Summary : We are traveling to New Zealand and have decided at the last minute not to take our dog Abeline with us due to very complicated and difficult import regulations, more than 23 hours of flight time, quarantine and last minute tests. Abeline will need to be looked after for 6 months while we are away.
It is incredibly difficult to mentally prepare yourself for being separated from your dog (best friend) for an extended period of time. Is this something that will possibly affect the dog negatively over time? How quickly will the dog come to terms with the situation and “bond” to its new dog sitter? Will my dog’s “personality” change?
Fortunately, it's not that difficult for any dog owner to relate to my concerns. And my family and friends have been very understanding with reassuring stories that warm your dog's heart immensely:
“When a good friend was going to Africa for a whole year, I looked after his dog. It went well. No problems. The dog became completely attached to me. From the moment the owner came back and stood at my garden gate, I was free!. 100% free. The dog never looked back, it was as if the owner had never been away.” – quote: friend
"We were away from our Irish Setter Bonnie for a whole year while our whole family was in India on a deployment. The dog completely fell into the family again when we got home." Quote: my father
It has been an incredibly difficult decision, but a necessary one. The above stories are heartwarming and give renewed hope, as it is probably true that the one who has it the hardest is probably the owner. Most dogs probably have a button that tells them that adaptation is the best chance of survival, so they come to terms with a new situation fairly quickly and make the most of it. But they never forget and that is what I love dogs for. On the other hand, dogs are also very different and handle stress individually. Much more about that when I am reunited with my dog next year. Then I will know how Abeline has taken on the challenge.
About Blogger Shaila Sigsgaard
Shaila Sigsgaard, freelance journalist, lives in Kentucky, USA with her husband and grown children aged 12 and 13 and little Abeline who is a Cockalier which is a mixed dog between an American Cocker Spaniel and a Cavalier King Charles.
Does being away from its owner over time affect the dog?
Summary : We are traveling to New Zealand and have decided at the last minute not to take our dog Abeline with us due to very complicated and difficult import regulations, more than 23 hours of flight time, quarantine and last minute tests. Abeline will need to be looked after for 6 months while we are away.
It is incredibly difficult to mentally prepare yourself for being separated from your dog (best friend) for an extended period of time. Is this something that will possibly affect the dog negatively over time? How quickly will the dog come to terms with the situation and “bond” to its new dog sitter? Will my dog’s “personality” change?
Fortunately, it's not that difficult for any dog owner to relate to my concerns. And my family and friends have been very understanding with reassuring stories that warm your dog's heart immensely:
“When a good friend was going to Africa for a whole year, I looked after his dog. It went well. No problems. The dog became completely attached to me. From the moment the owner came back and stood at my garden gate, I was free!. 100% free. The dog never looked back, it was as if the owner had never been away.” – quote: friend
"We were away from our Irish Setter Bonnie for a whole year while our whole family was in India on a deployment. The dog completely fell into the family again when we got home." Quote: my father
It has been an incredibly difficult decision, but a necessary one. The above stories are heartwarming and give renewed hope, as it is probably true that the one who has it the hardest is probably the owner. Most dogs probably have a button that tells them that adaptation is the best chance of survival, so they come to terms with a new situation fairly quickly and make the most of it. But they never forget and that is what I love dogs for. On the other hand, dogs are also very different and handle stress individually. Much more about that when I am reunited with my dog next year. Then I will know how Abeline has taken on the challenge.
About Blogger Shaila Sigsgaard
Shaila Sigsgaard, freelance journalist, lives in Kentucky, USA with her husband and grown children aged 12 and 13 and little Abeline who is a Cockalier which is a mixed dog between an American Cocker Spaniel and a Cavalier King Charles.