To ask if you think company or exercise is more important for a dog?

[RogerThatOver]

I have three dogs; two are old and not particularly fussed about walks but enjoy them when they happen. My other dog is young (not sure exactly as she's a rescue dog) and would happily run and fetch all day. However, on really rainy days she's fine to skip a walk. I have my own business and am home most of the day so she always has company and I usually walk her at lunch time for 15 mins to the park, play fetch for 45 mins then 15 mins home- she runs for miles during this time. Then at weekends we take her on more leisurely family walks to woods etc.

I've recently become a lone parent to five children, including a new born, and my brother has suggested he take my dog to lighten my load. He thinks it would make my life easier and be better for her. He would take her for an hour run in the morning and an hour in the evening but then she would be home alone all of his working day, except for him popping home at lunch to let her out to the toilet. That's at least nine hours alone.

I love my dog and don't want to give her up but am prepared for your opinions as to whether I'm being unreasonable to think company is more important than exercise? She's very affectionate and needy and spends all day around me or the DC wanting to cuddle or be stroked. I know she would love the exercise my brother would offer but nine hours alone everyday is a long time. He lives 45 mins away so dog sharing isn't an option

Keep your dog. Tell your brother 'Thank you, but no thank you'. I'm not sure what his motive is exactly, but it's clearly not doing what's best for you or the dog or he'd be offering a way to help that actually helps. It sounds like he wants to look like he's helping.

Anyway, back to the important thing, your dog. She has a family who love her & she's well looked after. It would be horrible for her to now be left alone for a long day, pretty much every day.

Ring around more dog walkers, they don't all charge £18 per hour. Work out what you can afford & book that, even if it's only a half hour walk once a week.

Do you have any friends with teenagers?

Do you have any neighbours who might be happy to help?

My Mum takes her neighbours dog for walk most days. My Mum likes to walk & the neighbours both work & have small children - it's win/win.

I'd love a dog but I'm not in a position to have one again right now, I'd love a dog I could take for a walk on a casual basis. (I must ring the cinnamon trust again, they didn't have any locally last time).

Then just do the best you can to take her out when at all possible.

Her life with you sounds fine to me - my 2 young retrievers are the same, love having human company and can cope with missing the odd walk. I wouldn't leave a dog all day every day even with a lunchtime visit - mine are left 3 half days a week and there are 3 of them to keep each other amused. I'm sure your dog would prefer to be with your family than left alone at your brother's most of the time.

One of the reasons your dog is fine is because of the company provided by other dogs as well as you. Sounds like your brother wants a dog but doesn't want to be arsed training one.

You sound like superwoman. 5 kids (including newborn), a job, and 3 dogs?! Whew! Keep her 😀

Our dog would be very unhappy with insufficient exercise. There’s a website called Borrowmydoggy that encourages people with dogs to let people without dogs walk them sometimes. Ours likes about 3 hours exercise a day which is quite restricting so we have two people that ‘borrow’ him a couple of times a week. One runs him for about an hour each visit and the other gives him additional long walks across the Downs. It just gives us a bit on non dog time.

£18 per hour for dog-walking seems super steep - do call around, or look into Borrow My Doggy. Even just asking around locally might give you some leads of people who'd love to give your dog an extra walk out.

Can the kids get involved with training tricks and brain stuff?

Did you ask your brother for help? One if your older dogs sounds a much better fit for him than your younger dog. I don't think any dog should be regularly alone for 9 hours (pee break notwithstanding) - no reputable rescue would rehome in those circumstances.

Keep your dog. His offer doesn't sound appealing and I hope he doesn't get a dog of his own. 9 hours is way too long to be left alone for a dog.

Keep your dog! To go from being part of a family (dogs and humans) to such little contact will break her heart.

If you're really worried about the amount of exercise she gets, do more brain games/training stuff in the house - 10 mins of that while you're boiling the kettle etc is just as stimulating as a walk. And look into borrowmydoggy, you could get a local person who'll walk her a couple of days a week.

I've only had my dog a year and there was a point when I was overwhelmed by him - I think with your change in circumstances that might be where you are now? Just guessing obviously and mean no offence by it. But there are ways to get help that don't involve giving up your dog.

And note, if it was a better home that was on offer I'd maybe say something different, but 9 hours alone is just too long.

Keep your dog.

It will improve.

How old is DC5?
Because once DC5 is in nursery, you can go out with the little one in the pram and walk the dog. But this will get harder when DC6 is running about. But before you know it, DC6 will be in nursery and you'll have time.

Dogs thrive on affection and companionship. Please keep your dog.

Can DC1 walk the dog (is he/she age 12 or over?)?

Your dog sounds as though she has a lovely life and is much better off with someone who is home most of the day. Please don't rehome her, she has already been rehomed at least once via a rescue. Also, many rescues insist on an adopted dog being returned to them and not passed onto to a third party. (And I doubt that a reputable rescue would allow someone in your brother's position to adopt a dog).

I think it does vary very much with the type of dog. I have a Shih Tzu cross and she definitely needs the company more whereas my previous collie X was fine with being left more but needed much more exercise and mental training.

In general I would probably be more inclined to favour company and use games and training to complement the walls you can manage.

Company is definitely more important in my opinion. My two could definitely do with more exercise (they are both a bit cuddly 😁) but they are so happy when there are people home. Sounds like things have been a bit tough for you lately, don’t get guilted into giving up your dog as well when you clearly don’t want to. Xxx

If you're in the Manchester area I'll walk your dog for free op

Keep your dog!!!
Buy a couple of dog puzzles that you can put treats in so they have to use their brains to work them out, add in a good long chew (marrowbones) sometimes to keep them mentally occupied & you'll have a happy dog (you probably already have a happy dog). Mental exercise is as important as physical exercise. And 9 hours with just a quick break is just wrong.

I'm not sure borrowmydoggy would work because she has issues related to being a rescue.

I do feel overwhelmed by her at the moment but she isn't showing any sign of being unhappy so I'm probably just worrying over nothing. I'd love to have an hour to walk her alone in the evening but with 5 DC, clubs, play dates, no dad involved and no family around that is never going to happen.

l think your lifestyle is much better for her, dogs HATE being alone for long periods,,,limited walks and lots of company is much better ....
Please keep her..

I’d keep her!! She’s getting 1.25 hrs exercise plus has company all day. I don’t think one extra walk would compensate being left alone. Dogs are pack animals!
When it’s spring, I’d take dog with you to the kids clubs and squeeze in an extra 15 mins sniffing around time, plus travelling around helps stimulate them.
I take my dog with me to after school clubs a lot of the time, you can see disappointment in his face when we arrive at a built up area after driving past the woods!!

I wouldn't dismiss borrow my doggy, if you are super fussy you could get exactly the right person that you can 'train up' on your dogs issues. And the goal is only ever to find one person on it to be in your dogs life so it's quite manageable.