To dump dog in one of my husbands offices he works from

[Fatfoot]

I will preface this with he is a lovely dog, well trained and behaved.
but I never wanted a dog, and said it, but got overruled.

Fast forward 8 years.

Husband has left me, children have left home , and I am tied to him.

I love him, but want the freedom that the rest of family have

Haven’t been on holiday for 3 years - husband was away just for example for 79 days last year.

Poor dog, it's not his fault. You can board a dog in a house environment. He was probably scared of being outside.

Tell your ex that either takes dog when you go on holiday or he never sees him again.

Why are you letting ex have his way completely?

Multiple people have suggested dog sitters and you’re completely ignoring them. You don’t want a solution, you want your ex to be inconvenienced. That appears to be the most important factor?

Yes my dog is never in kennels. Have you tried a homesitter? They will live in your house with your dog whilst you’re away. As I say I’ve never used kennels (most are a poor experience for dog although a very few attempt a home-from-hime) but there are other options

It would be totally unreasonable to take the dog to one of his offices, you need to have a conversation that you are unable to care for the dog full time. Could he had the dog when he has the kids and when you want to go on holiday. 8 years is a long time to own a dog, up even one you didn’t want at the start, no way would I be able to let it go. But I am sure you probably have a lot on your plate right now. Good luck

Find a dog sitter - it would be completely reasonable for your ex to pay

This
Or put the dog in kennels for the duration of your holiday.

What a prize arsehole your ex is!

Arrange another form of care for him. Try doggy day care for a day a week or so to familiarise him with being away from home.

Find a dog sitter and send the bill to your ex husband

This. Don't take it out on the dog.

Loving a dog isn’t enough though? If he has separation anxiety you need to work on that. Not just palm him off onto other people because he can’t be alone.

get a home sitter to look after your dog and send the bill to your ex that way you can have a holiday without worry

Obviously your husband should look after him but would he be happy with a dog sitter who looks after him in their own home or your home? We have a couple of different families we use for our dog and he loves his little holidays, we would never use a kennels though.

But why are you tied? A dog can be left alone for a few hours (I leave mine for up to four), lots of places are dog friendly for socialising (people always talk if you have a dog), and if you wish to go away then a dog walker who will also board, is an excellent investment. DD has a very needy dog. She also has a dog walker who walks him twice a week (i.e. long walks, with playing, socialising with other dogs he knows etc) and also will board him when DD goes away on holiday. Other occasions family will have him (mutual arrangements, several of us have dogs).
Yes, a dog is a tie. But we all have ties, life is made up of ties between us and other people, places, things, animals. To be entirely fancy-free is to have nothing and no-one.
And dogs are so happy when you come home - a lovely welcome.
NB If DH left why did he not take his dog? If because he is 'so busy' then dog is better off with you, who actually love him. If you are alone, of course, he is also a deterrent to burglars etc - the best alarm in the world, one with teeth (and the burglars don't know their real danger is being licked to death!).

Couple of things here. I don't think you do love this dog. Fair enough, you didn't want him. They are a terrific tie.
Kennels and separation anxiety- see if you can find someone who boards dogs more or less in their own home. Mine went to day care and for holidays to people who kept the dogs in their house and had a massive garden. He was always very happy. If money isn't an issue, there are people who will house sit and dog sit for you in your own home
Honestly, I would get on to the breed rescue and talk about rehoming, or the Dog's trust or similar. if anyone in your family protests, offer them the dog.

I’d be phrasing it as ‘when are you taking YOUR dog’, not why. But it sounds as if you still want the dog (you don’t want to rehome him), just not have him all the time?

I'd recommend Rover. A lovely family, local to us. Have no concerns at all leaving our dog with them for a week.
Very much better than boarding kennels, and not much more costly.

OP I am in a similar position.

Fought hard not to get a dog with my ex, but he just bought one home.

Of course I ended up to taking on 90% of the responsibility for the dog, exDP too lazy to walk the dog, didn't like having to pick poo off the street, didn't like when she barked at the small white dog, didn't like the smell of the dog food. Basically wanted a toy to play with at home but not to look after it.

He left, we talked about the dog. I said I love the dog, but I do not want to be tied down and I never wanted her in the first place - lots of back and forth and I still have her 90% of the time.

I still regret taking on the caretaking when he bought her home. I should have just completely left him to it and and maybe the dog would have been re-homed early on.

Yes using the dog to annoy the ex. It's understandable but think of the poor dog! Have a go at the ex via other means.

If he wants a dog he is responsible for it. If you dont want to look after it then it should be put in kennels.

You either want the dog or you don't.

If you don't want the dog to be your responsibility then you need to rehome him.

If you do want him then unfortunately, working your life around a dog comes with the territory.

Make up your mind. It's irrelevant whether you wanted him before - do you want him now or not?

This seems the best solution!

If your dog hasn't been trained to be happy in kennels (it really is a process over time), then you need home boarding. Dog is either looked after by people who come and live in your house (friends did this last year when they went to Oz for 3 weeks - they paid a flat fee to an orwho found and vetted sitters) or dog goes to their house.

What you want is for your ex not to be an arsehole.

that isn’t going to happen.