014, 04:11:28 PM »
i just leave the gate opened
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Offline Redcherokee

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Re: What do you do with your pets when travelling
« Reply #18 on: April 23, 2014, 06:22:42 PM »
We get Andrew the cat lady to visit.

The cats are happier at home, the fish can be checked, plants watered, and we expect to be told if there is a significant issue.   It does add to the cost of a trip, though.  But it is too much to ask neighbours to clean cat litter trays every day.

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Offline Nay-DMAX

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Re: What do you do with your pets when travelling
« Reply #19 on: April 23, 2014, 06:31:38 PM »
Thanks for all the replies I wont quote everyone so hope I cover it off.  If I had my way we would always take our dogs with us have never used kennels.  Our 18month old cattle x border collie is fabulous travelling sleeps in the car and had a great time when we took her to best friend holiday retreat.  We have recently taken on a dog from friends 5ish year old german shepherd (I think Kelpie cross) at the moment she doesn't listen very well which we are working on but wonder how long that will be before we can take her everywhere.  In saying that she has a beautiful nature and is so friendly. We usually bush camp not far from home so that we can take them and if need be I can duck home for feeding the others.  To whom ever said they didn't think they could leave theirs for that long I am the same wondering how I would go for a trip that long. I see we are not alone in our search for a solution though I guess I worry a bit about having strangers in the house

Offline oldmate

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Re: What do you do with your pets when travelling
« Reply #20 on: April 23, 2014, 06:46:34 PM »
To whom ever said they didn't think they could leave theirs for that long I am the same wondering how I would go for a trip that long. I see we are not alone in our search for a solution though I guess I worry a bit about having strangers in the house

We couldn't leave ours for a long trip, and we wouldn't. We are going north next year, and are planing our trip around taking the dogs, to us they are part of the family, so we plan our trips around them, short or long trips. Yes we may miss out on some things, but maybe we see thing others don't.

 :cheers:
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Offline ozstickman

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Re: What do you do with your pets when travelling
« Reply #21 on: April 23, 2014, 07:01:05 PM »
Tie her up with a bucket of dog food and a drum of water and hope for the best!!!






No only joking! 99.9% of the time we take our girl (Max) with us where ever we go, she is part of our family.  If we do have to leave her home we get a house sitter, normally my wife's sister.
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Offline Nay-DMAX

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Re: What do you do with your pets when travelling
« Reply #22 on: April 23, 2014, 07:11:44 PM »
We couldn't leave ours for a long trip, and we wouldn't. We are going north next year, and are planing our trip around taking the dogs, to us they are part of the family, so we plan our trips around them, short or long trips. Yes we may miss out on some things, but maybe we see thing others don't.

 :cheers:

And this is how I would like all our trips to be.  We usually only free camp locally to us at a spot that we love and can take the dogs this new dog has thrown a bit of a spanner in the works with the training required to get her sleeping in the camper etc as she has never been an inside dog she is learning about coming inside more and more for longer periods at home and has access to the laundry at night.  I agree that you might miss some things but I really love having them there with me.  If we can plan a longer trip with them that would be my ideal (would love to hear how your plans go with places to stay) but we still have the other animals also.  :cheers:

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Re: What do you do with your pets when travelling
« Reply #23 on: April 23, 2014, 07:12:50 PM »
We have a cat that the kid over the road feeds for us, but once its gone, we won't have another pet for this very reason..
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Offline dazzler

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Re: What do you do with your pets when travelling
« Reply #24 on: April 23, 2014, 07:27:04 PM »
Cryovac them. It keeps them fresh.


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