Am I doing this wrong? Am I being cruel?

[schnauzerfan]

Hello,

I have a beautiful Schnauzer puppy, had all vaccs and now able to go for little walks which he loves. I take him with us on school drop off and pick up and tie him up near the railings across the road (a quiet road) away from the children passing. He can see them but they don't walk near him. He cries when I leave him (for only 10 mins) and when I return to him he has stopped and is just sitting nicely waiting, however when he first cries he really cries (imagine a seal or a squeaky toy).

One mum however yesterday remarked to a friend of mine that it was cruel for me to leave him like that.

Personally I think that he has got to get used to life with our family and got to understand that school drop off and pick up is part of our life.

What do you suggest I do, do I leave him at home during these times or do I take him and hope that he learns to get used to me leaving him. I'm worried that if I just stop taking him out with me I'll never be able to leave him outside a shop etc. when I need to pop in for fear that he upsets people because they think I'm being cruel.

Thanks.

I would never leave my dogs tied up anywhere that I couldn't see them in case they get tangled up and injured, or stolen. Leave him at home.

I can see him by the way (I'm just the other side of the fence in the Yard).

I personally don't leave my puppy tied up unsupervised for a few reasons.

The most important being

I can't possibly be confident of her reaction or behaviour if other people approach her. I need to ensure she knows how to behave and react around others. If someone hurt hut and she snapped it would be MY fault for leaving her unattended.

And equally importantly I don't want her stolen.

A dog needs to be well trained and well cared for. Tbh if you get a dog you have to make changes to accommodate the dogs needs the school run can be excellent for socialisation, but only if you are there with the dog to praise it..

I'm not a fan of leaving dogs tied up outside shops etc for the reasons PB mentions.

Ok, thank you, I'll leave him at home.

Is there any way that you can walk the children and dog to school, let the children go in and you stay with the puppy outside the gate? Praise calm behaviour etc

It depends how old the DC are really.

I wouldnt leave my puppy tied up outside for all the reasons stated above.

I agree I wouldn't leave a dog. Something could happen that could make him seriously nervous, or worse and IMO it is cruel to leave him, he is a puppy and is probably terrified by his surroundings without you there as security for him. Great big people walking past, especially at school drop offs, where it is busy. You could, IMO, end up with some real problems if you keep doing this.

Not to mention, of course, he could be stolen, even if in sight.

Also, my Gran's dog became very ill after being kicked by boys who wanted him to walk off with them but he wouldn't as my Gran had told him to 'stay'. (outside a shop, it was years ago) Because he wouldn't go with them they kicked him in the stomach and caused irrepairable damage to him, his kidneys I think. He was on medication for a while, but ultimately it meant he was put to sleep. Plus, tbh, you never know whether some child will just kick the dog because they feel like it, children don't always understand.

I wouldn't leave my dogs unattended in public either, for all the reasons mentioned, I never leave them outside shops etc.

Does he 'cry' when you leave him at home alone too?

Oh Midori1999, how awful and so sad.

Not a good idea OP to ever leave a puppy or dog unattended like that. Can't you walk him to the school gate? It would help socialise him.

Personally I wouldn't leave my pup tied up - you never know if someone might come up to him and hurt or just frighten him, or he might jump up or something and hurt someone passing by. Can't you take him to the gate/pick him up if necessary? When our pup was little I carried him in one of those silly puppy bags

Couldn't and wouldn't do it to a puppy or an adult dog. The crying is heart rending and is exactly how he feels. How old is he?

I do this with my dog every day and he doesn't cry. It is only for 5 minutes. He loves to come with us and after the drop off we go for a walk so he is happy to wait because he knows the walk is next. Your pup will soon learn, especially if there is a walk to follow. I also tie up outside shops briefly if need be.

It is the stealing that bothers me. Anyone who would steal a dog probably isn't going to be a very nice person.

I used to walk pup to the school gate and wait outside with him every day. Mums would always volunteer to pick up my DD and bring her out to the school gate. Would that work?

He is nearly a year now and whilst he is happy to be left alone at home, he would still get upset If I did leave him outside a shop, so i don't. It is a pain. I have had to make many adjustments to make dog ownership work well for both my family and my pup and it took me a while to admit that I would have to compromise rather than the pup! It is worth it though....just ;)