Teenage daughter wanted dog now won't walk him

[tacaba]

16 months ago we bought a dog for our 12 year old daughter as she was going through a difficult time with her mental health and begged me and my husband for a dog staying that " it's all I ever wanted" " it will make me happy" I was always against getting a dog because we live in a small two bedroom house and have a very small garden, we already have a parrot and fish.
Things got really bad with my daughter's emotional state so my husband and I were desperate to try and help her and hoped that getting the dog would calm her and give her something to focus on, so we bought a cocker spaniel puppy for £800 after vets etc it was over £1000 we spent, we spoke to our daughter and told her that she would be responsible for walking and feeding and cleaning up after the dog, she agreed. (Alongside other family members) The first 6 months went well but slowly but surely my daughter has passed the responsibility on to me, I worked from home during this time and the dog became very attached to me as I was with him most days and fed, cleaned and walked him everyday while my daughter was at school and my husband at work, I have an older daughter who is 18 and she also started working, but did walk the dog on request.
My youngest daughter has had a councillor and started to recover from her mental health issues which was great but slowly she has lost interest in the dog, she spends most of her time upstairs on her phone, I have tried everything to get her away from the phone but it causes massive arguements and she gets aggressive.
Now the situation has changed dramatically as I now have a job away from home and leave the house at 8am and am not back until 4pm. My youngest has been on her summer holidays and does not walk the dog or pick up the poo outside unless I tell her too. I ask her why she hasn't walked the dog and she gets angry and says that it's because I didn't ask her too? When I fire back and say that she knows that the dog needs walking? She just storms off upstairs and won't speak anymore and tells me to go away. We have threatened to get rid of the dog today as it's not fair on the dog and my hours at work are only going to increase so I can't look after him anymore?
My husband works long hours as a builder so he is much to tired when he gets home. My eldest is starting university in September so she won't be here either? I can't see any choice but to re-home the dog if my daughter doesn't step up and take more responsibility for him.

“Has OP even been back?”

Since posting before dinner last night, and off out to work this morning? With 2 dog walks to fit in?

However Many OPs don’t return, when idiotic vindictive MNers resort to insults, one after another.... what good they think it does, I don’t know.

8-4 is a perfectly normal period to leave a dog for

Yeah, no, it's not. Why say things like that when you clearly don't have a clue what you're on about?

Maybe the best intentions but a dreadful idea.

Regime the dog.

*rehome

Is there a child on earth who hasn’t pleaded for a dog? The fault is yours in giving in.

Not just children. My husband - half jokingly - used to clamour incessantly for a dog. I gave it more serious consideration than he did (I grew up with pets in the countryside, and grew up with responsibilities from a very young age for them). I refused in the end, and he is equally besotted with the two cats that fit our actual lifestyle.

Two general points here to anyone considering family pets:

1. Kids learn animal care and respect best when very young.

The earlier you start, the better. I fed the chickens every day from age 4. By 10, it was feed the chickens, fish, lizard, cats, mice etc etc as soon as I got in from school. It was just a natural part of my routine.

Far better than a 12yo who's never had a pet clamouring for one.

2. Most people who claim to want a dog realistically want a cat.

Unless you daily walk, like to base holidays around walks, and already don't leave the house for long periods of time, the animal you are looking for is a cat. They're fluffy, playful and snuggly. They don't need behavioural training (they will train you instead). They need attention, love and care, but will rub along happily without you for a day, and they exercise themselves lie in the sun all day.

My husband thought he was a dog person. He's the best cat-dad ever.

Also cockers are a nightmare

Rubbish!

I have two, and a springer - they are demanding, energetic, intelligent and tremendously affectionate, but they are not a nightmare.

As another poster has said they need to "work". They require a lot of physical and mental stimulation, and a lot of emotional support. They are very sensitive, and you can ruin a cocker's confidence even by shouting at her. They are very eager to please and easy to train - but they must be occupied and they need company.

If you would like to keep your dog, have you considered this: www.borrowmydoggy.com

It may be a way of keeping your dog and having someone walk him regularly. You never know it may even rekindle some interest for the dog in your daughter.

I was about to comment and say "pay for a dog walker", but actually, you got a cocker spaniel - a really intelligent dog with high exercise needs. He doesn't just need lots of walks, he needs brain games and play. If you can't do that then maybe you should return to the breeder - and please don't ever get another dog.

OP isn't reading and isn't coming back.