I know that I am way early on this, as we are sitting here surrounded by mountains of snow. However, the question of the summer is already bugging me.

Falkor has a miriad of health problems. Severe heat and humidity really take their toll on him. I live in a big city that is an absolute oven in the summer. My mother lives up north, in a small town in the middle of nature. The weather is MUCH cooler and bearable up there. She has offered to take Falkor up to her place for all summer.

I know that this would be a much safer environment for his health. However he would definintely miss me. I would be able to go up for most August because I have a "one month summer lay-off" from my job. That still leaves about 5 or 6 weeks without my "Big Fella".

It takes me 12 hours by bus to go from where I am to where she's at. It's $100.00 CAD each way. I can't afford to do the trip too often, so weekend visits are out of the questions.

What to do??? I don't want him to get depressed without me, but he is at a higher risk for illness here in the city. Ok, I think by writing this I am seeing that he should go up. I think it's ME that will be depressed without him.

Ooops I put this thread into the wrong forum. Sorry. I'm not awake yet.

Hi Steph,

I'd say let Falkor go to the country for the summer. You could visit him during the month of August and he'd be with his "grandmother" the rest of the time. I'm sure she'd enjoy his company very much and he'd love the nice fresh air.

That's my vote

Lynn

I'm thinking the same thing Lynn. Grandma will enjoy him too. Both dogs used to go there to visit a lot. Luba just LOVED it. The house backs right onto a forest with a great trail.

Even the Falkor usually gets over the worst of his arthritis and goes on little "trail walks" .

Hi Steph,
I hope you were able to decide what you think is best. If he were to go and your mom felt he was really sad without you, I suppose you could get him back home with you, huh?

I hope you are doing well.
Love,
Marcia

Dear Steph, How long have you been away from Falkor at a time? I just wondered if he has been away from you for long periods. Even though he loves your mom would he still eat for her after a while. If I were you I would make sure I had the money saved up to go get him if he could not make it without you. My sister left her dog for 2 weeks and she almost starved to death. She lost a lot of weight from missing my sister so much. You wouldn't want that to happen to your precious Falkor.
Hugs, Ann

Ann, Falkor has been up at my mom's for longer periods of time. In fact, he and Luba used to go up for several weeks at a time in the past summers because the LOVED it up there so much. I'd always go up and join them for the last two weeks. I couldn't believe how lively and energetic my dogs were after a few weeks in the clean, fresh air. Falkor never had much trouble emotionally until last summer after Luba died. I had my mom take him up north because I thought he'd cheer up, but he did not because he missed me.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Marciea, For sure, if he goes into a funk I'll find a way to get him back or get myself up there. I'm blessed with a flexible job.

I really think he needs to get out of the city though. He really struggled with the heat last summer when he was here.

I'll keep an eye on his health, and see what happens. I think I'll send up on a trial run for a couple of weeks with my mom to see how he does. If he gets sad, forget sending him up for the long trip. However, he may go back to loving it up there like he did before Luba died.

Do you have A/C? I believe that would help and you'd be able to keep him at home. The heat bothered my now deceased toy poodle, DJ, but we have A/C and it helped him a lot. Hope everything works out for you both.


Wanda