And so it begins (lockdown puppies)

[Sailawaysailaway]

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.

DB is a vet, he's fed up of seeing dogs who have been puppy trained in what he calls a completely false reality. They cannot cope when no one is there with them all day, and the misbehaving starts. Not the dogs fault at all.

I live in a heavily built-up area and I'm so looking forward to the hours of incessant barking from people's dogs being left alone all day for the first time. They won't be rehoming them - they'll be oblivious as they're at work. It's bad enough around here at the best of times.

I saw a post from a 17 year old on our local Facebook group this week, asking if she could do some dog walking to earn some money. Fortunately the majority of responses pointed out that (a) she has no experience and it isn’t just as simple as walking a dog (b) she has no insurance and (c) with the increase in dog thefts, it’s actually quite dangerous! She ended up being persuaded to try for a job in a takeaway!

Given your OP I can see this is a situation where teens and young people could actually be quite exploited by either naive or tight fisted dog owners who don’t want to pay for a professional dog walker.

@catmandont I think it’s tricky. When I got my dog (years before lockdown) I had to actually go out unecessarily sometimes so he did get used to being without me (I wfh self employed and have done for years).

Now there is literally nowhere for people to go - so the pups are used to having someone around them all the time. Not really the owners fault - but really difficult for the dog.

@LimitIsUp

I really doubt there are many people who have been told that they can work from home 'forever'

That’s happening for me, it’s highly unlikely I’ll see my workmates face to face more than once or twice a month, especially as my employer has sold our offices! We are all ‘agile’ now don’t you know Any way I digress, the upside is my dog is living her best life with permanent company and I can confirm what I’ve always suspected that she mainly sleeps, (and often farts) all day long.

We got our puppy in June, I had been on the breeders waiting list for around 18 months at that point, they only have two litters a year so I knew I would have a wait. As soon as I was going to be getting one from my pups litter I contacted dog walkers and day care so I had someone to rely on when he was old enough.

Our puppy goes to daycare once a week, I also dog walk share with a neighbour so while I’m WFH he still gets a walk during my working hours rather than just quick trots to have a wee.

I've had two staff members asking to bring their new dogs to work, I've said no as you can't bring (multiple) dogs into a retail shop where you have customers with young children (and I was a bit surprised they thought it might possible TBH).

One who came back a few months ago has had a major row with his wife as their dog is now a teenager and is driving her up the wall. He's out 7:30 to 18:30 and doesn't now have time to train it and is expecting his DW to sort it out as it's been his "dream to have a dog and lockdown gave him the opportunity" - He was home for maximum 2 months and pretty much back working as soon as puppy arrived. His DW is only working from home at the moment due to Covid - she'll be back in the office soon and works full time too. He's got a large breed that needs tonnes of exercise, and now is moaning about the cost of dog walkers, anyone can see he doesn't have the time for a dog.

I'm on several rehoming groups on FB and there has been post after post with young dogs on, all less than a year and "lockdown" puppies. All just dumped on rescues because people are going back to work and haven't put any effort into training.

I would strangle these people quite cheerfully with my bare hands

@LimitIsUp

I really doubt there are many people who have been told that they can work from home 'forever'

I’m going to be in the office one day every four weeks, my partner is going to be in the office twice a week.

[quote Sailawaysailaway]@catmandont I think it’s tricky. When I got my dog (years before lockdown) I had to actually go out unecessarily sometimes so he did get used to being without me (I wfh self employed and have done for years).

Now there is literally nowhere for people to go - so the pups are used to having someone around them all the time. Not really the owners fault - but really difficult for the dog.[/quote]
Owners could still get the dogs used to being alone, to be fair. I just think many people don't realise it can be a big adjustment for some dogs to make, especially if they only know people who leave their dogs all day with no issue.

You can leave them alone while going to the shops (get the family to come along and sit in the car if necessary), go the park or for a walk without the dog. etc, or even just practise being in another room for a while.

@Sailawaysailaway

Last post I’m referring to is literally this (hope not MNetter!)

It’s literally this...

“Does anyone want to walk our lovely puppy (name). Maybe someone working from home who fancies getting out and about during the day, or someone retired. We are both teachers so back to work for us”.

I would post links to local dog walkers but don’t actually know any!

FFS, how can two teachers be so apparently incapable of forward planning? It's not like they could have been taken by surprise by having to go back to school.

I thought through and planned quite carefully how I would look after my cat before I got her, and cats are a hundred times more independent than dogs.

Are people really noticing now puppies being abandoned to rescue centres? Our local centres still seem very quiet here (Scotland)

@SpeckledFrogsLog

I saw a post from a 17 year old on our local Facebook group this week, asking if she could do some dog walking to earn some money. Fortunately the majority of responses pointed out that (a) she has no experience and it isn’t just as simple as walking a dog (b) she has no insurance and (c) with the increase in dog thefts, it’s actually quite dangerous! She ended up being persuaded to try for a job in a takeaway!

Given your OP I can see this is a situation where teens and young people could actually be quite exploited by either naive or tight fisted dog owners who don’t want to pay for a professional dog walker.

That's really reassuring.

I think people are slowly realising the value of a good, insured and experienced dog walker. Knowing your dog is in safe, reliable hands while you're at work is huge.

@LemonMeringueThreePointOneFour also - they’re posting this today - when schools go back on Monday!

@Bluebeeee

Are people really noticing now puppies being abandoned to rescue centres? Our local centres still seem very quiet here (Scotland)

Most people seem to be flogging them on Gumtree/Pets4Homes.

Completely agree. It's the cost of puppies that gets to me. I lost my beautiful elderly chocolate lab earlier this year and when I was looking at puppies the prices are around £3000! I have 3 young children so doubt we'd have much success with rescue centres and I've looked anyway and I can't see any choc labs.

We’ve had one meltdown on our local FB group because someone who is returning to the office in summer has been trying to find a dog walker and apparently they’re charging ridiculous rates at £10 a day. Considering they have to travel to each home, walk the dog, clean paws and safely return the dog, most people pointed out that’s a pretty decent rate. Cue lots of ‘I’m a single mum and can’t afford £200 a month and I’ll be homeless etc etc.’ plus a few idiots who are like ‘I leave my dog for 13 hours a day and it’s fine hun x’.

I have a couple of free hours during the day and like walking. I’m more than a little tempted to look into dog walking to make the most of the upcoming demand.

@Bluebeeee

Are people really noticing now puppies being abandoned to rescue centres? Our local centres still seem very quiet here (Scotland)

Not in my area. Mostly it seems as though the current owners are trying to find new homes flog the dog, to recoup some of the costs

@Bluebeeee

Are people really noticing now puppies being abandoned to rescue centres? Our local centres still seem very quiet here (Scotland)

I was actually browsing (and dreaming) the local-ish sites and was surprised at how few dogs were available and most of them were older (age 5 plus) but I wondered if they just weren't taking any in? Or maybe as our lock down seems to be continuing endlessly, not so many are seeing the "getting back into work" situation that seems to be happening south of the unicorn border.

There may also be people whose dogs were quite happy to be left at home for a few hours in normal times , but the dogs are now used to 24-7 company . If you were in this position you may be would need a short time to ease your dog back to normality .

Lurcher puppies. Omg, flipping lurchers £1200 each. My local gumtree. Those are the bargain puppies available, most the others are £2k each.

The local animal shelters seem to barely have any animals in them, apart from a small number of dogs that can't be kept with children or any other animals.

I wonder what’s going to happen when we come out of lockdown, foreign holidays resume and people look at the price/availability of kennelling.

I’ve just heard that my relative has got a German Shepherd puppy, I’ve not been able to stop thinking about the pup all day.Her and Husband work full time, they already have a Yorkshire Terrier who is about 9, spends most of his life crated.They also have 2 young children age 2 and 3.Only this year she sent guinea pigs to rescue as they were too busy to look after them.

For the life of me, I can’t understand why they purchased this poor dog, if you are unable to devote the time to looking after a pair of GPigs what in Gods name makes you think you are able to manage a German Shepherd ?.I bet my bottom dollar he will be in Rescue by the end of the year and it’s a tragedy.

@Winterlight

I wonder what’s going to happen when we come out of lockdown, foreign holidays resume and people look at the price/availability of kennelling.

Yep, I think a lot of people are going to be in for a big shock. Daycare, kennels, walkers, vet fees - it's not cheap. A lot of these dogs will be due to be neutered/spayed soon too.

My dog is like my child. She can't tell me if something is wrong or something happened that upset her.

I wouldn't post on my local Facebook pages asking strangers if they fancied babysitting my baby/toddler as that would be irresponsible parenting.

I would really judge someone who is prepared to let a non professional person who they don't know well walk their dog regularly.