Dog share... Has anybody done it?

[PigletUnrepentant]

I have a couple of wonderful dogs, both of a very good nature, well behaved, old but still full of life, small and house trained.

I'm considering the possibility of finding someone to "share" them with as I find it difficult to care for them over a part of the week.

Has anybody done it? how does it work? is it a good idea or am I going mental in considering this?

'sharing' a dog or dogs can be very confusing to the dogs. also another thing youd have to take into consideration, who would be their pack leader? dogs need a stable pack and home otherwise their behaviour could be effected and change. would you ever consider doggy daycare? or a dog walker?

Pack leader is a load of tosh. Dogs really do not get confused with being shared as long as the owners have similar ideas on handling. My concern would be the emotional and legal.

In reality doggy daycare and a dog walker is a type of dog sharing anyway as far as the dog is concerned

If Misslala and I were to share a dog - that would be one confused dog as we have totally different views on training/bringing up dogs!

Instead of a 'dog share' how about getting a dog walker? Or carer for your dog for when you need it?

I agree with minimuu the legalities of sharing a dog in different homes would be crazy. Vet fees etc, and if your dog got emotionally attached to the sharer, would it bother you? What if your dog decided it preferred the sharers place to yours? Its just a big ole can of worms I think.

I have a friend who takes care of them occasionally, they absolutely love o stay with her and look happy enough to return to me. Unfortunately she can't do this in a regular basis.

No, it wouldn't bother me if the dogs got attached to the other person. I would be happy if they do, that means they feel comfortable at their other place.

Unfortunately, there's no way on Earth I could afford doggy day care or a dog walker, I have hardly enough to pay the pet insurance and the special food they eat.

what are you feeding them piglet? maybe the doghouse could suggest something a bit cheaper or a better insurance.

What dogs do you have?

I have tried about the insurance but being so old, I don't think anybody would be happy to insure them so I'm keeping the one they have, I pay more for it than what I pay in car insurance but it has come VERY handy at certain times, so dog share or not I would be happy to keep paying it.

The food is another stuff.. one of them has colitis, the other one is a pancreatitis survivor so... again, dog share or not, I would continue to provide their food.

I used to look after a pals old rescue dog 2/3 day a week when she did double shifts. She'd split up with her partner. The dog was her's. She provided all food and vet stuff. Dog was not confused at all. For an old dog this was a better solution than than dog daycare imo ( not even sure that really existed then ).

Finding someone you trust, who is available when you need the share is probably the tricky part. Ask friends to ask friends. I would be uncomfortable doing this with a stranger.

My elderly neighbour used to share my dog after his wife died. Dog was a rescue & high need at the time. He had the dog in the mornings while I as at lectures.

He was lonely after being bereaved and in his 80's so didn't want the full responsiblity of a pet in case a dog outlived him. I was not happy with the idea of leaving the dog alone for four hours at a time.

It really was a perfect solution all round. I know other dog owners who have done similar through their churches with elderly folk. Lots of old folk (sadly especially in big cities) get very lonely and a "part-time pet" without the full responsibilities & costs of ownership can be a perfect solution for everyone.

Just an idea, you know your local community and if there might be a suitable candidate for a pet-share along these lines.

Dogs really don't mind being shared, they live in the moment and as long as people are consistent with them, they don't care so long as their basic needs are being met. I say this from experience - we used to look after trainee hearing dogs at weekends; they spent weekends with us and during the week were in kennels receiving full time training. They were fine, so long as we were consistent in setting the same boundaries that they had during the week.

yes minimuu that would be a confused dog lol but dogs arent stupid and do notice a difference. it depends on the individual dog really on how bothered by the situation they are. say you have a happy 'i love everyone' kind of dog then maybe. but if you have a dog who is extremely bonded to you/your family then maybe not

I've been looking after a 5 month old dog three times a week in school hours 9-3pm. Interesting that you say you have to have exactly the same routines, because when the dog is at home, the owners obviously see less of him in the day, than when he is with me...as they can only pop in at lunchtime (father then gets home about 4.00pm) So with me he is in the kitchen and can wander in and out of garden at will, with owner in day he is asleep in his crate if owner at work, or waits while she works upstairs. Also I train him less, and when I walk with him I just go somewhere beautiful, let him run around and meet other dog --owners--, whereas owners are better at teaching him skills etc.

However, it is working well so far. He gets the additional company, I get the pleasure his company and learn about dogs... As you say I try to use the same techniques, same commands; so far the only thing I waver over is that he's allowed on the sofa at my house... Someone said on here that just as children adapt to different adults (Granny does x, Mummy does y), dogs work out that they can behave differently with different people. His owner has just ordered me a fold down crate so that he has a crate here too.