Findings indicated that 40% of respondents “constantly” worry whether their dog is OK when they are traveling.
However, not all family members can join the adult humans on vacations and other journeys away from home.
A recent survey has shown that dog owners can miss their dogs so much it can actually dampen the enjoyment of their travels without them.
Talker Research, a service that provides polling and research solutions to help create data-led content and generate headlines in English and Spanish, conducted the survey.
Researchers administered two online surveys, each with 2,000 dog owners, between April 28 and May 5, 2025, and June 11 and June 16, 2025.
Findings indicated that 40% of respondents “constantly” worry whether their dog is OK when they are traveling. Over a fifth, or 22%, miss their dog so much while traveling that it can impact their enjoyment of the trip. In fact, pet owners miss their pup an average of 13 distinct times per day when away, and it can take only 53 minutes on average to start missing their pup, the study found. In addition, a fifth of the respondents asked their pet sitters to put their dog on the phone so they can speak to their pup, and 17% have done the same with a video call.
Both surveys were commissioned by K9 Resorts Luxury Pet Hotel, which was founded in 2005 in Fanwood, New Jersey and has 47 locations today, including Chandler and Scottsdale.
The Prescott area is also blessed with a number of boarding choices for pet owners, including Doggie Dude Ranch on Willow Creek Road, which has been in business for more than 40 years and is Prescott’s original dog boarding facility. The facility offers a variety of services, including animal boarding (dogs, cats, small animals), a daycare facility and grooming services. Long-running pet boarding is also available.
Owner KJ Skiby responded to some of the questions on the Talker Research survey, including if owners ask to speak to their dogs on the phone or with a video call.
“It is less common than you’d think,” Skiby said. “For new clients, I always recommend doing a free, first-time daycare so they realize this is a fun place to be. It helps both the owners and the pets rest at ease when they pick up and are all wags and smiles. Usually, the next time they pull into the parking lot they are so excited to come back and hang out with their new friends.”
However, there are some clients who call every day while they are on vacation. “Most of the time, the trust that we have built with them makes it unnecessary and, more often than not, the dogs are so busy having fun that I can tell they have no worries about going home or being homesick,” Skiby said.
The findings emphasize the importance of ensuring dogs are well-cared for while owners are away, thus helping to make this common worry more manageable. Pet owners often worry about whether the animal is getting enough exercise, socialization, mental stimulation and affection.
Run cards can help pet care owners keep track of the details on each animal, including behavior notes, feeding instructions and medication administration. They are attached to the run or kennel that a specific animal is occupying.
“Animals not getting along with others is the main worry,” Skiby noted. “When we encounter this situation, their run cards are notated with ‘DNP’ (do not pair), and they get rotated to the play yards by themselves and are put in a kennel with a divider wall instead of fencing so they feel secluded and safe.”
Some pet owners do express guilt about having to leave their dogs behind. “Most times the owner is more affected than the dogs are and it can be a struggle,” he said. “Dogs are pack animals and the regular clients help so much to put new dogs at ease. We have a handful of everyday clients that show them the way and love to play and interact; that helps immensely.”
Another Prescott area boarding facility, Wags Pet Resort, on East Florentine Road in Prescott Valley, is a dogs-only facility that provides group play, courtyard play, an outdoor oasis, training and a salon and spa for dogs.
Wags General Manager Kerry Hunt commented on whether pet owners feel guilt when they leave their dogs behind. “It really depends on how connected they are with their pet,” she said. “Some are ready to have a break and know that their pet is well cared for, which gives them a chance to unwind on their own vacation. Others want full access to the VIP executive camera access so they can watch their dog when they are in their suite during the stay. But most owners are happy to return to an overjoyed pup ready to greet them with lots of love.”
Leaving a pet at a boarding facility can be emotional. “It’s like dropping your child off at kindergarten for the first time, especially if they’ve never been to our facility,” she said. “They want to make sure they have found the right environment for their dog, whether it’s for a play day, stay or to be groomed. We do our best to reassure the owners by providing them with a tour of our facility and explaining our services. They can see first-hand the quality we put into the care we give to every client.”
Pet owners also worry if the animal’s overall health is good and if it is being given a nutritious diet.
At Wags, pet owners provide their own food for their dogs. “We just prepare and feed it based on how the owners do it at home. For example, AM feeding, lunch, PM feeding, treats if provided,” Hunt explained.
Woof Woof Ranch on East Cheyenne Springs Road in Prescott Valley is a small business that is owned by Giselle Hall and her husband and can board up to 35 dogs.
Hall said that some of the most common worries dog owners seem to have about their pets are “not eating, too excitable for other dogs or possibly not warming up to the idea of ‘running with a pack’ when they are traditionally in a single-dog home.”
Her experience is that about a third of her clients check in on how well “their babies” are acclimating to Woof Woof Ranch. “Most of them treat their pets like an additional child and want to know they are safe and being treated well, just like a parent would only want the best when it would come to day care or babysitting for their own children.”
There are a number of things humans can do to enhance the well being of their dogs. Perhaps most importantly, the bond between the human owner and their dog needs to be sincere. “People need to be kind and want to be around a dog,” Hall said. “Dogs seem to have a good sense of reading the feelings of people they are around.”
The Talker Research study also included some lists generated by pet owners highlighting some of the things that they believe might make their dogs very happy, such as long daily walks, endless ball throwing, big backyards to run in, home-cooked meals, tons of attention, carrots as treats, huge bones to chew. a rope swing and a pool to play in.
“Dogs are true family members, and we understand the anxiety pet owners feel when they are traveling and can’t bring their pups with them,” said Steven Parker, co-CEO and co-founder of K9 Resorts. “Our clients know they can rest assured that their dogs are enjoying a fabulous staycation while they’re away.” FBN
By Betsey Bruner, FBN
Courtesy Photo: The Woof Woof Ranch in Prescott Valley can board up to 35 dogs.
Leave a Reply