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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
SchadenfreudePersonified · 06/03/2021 15:27

@NotQuiteUsual

The amount of 7-9 month old puppies looking for their 'forever homes' local to me is so depressing. Poor little puppies have done nothing wrong, but now schools are back they've served thier purpose so off they go. The worst was a 4 month old puppy, apparently they didn't have the time anymore, only two months after buying it!!
Worse - so many of these sellers want their money back.

They expect the next owner to pay what they paid for the dog, without taking into consideration that it is not only older, but has got into a routine in their home - or worse again - hasn't been properly socialised with people or other animals, r properly trained.

Some of these poor pups will be sold n time and time again, becoming more anxious and difficult to handle with every home change, until they are effectively "un-re-homeable" and end up in rescue or destroyed.

It's bliddy heartbreaking.

Butteredtoast55 · 06/03/2021 15:28

A friend who runs a dog rescue centre is anticipating a LOT of dogs needing to be rehomed in the next few months. Shes already got more on her roll than usual, and some very young (and expensive!) dogs sadly. There's also an issue here with dogs being given up because owners are anxious about theft.
Having said that, another friend of mine had to have her own dog PTS last year and has loved being able to informally walk other people's dogs as she's working from home and enjoys the exercise a d doggy company.

TheFirstMrsDV · 06/03/2021 15:30

I live in the inner city. We have two very small parks near us. I used to take my dogs there and would meet the same crowd. Blokes with staffies and older people with terriers. It was like this for years.
In the last year it has changed dramatically. You cannot move (almost literally) for designer mongrels, mini dachshunds, Italian greyhounds and frenchies. The sheer volume of new dogs means that there is no way they will all be kept on after life goes back to normal. Once people want to start travelling and find out just how much damage a bored dog with separation anxiety can do to a Loaf sofa.

littlepattilou · 06/03/2021 15:34

YANBU. This just illustrates how it needs to be made WAY more difficult to obtain a pet, particularly a dog. Some people just have no CLUE how to look after them. Or do know but can't be arsed once the novelty has worn off.

AaronPurr · 06/03/2021 15:34

They expect the next owner to pay what they paid for the dog, without taking into consideration that it is not only older, but has got into a routine in their home - or worse again - hasn't been properly socialised with people or other animals, r properly trained.

Yes this is the situation in my area. So many ridiculous adverts trying to pull on buyers heartstrings. How sad the seller is, how they wish they could keep the dog, but for XYZ reasons it's just not possible. Claiming they're only asking for what they paid to make sure it's a perfect forever home.

It's depressing. They have no real concern where the dog ends up, just so long as they're not out of pocket. They've had a few months of cute puppy pictures, and now the reality is setting in they just want to get rid.

Donkeydonut · 06/03/2021 15:35

@Mindymomo

What I see is how long can I leave my dog and would my dog be ok to be left for 12 hours. It really gets me. We always wanted a dog but waited until I retired to get one.
I have to hide a lot of threads on here with people asking which breeds can be left for six hours a day FFS. The stupidity of some humans, their needs come last.
SchadenfreudePersonified · 06/03/2021 15:36

Emeraldshamrock
My Dsis got a spaniel she is a very nervous anxious dog, I've no idea how she will cope alone 10 hrs daily from next month dogs will be very anxious.
Lots of dogs do stay home alone but going from one extreme to the other will be tough.

That poor dog!

Spaniels suffer dreadfully from separation anxiety and have to be carefully "weaned" on to being left alone for even short periods of time. (All dogs do, but spaniels IME are particularly "clingy")

Donkeydonut · 06/03/2021 15:36

@TheFirstMrsDV

I live in the inner city. We have two very small parks near us. I used to take my dogs there and would meet the same crowd. Blokes with staffies and older people with terriers. It was like this for years. In the last year it has changed dramatically. You cannot move (almost literally) for designer mongrels, mini dachshunds, Italian greyhounds and frenchies. The sheer volume of new dogs means that there is no way they will all be kept on after life goes back to normal. Once people want to start travelling and find out just how much damage a bored dog with separation anxiety can do to a Loaf sofa.
Exactly the breeds near me, all trendy designer cross breeds. My vet said she gets excited when she sees something other than a poodle cross these days.
princessTiasmum · 06/03/2021 15:40

I don't think i would be asking strangers to walk my dog [if i had one] can't even afford one with these mad prices,]but the amount of dogs being stolen would worry me letting a stranger take it anywhere
I haven't even seen any for sale or rehoming due to people going back to work,not near me anyway

ArcheryAnnie · 06/03/2021 15:45

I worry, too, about the older dogs who were more or less content with being left alone for a big chunk of the day, have now got used to their humans being around all the time, and will suddenly be abandoned at home because people won't think there's any work to be done, there, in helping them adjust back.

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 06/03/2021 15:46

It's a bloody nightmare already, the new dog owners who have had no training for their dogs because lockdown and who cannot be arsed to pick up after their doodles and what not and now they will be dumped somewhere.

This lockdown brought out the worst in lots of people.

Donkeydonut · 06/03/2021 15:51

@princessTiasmum

I don't think i would be asking strangers to walk my dog [if i had one] can't even afford one with these mad prices,]but the amount of dogs being stolen would worry me letting a stranger take it anywhere I haven't even seen any for sale or rehoming due to people going back to work,not near me anyway
Gumtree is full of them near me, one yesterday even said ‘want what I paid back’.

Poor things being passed round or left for hours because the owner thinks they are fine with it. No other option for the dog anyway.

BiteyShark · 06/03/2021 15:51

I am WFH and have been since lockdown 1 and will continue to for some time.

However, my dog still goes to daycare and will continue to do so because I know I will be going back to the office at some point.

There will always be owners who treat dogs as disposable or don't factor in costs but I am not sure covid has changed that.

Donkeydonut · 06/03/2021 15:55

www.petbusinessworld.co.uk/news/feed/pet-ownership-soars-in-covid-britain

This has got the Ipsos Mori survey in it. I think it’s accepted that pet ownership increased hugely due to lockdown.

raincamepouringdown · 06/03/2021 15:57

Why we'll never have a puppy/dog...

Our cat is probably quite looking forward to the kids going back to school!

MerryChristmasToYou · 06/03/2021 15:58

YANBU. They should have got a cat.

NoKingDingaLingTitsInAbsentia · 06/03/2021 16:02

Hoping all these people 'only wanting what they paid for it' (which lets face it we all know was grossly inflated) eventually take the dogs to the shelter for proper rehab and rehoming...I'm ready and waiting....I could have got a dog at the start of lockdown but wanted to be doubly sure about my work situation post covid. Yes, I am gloating and waiting to get lucky off other people's stupidity.

sunflowersandbuttercups · 06/03/2021 16:04

@raincamepouringdown

Why we'll never have a puppy/dog...

Our cat is probably quite looking forward to the kids going back to school!

I swear my cats are visibly pissed off because I'm home more than normal Grin
Donkeydonut · 06/03/2021 16:06

@NoKingDingaLingTitsInAbsentia

Hoping all these people 'only wanting what they paid for it' (which lets face it we all know was grossly inflated) eventually take the dogs to the shelter for proper rehab and rehoming...I'm ready and waiting....I could have got a dog at the start of lockdown but wanted to be doubly sure about my work situation post covid. Yes, I am gloating and waiting to get lucky off other people's stupidity.
Nothing wrong with that and you would be rescuing a dog that needs a home. Double win and feel good factor.
B33Fr33 · 06/03/2021 16:10

Having to go out for a job isn't compatible with a dog. But a lot of people do it anyway. Sad but true.

Crinkle77 · 06/03/2021 17:03

@lightand

YANBU. I get your point. But also, there have been people who have been told they can work from home forever, and this may not now be the case.
My brother in law works in IT and he's been told he's WFH forever now.
sunflowersandbuttercups · 06/03/2021 17:04

@B33Fr33

Having to go out for a job isn't compatible with a dog. But a lot of people do it anyway. Sad but true.
Nonsense.

Nothing wrong with going out to work and owning a dog, so long as you put the proper care in place. Be that walkers, daycare, family helping out or adjusting your work hours so the dog is left for as little time as possible.

Not everyone who works and owns a dog just leaves them alone for 8-10 hours a day.

randomer · 06/03/2021 17:05

How on earth can anyone leave a spamiel for 10 hours a day? Unbelievable.

This "dog thing" has grown out of all proportion. A few years ago I met someone who had bought a dog, knowing they had a demanding full time job, a small extra business and intended to have have children.
She assured me the dog would be in doggy day care. I had never heard of such a thing.
There is one near me, dogs howling all day long, its awful
Dog coats, treats, paid dog walkers, doggy day care.....its madness.

XenoBitch · 06/03/2021 17:08

Getting a dog walker is forward planning. They are not selling or abandoning their dogs. The only shit thing they are doing really is asking anyone from the general public to walk their dog instead of paying for a professional dog walker. Such a dog walker will be insured, licensed etc.

sunflowersandbuttercups · 06/03/2021 17:13

@XenoBitch

Getting a dog walker is forward planning. They are not selling or abandoning their dogs. The only shit thing they are doing really is asking anyone from the general public to walk their dog instead of paying for a professional dog walker. Such a dog walker will be insured, licensed etc.
But OP said they go back to work on Monday and are only asking today.