First let me say Happy New Year to all!!! Zeena has been keeping us very busy and I don't seem to have much "down time" to get to the computer. I'm actually at work now where I have a minute. Zeena is doing great!! We love her so much. She's sleeping in our bed now (took a little convincing on my part to my hubby) I love how she curls up next to my face, she's so amazing. I have two questions. First, any advise on raised feeding. I've read absolutely yes then I read on a boxer breeder site absolutely not. Just wondering what you all think and/or do. Secondly, we have a planned vacation in April and planned on leaving Zeena with our upstairs neighbors. They just told us they are going away the same week and can't take her. She'll be just under 6 months and I think it's too early to leave her in a kennel (which I don't want to do ever if I don't have to). :bigsad: Any thougts??? Really could use some "expert" advise! Thanks

Hiya! Glad to hear everything w/ Miss Zeena are going well! As to the raised feeders... We were feeding on raised before we brought Nikki home. There was research done at Perdue? (i forget which university) that cited that raised feeders can actually increase chances of bloat. (This study has been talked about on the *other site*, and I'm not sure if it has been brought up here.) As far as I'm concerned, animals do not eat on raised platforms in the wild, why should our dogs? I would be very interested to see what others thought about that study done also.

As to kennels. We actually have never kenneled our boxers (i have kenneled other dogs), as we've been lucky enough to find friends who could accomodate them, and our breeder (though she lives quite a few hours from us) has even watched them on more than a few occassions. Are there any family members who can watch them? If there are no options, I would say kenneling is not a HUGE issue. Obviously find a reputable one, perhaps one that boxer owners in your area have suggested? We did have some kennel options if and when we do need to use them. (one lady actually does boxer rescue!) Anyways, don't forget to get her a bordetella (sp?) shot, so she doesn't get kennel cough, esp. is she's staying at a traditional kennel w/ lots of other dogs.

Sorry if I wasn't that helpful :dunno: Hopefully someone else can ad more info!

I think the raised feeder depends on the dog... When I fed Tof from her dish on the ground, she would suck up the food whole and then toss it up a bit later (still whole). She's been eating out of her raised feeder for most of her life now (she'll be 6 in April) and she does great with it--and CHEWS her food. With her, the raised feeder works best.

I've never kenneled Toffee and I hope to never have to. I've been very lucky with my parents or friends always being able to watch her when I travel (which can sometimes be quite a bit of the time!). I don't think kenneling has to be an issue though. Just check out the place thoroughly beforehand and talk to some people that have boarded there. And as Kat said, don't forget to get her Bordatella shot.

As far as the kennel goes, she's had her bordatella because they required it for puppy kindergarten. We are planning on taking Zeena to day care two days a week and the woman who owns the day care (it is not a kennel) does kennel day care dogs if needed. So, Zeena would sleep there at night and be fed by the owner of the day care and she would go to day care every day. Although it would be our best alternative, 5 days of day care in a row might be a lot for our baby and also, she's going to be scared sleeping in her crate in the dark and alone for two whole weekends and I don't think I 'll enjoy my vacation worrying about my baby so I think the whole kennel/boarding thing is out for us. We normally would have several people to leave her with but my parents and three cousins are all planning on going away that same week. I also think when she's older it will be easier to leave her but at 5 months I just don't think I can bring myself to leave her with strangers. I love her too much to let her be left for 9 days and be scared!

My boys both use med raised feeders. I find it good especially for my rottie, when bowl was on the ground he would have to spread his front legs to reach it which I didn't like. Now they both just bend down and eat very comfortably.

Re the kennels situation. I knew when I had dogs that there would always come a time where there would be no one around to care for them when we had to go away. I found a very good kennel recommended by my vet. I visited it, chekced it out etc she also allowed them to come and visit for a day to get used to the kennel and owners (free). I did this a couple of times. They loved palying with the other dogs and had large yards to play in. Heated floors in the kennels with doggy doors to go into a big area outside. I could also bring my own food which I find a lot of kennels don't allow or like. Now when we go away I would rather leave them there instead of family. Knowing they are treated fine and have fun I call it their time away, club med like.

sorry I can't comment re the raised feeders, mine have always had their bowls on the floor and not had any problems.
Regarding kennels, although your baby is still only little, I think it's a good idea to have them used to being at kennels as you never know if a reason arises that you need to go away and there's nobody around to take them, you don't want to place her in a kennel in a rush.
My advice would be, ask around for recommendations, I have always asked my vet where he boards his dogs and found it's a pretty reliable indicator.
Make an appointment to go visit the premises and the owner, ask loads of questions about how their day is structured and be sure you are happy with the person who's going to be caring for your pup. They should be insisting one sighting your vaccination certs etc and possibly suggesting a visit for a couple of hours.
Believe me, I used to be realy worried about our first pup and didn't want her going to kennels, but one time we needed to, so found a good one, we had an anxious holiday thinking we were being mean :bigsad: she had a ball
Now I would always kennel my dogs, I know they are safe and secure, well cared for, if they need a vet, our vet will be called and we will be contacted and most of all they have great fun AND we can relax and enjoy our trip
Good luck

Hi. I have read the Perdue article, so I don't feed Joe from the raised feeder and he does just fine. I have boarded both Joe and Scampy his BT little brother many times. Our vet has a small kennel where he boards only his customer's pets. I have met many, many times everyone who works there and they really love my boys. Joe and Scampy always seem to have a great time while boarded. As a matter of fact, when Joe had to go to the vet last week, he kept trying to get into the kennel area. I know people that will house/pet sit for us, but that always makes me nervous. I am very careful that my boys never get out the front door. It is something that everyone in our house is always aware of. I'm just afraid that the sitter may forget, and out my dogs will go! I just feel better knowing that the dogs are safe and can not get into any trouble at the vets. Hope this helps!
Cheryl

Just curious, how old were/are your dogs when you boarded them? Zeena is only going to be 5 months old when we are supposed to vacation and that's the real issue for me is that she may be too young and be scared.

Ryker was about 5 1/2 months when he was first boarded alone, we didn't have Ozzy then. He had fun but when we went to pick him up he kind of didn't recognize us at first, it was really wierd, that is why when we got Ozzy we let both of them visit the new kennels for day trips. So he didn't think we were abandoning him.

I have Rafe's food in a raised feeder - partly to stop him pushing his dish all over the place. I also found it helped him with his sore leg - he didn't have to lean down too far. It's not TOO high - just about 5 inches off the ground. I also used to put the other dogs up on bricks - helpful with old arthritic joints.

As for kennels - it's always been my opinion that you should kennel your dogs at least once in case of an emergency and you need to put them in on short notice, they will be used to it and so will you and you won't have to worry about them as well as whatever else it that you are facing. Heaven forbid you have a family emergency, the rest of your family will be involved too and won't be able to sit your dogs either. The first time I put mine in - I took them for a day, then it was a weekend, then it was 4 days, all while I was at home and could be reached easily. (I did have two at the time in the same pen). Rafe went to the kennel with Candy back in September (seperate kennels) and he loved it - so many animals to meet. He will be kennelled on his own for 3 weeks come May when I go to the United States. I have been lucky to have access to two great boarding kennels - both run by friends and Boxer breeders and both use the same vet as I do so he was around to check on them if needed.

We use a raised feeder for Laila and she seems to be OK. She won't eat if her dishes are on the floor because she gets scared when they move around and make noise. (she's a scaredy cat:)

We've never had to kennel her but I think we'll have to at some point in her life when friends/family aren't around. A friend just went on vacation and left her dog at a great kennel and said great things about it. I think the key is finding a great place with people you trust.
I'd just show up unannounced by yourself to check it out, then make an appointment to come back with Zeena.

Good luck and try to enjoy your vacation!

Thank you all for your helpful hints. I found a doggie day care where they board only for their day care customers so it's not really a kennel. The woman that owns it seems nice and we are going to check it out this weekend. We did decide to cancel our April vacation though, both the hubby and I think she's going to be really freaked out staying alone for 10 nights at her young age. Definitely think we should board/kennel her at some point though and will when she's a little older. Really appreciate all the comments.