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Original poster

I'm giving my dog a fantastic life but I'm going to miss him so much

44 replies

JunkInMyTrunk · 21/11/2006 14:48

My lovely gorgeous springer has been offered the chance to go and live with as woodland ranger who is a close friend. He'd be in the woods every day running and jumping about to his hearts content and recieving loads much training and attention than I can.

He'd love it so much and would have a much better quality of life. Friends dog died about a year back and misses having a dog with him at work. I said how much my dog would love a life like that and he said well he can if you want.

But I love him so much, i've had him since he was 8 weeks old and he's my little boy. I know he'd much rather be running thru the woods than in the middle of a housing estate.
Pluss on bonfire night horrible treat or treaters forced my gate and let him out and chased him down the road. And they've tried again since then.

I just don't know if I can let him go???

Should he stay or should he go????

OP posts:

JanH · 21/11/2006 15:02

He will always be your boy...if he goes, how often would you be able to see him?

Imagine if you don't let him go, and the yobs let him out again and he doesn't come safely home to you

Original poster

JunkInMyTrunk · 21/11/2006 15:08

I'd probably get to see him once or twice a year.

I know I have to let him go, it would be selfish of me not to but I'm going to miss him so much....who will chew my trainers when he's gone? [sa]

OP posts:

JanH · 21/11/2006 15:11

Ah - oh dear - I was hoping it was somewhere fairly local and you could visit him at weekends or something.

There's not an easy answer to this, is there?

Saturn74 · 21/11/2006 15:12

Could you not share him - winter in the woodland, summer with you?

CountessDracula · 21/11/2006 15:12

I couldn't do it
I love my dog with me

But yes would have a better life
But he probably loves the life he has and as he doesn't know any other life he is not missing out IYKWIM.

Original poster

JunkInMyTrunk · 21/11/2006 15:13

But would he get confused???

OP posts:

TeeCee · 21/11/2006 15:13

Oh how sad and how lovely that you would sacrifice your needs over his. I think if you don't let him go it'll play on your mind all the time anyway.
Oh what a difficult one.

Do what your heart tells you to do.
Can't say more than that really.

If you let him go I think it's a wonderful thing for you to have done but I would not blame you on bit for not doing it.

Original poster

JunkInMyTrunk · 21/11/2006 15:18

I love him so much but he hasn't really got anywhere here where I can let him off the lead safely and he can run free.

He'd love the woods, he'd love the exercise and friend sayss he'd train him as a gun dog. He needs the stimulation as he gets bored here in the middle of a housing estate.

I know where I'd live if I could choose in the country. I know I should let him go and I'll be distraught for a while but at least I'll know he'll be happy without horrible brats trying to chase him down the street with the risk of him be run over.....think I need a large glass of wine

OP posts:

CountessDracula · 21/11/2006 15:18

Ah yes a bit different we have good walking here.

Well it would be very very kind

Is he unhappy now?

FireFaerie · 21/11/2006 15:19

When i was little, my mum let a friend take our 2 year old dog to her farm to be a sheep dog. He came back to us when he was too old to do the job anymore, about 8 years later. It was quite horrible letting him go but he enjoyed it.
This may or not be perfect for both of you, all i know is that my mum thought this over for a good couple of months before making any decisions, so that she would regret any decision she made as little as possible.
I'm sorry there isnt a magic answer to this, but i hope you find the perfect answer for you.
Good Luck!

Original poster

JunkInMyTrunk · 21/11/2006 15:24

No he's not unhappy at all, he's the friendliest dog you could ever meet and loves bouncing around the garden.
But he really isn't getting enough exercise and then he gets bored and starts chewing anything he can get his handss on, which I don't mind as I just move everything out of his way.

I've spent weeks mulling it over and I think he'd just be happier there, running thru the woods, chassing rabbits or whatever else he could find, getting all the exercise and stimulation he could wish for.

And I know my friend will love him as much as i do.

OP posts:

Drusilla · 21/11/2006 15:43

What an awful decision. I have a springer too - he was a working gundog but is too old now, he just runs in the woods instead of working in them. If your friend will love him and give him training you know your dog will be very, very happy. Am so sorry for you having to make the decision.

Original poster

JunkInMyTrunk · 21/11/2006 15:44

Thank you, its nice to know that someone understands

OP posts:

fishie · 21/11/2006 15:46

i had to give my dog away 15 years ago, had to leave him at home all day alone (ex boyfriend moved out) and he was escaping all the time, crossing main roads, going in people's gardens.... it was really hard, had got him as a quivering wreck from battersea and esp bad time for me as my relationship had finished. but he (dog!) went to live with a man who'd just retired and they were so happy together, pottering all day. i think you are making the right decision and you will enjoy the visits.

ScroogeMacDog · 21/11/2006 15:48

Not an easy situation.
IMHO (as a springer owner) you should let your boy go, even if just for a trial period.
They are essentially working dogs and love the chance to do what they are bred for.
I am lucky and have best of both worlds with mine. He gets his park walks through the week with his ball and come the weekend we take him up to the local community woodland where he can track and flush birds for hours.
We rehomed our boy when he was 2 from a family who realised that they didn't have time and energy for him.
If it doesn't work out with your friend, you can always take him back.
At the end of the day, though, it will be your own decision.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do {{hugs}}

Original poster

JunkInMyTrunk · 21/11/2006 15:55

Just spoken to dh and friend, decided to let him go for a trial period.

Going to take him up on friday and spend some time with him so that he can settle.

I know its the right decision for him and altho it will break my heart for a bit, I know he'll be happy and have always got the option to bring him home.

Thanks for all your messages

OP posts:

ScroogeMacDog · 21/11/2006 16:01

Good luck, hope it works out for everybody

PennySweets · 21/11/2006 19:30

I can empathise with you, Junk, I have 2 dogs, a Golden Retriever and a Labrador. My Retriever isn't too fussed about having loads of exercise, he's more of a 'plodder'. My Lab, however, just adores exercise, the more of it the better. We live right by a large common and woods, and I take them out as often as I can, they do get out each day, but more often than not, it's once a day. But with the time constraints of kids, housework, etc, I do feel guilty about not giving her more exercise. I have thought about rehoming her to a home where she would have the sort of life that your Springer has been offered. I know she'd be in Heaven. I can't part with her though, I love her too much. She doesn't do too badly for exercise, we have occasional trips to the beach too, but you know, sometimes you do think about things and feel guilty. Good luck with whatever desicion you make.

cowmad · 21/11/2006 19:42

junk in my trunk
would your friend like a fantastically well behaved weimaraner too?
this boy is sitting in a rspca kennel longing for a home..he hasnt been picked for over 2 weeks although all ask after him cos hes so beautifull
reson?
cos staff are being honest..he needs 3 miles a day or he will chew your house down(all gundogs do!)
and hes 8 yrs old
bless him he is so well behaved and quiet and despondant love him...
I just cant fit him in or id have him in a heartbeat!!
what do you think?

Chandra · 21/11/2006 20:38

Junkinmytrunk, do you really want to let him go? I think we all can say that our dog may have a better life living with other person because there is no perfect owner. But at the end of the day, if your dog is not having a bad time with you, you can get a lock to stop yobs opening the door, and you love him, he will be fine.

Other aspect to consider is how the rest of the family is going to take it if he goes, it can be devastating for a child to loose their pet.

My dogs were breed to catch vermin, probably they would enjoy it (well, one of them, the other is afraid of [whispers] hamsters). But the truth is that they are used to be with us, and the "lifestyle" we provide so no hard feeling on their part .

At the end of the day, there are many times when we are offered good oportunites we just can't take.

As for trial periods... these are for the people not the dogs, if you send your dog away and then you get it back he is effectively loosing two owners. They can't understand they are going for a limited time.

Original poster

JunkInMyTrunk · 21/11/2006 21:20

well I've spoken to dd1 who is 4yr lotss about it and shes fine. I've told her toby will be living in the woods, playing with the squirrels and rabbits.
He does need a lot of exercise and altho I take him for a walk every day I can't risk letting him off his lead. So he can't really have a proper run around.

In my heart I know I'm doing the right thing even tho it will hurt me.

Love ya Toby

OP posts:

cowmad · 21/11/2006 23:05

junkinmytrunk..please ask him would you?

CountessDracula · 21/11/2006 23:21

Seriously a trial period would be cruel to him

I think he either stays or goes tbh

handlemecarefully · 21/11/2006 23:34

Junkinmytrunk

I think you are being very brave and selfless. Well done for putting your dogs needs first, but sorry for the pain it's causing you

LittleB · 22/11/2006 12:30

JunkinmyTrunk, I think your dog will have a lovely life. I'm a countryside ranger and my dog comes to work with me (although she's sleeping in the car at the moment while I check my e-mail etc.) She's a collie and needs the excercise, although she's slowing down a bit now as she's almost 15.
Would you consider getting another dog in the future? It sounds like you could offer a great home to a dog that doesn't need as much excercise. Working breeds do like lots of excercise and stimulation even if they aren't going to be working.
At least you'll be able to find out how he's settling in too, not like rehoming through a centre.
I think you've made the right decision although it must have been very hard.

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