Any volunteers in the Buckinghamshire area to keep a puppy company...

[CarmenElectra1]

Hello all!

We were supposed to get a puppy this coming December, however due to a job change we are not sure that someone will be home every week day between the hours of 8-4 to keep the puppy company. We would still love to get our puppy but don't want to put it through the strain of anxiety and stress if we are not around.

So here is the question. Would anyone be willing to keep the puppy company for a couple of days a week in return for a favour of your own? Perhaps you don't drive and would like a lift somewhere a couple of times a week, or maybe you need a babysitter a couple of evenings a month. You might just love dogs and would like to look after one in return for puppy love and friendship with its owners. It could be for an hour or so, or longer if you wish. We would just like it to have some human contact on the days that we cannot be home.

This is a genuine question from a genuine family who would really love to get their puppy

Thanks

Not in your area but have you looked at doggy day care type options or dog walkers who will come in and visit puppy?

Thanks for the reply heidihole. Yes we have had a look, but thought it might be worth posting a few adverts around for anyone who might be willing to do it voluntarily (a bit cheeky I know) in return for their own favour i.e if they need their own dog walking at weekends or something.

We got the idea from a lady who saw an advert to be someones grandma and is now "grandma" to a lovely little boy and girl whom she absolutely adores.

Try putting up ads in local pet shops. I'm not in your area or I would

Hi OP. Sorry to put be negative but honestly, if you're going to have to leave your pup between 8-4 every weekday with someone only popping on for maybe an hour, you're setting the pup and yourselves up for a very hard time and a lot of anxiety and stress, not to mention a wrecked house. It's really not fair on a young dog - any dog - to be left for that long with only a short break. If you're determined can you not look into doggy day care as someone suggested above? At the very least the wee thing would have consistency and company when you're not there.
The "grandma" idea is lovely but you'd be the luckiest person in the world to get someone who's going to be there for your pup every single day of every single week without fail.

I think you're very wise to be thinking about this now and not just ploughing ahead with the idea. Far too many pups/dogs end up in rescue with all the issues that brings for the dog, because the owners just don't think these things through beforehand.

Hi Carmen, I agree with Ginger. Its hard on them being left on their own, and Separation Anxiety is a real issue for dogs as they're very sociable. I live in North Bucks, and I have an 18 week old Labrador. I only leave him a maximum of 3 hours at a time (generally it's just one hour twice a day - school run), and I worry about how he is doing after his treats and chews have been consumed. Is he bored, barking, anxious or hopefully just sleeping. Also puppies teeth from
about 15 weeks and their teeth really cause them agitation. Nothing is safe from being gnawed. I really would give it some really serious thought. Also a puppy in winter still needs toilet training and that means the back door open and lots of standing outside praising them.

If you're not in the position to be with the dog don't get one.

Sorry to be harsh but it's completely unfair on the puppy.

I have a 9 week old puppy and she is amazing but hard work and needs a lot of attention. The longest I've left her is an hour to go to Sainsburys!

Thanks for the replies.

Sorry I wasn't completely clear. When I said that we're not sure if someone would be home every day between 8 - 4, I meant that someone would be with the puppy most days (as in 5 or 6 possibly even 7 days of the week) just some weeks, due to shifts not fitting in, there may be a day or two where someone is unable to be there.

We had a look in the dog book and it said that puppies could be left for a maximum of up to 4 hours, so we just wondered whether anyone would be willing to walk the dog or keep it company for a couple of hours on the couple of days we may not be able to be there. Either that or we will have a look at a doggie day care.

Obviously we have the dogs best interests at heart, so don't want to get one if we can't guarantee one of us or someone to be with it every day.