Ladies, thank you for your replies.

I asked around at work & a few folks have given some good recommendations. We'll check them out on the weekend.

I'd love to have yukon looked after at a kennel but am afraid she might get a bit snippy with the humans. She doesn't care about other animals being around, it's the humans that she needs comfort with. We think she wasn't treated very well prior to being homed at the doggie refuge . To make a long story short, she needs to know you and will nip if she doesn't. Great guard dog!

I've thrown the idea to Ian about paying our friends to stay at our house (they lived with us & know Yukon) and take care of her & our home. The other idea was to have her at the kennel for a week or so & then our friends the rest of the time.