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The doghouse

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Original poster

Bored with my dog

47 replies

whatever17 · 05/10/2011 23:36

Don't shoot me down. I guess we get bored of our kids too and just power through and then love them more.

He is 1 year old and I know I have another winter coming up with muddy paws all over the carpet.

I do like the dog, I do not love him, I think love is reserved for humans.

I like walking him, he's funny and a good dog. TBH, if I could go back in time, I wouldn't have got him.

I don't mind the cost. It's the mess and the nuisance. He is a great dog, I kind of think he would be happier with someone else.

But then, would he? Would they be mean to him, would he be PTS?

I am just moaning aloud really.

OP posts:
Vallhala · 06/10/2011 00:23

I don't get fed up with my dogs but boy do I get fed up with my kids so I think in a roundabout way I can see what you mean. :o

But I chose to have children just as I chose to have dogs and the rough comes with the smooth. You kind of buy into that when you make that decision. For all the exasperating points there are good ones (and thats as true of my dogs as it is with my daughters). BOTH cause a mess and can be a nuisance, though the dogs less so IME.

I can only suggest that as I do with the DDs you focus on the good parts. You say yours is a good dog - well there's a great start, others have somewhat problematic family friends. And the mess lessons as winter ends, the muddy paws give way to summer walks and time to escape the home and think... it can't be all bad.

You clearly care - why do you think he'd be happier with someone else?

Lizcat · 06/10/2011 09:05

Lets think of some practical ways to make this better. Firstly do you have some where like a utility room where he can go to dry off after his walk? If not put the dog towel by the door and dry his feet everytime he comes into the house, as you say he is a good dog I think he will quickly learn to wait on the mat for you to wipe his feet. Also get one of the dog mats that are designed to take the wet and mud of their feet as they come in and are machine wasable.
Also he is just 1 year old he is a teenager very shortly he will be a fulloy adult dog fortunately dog teenage time is muh shorter.
Think of all the amazing winter walks you will have - my favourite time. We have rushiung through the leaves coming up shortly and hopefully we will also get dry crisp walks and maybe even number one the snowy walks when it seems like no one else is alive.

CoffeeIsMyFriend · 06/10/2011 09:30

I love the snowy walks the best. Think the dogs do too. And even when it is absolutely peeing down horizontally with a howling gale I always feel better in myself after a walk with the dogs - even though the thought is enough to make me want to stay home and drink coffee.

Yes, the mud, the continual mopping of floors, doors and walls is a total pain, but for all that I wouldnt be without the kids or dogs. Smile

We have those industrial mats that lizcat mentions and they do 'mop' up a lot of the wet before it hits the floors. I also keep lots of large old towels around for drying feet and bodies - dont forget the tail!. Not sure what size dog you have, but I have 2 large German Shepherds and they seem to attract mud in winter time.

silentcatastrophe · 06/10/2011 10:40

Are you interacting with your dog? It can get pretty dull when all you do is clean up after them and drag them round the field/park etc feeling that you don't really want to be there. There are lots of fun things you can do with your dog from clicker training to heelwork to music, cani-x, agility, obedience... All these kind of things can help you to build up a relationship with your dog. If you don't want a pet dog thing, you can build a working relationship with your hound. That can be brilliant.

bemybebe · 06/10/2011 10:51

What breed is he whatever?

If is a long-haired one consider trimming it shortish (take him to a doggy hairdresser to do it professionally), so you have less fur to dry. Please do not do it in the winter, the dog needs to adjust to the new coat and it is just about enough time if you do it now, when it is still warm.

It is amazing how much of a daily grind dog ownership is, I just wish people considered it before they took one in. Your feelings are valid. However, it is bad on all level and will give a very bad example to your dcs to get rid of a living creature once becomes inconvenient. Your home is his home and he is member of your family now. Please do not give up!!

Having a moan about it by all means (I will join you about mine), but seriously considering rehoming is a no-no.

DooinMeCleanin · 06/10/2011 10:54

I think the key is to relax a little with the housekeeping along with good, happy, fun interaction as Catasrophe pointed out above.

My dogs are irritating me at the moment, which is something I very rarely say. It's because my sister is bringing her fairly new boyfriend to my house on Saturday and my mum is threatening to have distant relatives over to my house for a party at x-mas time, both of which have left me cursing myself for choosing light coloured furniture and flooring Shock and stressing over paw prints.

The rest of the time I love having them round and the paw prints are just part and parcel of owning them. I keep a 'swiffer' (some sort of flat, Vileda mop thingy) and some flash spray in the hallway and a few quick squirts and swiff about after muddy walks and it looks fine again. We also keep an old towel in the hallway to dry wet and muddy feet.

My 'normal' house routine is to mop about three times a week, but run the swiffer round every morning, it takes ten minutes and keeps on top of the mud/dust/paw prints between proper mops.

musicposy · 06/10/2011 23:07

I know how you feel. I'm bored with my husband, and he's still here 18 years later. Rehoming him would be attractive at times, but would upset the kids. Grin

To help with the dogs (husband is not trainable) I bought a couple of super absorbent dog towels, this kind of thing. Poundland do similar, cheaper. I was a bit sceptical but browsing the pet aisle and in the mood to buy them something Blush.

They're really good. I keep them by the door and the dogs now know if they want their treat to wait and have their feet wiped. If you have carpet I'd recommend a vax (seriously, I got one in the sale and I love it), though the colour of the water that comes out of it won't endear you to the dogs or visitors, kids, or husbands. We now have hard floor downstairs and that has made my life much easier.

bemybebe · 06/10/2011 23:26

whatever are you still around? tell us what is your pooch's breed, we may come up with something a bit more specific to help you out...

i am also a bit house proud and hated my dog running around with wet paws (nevermind dirty paws - not on in this household) my lab is very food driven, so, as music suggested, she gets used to get a nice cocktail sausage or cheese cube every time she would come from the outside. she would sit on a mat (turtle mats are great) and give me one paw after another for wiping. in the end - a nice big treat. now she comes in and sits and waits for permission to go into the room... it took me a while but it works not almost every time without me supervising her...

bemybebe · 06/10/2011 23:27

works not now almost ... (freudian whatsit)

hmc · 06/10/2011 23:29

It's quite normal to fantasise about life without your dog imo.

I frequently fantasise about : (a) no dog (b) no husband (c) no children...

But in reality I wouldn't be without any of them. My dog's halitosis, farting and shedding of hair seriously pisses me off at times - but she's a great dog really...yes really!!

bemybebe · 06/10/2011 23:44

hmc - i started giving mine dentastix and i swear her breath is much better... though she is only 16 months old and her teeth are in good condition

hmc · 07/10/2011 00:07

Yes - I should try dentastix (must remember next time I do the shopping)

whatever117 · 11/10/2011 20:06

I am here - I was so haunted and horrified with myself for even thinking of re-homing him that I punished myself and cancelled my membership.

It's weird, I have loved him more since voicing my frustration.

ChickensHaveNoEyebrows · 11/10/2011 20:12

I think it's ok to have the odd pissed off day. It's hard work, and sometimes it can be overwhelming. I've certainly felt that way about the DC Wink

whatever117 · 11/10/2011 20:15

Lizcat - no utility room but the kitchen is lino and I could keep some old towels etc for the paws. I have seen some kind of magic mat on TV - I will look into that.

bemybebe - he is a cairn/jrt/border t. Basically, he is pretty hairy with short legs, he attracts Dirt (capital D!) and he loves to swim in the Thames - he loves to roll in shit. He is quite a gross dog, but I kind of admire him for it. Apart from the stink. I walk into my house and just smell - dog.

I feel really guilty about wishing him away the other day. I told my Dad and he said "oh yes, great, you could work more, Battersea would have him for sure". I expected him to say - "get a grip". Then I really, really thought about not having him. He has been so sweet recently, I love it when he lumps onto my bed in the night - as well as hating the fact that I have a hairy tail in my face or can't move my legs.

I think also he was away for a week with DS1 and it really was so lovely being able to open doors, walk around unimpeded etc etc.

whatever117 · 11/10/2011 20:17

chicken/eyebrows - def get irritated with the DCs but it seems more clearcut. You can't really get rid of them for one thing! But you CAN get rid of the dog on gumtree (shudder) or dog shelter.

Not saying I will, just you can and nothing happens to you.

whatever117 · 11/10/2011 20:23

chicken/eyebrows - def get irritated with the DCs but it seems more clearcut. You can't really get rid of them for one thing! But you CAN get rid of the dog on gumtree (shudder) or dog shelter.

Not saying I will, just you can and nothing happens to you.

silentcatastrophe · 11/10/2011 20:45

We got one of our dogs off Gumtree. Big no-no in these parts, even though he is a fantastic hound. Don't even think about it. It's so sad that the world is so full of unwanted dogs. It's not always easy living with a different species! But hey, we don't swim in Dettol all day, do we?

whatever117 · 11/10/2011 20:59

I got a cat off gumtree, but she was seriously mental. From day 1, nothing we had done to her. TBH, I put her back on gumtree within 2 weeks. She was nuts, the last straw was when I opened the fridge and she leapt into it - 3 foot. She also hated us and bit us at every opportunity. She was only about 3 months old - I don't know what was wrong with her.

I just thought about someone having the lack of commitment to my dog that I had to that cat. What if I had rehomed him to someone and he had been rehomed on once a month until he was so fucked up and old that he was dumped? Then PTS, or abused.

I have decided to think about the dog the same way that I think about the kids. Fucking pain in the arse at times, but not going anywhere.

Weird, it's a 15 year (possibly) commitment, I think for some reason it just didn't sink in before.

GrimmaTheNome · 11/10/2011 21:13

forget about Gumtree - unless for the purchase of Turtle Mats. We have them, 2 large at the front door, one small and one large in the utility room and I hardly ever see a pawprint.

whatever117 · 11/10/2011 21:51

Turtle Mats? Are they the magic mats?

Dog had me in stitches the other day. DS1 was cycling back from Granny's on the Thames towpath. It went from normal to up to DS1's chest. He cycled with water up to his chest and dog swam beside him. Posh woman leaned from their waterside properties shouting "Is your dog alright?" as DS1 was desperately trying to fight his way through the tidal Thames.

chickchickchicken · 11/10/2011 22:29

i got my mats from argos. they are absorbent, non slip and can be chucked in the washing machine. i think they were about £15 - £20 so not the cheapest but they really do work. i've got one by the kitchen door and one by the patio door. i never see any dog paw prints and i've got 3 dogs. if they are very muddy then i wipe them first with an old towel that i keep by the back door

we only have carpet on the stairs - mainly due to allergies but does have the added bonus of easy to keep clean floors everywhere else

for the first year of dog2 living with us i did wonder what on earth i had taken on. it was very hard work and sometimes i did dream about how good life was before we rehomed him. tellingly when a neighbour (everyone loved him but they didnt have to live with him!) wanted him to live with them i realised that i loved him too much to agree. he is still here 5yrs later. he can still be a pita but he is part of our family now

have you thought about doing any type of training with your dog? maybe agility or obedience? it really can help develop a relationship with your dog (as well as give you time out from the house, kids, etc)

just to add, just in case, if you do rehome please for your dog's sake do so via no kill rescue (not battersea, and definitely not gumtree). i know this is very unlikely but felt i had to say it for your dog's sake. hope you dont mind

btw like all the comments about the kids and dhs Grin

wildfig · 11/10/2011 22:35

feeling depressed about the dog smell thing is understandable - I always think I've got it under control, then I go away for a few days, walk in the house and feel mortified. I hoover every day to get most of the hair, wash/air the dog beds and open windows, but there's only so much you can do - to be honest, I spend a small fortune on nice reed diffusers, and position them as near the door as I can. M&S Frankincense & Myrrh covers a multitude of sins, and is on 3 for 2 as Christmas gets nearer and (no boaking at the back) Yankee Candle do some inoffensive cotton-y ones.

And whenever I think about how much easier life would be without the dogs, I have a quick look at the Many Tears website. [weeps. runs to hug dogs]

stleger · 11/10/2011 22:56

I go through short periods of wondering if our house smells of dog and we just don't notice... then I forget. My dh is going away for a few weeks, so I have 90walks to do, as my teenagers seem to wriggle out of that; I have rehomed one of them to college recently, and I do miss him though! Doggy whatever sounds a little character.

silentcatastrophe · 11/10/2011 23:13

I love the smell of wet dogHmm Perhaps it's just that they're our wet dogs! Oh any wet dog'll do...