Leaving a dog?

[Lucky Chaos]

Monday is Thanksgiving here and we're going to my aunt and uncle's house for the day/dinner. Which means we'll be gone around 10 - 12 hours. Which is obviously too long to leave the dogs, so we were planning to bring them. But even though my aunt and uncle like dogs, bringing all three of them seems like a lot. So since Riley is a very hyper dog compared to the other two we were going to leave him at my neighbours. Leaving all three just seems like too big a burden to leave with my neighbour although she did offer. So thats not an option either. Both Chaos and Lucky are great with kids, pretty calm, tolerant, well behaved. While Riley is hyper, sometimes nippy especially while playing, he often jumps if I don't watch him every minute. Don't get me wrong he's a awesome dog and pretty well behaved, but he's a typical intense Border Collie. The problem is, I don't know if leaving him with the neighbour is a good idea either, She has a very calm lab mix. Riley is the kind of dog that needs constant attention especially on walks, he's always on the lookout for things to chase. Also, when we first adopted him he had seperation anxiety, and got really upset if we were out of his sight even for a little bit. Even now he's fine as long as we come home to a schudule, but if I have something to do after and I have to be a little late I come home to him barking/crying. He also dosn't know the neighbour very well.

The last option which I really do not like is bringing him and keeping him in the yard. It's not like he would be left totally alone, but he would be along for longer then I would like.

What would be the best option in this situation? And is it fair to leave just one dog instead of all three?

[Guest Anonymous]

Taking the two that are well behaved while leaving the other at your neighbors sounds totally illogical to me. Wouldn't you want to take the dog that needs the socialization and needs to be worked with, compared to the other two well behaved dogs who sound alot like your neighbors dog who they would probably get along with?

[Lucky Chaos]

It's not so much Riley needs to be worked with. He's perfectly well behaved with me, he's just a hyper dog. The problem is my uncle dosn't like him because he's not as laid back as the others. But he loves the other two and asked us to bring them, which is why we are. Again calm or not, I don't know if leaving two dogs with my neighbour is a good idea. While well behaved, they're both VERY strong I usually only walk two at a time. I really wish we'd found someone else to look after him/them but it was a last minute thing.

[kendalyn]

Can't you leave Riley at home and ask your neighbor to just check on him and let him out a couple times during the day? If she's willing to let him come over, she's probably willing to pop over and let him out.

[Malamum]

I think Kendalyn's solution sounds fine.

I'm probably going to get frowned upon for saying this but I don't think that 10-12 hours is too long to leave the dogs at all. Ours are pretty much at home on their own for that length of time every day while we are at work.

[Lucky Chaos]

It wouldn't be too long if he wasn't all alone. Because him and Chaos have gotten into fights before he's either crated or kept in the basement (which is heated/air conditioned, lots of toys and water) Leaving them out all together for 10 - 12 hours isn't bad, but not in a crate or totally alone, personally.

That seems to be the best suggesstion Kendalyn, thanks. I think we'll try that instead of him going over there.

[Malamum]

Sorry my bad... since I don't crate I tend to forget that others do. Yes, that is way too long in a crate.

Since you are taking the other two, I think leaving him home alone (uncrated) and having the neighbour pop in to check on him is probably your best option.

[Cairn6]

I like the idea of leaving him home and having the neighbor pop in that way the neighbor doesn't have to worry about him all day long. I totally understand what your saying about him being not as laid back I have the same situation with Toto my cairn he loves people so much he never leaves them alone so unless you love every dog Toto might be a bit intense to deal with. That doesn't make him a bad dog that needs work he's just very active.

[imported_Kat]

If hes happy enough on his own in his own surroundings then I would leave him and get your neighbour to take him for a walk a few times during that period. If he has severe separation anxiety then I would take him with you and leave the other pair with your neighbour.