Father in law trying to boss us around about dog

[apaylor2009]

My father in law had been taking care of our dog because we moved and our landlord wouldn't let us have him there. He had him for about 10 months. During this time he took care of him and took him to the vet. He is a very lonely man with no woman and likes to go to the legion and drink his guts out and drunk text and asks his daughter to get him cause he's shit faced. Sorry for the language. He treated our dog like a king and like he was his baby. Which is fine, but he is a train engineer and is gone for 2 or 3 days at a time. So we would watch him while he was gone at work. He'd come and pick him up after he was home. The problem we are having is now we bought a house and we have him back. We keep him in the cage while we are at work 8 hrs and come home on lunch and let him out. He has access to food and water. We leave him out while we are home and sleeping but keep the bedroom door shut cause he will pee on stuff or get into trash. ( we had him house trained but my FIL would leave him out and let him pee in his house while away) he complains all the time how worried he is cause he has to be in the cage. During a phone conversation with my husband he brings it up maybe 2 times. He asks about the dog before he does his granddaughter. It's frustrating because he doesn't listen. I don't know how much more of his ignorance I can take and I don't know what else to say. I would tell him if he wants him that bad to tell us how to take care of him he could keep him. But he doesn't have the time to. What to do, what to do?

[TequilaMockingbirdy]

This is why I don't like crating full stop. Too much room for error and is easily abused.

[Chumhum]

So I take it that the dog doesn't get off lead walks then? Or what did you mean by he goes out with you after work? Most dogs need an hour of exercise a day and to be in company. I work and have two dogs, but am fortunate enough to be able to pop home three times a day and have teens who are home after three thirty, I also walk them for a minimum of an hour before I leave in the morning. If I worked In a more conventional scenario I'd get a dog walker, when you take on an animal you have a responsibility to look after it. It sounds like your FIL is more aware of this than you. I think the dog should be shared to fit around your work schedule and FIL's.

[Fairylea]

Poor dog.

I've had dogs all my life and two 4 hour stints with a short break in the middle is way too long for a dog to be crated up.

If you need to work all day the only kind way to do it is to dog proof the house properly - stair gate across to upstairs or across kitchen and install a dog flap so the dog can get in and outside as it wishes. You also really need to get a second dog if the dog is alone all day (and obviously match them carefully and settle them in properly) as one dog on its own all day is a terribly lonely existence.

No wonder your father in law is upset.

[HoldOnHoldOnSoldier]

I don't understand why you can not come home at lunch, let him out for a pee but without the crating?

I think the dog is probably missing FIL and is very stressed out by 8 hours a day in a cage and that is why he is peeing on the floor.

[HoldOnHoldOnSoldier]

Fairylea I don't think advising the op to get another dog is the best advice in this situation.

[Fairylea]

Yes I can see that. I was just giving examples of how many people continue to work full time and offer a reasonable existence to a dog. Getting company for a dog and offering easy access to outside is one of the best ways to ensure a dog is happy during the day when someone is working.

However yes in this situation I don't think the op should get another dog. If anything they need to reduce their hours or re home this dog in the best possible way they can.

[YoureBeingASillyBilly]

Poor dog.

[expatinscotland]

FGS! People are ridiculous about dogs here. 'Don't have a dog if you work FT.' It's a little lap dog.

[eurochick]

Poor dog.

Being alone for 8 hrs a day is too long.

Being crated for 8 hrs a day is too long.

[thinkingaboutfostering]

Oh fgs! 8hrs a day isn't that bad! Today mine will have been in her crate for a total of 9 hrs (in 3hr blocks) with a wee and cuddles at 3 hrs, a walk at 6hrs (2 hr break for me) and then I'm home. In in rented accommodation and that's the condition on having a dog. She has a big big crate with a bed and lots of toys. The radio on and then has my full attention when I'm back. Sure she'd rather me be here ( I would rather be home too!) all the time but life is full of compromises and so long as the dogs needs are being met and the dog is happy alls good.

[TequilaMockingbirdy]

The dogs needs aren't being met if it's in a crate for 8 hours with just a 15 min break inbetween.

www.animalbehavior.org/ABSAppliedBehavior/article-applied-behavior/the-right-2013-and-wrong-2013-way-to-use-a-dog-crate

dogcare.dailypuppy.com/long-should-puppy-crate-2568.html

www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-behavior/weekend-crate-training

all those websites say dogs should not be crated for more than 4 or 5 hours a dya.