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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Honestly I think I've heard it all now..... (dog related)

57 replies

PirateJelly · 10/10/2013 10:37

We never walk our dogs because..........

They're house dogs!

Have you ever heard such bullshit? A tiny toy dog perhaps I could understand but a springer spaniel and a Staffy (both under 2) Shock

They have the house and the garden I'm told, house dogs are quite common.

Are they, are they really??

I feel so sorry for those dogs, tiny mid terrace house and garden the size of a postage stamp, honestly can't be more than 12-15ft long at most.

I feel I'm going to have to say something, even if it's just to offer to walk the dogs for them.

AIBU?

OP posts:
stowsettler · 10/10/2013 10:39

No YANBU. That's incredibly cruel. Two really energetic breeds too. I'd be on to RSPCA if it were me. And I'm not a fan of them.

gamerchick · 10/10/2013 10:39

Poor things... how can they pick up their peemails if they're not walked? :(

froken · 10/10/2013 10:40

If they wanted house dogs they should have bought a dog shaped teddy.

shewhowines · 10/10/2013 10:40

No YANBU. Are they safe to be around? People with that level of ignorance aren't going to be too hot on the training.

wishingitwasfriday · 10/10/2013 10:41

What rubbish. I have a two year old staffy who gets a 40mins run in the morning, an hour walk in the evening and we play with her in the (large) garden during the day. If we don't do this then she has far too much energy and would destroy the house! Staffies are renowned for needing to burn off their energy. Those poor poor dogs.

shewhowines · 10/10/2013 10:42

Yes the RSPCA may be very interested.

I wouldn't offer the walks. Once you've started, they'll get used to it and then what happens when you can't do it?

CocacolaMum · 10/10/2013 10:43

That's not just unreasonable, its unacceptable.

merrymouse · 10/10/2013 10:43

House dogs?

Never mind feeling sorry for the dogs, how is it even possible to have a healthy under 2 year old Springer Spaniel as a house dog and actually have a house? (Don't have experience of a staffy)

I would be concerned that the owner was not quite all there. Either that or this person is having you on.

boobyooby · 10/10/2013 10:46

I've heard of housecats ...... but not dogs!! My dog is only 5kgs and still requires a walk every day, it makes them use their brain and burn up energy that they can't use just by walking round the garden.

"Housedog" is just utterly ridiculous ...

merrymouse · 10/10/2013 10:46

Anyway, there is no such thing as a Springer Spaniel 'house dog', unless it is very old or incapacitated in some way.

Dahlen · 10/10/2013 10:49

Well I've never heard anyone ascribe an actual name before, but the idea of dogs that live in the house and garden like cats is depressingly common. What saddens me even more is that quite often the owners will have more than one kept in this way, presumably under the misconception that the company they'll provide each other will make up for the absence of exercise and the mental stimulation provided by it.

Poor dogs. Sad

catnipkitty · 10/10/2013 10:49

2 very lively breeds and both young dogs. Poor them. My 4 year old terrier goes bonkers without 2 walks a day. Those dogs must be so miserable :(

ChippingInNeedsSleepAndCoffee · 10/10/2013 10:51

I think it's bad enough that people have 'house cats' but a house dog... utterly lazy, ignorant and should not be allowed to keep the dogs.

ExitPursuedByABear · 10/10/2013 10:53

That is awful. I have a Springer and he would go more mental if he didn't have lots of space to thunder around.

LolaDontCryOnDogTails · 10/10/2013 10:54

Poor dogs!
I sit here and feel guilty that we had to move into an apartment and so have a huge dog without a garden but hearing this I think we're doing fine.
He is always out for a pee & sniff

mrsdowneyjnr · 10/10/2013 11:01

I adopted a friends lab who was a house dog until I took her at 3. He has a very calm temperament (for a labrador) and did just seem to get on with been in the house. however he took a long time for him to behave on walks as the freedom was just too much stimulation for him. It was lovely to see him behaving like a dog should though and we are getting there. It's a bit like they become old before their time, so sad.

ifyourehoppyandyouknowit · 10/10/2013 11:04

Springers are crazy, no way could you have a springer as a house dog. Maybe one of those fucking ridiculous teacup sized dogs that you have to carry round in a bag, but a springer and a staffy? It's just laziness.

ballinacup · 10/10/2013 11:05

The RSPCA would be interested? Not bloody likely!

DM's NDN has a Border Terrier that lives in their yard with nothing more than a broken trampoline for shelter. She's never walked and has a few scraps chucked to her once a day. The RSPCA were called, visited and said she was absolutely fine because she had the trampoline to shelter under. I really don't think they'll give a flying fuck about two unwalked dogs.

YoureBeingADick · 10/10/2013 11:05

Ive heard the opposite! People who dont walk their dogs because their dogs are outside all the time! Hmm

Squitten · 10/10/2013 11:06

YANBU!

I couldn't bear to keep our cats housebound, let alone a dog. But don't offer walks - tell the RSPCA!

SmiteYouWithThunderbolts · 10/10/2013 11:07

I wouldn't bother with the RSPCA. I called them recently only to be told they will only come out for a seriously injured animal. Maybe try Dog's Trust or a smaller independent rescue for some advice?

Birdsgottafly · 10/10/2013 11:12

The Springer Spaniel will go nuts, they are a handful if exercised well (lovely dogs just energetic), they can turn if under stimulated.

The RSPCA May be interested, my local officer is brilliant and often a visit will wake up an uniformed owner.

Ballina, although I don't think the shelter is adequate, Borders are hardy and a visiting officer will take the breed into account.

I would predict that the dogs will attack each other or their owner, there are do many breeds that do well with little exercise, I hate ( and won't let it rest) owners like this.

I still insult a local man, whose JR I took back to him twice, who assured me he wanted him, but threw him out again.

mouseymummy · 10/10/2013 11:13

I have had a staffy for 10 years and at the age of two I had a dd of 1yo and I took the dog and baby out twice a day, if I didn't the dog would eat everything in sight and possibly wouldn't have been as gentle with dd.

I have a house cat but that's only because he is a kitten and isn't able to go out yet. Once he is big. Enough then he will be out.

This angers me so much as people just don't seem to think about the happiness of their animals.

Original poster
PirateJelly · 10/10/2013 11:14

Thank you for the quick responses. The way she described it she made it sound common and almost 'normal' which I guess sadly in some households it is Sad

Definaty not making it up I'm afraid they live directly across from me and their door makes a terrible racket when closed so Im more or less aware of when they go out. Think I saw the DP walk the youngest dog a couple of times in the summer but not for weeks Sad Angry

We have a Staffy too you see who is walked for 45 mins in the morning, at least an hour at night (more on weekends) and goes wherever we go during the day (except shopping) as we walk everywhere.

Their once quite nice back garden is now just mud and chewed toys with large holes dug all around the high fence (where the dogs are trying to make a break for freedom I imagine) Their house is tiny and the dogs are confined to the kitchen only as 'they chew everything' apparently. Not bloody surprised.

The DP stopped me while out walking my staff (he was dogless Hmm) to comment on how well built and fit my dog looked and how he wished his Staffy would beef up more. I said well exercise might help to which he replied "nah fuck that, they pull like fuck n the missus refuses to so why should I?"

This morning I was chatting to the female of the household and the 'house dog' comment came up. While we were talking her springer was jumping up at the window like a dog on a pogo stick ( honestly it looked demented) and did it the hole time she talked. The women laughed and said " see they get plenty of exercise" Angry

Honestly my blood is boiling, I just want to rescue them. The thing is when I first moved here she told mensomeone had dobbed them in to the RSPCA but they weren't interested as the dogs were well fed, clean and cared for and there was no poo in the garden.

This is a youngish couple with 2 dc, able bodied and no obvious mental health problems though i think they might take drugs but I cant be sure how often. I honestly think it's sheer laziness and she's making herself feel better with the whole "they're house dogs so it's fine" bullshit. I could see as she was saying it she knew herself it was wrong.

OP posts:
WilsonFrickett · 10/10/2013 11:20

I don't usually post on dog threads bc I don't have one and don't particularly like them, but FFS that is absolutely unacceptable! And don't let your dog or DC anywhere near the springer. An unexercised springer is really not a happy, balanced dog. Poor, poor things Sad

I would phone the RSPCA too, I know a pp has said they won't do anything but I would feel its on my conscious to do something.

Don't offer to walk them though. They are obviously completely untrained and I don't think anyone should have to shoulder that level of responsibility.