First time away from Risa :(

**Quita** · 11-27-2007, 11:56 PM

Hi, everybody. I'm at a conference in Austin, Texas until Saturday. Risa is home alone with the husband. She also goes to daycare and has a pet sitter visit on the days when she's not at daycare. I've been sooooo stressed. I hate leaving her for a couple days! I wrote tons of detailed notes to my husband and the pet sitter. I posted notes and lists on the front door. I've also emailed the pet sitter a zillion times. The puppy thing doesn't come naturally to my husband, so my notes are something like this...

1) After playing, TAKE HER OUT!! She will need to pee!
2) If you shower and have her in the bathroom with you, PICK UP EVERYTHING OFF THE FLOOR!
3) If she is loose in the house, KEEP YOUR EYES ON HER AT ALL TIMES! This means NO PLAYING COMPUTER GAMES while she's out!

etc. etc...

I even packaged up her food for every single feeding so that he doesn't "forget" something. Anyways, I left the house this morning at 11 am. Called in the evening and all is well. What a relief! BEFORE this, however, I had a quick scare....

Woke Risa up very early and re-posted her ears before my husband went to work. He holds her while I wrap. I kept her up and played with her all morning because she was going to have to spend part of the afternoon in the crate. Well, RIGHT BEFORE heading to the airport, I took her out to pee again. Guess what? She shook her head and the post came out of her right ear!!! UGHH! I've never wrapped her ears by myself.. and I had to go to the airport ASAP. Nobody else was home! So I re-posted her right ear all by myself and retaped the bridge between the two ears. Did it in about 10 minutes and made it to the airport on time. As of 11 pm this evening, the ears were good! Husband said it was one of my best postings jobs that he's seen! (I hope he's right!)

Sorry so long.. but if you have ever stressed about leaving your little ones, I'm sure you totally understand! I'll be freaking out all week... calling home and checking in with everybody every few hours. I just hope everything goes OK..... I was a nervous wreck these past few days... getting things ready for my trip. I'm counting down the days to fly home... I head back Saturday morning.... I'm not a super religious person, but I find myself saying, "Please Lord, let everything go well while I'm away! Don't let anything happen to Risa!" The older boy, Fiddler, is used to being in the kennel. I was NOT going to leave him AND a puppy home alone with the husband! Anyways, Fiddler is at a doggie resort and is getting lots of play time while I'm away. I wasn't going to send Risa because she's so young and still has the ears posted... Anyways, hope I don't have any more eventful days to report! Let's pray for a boring, non-eventful week!

**sebsyd** · 11-28-2007, 01:47 AM

I know exactly what you are going through!! It is really hard to leave them. My husband and I went away for 4 days and left the puppies with my daughter with a check list just like yours and I called every day!! Talk about overbearing. Relax, I am sure that everything will be ok when you get home.

dobes4us · 11-28-2007, 11:59 AM

I freaked out our pet sitter when we went on vacation. I only left 3 pages of instructions. I thought that wasn't bad LOL. It is much harder on us I think....

Linda H · 11-28-2007, 03:07 PM

You are brave, I don't know if I could do it. Sorry but I have to say it, he does know not to leave socks, etc out doesn't he.

**Quita** · 11-29-2007, 03:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dobes4us

I freaked out our pet sitter when we went on vacation. I only left 3 pages of instructions. I thought that wasn't bad LOL. It is much harder on us I think....

Sounds like me! At least I'm not the only one!

**Quita** · 11-29-2007, 03:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linda H

You are brave, I don't know if I could do it. Sorry but I have to say it, he does know not to leave socks, etc out doesn't he.

Yes, he knows. I made him read all of the threads on Doberman Talk about the dangers of socks. I've also shared my own stories of having to take Fiddler to the emergency room because of eating things that he shouldn't have... I've shared the stories with him, told him to read them multiple times, and showed him the video tributes of dogs that are with us no longer. Before leaving, I cleaned the house, picked up all the books, clothes, sockes, etc. Tried to get as much out of the way as I could. I also told my husband that if ANYTHING happens to Risa, I'm taking the dogs and moving out! Pretty much told him if he doesn't take care of them and something happens... I'm leaving him!

LOL

Anyways, I also told him that if anything bad happened to the dogs due to his neglect, I told him I don't think I could forgive him.... He knows I'm serious.... Talked with him a few times today and have had multiple emails with the pet sitter. So far, they had a good Wednesday. I'll be calling multiple times again tomorrow...

JavasMom · 11-29-2007, 08:30 AM

Hey, that's what Moms do! I think I'm more relaxed leaving Java at the vet's kennel than I am leaving her home with her Dad. He does all the fun stuff with her on the weekend and I'm the one who feeds her, so he has little or no clue in that department - and that's MY fault.

**ellenm** · 11-29-2007, 08:41 AM

I know what you mean....it's so hard when they are little and still have ears posted. My younger dog is a year old now, but was posted until she was 8 months old (show cut). I actually left her at the breeder's when I went out of town...5 hrs away...so she would be safe and ears would be okay. They showed her some while she was with them.

A nearby Dobe owner I recently met has bought a cousin to my girl, an adorable red boy. We are puppy-sitting for him over Christmas while his family goes skiing. My dogs are fine with others, I can do ears, and the 6 month old puppy won't be traumatized by a kennel etc for a week. My kids (now in college) are thrilled to have a younger Dobe to play with. I think the red boy will be big enough to play with my 1 yr old female, as he was the same in paw size last time he came over, and they played briefly.

**Kratty** · 11-29-2007, 08:43 AM

Its good to leave them once in a while. I left on a business trip a few weeks back and Mrs K was left in charge. It really helped with the bonding between them while I was gone.

Even putting them in a good kennel for a few days is good for them. They learn that you come back for them.

tiredguy · 11-29-2007, 09:16 AM

Hondo spends 2 days a week at my parents house with their two dogs on the days we have to work late. I think for the first week I called about 4-5 times a day, I still call at least twice a day to see how he's doing. My mom always laughs at me, and says wait till you have kids!