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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To leave my mums dog at home alone

27 replies

doggiemumma · 05/06/2012 18:02

My mum has gone away for a week, i am responsible for her dog, have two dogs and 1 DD at home. All get on fine, my mums dog has been here all day and its all good, but he is just not settled. I have taken him back to my mums house for a bit (to give him his dinner mainly) and he instantly settled. He is a big dog and a bit arthritic and will sleep on his sofa at home but will have to be the floor here. Would it be really bad if i went to get him after our tea, then take him home to sleep, then fetch him in the morning? Literally round the corner so no hassle for me?

Caveat, it really is not a problem for me to have the dog here, i just think he might be better in his own home? He is missing my mum though :(

OP posts:
Original poster
doggiemumma · 05/06/2012 18:03

I think that should be a disclaimer not a caveat, i think

OP posts:
diddl · 05/06/2012 18:08

How used is he to being alone?

Could you wait around to check that he stays settled?

Original poster
doggiemumma · 05/06/2012 18:12

He is left for fair periods of time, about four hours (rarely any longer than this during the day) so its not like he is never left - I will go and fetch him after dinner and see how he is i think. Or maybe i will just take him for a walk and settle him back down at his house. My DD1 CAN and was going to sleep over but we said actually why don't we have him here as it is a hassle for her and not much point really as she will be at work all week so only there in the evenings so i'll have him all day anyway. What to do what to do?

OP posts:
Bumdrop · 05/06/2012 18:13

I bet he'd rather be in his own home,
With frequent visits.
Its only for a week xx

diddl · 05/06/2012 18:20

Perhaps evenings & overnight when it´s dark & quiet might be when he´s most lonely?

I think in his own place & left as little as possible would be best.

JaxTellerIsMyFriend · 05/06/2012 18:48

I think he would rather be in his own home, but he would probably settle after a day or 2 and a good sleep at your house.

Just do what you think is right for the dog. Smile

RightBuggerforit · 05/06/2012 20:44

Is your mum contactable? She knows the dog, maybe you should ask her what she thinks.

Krumbum · 05/06/2012 23:28

Your jobs is to feed the dog that's it. It will be fine. Dog won't care, it's a dog. I'd just go over to feed and that's it. It's only a week.

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 05/06/2012 23:32

Looking after a dog invloves a lot more than just sticking a bowl of food onthe floor once a day Krum.

I hope you don't have a dog.

WhiteWidow · 05/06/2012 23:32

Krumbum dogs suffer from depression too you know! Mine would hate to be alone. They're pack animals, not used to being alone.

Krumbum · 05/06/2012 23:35

For one week! Oh yeah and take it for a walk, forgot about that. Don't most people that have dogs go out? Work? It's the same. I thought people were advised to get 2 of a pet if they live in packs in the wild, apparently not with dogs, seems a bit mean.

Toughasoldboots · 05/06/2012 23:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 05/06/2012 23:41

Yes for one week!

Would you mind only having the bare minimum of what you need to survive andbe happy as long as it was just for a week!

People who work full time shouldn't have dogs! And if they do they should employ dog walkers to spend at least an hour a day with the dog, but even that's not good owner behaviour.

And what are you on about mean for? It doesn't sound like you will be talking about mean for the dog.

WhiteWidow · 05/06/2012 23:48

What outraged said.

Plus the dog doesn't understand that it's only for a week!

lovebunny · 06/06/2012 00:04

seriously, the dog will know! he will feel lonely and sad if he only gets his food and ignored the rest of the time. but i don't think this is what the op is suggesting.

can he have nights at home and days with you? that might work.

Krumbum · 06/06/2012 00:33

That's not the bare minimum to survive. They are still living as a household pet! As opposed to being a wild dog. Dogs were not created to be our pets remember. If they are meant to be in packs shouldn't everyone have 2 dogs, human interaction isn't the same.

Birdsgottafly · 06/06/2012 01:14

If he is settling better at home, then would it be possible to give your number to the neighbours to phone if he starts to be noisy through the night, but leave him otherwise?

If he is old then he would rather be at home.

Then take him to yours during the day for company.

Moominhunter · 06/06/2012 01:20

No, it's not fair on the dog. It will be a rough couple of days but he will get used to it. Have you got all his stuff at your house? Bed, bowl etc?

MrsMuddyPuddles · 06/06/2012 01:41

You having the dog in the day and your DD being there overnight sounds ideal ..
Why on earth did you stop her from sleeping over?!

Original poster
doggiemumma · 06/06/2012 12:31

Mrsmuddypuddles Stopped her from sleeping over because i thought we would have him at ours. That was the intention, but he was clearly uncomfortable here and my dogs pestered him, which he enjoyed for a bit but then he was panty and stressed. Once i sent DD home it was too far for her to drive back. So i kept him here for a few more hours last night, DP took him for a long walk at 10pm, home at 11pm Shock and he settled him down. I fetched him this morning and he was pretty chilled, just taken him for another walk but i think he was a bit knackered after his epic romp last night, ive left him at my mums for a few hours while i take DD swimming and then he can come back here. He will be on his own here as he will have to sleep downstairs so he isn't being on his own any more than if someone sleeping there with him really. If he settles here this evening i shall leave him where he is, but otherwise take him home to bed.

OP posts:
MrsMuddyPuddles · 06/06/2012 13:53

:) Sounds like a case of "best laid plans" and all that. Glad to hear he seems to have had a good night.

PandaWatch · 06/06/2012 15:09

Krum you clearly don't know the first thing about domestic dogs!

If someone had offered to look after my dog in their home when I was away then took him back to ours and left him over night I'd be fuming. I really would make an effort to contact your mum before leaving him like that. As others have said, he will know he's on his own. Plus, if he gets distressed and starts making a noise you'll have no idea but your mum might come back to some very irate neighbours!

Original poster
doggiemumma · 06/06/2012 17:34

He is here, but he isn't happy :( My DD is going to have to come and stay with him tonight. In all honesty i 100% think he is better off and OK at home, but Panda is right, the arrangement was that my DD would stay over so i think it will have to stand.

OP posts:
Original poster
doggiemumma · 06/06/2012 17:39

sorted, DD going to stay with the dog, and somehow i have been roped into paying her busfair into work for the rest of the week Confused

OP posts:
PandaWatch · 06/06/2012 17:40

Also doggiemumma it may be that when you take him home he is happy because he's expecting your mum to come in and taking him to and fro could be causing him more stress everytime you take him away from his house.

Maybe try just keeping him at yours the whole time to let him settle? That way if your mum is likely to ask you to look after him again and it's not possible for your DD to stay he will be more used to your home and will know what to expect.

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