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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Prepared for a pasting...

93 replies

WineAndPizza · 27/03/2012 15:20

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?

OP posts:
Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 27/03/2012 16:17

Yes please do. Puppies are homed quickly but to be sure you can ask them to contact you rather than put him down. I doubt it would take long to get him a new home though.

Original poster
WineAndPizza · 27/03/2012 16:18

Thank you Battery - I was expecting this to be honest but it certainly doesn't help. I know we have been stupid and we do care about this puppy which is why we want him to go to someone who can look after him better.

OP posts:
haddock1976 · 27/03/2012 16:19

I'm inclined to agree with kormachamelon.

This back yard breeder should never have sold you the puppy in the first place and I think you need to contact a proper rescue centre and ask them to take the puppy. That way you can be slightly more sure that it'll go to a deserving home rather than the next person to come along with £s in their pocket.

batteryhen · 27/03/2012 16:20

No problem - let us know how you get on x

Original poster
WineAndPizza · 27/03/2012 16:20

BeerTricks - I have said we won't be getting any other pets so please hold back on the sarcasm - we are not getting another pet. Any pet.

Ok Caffeine - no kill shelter is the best bet you think?

OP posts:
LtEveDallas · 27/03/2012 16:23

WineAndPizza -

I could shout - but I wont - I think you get the feeling here, you know what you've done wrong, so OK, time to 'man-up' and sort it out Smile

This is why I hate backyard breeders - no decent breeder would allow this.

Don't try and home the puppy yourself - you don't know enough about it. You could be giving him to someone far worse than you Sad.

Don't give him to a pound - he'll die.

Don't give him back to the breeder.

  1. Try a breed specific rescue
  2. Try Dogs Trust
  3. Try Many Tears

Please accept that you have made a mistake - and I'm afraid that mistake will probably cost you more money. Rescues need cash - if they dont get it, they go under and more dogs die. Offer him to a Rescue and offer a donation for his care, please, do the right thing.

Where in the country are you?

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 27/03/2012 16:24

You could also try advertising at a vets but a rehoming shelter is probably best bet . They often do behavioral checks to help match them with suitable owners and they home check. Go see it first though and stipulate u don't want him pts and to contact you first if that's ever a plan. :)

BeerTricksPott3r · 27/03/2012 16:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
WineAndPizza · 27/03/2012 16:33

Thanks LtEve and Caffeine. A friend's dad runs an animal sanctuary so we are going to ask him if he knows anyone suitable. Second option will be a breed specific rescue where we will say we do not want him pts and want to be informed if there is ever an intention to have him pts.

We're north London.

OP posts:
ExitPursuedByABear · 27/03/2012 16:34

Please do find your puppy a good home.

And seriously do consider a rescue cat or kittens if you ever consider another pet. Cats don't mind being left (I think).

ArielThePiraticalMermaid · 27/03/2012 16:39

Some cats mind being left but not as much, in general. Mine is like a needy toddler :)

Lay off the OP. She came on here for advice and knows she has made a massive mistake. She doesn't sound like a horrible person, for goodness sake. Leave her alone.

Original poster
WineAndPizza · 27/03/2012 16:50

Thanks very much Ariel.

OP posts:
RedwingWinter · 27/03/2012 16:53

I agree with LtEve. I think Dogs Trust/Many Tears/breed-specific rescue will do a better job of finding the puppy a good home. The breeder should have asked you more questions about your lifestyle and then they would have discovered that you are both out at work too much for a dog. It doesn't mean you can't have a dog one day, if in the future your hours are better.

Cats make great pets too and don't mind being left at home during the day, so if you really want a pet you could always get a cat once you get back from your honeymoon. A month is too long to go away and leave a new pet - it would get confused about where home is.

At least you've realized the mistake early on. It's much easier for puppies to find homes than adult dogs.

Original poster
WineAndPizza · 27/03/2012 17:05

We're not going away for a whole month on honeymoon, certainly if we were we would have at least waited til we got back before getting the puppy. I have been asked today to go away with work for three days, we will be on honeymoon for two weeks and we have a friend's wedding abroad early in the month so it would involve a lot of driving him back and forth and him staying with other people.

Thanks very much to all of you who have been helpful and supportive, we will never make this mistake again and believe me, we are suffering for it.

OP posts:
curtainrail · 27/03/2012 18:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

yesbutnobut · 27/03/2012 18:44

If you are north London then try All Dogs Matter. I don't know how easy it is to find a rescue place but I guess with a young puppy it will be easier than with an older dog.

colditz · 27/03/2012 18:45

Return him to the breeder, he is still young and cute enough to be easily rehomed but he won't be if you dither.

rogersmellyonthetelly · 27/03/2012 20:00

I can totally sympathise with you, dh and I were talking about getting a puppy last march, in may he came home with a
Staffy pup from a pet shop. I was amazed how much time and effort it takes to raise a dog, but thankfully I was working from home so ideally suited to having a pup. It was still hard!
Agree with everyone on here who says to find a no kill rescue. You obv love this little fella and I think sending him to a rescue will give him the best chance of a good home for life. I wouldn't personally give him back to the breeder as they clearly didn't care enough to check if you were in a position to give him the care
A young pup needs, so they aren't likely to do it for the next prospective buyer.

Original poster
WineAndPizza · 28/03/2012 09:19

Thanks all. We are definitely not going to take him back to the breeder. It is absolutely breaking my heart to think of giving him away, I am desperate to find a way to make it work but I just can't see how we can. He slept quietly last night and ate his breakfast then used the training pad this morning. Every day this week he will only be on his own for a few hours max at a time as my fiance is able to go in at lunch and one of us is always home in the evening.

Thanks for the All Dogs Matter idea yesbutnobut. I have been on a couple of rescue websites and there is lots of info about adopting dogs but not much on giving one away, should I just give them a call?

OP posts:
Willowisp · 28/03/2012 10:03

My mum had a similar problem & I rung a breed rescue who were fantastic - the dog was seriously traumatized & would have gone back to a kennel if she'd returned him to the 'rescue'. He is now in a foster home with a knowledgable lady.

Please do move fast because all the trauma of being left is setting his foundation for how he setttles in to his new life - in the meantime, could you work from home/ leave the radio on ?

Original poster
WineAndPizza · 28/03/2012 10:16

We're going to call All Dogs Matter and Dogs Trust today and hopefully take him somewhere by the weekend. We want to move quickly because I don't think I'll be able to bear to give him up if we have him much longer and I know we have to.

OP posts:
wildfig · 28/03/2012 10:24

Give The Mayhew Animal Rescue a try too. They're in Kensal Green - a friend got her very, very much loved Bichon from them. But do give them a decent donation at the same time.

Original poster
WineAndPizza · 28/03/2012 10:32

Will do, thanks. Do you know what the policy is generally with rescue centres - will they be able to take him on short notice?

OP posts:
picklesanne · 28/03/2012 11:17

Poor puppy,how about Battersea Dogs Home, maybe worth giving them a try although I think all rescues might having waiting lists, but with him being a puppy at least he should be able to be rehomed quickly. Good luck you are making the right decision for you and puppy!

Pinot · 28/03/2012 12:16

I am surprised you posted this thread. I would have imagined a phone call to the local dogs rescue would have given you all the information (if not attention) you needed.