home ed families with a dog, advice & ideas

[maisiechain]

I just want to know how you organise the walks with also being at home enough and going out and about.
I have young dog who needs at least one 45 min - hour walk per day. My DH works long hours, out of the house by 7 and back around 7. This means the kids have to come for the walk too. When you factor in all the other things we do, I feel I'm running myself and the kids in to the ground. I've cut back on clubs they do already, there is nothing I can take out without upsetting someone!
The reality of a dog and home edding is harder than I imagined. It also restricts how long we can be out. However, I love our dog & the kids adore him. I'm glad we have him, he adds so much to our lives.
What I want to know is, when do you walk your dogs & how long do you leave them during the day. I'm just trying to get my head around organising things better & finding more balance to our lives so that we can be at home more!

Are any of the kids old enough to take some responsibility for him? An afternoon session in the backyard with a ball won't replace his walk, but might help him settle while you disappear off elsewhere later?

The other thing to look at if he is a well socialised dog is if he could go with you to many of your activities. If it's a case of a group of other home edders hiring somewhere for a particular activity perhaps he could come along if he's well behaved and won't disrupt too much?

Both great ideas, but unfortunately our garden is too small for doggy ball games. Also, I would love to take him with us, it is what I imagined would happen before we got him, but has a fear of strangers for which we are dealing with, but he will never be 100%.
Thanks for replying though, they were good ideas:)

No other home edders with dogs out there????

Isn't half the point of home educating that you can use everyday things?

Can you not use the walks? Science stuff should be fairly easy, plants, wildlife, they could route plan and you follow them so they're using maps and orienteering, um, get them calculating speed and distance for maths...stuff like that.

Thanks tabulahrasa, I think this is the way to go.......................

We do a 45 min - 1 hour run with the dog in the morning after reading practice & brekkie between 7am and 8.30 (to avoid school run clogged pavements). Used to do the same before school. It's when we do "nature studies" & a few therapy exercises. (naturedetectives.org has lots of worksheets if you are trying to cater for differing age groups).

Quick 15 mins round the block at lunchtimes too, as again DS benefits from a spot of fresh air.

It's just getting long dog walk into your routine at the right time of day, which is probably NOT the afternoons if you do lots of activities. If he's a nervous dog there are fewer people around before the school run starts. (I have an anxiety prone child)

Thank you bochead, this is exactly what I'm asking, how others plan it around their day. I think you are right, its about getting into a routine that works well for us & I think that's what I haven't quite figured out yet. We have only had him 7 months and only been really walking him properly for the last 4 months, so I just haven't figured it all out yet.

Anyone else, please continue to add how it works for you, its really helpful!