To want to rehome my dog

You have to think about how much he means to you and how much you would like to keep him. Dog walkers seem to be everywhere now so I'm sure if you look hard enough you could find one, if not what about day care? Can you not get home during your lunch to give him a quick walk? If you don't feel any of that is an option then maybe rehoming is the only way. I think it's heartbreaking but he is 10yrs old and without generalising maybe a retired person could give him the lovely life and company he deserves.

No judgement from me though, I was in a similar situation many years ago and I was considering rehoming my dog, selfishly I suppose I just couldn't part with her but eventually things changed for me and she ended up with lots of company and a lovely life without me having to give her up. If you don't see change on the horizon then rehoming is probably best but do it responsibly through a reputable rescue.

However you decide to move forward, please don't allow him to spend his final years lonely and anxious without the enrichment he needs and deserves.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE take him to a proper rehoming centre and do not sell him. I dread to think what could end up happening to him if you sell him cheaply on some website. It sounds like a difficult situation so get him to a decent charity ASAP and stop letting him suffer.

OP is in Ireland and I can well believe that there are no dog walkers there.

I am a dog walker in England and my DP is from the west coast of Ireland, in a rural community. I’ve looked into whether or not I’d be able to set up as a business there if we moved over, and there really wouldn’t be a demand for it. It’s quite a cultural difference in how dogs in rural Ireland live - they spend a lot of their time outside (DP thinks I’m cruel for having my dogs in the house 🤣), and you certainly wouldn’t take your dog with you if you went to the pub. There’s no rule against it, but it just doesn’t happen, as DP says it would be frowned upon! Also properties are so spread out there that even if there was a demand for dog walking (which I don’t think there really is), there would be so much driving between jobs I don’t think it would be financially viable.

So I can well believe there are no dog walkers nearby. I’m sure it’s different in big towns and cities but not rurally.

Yes OP rehoming the dog would be the kindest thing to do.

It sounds like a tough situation all around. What breed is he? Have you spoken to rescues about his likelihood at being rehomed or even fostered? Some breeds are far more likely to get a new home.

If he was stuck in kennels for a long time it would likely be worse than being in the house alone all day. Many dogs really struggle, especially if they already have separation anxiety.

If he can't be placed in a family quickly, could you see if any local teens would visit him at home, for a bit of money, instead of rehoming (providing he's not likely to bite). Or see if any of your dog loving family would take him in?

I took on two dogs from a situation similar to yours. The owner had split with her partner and went back to work fulltime. She found it hard to let go and did prevaricate but you have to go with your decision, stick to it and do it now.

Dont listen to others who have not stepped in to help you.

Its best to look for a breed specific rescue who can assess your dog giving an improved chance of a good rehome.

Ours was a successful rehome but it wasnt easy for us and the dogs who lost their home through no fault of their own.

You're not being unreasonable to consider rehoming home however there are steps you can take to improve things until that can happen.

You would be unreasonable to expect him to go into a kennels based rescue/shelter though. They're not nice places, even the plushest, nicest run options, will be very stressful for a dog.

• Have him sleep in your room. That instantly ups the amount of time he has with company by a good 7+ hours.
• See if there is any local person, teenager etc, who would come and let him out a couple of times during the day for cash. You might even get them to sit in with him and watch tv/use the internet. If you don't ask, stick a card in the shop window, ask on a local FB group, you don't know. Whilst a professional with all the insurance would be better if they don't exist in your area, then they don't.
• Find a rescue that will support you rehoming directly from your home - lots of smaller independent rescues do this, so they will help to advertise him, and find potential homers, they may even do home checks and transport, but he stays with you until that home is found. If the home falls through, they provide the back up so he does not come back to you.

If he is toilet trained when you are actually at home you could look at building an indoor toilet area. To do this, get a puppy pen so you can separate it from teh rest of whatever room it is in, ideally..

Find a mechanics drip tray - amazon have these, they're available in a variety of sizes and are wide, shallow trays that are much bigger than a cat litter tray. Find one that fits the pen size if you're using one.

Line this with either disposable pads or washable ones (washable ones are around teh same price for 4 as a large pack of disposable ones costs!) - then cover that with some fake turf (washable in the shower/bath/hose outside, whatever option you have there).

Then spend some time over a weekend taking him to this area and rewarding him well for toileting there. And then hope that whilst you are out, he chooses to use this area. You may get lucky, if he is only toileting indoors bcause he has no choice, he might well.

Decent rescues are full up, they always are, and have waiting lists. Beware the temptation of selling him in the free ads or giving him away, people do use those to source free/cheap dogs for nasty purposes unfortunately.

There are no dog walkers ?

I’m in a very similar situation myself, I feel so bad as I’ve had him since a puppy and rescued from Romania, but since becoming a single parent to my 2 year old I just haven’t got the time for my dog anymore & due to that he misbehaves, toilets everywhere & it’s putting more pressure onto me. I defo think in this situation, rehoming will be the best option just be careful how you do it.

At the age of 14 your daughter should be able to take the dog out for a short walk. No wonder shelters are full and many dogs don’t get their forever home . Don’t believe for one minute there’s no dog walkers in your area .

Could you register with "BorrowMyDoggy"?

Whereabouts are you? I know a few people in my area who can't commit to a dog full-time, but would love to walk other people's dogs.

Yes she should be walking her dog before and after work but it’s unfair to judge her for leaving the dog all day.

She has acknowledged that it is cruel but apart from giving it up (which is what she’s planning on doing), she can’t help that her situation has changed.

There are were no available dog walkers in my area when I tried to get one and I looked for months.
OP likely also does not have the money for any dog day care considering her situation has recently changed.

Don't they judge you for leaving the poor thing locked in the house alone all day (and most of the night when you're asleep)?

@Applespearsandpeaches

im joking, yes! Who on earth would actually seriously think a person should give up their job to stay home with a dog?? 😂

Please tell me you’re joking.

I think the options are you and dd work together to improve his life ie walking and interacting with him after school, and you do the rest , or you rehome him.

At the end of the day its what is best for him, not what you or your dd wants. Hes 10 he needs comfort and companionship not neglect.

Leaving your dog on its own for 12 hours a day is disgusting and shocking. You should be ashamed of yourself.

At a very minimum you should be walking the dog before and after work. Letting the dog upstairs when you do to bed since you ditch it all day and leave it on its own.

There is no chance that there is no dog walkers at all in your area, you just dont want to pay for it and you are too lazy to look properly.

The dog is obviously very unhappy. This happened to us when we were young and foolish and got a puppy but we were at work all day. Looking back I can't believe how unprepared for dog ownership were were. The dog practically destroyed the house around us. Doggy daycare did not exist then. Luckily my mother volunteered to take him and he had a great life with her as she was retired and he had another dog for company. Her garden was also set up in a way that he could be totally secured by gates and fences and was free to run about in the garden. It might feel awful but rehoming your dog is the only kind option.

Harsh but I agree. We have 3 working breed dogs and sometimes it's extremely hard work making sure they're well exercised before work, finding dog walkers / sitters, getting someone who will look after all 3 when we go on holiday (nigh on impossible 😂). BUT, we made the decision to get these dogs. We knew their breeds and their requirements. So ultimately it's tough shit if we struggle sometimes.

Same applies to kids. Dogs are our family and our responsibility. Even if circumstances change.

To a lot of people dogs seem to be on their list of "chores" and something that, if they can't find the time do walk / train it, they just don't.

@SalmonOnFinnCrisp

thats their issue, not OP’s.

they would be SO wrong to judge her especially if they’re not willing to take on the dog themselves (which is unlikely given the pissing issue)

The house smells of wee because your dog has no opportunity to go to the toilet for 12 hours a day. In this situation, you should have considered something like a designated toilet area (pads / litter tray) so he’s not forced to relieve himself anywhere that he can. I just don’t think it’s likely that there’s not a single dog walker in the whole area. Not borrow my doggy? Not even in the school holidays? No pensioner who would happily take a fiver for a quick let out? How hard have you tried? And why are you allowing your daughter to treat this animal like crap too? Sorry but as a dog owner I just can’t be doing with people who allow their children to ignore / not walk / not take to the toilet their pets. It’s disgraceful laziness.

OP said she's only there EOW.

There are foster based rescues that could be an option.

Could you not give up your job, OP, to stay home with your dog? @Ubah

But your teenager can't be out of the house from 7am - 7pm surely? Can they not let them out into the garden when they get home from school / college?

And failing that, can't a member of your family take them if they are dog lovers?

I think if you surrender him to a shelter then he's probably going to spend a long time sat in a kennel wondering what happened to his family and it will most likely take a long time to rehome as he is an older dog so could spend a large chunk of his final years in a shelter.

Also bear in mind in a kennel / shelter, he will be inside for significantly longer than 12 hours a day...

Rehoming would only be fair if you could directly rehome him to a family member / friend / neighbour.

You don't love your dog. Nobody who loves a dog would leave them for that amount of time. You simply cannot just say 'there's no dog walkers'. This is irresponsible at best, animal cruelty at worst. Take your dog to a responsible charity (Dog's Trust) and never ever get another pet again.