Prepared for a pasting...

[WineAndPizza]

On Sunday we picked up an 8 week old Jack Russell from a good home. We saw him with both parents and brothers and sisters. He has howled a lot the first couple of nights. I was at home with him all day Sunday and Monday (left him for about half an hour on Monday). We have a crate for him which he seems to be happy enough in. I have never had a dog before, my fiance has always had one at home growing up.

We both work, and I am back to work today. I am really concerned that we won't be around enough. I know we should have thought more carefully before collecting him, but I didn't anticipate how awful I would feel about leaving him alone all day. I am away from the house for 10 hours daily. My fiance works 5 minutes round the corner and is able to come home at lunch to let him out and exercise him, but he is only working in the office about 50% of the time and on the days when he isn't, there is no-one who will be able to go in to see the puppy.

When I left him for half an hour on Sunday (I just went to sit in the garden where he couldn't see me) he whined and cried for about 20 minutes before managing to break into the lounge where he seems happier. He wees and poos whenever we leave him alone but is generally doing it on a pad by the back door.

We are getting married in 3 months and have a lot on at the moment. We will be away for almost the whole month of June and although I think my fiance's parents will take him it seems very unfair on the puppy.

We are thinking about returning him to the breeder. I feel absolutely awful about this and I know I have made a big mistake. Can anyone offer any advice on what we should do?

Take him back now while his chances of getting a more appropriate home are high. You cannot have a puppy if nobody is home for ten hours some days, it's impossible.

I must stress that you need to act fast. If you wait until time has passed and he's older he will likely join the myriad dogs looking for decent homes just now and he may be at the back of a long queue. Puppies get homes more easily.

Take him back - as long as you can be absolutely sure of him being rehomed properly. Or invest in a dog-walker to come in when you're not there, although 10 hours is still too long. Add to that the hours you're asleep in bed, or out socialising and when, exactly is this poor little blighter going to get any human company?

Take him back now ffs!

Poor puppy :(

You've bought a puppy that you don't have time to house train, that you think you might have to leave alone for up to 10 hours at a time and you're going away for a month and haven't sorted out who's to look after it. Does that just about sum up the situation?

Take it back to the breeder now.

What were you thinking and what the hell was the " breeder" playing at selling the puppy to you

There is no need to be nasty to OP, she is trying to do the right thing for the pup, and has come here for advice.

The dog will obviously need to get used to being left and it is a case of controlled crying to start. However you really should have thought this through. It's a puppy they need training and socializing and if you haven't got time for that then maybe you should give him back :( It's like having a baby in alot of ways. Where he gets left has to be puppy proofed. You need to check garden for poisonous plants jeep all food drinks and chemicals out of his reach and you need to research on how to train your puppy they don't teach themselves. The days your partner is unable to pop in to walk him in the afternoon you definately need to organise someone to do it for you. He will need plenty if toys left for him to alleviate boredom and obviously he will need a good walk both before you go to work and when you get back and one at lunch time or there will be poo and wee everywhere. As he gets older there will be more time between poos and wees but just like a baby when they are little it's all the time. And you do realize til he's vaccinated he can't be walked ob public areas where there are other dogs so till he is able to be let out anywhere other than the garden he is gonna ne going crazy I'm afraid. All part of having a puppy

why the hell didn't you think of any of this before? take him back now and don't get any more until you can look after it properly

poor puppy

Thanks all for the replies, and Recall for your comment. I completely accept that we have been irresponsible, but I am trying to make the right decision now. Please do think before you comment (as I should have before collecting the puppy) as it may put people off asking for advice on this forum to be made to feel more horrendous than they already do.

We have obviously made a rash, and wrong decision. We have been thinking about getting a dog for a long time but had not anticipated how difficult it would be. I know this means we should have done more research. We will of course not be getting another pet - I wouldn't be handing this one back if I thought we could cope with one.

We have left him with plenty of toys in a puppy proofed area, took him for his first set of jabs yesterday and haven't let him outside except for being held in the walled garden. Today is the first time he has been left at all (apart from half an hour on Monday) and he has been on his own for no more than 3 hours at a time so please don't think we have already been leaving him alone for 10 hours - the thought of this is what's making us reconsider - too late already, I know.

Aw I'm sorry you are feeling so bad. I think you have realised what a big commitment a puppy is so why not take him back and when your situation changes ie if you are at home with kids in the future then you can have another one.
Hope it's not too upsetting taking him back

Thanks Purple. We will be devastated to give him back, very attached already, but I think it would be totally unfair to keep him.

Absolutely gutted - totally our own faults.

Realistically you won't be able to invest the time needed to train and socialise him, and could end up with a very difficult adult dog with all sorts of bad habits as a result.

Take him back now, whilst he is young enough to find an immediate forever home.

You made a mistake, we all make mistakes, and I think posters should commend you for realising that and asking how to fix it.

I would strongly suggest you do not go down the puppy route again unless one of you is at home all day. If your circumstances change such that you are able to get a dog in future a better option would be an older adult rescue dog, that is used to being left for several hours, and does not need a huge amount of exercise.

Remember though dogs are social animals, and should not be left regularly for very long periods. They need companionship and structure to their day, much the same as we do.

Well, as all others have said, poor dog and silly you... But also poor you. At least you're big enough to ask for advice and admit you've been wrong.

have you made contact with the breeder?
you need to return this (poor) puppy immediately.

If you wanted a pet then maybe a rabbit or guinea pig would be a better option. Or get a pair of rescue cats that way they will have eachother for company and they can have a litter tray or cat flap. Cats tend to sleep alot in the day and so when you get back from work they will be ready to play. If you buy a floor to ceiling scratch post activity thing and leave a ball or two around they would fare better than a puppy . But obviously there is always the expense of jabs flea treatment cattery etc to consider :)

wineAndPizza good that you are taking him back but if this breeder is what I think she/he is, you won't be getting any refunds or assurance that pup will be rehomed to anyone any more capable of looking after him than you are. I know you are sorry and all that but really?! These are basic things to consider before you embark on owning a pet, especially a dog!!!!! Trying to be supportive but feeling very at your stupidity

Thanks Caffeine - don't think we'll be getting another pet - any pet - again though.

We have contacted the breeder and he has said he will not refund us as he has already spent the money, but may be able to re-home the puppy with someone he knows. We don't care about getting a refund but would it be better for us to find another home for him or a no-kill rescue?

OP - you are doing the right thing now and that is the main thing. 10 hours a day is too long, so pup needs to go to to a new home. It's horrible asking for advice and getting a flamming. Do the right thing now whist you can. Good luck x I wonder why people think it's ok to give you grief when clearly you have realised your mistake ?!