ArcaMax

Dear Cathy,

My wife and I are both retired and are able to begin traveling – something we were never able to do very much due to our work schedules. We are also the proud parents of a five-year-old Golden Retriever named Murphy. He is the love of our lives.

We do not like to be away from him even for one overnight. When we are away, we do not board him but rather have my sister come and stay with him. We know we could take him with us but know that this is not always feasible, especially since some places we visit do not allow dogs except for service animals. Taking him would also result in leaving him in a hotel room – something we are not comfortable with, and neither is he. How can we get beyond this hurdle?

— Mark, Cockeysville, Maryland

Dear Mark,

I understand how hard it can be to leave Murphy behind – he’s part of your family, and the idea of being apart, even briefly, is tough. Having a trusted family member, like your sister, stay with him when you travel is a huge gift, ensuring he stays in a familiar environment with someone who cares about him.

Since boarding isn’t an option, your best choices are to leave Murphy with your sister or consider an overnight pet sitter who stays in your home. There are also sitters who host dogs in their own homes. Your sister sounds like the best option, but if you feel like you're imposing too much on her, a professional pet sitter – either at your home or theirs – could be a good backup plan.

If Murphy enjoys socializing, doggie daycare with overnight boarding may also be an option. Many facilities offer an open-play environment, allowing dogs to interact during the day instead of being in a kennel. You could try daycare once a week to see how he enjoys it.

If traveling with Murphy is something you would like to explore, look for pet-friendly destinations where he can be part of the adventure rather than staying behind in a hotel room. Many hotels, vacation rentals, and even some cruise lines cater to pets. Pet parents who travel with their dogs train them to be comfortable in hotel rooms, so they can step out for dinner or visit attractions. You can practice this at home by putting Murphy in a quiet room with a treat for short periods, gradually increasing the time.

Another option while traveling is hiring a local pet walker or sitter at your destination. Some hotels and resorts offer pet-sitting services, and apps, like Rover, can help you find a trusted walker nearby.

Some trips may be perfect for Murphy to join, while others might be better suited for leaving him in trusted care at home. By balancing pet-friendly travel with getaways where he stays behind, you’ll have the freedom to explore without guilt, knowing Murphy is safe and happy.

Dear Cathy,

Our six-month-old mixed small breed dog has a small toy that she loves to play with. Recently, she has started picking it up very carefully, folding it in half and carrying it around whimpering and crying. Then she tries to hide it. If she gets too upset, I pick it up and put it out of sight. She seems fine with that until the next time. Do you have any insight into this behavior and what should be our appropriate response?

— Sharon, St. Charles Missouri

Dear Sharon,

Your dog’s behavior – carrying the toy gently, whimpering, and trying to hide it – could be a sign of a false pregnancy, also known as a pseudopregnancy. This condition can occur in unspayed female dogs after their heat cycle, even if they were never bred. Their body reacts as if they are pregnant, leading to nesting behaviors, mothering of objects (like her toy skunk), and even physical changes such as swollen mammary glands or lactation.

The good news is that a false pregnancy usually resolves on its own within a few weeks, but if her behavior becomes distressing or persistent, spaying is the best way to prevent future episodes.

If she is already spayed, this behavior could simply be a form of comfort-seeking or obsessive attachment to the toy, similar to how some dogs become fixated on a favorite object.

In this case, gently distracting her with playtime or swapping the toy out for another one may help break the cycle. Since she seems relieved when you put the toy away, she may not mind a little help moving on from it.

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(Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, author, columnist and pet expert who has more than 25 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to cathy@petpundit.com. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal.)

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