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What do you do with your dogs when you travel?

rfj1862

New Member
We're contemplating a Fila; in many ways we're ideal owners--we have lots of experience with large dogs that some consider potentially aggressive (right now a Cane Corso, a Ridgeback, and a Pit), we work at home so the dogs are accompanied almost all of the time and they get continuous reinforcement of their training, and we live in the country with acres of space.

My question is this: What do you do with your Filas when you travel? There are about 10 days a year when both me and my wife are gone simultaneously, and the dogs have to go to boarding. Our three girls have become friendly with a local in-home boarder, so it's not an issue with the current pack. After a lot of work, they are also very gentle and calm with other dogs. Is boarding a major issue with Filas?
 

aceoutdoor

Well-Known Member
Filas nervous system is very different from ALL other dogs. Would never recommend boarding a Fila. It shocks their system, they will have diarrhea, most likely become dehydrated and can refuse to eat and drink. Many times they require probiotics to get their digestive system working properly again. They will feel abandoned and literally depressed. Filas belong at home, or on their land with their family.
 

angelbears

Well-Known Member
No boarding with mine. Cane would either do what Ace says above and with that comes the possibility of bloat or he would kill himself or someone trying to escape to come find us. A couple of times we left him with our son(just for an hour). He recorded him laying at the door whining and every couple of minutes he would throw his head back and bay the most sorrowful sound you have ever heard.
 

rfj1862

New Member
So you always have someone at home with the dogs? You never travel?

I should be clear here--they don't get put in boarding for 10 days straight, it's 10 days spaced out over the whole year.
 

aceoutdoor

Well-Known Member
If you are rural, have acreage that is safely fenced, and other dogs you can leave them alone with food and water by themselves for several days. Otherwise they are a big commitment and yeah I like to travel overseas, but am unable to because of my dogs. They are worth it.
 

rfj1862

New Member
I agree they're worth it--my wife and I travel at the same time only when it absolutely cannot be avoided. We have 5 acres of our property fenced, but I'm not sure I'd be comfortable leaving dogs alone for a couple days though. Thanks for the advice!
 

ruthcatrin

Well-Known Member
You MAY (and only may) be able to train the dog to accept a specific person to allow them onto the property to check on the dogs and their food/water. But with a dog like the Fila it would require starting when the dog was a small pup and practically making the person a member of your family so that the dog would allow it.
 

aceoutdoor

Well-Known Member
You MAY (and only may) be able to train the dog to accept a specific person to allow them onto the property to check on the dogs and their food/water. But with a dog like the Fila it would require starting when the dog was a small pup and practically making the person a member of your family so that the dog would allow it.

I have a very close friend who did that for me. Most of mine where ok. I have a male with very high Ojeriza who has never wanted anything to do with him. Lets just say, it didn't workout last time he did it for me. Unless they live there, everyday, not worth the risk with Filas.
 

aceoutdoor

Well-Known Member
I agree they're worth it--my wife and I travel at the same time only when it absolutely cannot be avoided. We have 5 acres of our property fenced, but I'm not sure I'd be comfortable leaving dogs alone for a couple days though. Thanks for the advice!

If you have at least 6ft privacy fence, and another dog you should be OK for two days.
 

ruthcatrin

Well-Known Member
I have a very close friend who did that for me. Most of mine where ok. I have a male with very high Ojeriza who has never wanted anything to do with him. Lets just say, it didn't workout last time he did it for me. Unless they live there, everyday, not worth the risk with Filas.

Yah, thats why I said "may"!
 

fila4me

Well-Known Member
luckily, my breeder with my first couple of Filas is also a close personal friend. so, my dogs could stay with her. she also did "puppy daycare" for them during the week while I worked so they felt at home with her. with Flower, my best friend also has Filas and Flower has seen her a couple of times a week since I got her at 7 wks. Flower does very well at her house, she loves my friend and her daughter so the transition is easy. now with my Maddie girl, hmmm!! I am having surgery next week and will be out of commission for a couple of weeks, so my friend will be picking up Maddie the night before surgery. she has never stayed anywhere but at home. I get butterflies in my stomach worrying about how this will pan out. Maddie loves my friend, but has never been to her house with out me. we are doing it on a trial basis, if all goes well then great but if not Maddie will come home during the day and go back to her house at night. I do not trust those who will be here taking care of me to mess with her at all. too many people will be assisting me and my kids to add the threat of Maddie to my stress.

since having Maddie, I do not travel without her. lots of boarding places around here do to accept Filas. and like ace has said, they do not do well.
 

rfj1862

New Member
Given that all four dogs would go to boarding together, would that alleviate some of the strain on the Fila? She'd be with her pack after all.
 

aceoutdoor

Well-Known Member
At home when your gone for a couple days having several will make it much easier for them. Having more than one and boarding them together will not make it any better for them. They should never be boarded, ever.
 

vrod

Active Member
Mine either goes to my mom's and hangs out with her uncle OEM, my son comes to our home or I take her with me and leave strict instructions that I do not want a maid entering my room.