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The doghouse

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

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Original poster

Doggy v work dilemma- time to rehome ?

25 replies

Mayqueen27 · 12/04/2018 19:04

I'm in the unenviable position of deciding whether to rehome our family dog and would value anyones advice. He's 6 years old and had him since a pup when i was a single parent of DS and worked part-time. In the absence of any other siblings he was got as a companion for DS to grow up with. However i've since got married and circumstances have changed, we live with DH and my 2 stepkids and I'm about to start work full-time due to finances and i'm in a dilemma about what to do with doggy as it will mean leaving him alone for long hours, something he is not used to. All the kids love the dog and so do i, he's very much my dog and i love him so much and it would break my heart to let him go after 6 years but i also know its not fair on him to keep him locked up at home for up to 7 hrs a day and he deserves a happy life. He's a very active breed too and is used to my attention and lots of exercise. We cant afford doggy day care and although my parents have offered to pop in at lunchtime to let him out i dont know if this will be enough for him, also they're away alot so wouldn't be all the time. They couldnt walk him due to him pulling and can be quite boisterous! Anyone else been in this position before that could offer advice ?

OP posts:

BiteyShark · 12/04/2018 19:07

You said you can't afford daycare but can you afford a dog walker? Would you be able to get up early and take him for a walk before work, then a dog walker for the middle of the day.

TheVanguardSix · 12/04/2018 19:08

Dog walker?
This is much more affordable than doggy day care.

Why don't you first try a combination of a dog walker plus parents coming in a couple of lunchtimes per week for a visit.
Can't you or DH alternate doing a night-time walk? Or even an early, early morning walk?
How old are all of the kiddies in the household?

LaurieFairyCake · 12/04/2018 19:08

Of course you don’t rehome your dog if you love him as much as you say you do!

You pay for a dog walker or daycare - and there’s no ‘can’t afford it’ if you love him - you go without as he’s your family for 6 years.

You are literally all HE knows - how could you even think this about an animal you love ?

georgedawes · 12/04/2018 19:09

Could you not afford a dog walker? I'm sure he'd rather stay with you if he could.

CeeCeeMacFay · 12/04/2018 19:11

Theres a website called Borrow my Doggy, I don't know anything about it so you will need to do proper research but I believe it links people up who would like to walk dogs to those with dogs who need walking? Agree you cannot just rehome him, you will have to factor in daycare or a walker into your wages.

ButFirstTea · 12/04/2018 19:12

Definitely look into a dog walker - if you block book then you often get discounts (mine does 10 or 20% off if you book 5 days in a week).

I feel like a broken record always recommending this but try borrow my doggy too. People who live near you and would like to spend time with a dog - basically free daycare or walkers. It's insured and safe and you can meet up with them as many times as you want before you trust them with your dog.

TattyTShirt · 12/04/2018 19:14

You have gone from part time work to full time. Surely your new wage will stretch to a dog walker once a day so the family member you have had for 6 years can remain with all he knows?

If you love your dog like you say you will happily do whatever needs to be done to keep him within the family

Haint · 12/04/2018 19:17

You know what? Versus an uncertain future, possibly in kennels for months or longer, I really don’t think 7 hours at home, being let out by your parents for a wee, is the worst fate for a seven year old dog.

SavoyCabbage · 12/04/2018 19:19

We get up and walk ours at the crack of dawn then the dog walker comes and walks her just after lunch.

MyDogHasNoNose · 12/04/2018 19:21

Poor dog. How would you plan to rehome the him? What breed is he? People may be able to put you in touch with a breed specific charity that would take the best care of him. My heart breaks for the poor pupper. Could you dog share with someone?

Seven hours wouldn’t be that bad if you had a dog walker come in to do an hours walk in the middle and then maybe have your parents pop over and sit with him for a while too so he gets some cuddles as well.

BiteyShark · 12/04/2018 19:22

I agree with Haint and rehoming wouldn't even be on my thoughts at this point. I get up at 5am to walk my dog before work so it's possible even in winter with a head torch. Your parents coming in to give him a toilet break and some company would break up the day. Plus group walks with dog walkers aren't that expensive and even if you couldn't aford it every day you could try alternate days.

EmmaC78 · 12/04/2018 19:22

Keep the dog and ask your parents or a dog walker to pop in each day. 7 hours is not that long provided someone pops in.

GreenItWas · 12/04/2018 19:25

Do you have a neighbour you could 'share' your pooch with OP. We have two dogs but once they are gone we are not going to get any more dogs. I have worked with dogs almost all my life so I am hoping I get the chance of a dog share or a neighbours dog I can walk regularly without the full time responsibilities. Perhaps place an ad locally or online? You might come across someone like me. I will always want nose boops but not the full responsibility IYSWIM?

Original poster

Mayqueen27 · 12/04/2018 19:28

Thanks all. I just wondered what others have done in my position as rehoming really would have been a last resort , and of course i want to explore all other options first in the best interest of my pooch. Dog walkers sounds like a good idea and i will be looking into that.

OP posts:

Cosmos45 · 12/04/2018 19:43

I find it unbelievable that just because some circumstances have changed there’s the consideration of rehoming the family dog and the reason is due to the person earning more.. beggars belief. Why don’t you rehome one of the kids instead?

The dog is just as part of the family as your children. As someone else said you go without to provide the care your dog needs.

Original poster

Mayqueen27 · 12/04/2018 19:45

And thank you 'butfirsttea' i'm looking at borrow my doggy what a brilliant idea this is definitely something that would work i had no idea it existed !

OP posts:

SavoyCabbage · 12/04/2018 19:55

Do you not know someone from your dog walks who could walk him?

Aprilmightbemynewname · 12/04/2018 19:58

You have seriously considered rehoming your dc's sibling?
Oh my days. ...
Not being dramatic but if my dog had been taken away as an only child I can't imagine the loss.

TreadingTreacle · 12/04/2018 20:03

Borrow my doggy sounds ideal for you OP. If you trained him to walk nicely your parents could be backup. There's a downloadable how to guide here www.apdt.co.uk/dog-owners/puppy-dog-training-tips.

ButFirstTea · 12/04/2018 20:13

You're welcome, I hope it works!

What area are you in? If you're in south London I'd be happy to help out!

greenlavender · 12/04/2018 20:36

If you're on FB, join your local area group & then ask if there's anyone local. I'm sure you could find someone.

missbattenburg · 12/04/2018 20:36

OP, by all means explore borrowmydoggy which could work out well.The only thing I would say is that whenever the subject of bmd comes up on forums, there are multiple response from borrowers complaining that the dog owners on there just want free dog care (with all the regularity and commitment that suggests) rather than a true borrowing arrangement in which the borrower has a degree of flexibility over when they borrow the dog. Lots of people borrow because they work FT so don't want to get a dog of their own - meaning they want to borrow evenings and weekends. They are not free to borrow weekdays.

Just a head's up.

WasWildatHeart · 14/04/2018 18:08

How old are the children? Asking as I found it worked well since children started coming home on their own from school. Ddog was more than happy to be put out in the garden and have company from 3.40 pm - made a real difference for her and saved us paying dog walker.

Original poster

Mayqueen27 · 15/04/2018 11:52

Thanks you to those who have posted some vey helpful suggestions and advice. I really should have thought through the name of my thread before posting as i seem to have attracted a few negative comments also, which is not what mumsnet is about. I dont WANT to rehome my dog. I love my dog very very much and want whats best for him and simply wanted advice as to what others had done in my situation.

OP posts:

lynsey91 · 15/04/2018 12:04

Definitely look at Borrow my Doggy. I know people that use it, both dog owners and borrowers and it works well.

I get that you can't afford doggy daycare every day but could ypu afford 1 or 2 days a week? Other days your parents could help or a dog walker.

Would any of your neighbours help? I have my own dogs but would help out a neighbour in your citcumstances

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