I am after some advice please. About 10 weeks ago we started fostering an old spaniel. He is 13, blind in one eye and on medication for canine dementia. That said, he enjoys his walks and will happily go for a good hour or so. Problem is that he howls. He developed an attachment issue to his previous owner and would follow her around howling. He would also wake up at 4/5am and start howling. The dog has seen the vet numerous times and physical issues have been ruled out. He has also been assessed by behaviouralists and rehoming or euthanasia was the only advice.
He settled well with us after a few visits and gets on well with our 2yo spaniel. He is absolutely fine at night in his basket next to our bed other than some occasional howling at (our) bedtime if he has fallen asleep on the sofa earlier in the evening and then has to be resettled in his basket. His owner comes and takes him out for a walk a couple of times a week and this doesn't seem to affect his behaviour. This was all fine until last week.
Unfortunately he now seems to be developing an attachment to me and wants to be sat near me all the time (ie with me sitting down). I am currently a SAHM but will shortly be working out of the house in the mornings. DH works at home and although he is often out at meetings, he is also regularly at home. If DH is home and I am not, the dog howls and this can be very disruptive to DH as he has a lot of telephone meetings during the day. This is particularly bad in the mornings as our dogs get a long walk in the middle of the day. Afternoons are better because he is tired and then sleeps.
The dog's previous owners ran a B&B and the incessant howling was driving them crazy and also threatening to destroy their business because of the howling at all hours. They cannot have him back and if we say we cannot continue with him they will have little choice but to have him put down. We could look for a new foster home and there were other people interested in helping when we took him on but it's a lot of disruption and doesn't seem fair on him. I don't know what the fairest outcome is for him.
I just don't know what to do. I don't want to just give up on him, knowing its a probable death sentence for him. He's a lovely old dog, he just wants a nice walk every day and someone on hand to give him attention the rest of the time. That said, we cannot carry on like this, especially when my work situation changes.
Can anyone offer any advice please? :(