Experiencing this contrasting world of ours first hand is an integral part of my daughters’ education. However, a lifestyle involving loads of travelling – and often travelling impulsively – can have its drawbacks. The major one, according to my children, is not being able to have a dog. A weekend here, two weeks there, fine. But it isn’t fair to take off for three months and leave the dog in a kennel. So far, I haven’t been persuaded otherwise.
But this year, we’ll have holidays at home. For once, we are spending the entire Christmas/New Years’ vacation at home, dog-sitting. Only a few days into it, we’re already acutely aware how difficult it will be to say goodbye to this beautiful little girl.
Happy Christmas, Blaze!
We’ve always opted for cats, because they look after themselves as long as the neighbours care to feed them. Merry Christmas and enjoy the dog-sitting.
@ItalianNotes – Yes, we’ve had cats as well. Much easier, as they’re so independent. But a dog seems to be the ultimate, esp. for my youngest. She’s willing to give up all her electronics for it, and that’s saying something…
Pets are always part of our family. Main problem during travel who will care our lovely pets? Whatever your dog is very cute. Happy New Year 2012
@Tours in Agra – She really is a lovely little dog. Happy New Year to you, too.
Hope you’re enjoying your holiday at home. We’ve also been at home for the first time over the holidays here in Sweden. God forsättning!
@Sandra – Christmas here in Scandinavia must be very different from Australia, I’m sure. Fortsatt god jul 🙂
Awww so sweet! I sort of accidentally ended up with two dogs, which I’ve been able to take care of just fine, even with all of my travels. But I am suddenly facing a situation without an easy solution. I’m distraught. 🙁 Enjoy dog-sitting!!
Awww, what a cute dog.
I love animals so much but it is hard to leave them. We have a dog that we left with my brother-in-law in Vietnam, intending to collect her when we settled in Singapore. But Singapore didn’t work out and our poor brother-in-law’s dog-sitting duties look like lasting two years! We love going back to Vietnam to see our lovely Mitzie-dog.
I hope you have a lovely time with Blaze. She looks quite at home there on the couch.
You know what they say, “There’s no place like home for the holidays!”
Aw, what a cute puppy. If I’m gone more than a few days the poor huskies have to cross their legs. Nobody else can handle them. Kinda keeps me from traveling far.
Aw, what a darling little face!!! I love dogs but we travel too much to have one
@Abby – Sorry to hear it. Hope your situation works out. Would love to see pics of your dog.
@Barbara – Definitely an advantage to have dog-friendly family or friends.
@Doc – True.
@Mike – Yeah, huskies wouldn’t be the easiest to take along everywhere. Gorgeous dogs they are.
@Andrea – That’s how I’ve bene thinking as well. But it seems some people manage to work it out.
What a beauty! I have Indy, and have always been fortunate to find good people to look after her when I’m traveling. For the first five years I swapped sitting with a couple who had a cat, and that worked out perfectly. Now, they have left, but there is always an expat who wants to have a pet on a temporary basis now and again. Anyone who looks after Indy loves her.
Happy New Year!
I love animals, but I am not sure I’ll ever be prepared to have a pet because of the travel issues. I would have to have some verrrrrry close friends who love animals and could take care of my pets…family is not a problem as they’ll be very far from Australia!
We never traveled for longer than 10 days while our ‘two old boys’ were with us and after they went to ‘Kitty Heaven’ the hearts were broken but the bags were packed. . .we’ve not stopped traveling since then.
@Nancie – Indy! A friend of mine had a dog named Indy. A husky, he was. Great with everybody except other male dogs.
@Denise – That’s the challenge, isn’t it. Sometimes I think it’s easier to find a baby-sitter than a dog-sitter.
@Jackie – Pets do limit your freedom. The question is whether it’s worth it all the same…
Oh my god, she is gorgeous! I could never leave that beautiful face!
When we go on a “road trip” so does out cat. But instead of joining us, so gets to “vacation” at a cool place that has big playrooms for the feline”guests.”
Oh, what a beauty she is! Nice that you are spending the holidays at home with your daughters and little Blaze.
@Louise – She is gorgeous, isn’t she…
@Dick – Sounds like you’ve found a good solution. My trouble would be with international travel: Norway has such strict rules for taking pets (back) into the country. From the UK, it’s no problem. For all other EU-countries, there has to be heaps of vaccinations and certificates. For non-EU, a 4-month quarantine is required. Brutal!
@Cathy – Thanks!
Ahh, what a beauty! Enjoy your holiday at home with Blaze — quite a different experience for all of you. Best wishes for 2012.
So cute 🙂 Happy New Year!
@InsideJourneys and Muza-chan – Thanks and happy new year to you, too 🙂
What an adorable dog! My kids love animals but we’re too busy to take care of one. We may start off with a fish. I hope you’re enjoying your holidays at home. Happy New Year!
@Mary – A fish might make a good start 🙂
Happy new year!
I have a Caribbean Cocktail for a dog – a street smart mutt from the island of St. Maarten. I have a hard time leaving her but obviously I do – a lot, and I’m happiest when someone is staying in my house and her routine isn’t interrupted very much.
Any dog sitter looking for a 2 week housesit in late July in Calgary???
Your dog is VERY cute.
@Leigh – Did you take it home to Canada from St Maarten? And if so, was that difficult – quarantines, vaccinations, documentation, etc…? July in Calgary does sound nice. I’ll let you know if I hear of anyone heading that way this summer 🙂
We never had pets for the very same reasons you listed…UNTIL this summer when we got a cute pair of turtles who are turning out to be the perfect pets! Not a lot of care needed, they can actually go a few days without food, and because they are small and easy we have never had a problem finding friends who are willing to watch them for longer trips.
Glad that you were able enjoy the holidays at home with the added bonus of such a cute, furry visitor (is that a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel?…several family members have similar dogs and they are wonderful family dogs).
Happy New Year! Hope 2012 is a year full of magic, big adventures, and perhaps even some turtles 🙂
@Lucia – Turtles! That’s interesting; something to think about. Although the kids have their minds firmly set on a dog. And now, preferably one just like this, she is so easygoing and just adorable (and yes, she’s a Cavalier King Charles, btw). All the best for the new year and happy travels 🙂
My desire to travel is actually one of the reasons I did not have a pet.
@Stephanie – Yeah… I really like dogs (and cats), but they’re not easy to combine with travelling. Happy New Year to you down there on the other side of the world 🙂
I often think of pets (perhaps wrongly) as a sign of been settled and stable. I like travelling but I could not imagine having to travel around at Christmas, the festive season is the one time of year that I must spend at home with my mum!
Sophie – A friend’s mother rescued dogs on St. Maartens before they were put down – which at least in the past was in June, typically after the tourists had gone home. There is no rabies on that island so it was actually really easy for her to bring the dog to Canada. And lucky she did because my dog hates the heat.
This mutt of ours is by far the smartest dog of all the ones we’ve had.