Fed up with my dog and feeling guilty

[Sugarmag]

We sent our dog to the kennels for a few days while we had a painter in and I just kept thinking how a)quiet the house was b)how clean, free of dog hair and muddy footprints it was. Now he's back and he's driving me crazy. It's not his fault - he's really a very, very good dog. But he barks like mad if he sees, hears or imagines anyone outisde, goes nuts whenever anyone comes to the door, is always begging DH for walks even when he's just been, casts constantly (365 days a year) and has totally wrecked my living room sofa because he prefers to sleep there instead of his own bed. Plus I have to clean and hoover the front hall sometimes several times a day if I'm not quick enough to wipe his feet when he comes in the house. I've put plastic mats in the front hall and taught him to let me clean his paws with a towel but he still manages muddy footprints at least once a day. As for the sofa, I could keep him off of it and only let him lie on his bed or the floor but then I feel so mean.

I know these are all the things that come with being a dog owner and I signed up for all these responsiblities when I took him from the rescue home 6 years ago but it is really, really starting to get me down. Do you think it would be truly horrible of me to try and find him a new home? Some days I think to myself, no he's my responsibility and I could no sooner give him than I could a child because it would just be plain wrong. And other days I just wish someone would come and take him away for me (someone nice of course, I wouldn't want anything bad to happen). Anybody been in a similar situation and if so what did you do?

im prob making excuses c.dracula as so much to do with ds's that when got a spare minute cant be bothered to traipse out in this cold, wet, windy weather!lazy bitch i am!

Could you get someone to walk her for you? I can't have a dog here but I'd love to be able to take a dog for a walk! - Maybe you could set up 'rent a dog'

thats a good idea bubber, theres no kids in our road to ask as its all pensioners and its a bus route, but when we were on caravan hols last year there were kids queing up to take dog out, praps il put a notice in the vets

We have a dogwalker 5 days a week. DH or I usually take her out first thing or in the eve in the summer but during the day she is out for 2 or 3 hours with dogwalker

god thats ages!do they really take them out that long?my dog would love that.wot sort of rates do they charge or does it depend on area, kent

sugarmag - I let my little dog go on January 10th 2005. It's coming up a year now and I'm thinking about her quite a lot. My DS was 2.2 at the time and I was 7 months pregnant with DD. I know we did the right thing but it was incredible hard and something we seriously thought about for about a year before we actually did it. I literally cried for the whole weekend when we'd made the decision. We'd had her ever since we 'fostered' her when MIL was terminally ill in 2001. I can't say I'm really a dog person to be honest but I did love her. However I couldn't give her all the exercise she needed and I felt incredibly guilty about it. She was destructive because of the lack of exercise and she wasn't really very happy. We gave her to a Dog Sanctuary who will now 'own' her for the rest of her life. The dogs are rehomed but always ultimately 'belong' to the sanctuary who have continued rights to visit the dog etc and check on it's welfare. Taking my dog there was heartbreaking and I just prayed that she wasn't there for longer than about a week as she had been in kennels before and would be ok for a short time. I left a letter with her for any new owner to read - 2 sides of A4 - warts and all (bad habits and why we'd given her up etc) I rang up to ask about her the next day and was delighted to hear that she had already been rehomed. A family known to the sanctuary who had been looking for the right dog for sometime had taken her. They lived in the country already had one cocker spaniel (so know how loopy they are!) and already went for lots of walks. I know we did the right thing because my dog deserved to be happy. However sometimes I feel sorry for DD that she has never had a dog - especially as she adores my SILs dog who is from the same litter as ours was. Reading the other posts I wish I could have held out till the kids were older when you all say things get better but to be honest I don't think I'd have a house left. Also couple of years is a long time to have an unhappy dog when she could be having a better life elsewhere. Sorry for the long post but just to let you know sugarmag that I've been there and know where you are coming from

7777777 our dogwalker picks up several dogs and ours is picked up first and dropped off last, they actually walk for an hour and a half but she is gone nearer three which is great for her.

We pay £8 a day but I know it is much cheaper in the country, look in your local vet or paper for adverts

just got back from taking my dog to kennels . im havent stopped crying the whole journey home. she is 11 years old and has become intolerant with the children. she has started to snp at peoples ankles and also has nipped my 2 oldest girls. im feeling incredibly guilty right now

Hi.
I have trouble with my dog being very protective of us. He has a very loud bark and barks at the window and when we are out. He crazily barks at other dogs and I'm coming to the end of my tether. I can't put up with him anymore we can't go anywhere or do anything, he's ruling our lives 😭
You said ur mum had a book which helped turn the dog around, what book is it? I'm desperate, my dog is a Patterdale terrier.

Thanks

You take him out for a run once a week? “If that” seriously?????? And the fields are near your house?
Rehome him via a rescue who will do a homecheck and ensure he gets the right home who will exercise him properly every day.
It sounds like you haven’t even thought of a dog walker etc for him.
Rehome and don’t get another dog.
Then you can have a nice clean and tidy house and the dog will be exercised.

Dear god, another ancient ZOMBIE thread bumped. It's FIFTEEN years old, fgs. @Pennypops10 it's best to start your own new thread in this section and you'll get advice specific to your situation. Anyone who replies here will be responding to the original poster, as @victoriaspongecake has done, not to yours.

@victoriaspongecake

You take him out for a run once a week? “If that” seriously?????? And the fields are near your house? Rehome him via a rescue who will do a homecheck and ensure he gets the right home who will exercise him properly every day. It sounds like you haven’t even thought of a dog walker etc for him. Rehome and don’t get another dog. Then you can have a nice clean and tidy house and the dog will be exercised.

This thread is 16 years old, I'd hazard a guess the dog is long gone by now.

🧟‍♂️🧟🧟‍♀️ZOMBIE THREAD 🧟‍♀️🧟🧟‍♂️

@Pennypops10

Hi. I have trouble with my dog being very protective of us. He has a very loud bark and barks at the window and when we are out. He crazily barks at other dogs and I'm coming to the end of my tether. I can't put up with him anymore we can't go anywhere or do anything, he's ruling our lives 😭 You said ur mum had a book which helped turn the dog around, what book is it? I'm desperate, my dog is a Patterdale terrier.

Thanks

Google Jan Fennell. Her method worked for me.

Thank you. My apologies for responding to the thread, I haven't used this before so I was hoping Isawmummykissingsanta might still be on here and still have to book.

Thank you HirplesWithHaggis, I shall Google her and find her book.

Again my appologies.