Top tip ! Swap dogs every year, handing in your current one at the kennels at beginning of December and picking up a new one after Christmas when there’s always loads to chose from. That way you get a younger newer dog each year and avoid expensive vets bills
If your dog is not chipped, get a friend to hand him into the the police a few days before Christmas, then you can travel upto your friends/family or take that Christmas break, then when you return home, report the dog missing and get the dog back with no over priced Christmas kennel fee's, taa daaa