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AIBU?

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Original poster

And so it begins (lockdown puppies)

310 replies

Sailawaysailaway · 06/03/2021 12:36

I’ve seen two posts this week on local Facebook/Nextdoor groups of

“Does anyone fancy walking my dog. Back to work for us etc etc”.

Quite obviously asking for someone to walk for them for free, not asking for a dog walker

I have been quite a defender on posts about lockdown dogs etc, hoping that the majority of people wouldn’t be so stupid as to get a dog with no forward planning at all - but I’m now seeing my hope was misplaced.

Not quite sure what my Aibu is - but seen yet another post today (by a teacher no less - so they were always going back to the “office”) and it’s pissed me off.

So I suppose Aibu to say - don’t get a dog if you have no plan on how to look after it when you go back to work.

OP posts:
ladygindiva · 07/03/2021 18:44

My jack Russell does this. Then cold shoulders me for a couple hours for daring to take him out in the rain 😂

doublehalo · 07/03/2021 18:45

Judging by the amount of dog shit on the pavements nowadays, most of the people who got lockdown puppies are completely irresponsible idiots.

Massive amounts of money pouring into puppy farms and massive amounts of dogs to be put down in the near future.

Disgraceful.

winniestone37 · 07/03/2021 18:47

I get your point- however a few posts on Facebook is hardly indicative of a pandemic of people buying dogs they can’t actually look after. You’ve kind of jumped the gun in order to feel superior to other people. Silly really 🤷‍♀️

RandomMess · 07/03/2021 18:50

@ladygindiva mine is a JRT Blush I swear they are supposed to be hardy ratters rather than precious lap dogs that need a ridiculous amount if sleep and tropical temperatures???

ERFFER · 07/03/2021 18:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Gendercritic · 07/03/2021 18:59

Hi FairyLiz - why not Google Barking Mad Dog Care and become a host? That way you can have a part-time dog that has been matched to your lifestyle and they will insure and licence you. I know the rep is always on hand for 24/7 in-person support too. Barking Mad is like a doggie travel agent who makes the bespoke matches for short breaks and holiday care whilst the owners are away and they bring the dogs to you and then home again. We use them for our dog and they are brilliant; our pooch has been so happy with his lovely host families. He was overwhelmed going to a home boarder with lots of dogs but he is the only one on his hols and has a great time!

Whycantibeapuppy · 07/03/2021 19:01

YANBU. I am so sick of seeing dogs up for rehoming or abandoned because they were bought during lockdown and now reality is slowly returning it’s too hard. Ffs don’t buy a dog unless you are willing to move heaven and earth for them. They are family!!

August1980 · 07/03/2021 19:13

This is so upsetting!! We kept a dog Walker during the lockdown despite being told we were not going back to the office. the company - a very big global company - one you are all customers was angling to work from home with a few days in the office would be the plan going forward... but guess what after a year of going above and beyond for our mental health and wellness. We were told we are going back!!! While the idea is to Lenore flexible working, I am afraid the unsaid feeling is that we will all be back in the office as usual!! So guttered for the poor pups!

MdNdD · 07/03/2021 19:17

You have a point about not planning however when out and about with my dog, I have met a surprising number of people who walk dogs for others simply because they enjoy doing it.

We get chatting and they say ‘oh, he / she is not mine, I walk her for people in my street, I like the exercise / or since my dog died I just don’t want another but I miss walking...’. Or similar.

So these posts are not necessarily quite as outrageous as you may think. People do walk other people’s dogs for their own personal reasons.

I would never ask someone to walk my dog for free, I think it’s a bit cheeky. But if someone offered...?!

MissCaptain · 07/03/2021 19:22

@Fairyliz
Contact Cinnamon Trust - a charity who help older and terminally ill people manage their pets for longer. You will be able to dog walk and make a massive difference to someone. xx

Echobelly · 07/03/2021 19:25

I think you're being a bit U - someone asking for someone to walk their dog doesn't mean they've put no thought at all into what they do when they return to work. They may just have to find out they'll need to pay someone; they may have been asked to return at short notice and not be sure what they drill is on getting your dog looked after during the day.

Blondeshavemorefun · 07/03/2021 19:25

Agree op

I would say in the past 6mths there have been maybe 12 people on my fab who have brought a dog , mainly puppies. Think 2 were rescue dogs

All work bar one

Out of those 11, 8 have started to go into office 1/2 days a week

3 are back full time

I am wondering how the dogs will feel after bring with human company 24/7 to being left alone prob 10hrs a day +

I hope they will all get a dog Walker tho still a good 4/5 hrs home alone in have one at lunchtime

Echobelly · 07/03/2021 19:26

NB, I have said to some people that going into 'doggie daycare' is going to be a really smart move this year if you've got the chops to do it, as clearly a lot more people will be needing it, if only a few days a week.

oakleaffy · 07/03/2021 19:39

Anyone buying a working bred Border Collie as a family pet is borderline insane unless they are utterly dedicated and know this breed.

But...... a family member by marriage 120 miles away bought one....lockdown puppy....and is asking for people to exercise the pup. Already.

I do fear for pup's future when they are all back at work/school.
Border Collies are not for those who don't like masses of training/exercise/socialisation.

Flytall and agility when pup is old enough would be a good idea, with training now to use pup's brain.

EthelMerman · 07/03/2021 19:43

Yup, have a colleague in this situation. Asked to return to work but hadn’t sorted puppy daycare as she wasn’t expecting to go back so soon. colleagues are now having to cover while she gets herself sorted. She at least had dogs before so knows what to expect but hadn’t got care lined up..

Pennethorne · 07/03/2021 19:44

@LimitIsUp

I really doubt there are many people who have been told that they can work from home 'forever'
The tech industry, and many developers, have been working from home 'forever' for a long time, and since lockdown, the ones that were flexible have been told they can work from home 'forever'.

Some industries are very fine with it.

failingmammalian · 07/03/2021 19:46

Borrowmydoggy.com seems poised for a bonanza ...!

rookiemere · 07/03/2021 19:53

It's tricky even for those of us with prelockdown doggies.
DH lost his job November 2019 and got his new wfh job Feb 20, so rookiedog hasn't had a concerted home alone spell for almost 18 months.
Prior to that we each wfh one day a week and I was off one day, but for the two days we were at work rookiedog got taken out by dog walker at lunchtime and sometimes an additional afternoon walk from borrowmydoggy person, but was used to being on his own for 3-4 hrs at a stretch.

Now I don't think he has been home alone for more than a couple of hours for months on end, and think we'll need to build up gradually to it when the time comes. He's a mature dog though and has managed before, for first time younger pups it will be harder on them.

Labobo · 07/03/2021 19:54

I've never had a dog. Can they truly not be left alone during the day? Does every household with a dog have a SAH person?

Chuggypig · 07/03/2021 19:56

@Fairyliz

Although to be fair I’m retired and would like a dog, but I’m a bit wary about being tied if I want to go away. So I would love to have part ownership of a dog, taking it for walks having it around the house for companionship, but without the food costs vets bills etc. So anyone living in the Midlands wanting a free dog walker pm me .
There’s a site you can use for this - I think it’s called ‘borrow my doggy’ it links you with local people in your area who need dog walkers or someone to keep them company in the day. It’s like having a part time dog! Xx
Sparkle79 · 07/03/2021 20:05

Surely it's similar to having a baby. You take 6-12 months ish off work and then when the time approaches that you need to go back to full time work you start to look into childminders / nurseries.

I think YABU jumping to conclusions without knowing their situations.

tabulahrasa · 07/03/2021 20:08

@Labobo

I've never had a dog. Can they truly not be left alone during the day? Does every household with a dog have a SAH person?
The recommendation from all welfare organisations are that dogs shouldn’t be alone for more than 4 hours, total. So not 4 hours a Walker and then longer for example.

When I’m out at work my DP is either in, or coming in in about an hour.

When my DC were young I was at home, and if my job changed now - I’d pay for dog care.

So not necessarily someone at home full time, but they should have someone keeping them company most of the day, somehow.

randomer · 07/03/2021 20:11

How can anybody be so dim and/or cruel to leave a dog for 10 hours?

Jogonandshutup · 07/03/2021 20:22

It is ridiculous - the mentality of some people, treating animals, not just dogs, as commodities rather than living creatures.
Hate it when people say they bought a pet ‘for the kids’ who will not look after the animal after more than a few days, or they make a rabbit have babies ‘to show the kids how babies are made’ when the kids aren’t bothered!
These people will never learn.

Yesitisnoitsnot · 07/03/2021 20:27

@Labobo

I've never had a dog. Can they truly not be left alone during the day? Does every household with a dog have a SAH person?
Honestly no. Most are fine being left for around four hours.