5 FAQs About Leaving Your Dog for Vacation
If you’re preparing to go on a vacation, you probably have a hundred questions racing through your mind. If you’re also a dog owner, you probably have a thousand.
Whatever you’re wondering about, you can guarantee that our professional in-home sitters have heard it before. Let’s dig into the top five questions that we hear from clients:
How do you say goodbye to a dog before vacation?
It’s best to keep goodbyes quick. Remember that they can’t understand a concept like vacation, so stick to phrases they know, like “I love you” or “you’re a good dog”. Rather than a long goodbye, it’s better to go for a long walk or get some extra play time in before you leave. An extra treat that will keep them busy for a while never hurts either.
Do dogs know you're coming back from vacation?
Some research suggests that dogs can tell the difference between lengths of time away from their owners. However, one 2011 study found that dogs reacted mostly the same at the 4-hour interval to any longer ones.
While some dogs with separation anxiety may have stronger reactions, this may show that if your dog is already used to you leaving for more than 4 hours and coming back, they should also be confident that you’ll come back from your vacation soon.
Should I FaceTime with my dog while on vacation?
We don’t typically recommend that you use any sort of video or voice chat with your pets while you’re away. In a best-case scenario, they wouldn’t recognize what was going on, but it’s unlikely you’d be able to offer them any comfort. It’s more likely that if they did recognize your face or voice, they would become confused when you hang up and leave them again.
We encourage our sitters to send daily photos or videos as ways to check in on them, but we find that FaceTime can often be upsetting for dogs.
Can my friend come by and check on my dog?
Like video calls, we usually recommend that no visitors drop by while you’re away. This can bring extra excitement for dogs and prompt unexpected behaviors or additional stress. It’s also important to remember that dogs may not always react to visitors the same when the family isn’t home. Some dogs can become territorial while their owners are away.
If you’d like to read more about the best ways to set your dogs up for success when you go on vacation, check out our blog on other preparation tips.
Will my dog forget me if I go on vacation?
No, dogs have great memories. You’ve probably already seen this as a dog owner if you’ve ever taught your dog a command or seen them ask to return to shops that have treats for them.
Scientific studies have found that dogs have what is called “episodic memory”, something that’s only found in animals with higher cognition — like corvids, dolphins, or chimps. This allows them to recall the details of their lives and how they felt about them. While we don’t really understand how dogs experience memories, it’s clear that they store them for a long time.
Do Dogs Get Sad When You Leave Them With a Sitter?
It’s no secret that our pets love us and like having us around, so it’s likely that they’ll miss you during a vacation. Just like you’ll miss them, but also find other ways to fill your time.
The best way to keep their spirits high while their family is out of the house is to hire trusted caregivers to look after them in your place. If you’re getting ready to get out of San Francisco for a few days or a few weeks, reach out to Grand and Graham Pet Sitters today, and we’ll come keep them company. You’ll receive daily updates on their well-being so you never have to worry about them while you’re enjoying a well-earned vacation.
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