Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The doghouse

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

Original poster

Dogs have ruined christmas

145 replies

QueenOfPharts · 22/12/2018 11:08

I know there is no such thing as a bad dog(s) just bad owners so yes I am aware this is all my fault.
Here goes our lovely pile of Christmas presents under the tree has been destroyed and ruined by the dogs cant work out what was from who and will cost 100s to replace.
I have 2 chocolate Labrador dogs (mother and daughter) aged 7 and 2 and after a catalogue of awful stuff, running away, destruction, defication causing huge expense I no longer can cope. We have 2 young dc and me and my dh work full time. I try and take them on a decent walk everyday I dont always manage but its usually 40mins-hour each day. Its tricky in the winter so sometimes just take them 10mins round the block.
I dont know what im asking but any advice of sympathy would be very much appreciated.

OP posts:
ThumbWitchesAbroad · 22/12/2018 11:38

Not much sympathy here, I'm afraid - what on earth did you expect from labradors left at home, bored and with easy access to the presents?
You should never have left the presents under the tree while the dogs were there with easy access to them!

I'm sorry you've learnt this the hard way but for goodness' sake!

NettleTea · 22/12/2018 11:38

Labs are working dogs - they need to go out. My very elderly PIL, have labs and even at 80 were taking them an hour in the morning, and hour in the afternoon. Now they cant manage it, they go without to pay for dog walkers.
We had a lab cross as a child and it caused havoc because, I can see now, it was bored, lonely and didnt have enough exercise.
I dont understand why you bred a puppy if you couldnt cope. It would be much fairer to rehome to a family that can - as we did with our lab, despite loving her very much.

Orchardgreen · 22/12/2018 11:39

Can you check that they haven’t eaten any chocolate? You probably know it’s poisonous to dogs.

MrsChollySawcutt · 22/12/2018 11:39

I'm not a dog person but I have friends with labs so even I know that they need at least one long walk each day and crave human company.

Your lifestyle is clearly not compatible with dog ownership and you are not anywhere close to meeting their needs.

Why did you put the presents under the tree with two dogs loose in the house? I have three cats and therefore wouldn't dream of putting our gifts under the tree until late on Christmas Eve.

starcrossedseahorse · 22/12/2018 11:39

OP I am not concerned with your presents but I am concerned as to how you are keeping your dogs. I have gundog breeds and they need lots of exercise but they also need brain stimulation. The result of not giving them these things is two bored and destructive dogs who make their own fun.

I am worried for them that you leave them all day. Can you organise a dog walker half way through the day? Stuffed Kongs to relieve their boredom?

What type of training do you do with them? They will enjoy variety so a mixture of obedience and maybe agility? Or perhaps even some gundog training at a most basic level - they will love using their brains and noses in this way!

Your dogs are unhappy and you need to make lifestyle changes to accommodate them.

SheldonSaysSo · 22/12/2018 11:39

Dogs are like children - they like to have company, need entertaining and need a decent amount of exercise. If not they get bored and 'naughty' as they are fed up.

They really need to be walked twice a day for a decent amount of time and also played with at other times. You could play with balls or chew toys inside or outside for a while just to give them some mental exercise and stimulation.

Write · 22/12/2018 11:41

Oh OP this isn’t the right environment for two labs. You need to rehome or invest in adequate doggy day care (I personally don’t think an hour with a dog walker is enough for two labs) or rehome them Sad
I’m sorry you’re feeling this way

FrancisCrawford · 22/12/2018 11:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DishingOutDone · 22/12/2018 11:44

OP I don't think a dog walker is going to cut it - if so, why didn't you get one a long time ago? Surely that's an incredibly obvious thing, you didn't have to lose all your gifts and post on here to know that?

How did the dogs get to the presents? If you allowed the dogs free access to that room then why on earth did you lay then out under the tree? You sound like a new dog owner with a puppy who hasn't done any research but clearly you have had those animals for a while.

As for thinking you are being judged, well yes of course you will be! People on this board love animals and are usually quite knowledgeable - but I think we're all a bit "WTAF" about this. Hmm

Reallybadidea · 22/12/2018 11:45

I'm really sorry. Christmas is bloody stressful enough without adding a load of ruined presents to the mix. You must feel really fed up Sad Working full time, two young kids, two dogs - the thought of it makes me feel exhausted! I really hope that you can manage to get past this and still have a great Christmas. Be kind to yourself, hindsight is always 20/20. It will be a distant memory soon enough!

DishingOutDone · 22/12/2018 11:47

Actually I've just read your OP again in case I missed something, and I really think on this occasion re-homing is the answer, because you are getting no pleasure from these animals and they are getting nothing from you. You can't leave them for more than 4 hours and they need a couple of long walks a day. You can't work full time and provide that.

LoudBatPerson · 22/12/2018 11:48

I do understand how upset you must be about what has happened, however to me it is sounding like you are more upset about the ruined Christmas presents rather than the realisation of what a shit life the poor dogs are having.

I think you need to take it on the chin and accept this Christmas as a bit of a wash out as far as presents are concerned, although you all still have each other and hope next years will be better

In the meantime maybe focus on finding more suitable homes for the dogs as it really doesn't sound like you have time or inclination to give them a decent quality of life.

SevenStones · 22/12/2018 11:49

Please give these dogs the opportunity to have a fulfilling life by allowing them to be rehomed as soon as possible.

AdoraBell · 22/12/2018 11:49

As others have said, the dogs need walking and stimulation. Without that that they will be bored and stressed, and have enormous amounts of energy that they can’t burn off.

If you don’t want to rehome them then hire a dog walker and try one of the things you can get to hide their food. I have some that look like a football with a whole just large enough for 1 pellet to pass through. The dog has to spend time rolling it around to get the food. If you could put them in 1 room while you are out, with something similar to the feeding ball, there are other types available, that would help them.

Why would you put anyone where the dogs can reach it when you know they destroy stuff? I understand forgetting, I’ve lost a few things like shopping lists, important letters etc because I’ve forgotten to put them out of reach. But expensive things on the floor when you know your dogs chew things? That’s asking for trouble.

Mamia15 · 22/12/2018 11:49

The dogs didn't ruin Christmas.

You did.

AdoraBell · 22/12/2018 11:50

Anything, not anyone.

Nanny0gg · 22/12/2018 11:50

Advice? Rehome them.

Sympathy? For you, nne. For the dogs, plenty.

GooodMythicalMorning · 22/12/2018 11:51

Not dogs fault, silly leaving them accessible. Everything we want to keep nice is out the way of the dog, tree is on a unit he cant get to and gifts are on top of another unit that is really high. They look like things to play with so no wonder they went for them. Human error I'm afraid. Doesn't sound like the dogs are getting enough attention and doesn't sound like you enjoy them.

StarlightIntheNight · 22/12/2018 11:52

Uh duh. Don't leave presents under the tree! We have a 9 month old puppy and I have not put one present under the tree bc of this. In fact, I have not put any for years because of our you DC. Too much temptation lol. Annoyingly this means I end up waiting until last minute to wrap gifts!

Also, you need to exercise your dog a lot more. We have not had one problem with our 9 month old pup and we had her for 8 weeks. She never woke us in the night etc bc we exercised her properly every day and play with her. Except for yesterday! And boy did we learn our lesson! It was the first night she came upstairs waking us up at 2am for play time! She also managed to mess up my daughters new boots. I realise totally my fault as yesterday morning her walk was 15 mins bc the kids had christmas concert. And got out at 1pm so afternoon walk was 20 mins. She is used to 45 mins in morning, 30 mins at noon and 1-3 hours playing and being outside from 3pm.

TheFaerieQueene · 22/12/2018 11:52

As the owner of a brown lab - this has upset me a lot. Your poor dogs.

Inkspellme · 22/12/2018 11:52

If I were you I would ask myself some honest questions.

Do you actually want the dogs? Or do you just find them work?

Do they in reality bring joy to your life or is it the idea but not the reality you like?

Forget the damage at the min and look to see how you actually feel about the dogs? Consider when you are back at work putting them in kennels - a nice one - for a couple of days stay. Then look at how you feel in those days? Do you miss them? Or dread them coming back? Be honest with yourself.

If it’s dread - take them back. Get a dog walker and do additional walking yourself. Then take the time to find them a good suitable home.

(And don’t feel guilty at all for doing this for them)

BiteyShark · 22/12/2018 11:53

Two dogs doesn't mean that you can get away with no walking because they will play together. As you have found it's more likely they find their entertainment elsewhere.

I work full time. I pay for daycare so my dog gets all the exercise he needs when I can't do it. Two labs with one being so young is a receipe for disaster with a 10 minute walk on lead.

Assuming this isn't just another goady post I am not sure why your couldn't see this coming putting presents on the floor.

IwantedtobeEmmaPeel · 22/12/2018 11:54

I'm sorry about the presents Op, but really, what did you expect?

I agree with previous comments that it doesn't sound as though a dog walker is going to be enough with you both working fulltime.
Labradors need much more exercise and stimulation than you are obviously capable of providing. The right thing to do for those dogs is to contact a rehoming centre, preferably once specifically for labradors. I'm sure you will miss them, but imagine the relief of knowing they are having their needs met in a different home, and also you won't have the worry and stress of trying to look after them properly. You and your labs will be so much happier apart. Sorry if this sounds blunt, but you really need to put those dogs needs before your own.

twiglet · 22/12/2018 11:54

It might be worth checking your home insurance policy.

As for your dogs I'm afraid I agree with others that you have 2 very intelligent dogs who have lots of energy and need more walks/stimulation.

Getting a dog walker is a start other things are mental stimulation when out such as snuffle mats, frozen kongs etc.

ResistanceIsNecessary · 22/12/2018 11:55

They need stimulation, exercise and company. Labs are social dogs and known for being hugely greedy - so anything that looks or smells like food will pique their interest.

They need much more than you are giving them. If you cannot commit to looking after them properly then you need to re-home them via a decent rescue centre. "Trying" to walk them every day is not good enough - they HAVE to be walked.

And I agree with PP; they haven't ruined Christmas. It's not their fault they are being cooped up and left to be bored and stressed because nobody is looking after them properly.

Swipe left for the next trending thread