Ollie is the darling cockapoo we adopted in the spring. He is a dream dog, although incredibly bonded to me hence “separation anxiety” is the deal I got with him. He basically follows me around the house all day and if I’m gone for any length of time, has a bit of a “seizure” when I return, jumping and yelping and spinning in circles.
We successfully left him with our older son when we travelled for two weeks. He went to work every day with Alex and they clearly bonded as well, as Ollie was a bit sorrowful when Alex returned him to me when we got back. So, basically he’s a serial monogamist.
We did a trial visit at a neighborhood doggie daycare for those times when I need to be away from home for more than a few hours. They kept him for an hour and he was apparently growly and not happy. They required another visit where Ollie was be better behaved before they could take him as a boarder/day care client.
Friends of mine who have a basset hound recommended that I try Parker Pet Care, an organization that they have used for years. Parker offers a free trial day, so I signed Ollie up for last Friday and dropped him off in the morning. The staff there are simply lovely and I felt good about leaving him in their care.
When I picked him up, I got a “report card” along with a couple of doggie treats in a gift bag.
How cute is that?
I’ve booked him for a day of care while I’m off to Burlington on Wednesday. I’ll be asking for a “Cuddle Time” upgrade.
Domestic Bliss: The Empty Nest 