No longer want to have our dog

[ashley1309]

I feel awful saying this but I no longer want our dog. We brought him from a rescue centre almost 3 years ago and he is a very placid and nearly perfect husky dog. He's loving and calm but now I've had a baby I just can't cope with it all. My baby girl is 9 months old and trying to juggle working, running a house, looking after her and managing a dog is all too much. The dog hair is driving me insane. I know I am a house proud person and I have tried to let go of some of my ways however, I won't allow my daughter to be covered in dog hair and having it in her mouth and stuff. I don't have time to hoover everyday, which is what my house needs. He also needs walking at least once day, or more, and quite frankly I just don't have time as I always have more pressing jobs to do related to work, home or baby. My partner works a funny shift pattern so also no longer really helps out with the house or the dog.
Essentially I think it's time we did the fair thing and allow him to move to a more loving home where he would get more time and attention, where he isn't shut out from parts of the house, and where he gets looked after better. However, I just don't think my partner will see this and agree. What do I do?

You don’t ditch a pet when you have a baby. The dog isn’t shedding more now than it ever did. That’s not relevant. There are two adults living in the house. Shifts are irrelevant. They don’t stop the partner being a parent or a dog owner. Poor bloody dog.

Can't believe you would even contemplate getting rid of the poor dog. You should have thought about all this before you decided to have a baby. He was there first!

Can't understand people who work full time/don't like dog hair/"don't have time" for walks getting breeds like Huskies. Mad.

I honestly think some people just regard pets as animated toys .

Re-home the poor thing, ASAP. Let them know the history so he gets extra love.

Dogs are for life!! I have an 19 month old son and a 3 year old dog. Is it stressful? Yes! Would I give him away? No! Get a dog walker or doggy day care. Poor dog.

Ffs all these people saying get rid of the baby. Grow the heck up. The OP is not bad. Their situation changed. It happens. What if the OP had lost their job and had to take on shift work and could no longer house a dog? Or if people get a divorce or go through some medical catastrophe? Stuff happens. The OP feels overwhelmed and unable to cope and all you do is yell 'selfish' and abuse? Try some compassion. Better to rehouse the dog than end up with mental health problems due to PND and being overwhelmed.

A few suggestions that may help.

Robot hoover

Large play mat your little one can play on and you can pick up and shake after (stops them playing in dog hair)

Stick battery Hoover (saved me as its so much easier to pick up and do a quick hoover to keep the hair at bay)

Limiting access to certain rooms. (Our pooch is not allowed upstairs. We have a stair gate between kitchen and carpeted lounge so when he comes home dirty we let him dry off in the kitchen)

Early morning walks ( I get up when hubby gets up so while he is faffing (45mins to get ready) I can get a brisk walk in)

Daily brushing

We all feel like we are not doing enough sometimes for our kids or our animals. It is temporary as we will try and change the routine or the effort we put in and your child will start to walk and it will be different again.

Kudos weride

This makes me really sad. My dog was here before my daughter. Poor dog is now dying and Id do anything to stop it and here's something wanting to throw theirs away.

You know what? Tough. These are your chosen responsibilities. Step up and get in with it.

A dog is a member of the family. How can you think of getting rid? Would you get rid of DC if he/she became inconvenient? (I adore my dog!)

Another "I've had a baby so don't want my dog anymore" post.

FFS.

werideatdawn I agree 100%. My adored dog is smallish, doesn't need too much walking, and doesn't shed hair!

This makes me really sad. My dog was here before my daughter. Poor dog is now dying and Id do anything to stop it and here's something wanting to throw theirs away

I'm in the same position. My dog is booked in for PTS next week and my heart is breaking. The next few days are all about fulfilling his doggy bucket list though

Your husband actually pulling his weight would be a good start.

Play pen for your DD with foam mats on the floor = neither her or her toys won’t get covered in dog hair.

Rubber brooms are fantastic for dog hairs, as are grooming gloves, give him a cuddle and brush every night and it’ll lighten the shedding slightly.

I don’t understand why you’d get such a large and high maintenance dog if you were planning children in the future it’s crazy.

Not another person who can just throw a dog away as though they never meant a thing. How appalling! Please take the dog to be rehomed and don’t under any circumstances get another dog. Even when your baby is grown up & wants a puppy. Because you have already shown you are not able to handle the responsibility. And of all things you chose a husky. A breed that needs a lot of exercise & special care for their coat.

AnotherOriginalUsername so sorry to hear this.

Take him back to the rescue you got him from and never, ever get a pet again- “houseproud” wtf! Poor child!

thewinehasgonetomyhead it is what it is. It's slightly earlier than I'd like to but he's 17 and letting him go slightly early will spare him going through some major stress and upheaval (neither of which he copes remotely well with!) in his final months, but I'm a firm believer in quality over quantity.

OP, you're having a bad time & maybe this isn't the best place for you. It's not ideal but you sound responsible. Things happen that we can't anticipate. Better your dog has a family with more time on their hands. Good luck OP.

Op you've made a commitment, before he poor dog goes back to a rescue please consider some of the suggestions made on this thread. Your relationship with your dog is like any other, you will have ups and downs, you have to work on he relationship.

Why post here? Will you change your mind?

Why on earth did you get a dog in the first place? You sound horrendously selfish and irresponsible. I hope you've given slightly more thought to having the baby, because you won't be able to post her back when you get bored.

Please never get a pet of any kind again.

What is the matter with people?! The OP isn't suggesting putting it down, simply rehoming it. If your circumstances have changed and you can no longer manage the dog then the kindest thing is to find it a new home with people who can give it what it needs.

Of course, there are many, many people out there who are just waiting to rehome adult huskies. People who have the time, money, energy and space for them.

Thank goodness all those people are out there and there's no need for thousands of people to volunteer with dog rescues.