Sorry long - what would you do? I currently work part time (3 days per week) as a Countryside Ranger, my two dogs come to work with me most days (they are very occasionally left behind - if its too hot or I'm going to be in the office all day, this is at most one day per week, and probably happens twice a month). I've just heard that from 1st April our work is being transferred to another local authority, and us staff with it, there are 6 in our team, a max of 3 will get work, the rest of us are looking at redeployment or redundancy, and the posts that are on offer are very much office based. I'm having to think through my entire career as Countryside Management jobs are pretty rare and part time ones are gold dust - I have a 4yr old dd to consider too.
I'm seriously considering retraining as a teacher - would be a year as I already have a degree, would do this from sept 2010 when dd is in Yr1. But what about my dogs? What should I do with them?
I have a 2 1/2 tr old Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever(NSDTR) and a 10mth old Border Terrier cross. They are both lively friendly dogs, but my BT doesn't like being left much, he does chew sometimes - generally just his bed, but I do think he's unhappy, but I guess this may get better as he gets older. They don't cry, my neighbours keep an eye on them, and they usually play and sleep in the garden (they have access to the utility room and the garden). But to go from being left 2 days per month to 5 days per week is a big jump. Doing my PGCE I'd be out from 7.30am-5.30pm approx. This probably wouldn't just be my PGCE year, as although I'd rather teach part time I may well have to take full time work if thats whats available. I won't have the money to pay a dog walker or put them in kennels - DH doesn't earn much - I'll get a full grant while training - and we have a massive mortgage.
Do you think they would be ok left all day 5 days, walk before and walk after work, or should I rehome them? I think I would find a home for my older NSDTR easily with family; he's a very easy going well behaved dog, but my BTx is a typical terrier - he has a naughty streak and is quite vocal! But he is only 10mths old. Would it be better to try and rehome him while he is younger, or wait until either my job changes (april - he'll be 19mths) or if I'm redundant sept when he'll be 2? Or will they get used to it and be fine? And what do people do in the winter - do I give them outside access when its wet and cold?
Sorry theres so much to think about, I don't know what to do. I know dh wouldn't mind if they were rehomed - our BT drives him up the wall and they are both my dogs really. Dd adores my NSDTR but doesn't like my BT, he's clumsy and sometimes jumps up at her or knocks her toys over and isn't as cuddly as my NSDTR. I would miss them terribly, but know that I would be very busy and finding time for them would be hard sometimes. I've had a rescue collie in the past and I'm aware that being rehomed isn't always a bad thing for the dog, they could find better homes. I thought I'd have my current job for years and my dogs would have a wonderful life, but things don't always work out the way you expect them to do. i just need to do the best for my dogs.