Does anybody else regret getting a dog?

[MsVestibule]

We thought long and hard before we got a puppy. What would be the best breed for us, how will we look after it during the day etc.

It really hasn't worked out as I'd hoped.

What we didn't realise was that we would get a puppy who chews EVERYTHING, even now, at 10 months old. He is mainly confined to the breakfast room/kitchen and one of us has to watch him ALL the time.

The chewing means he has to be in his crate from 8.30-3.30 4 days a week, although I come home at lunchtime and walk him for half an hour, but it's still not ideal for him.

A retired, local family member enthusiastically volunteered to walk him every day (we wouldn't have actually got a dog if they hadn't volunteered) but that fell through extremely quickly 🙄. TBH, this has been our biggest issue - I resent that so much of my (previously spare) time goes on working later than I should so I can take a lunch hour to dash home and walk him.

What we (very, very foolishly) didn't consider was what we would do if we wanted to go somewhere for more than 3.5 hours. Our lives are not quite as dog friendly as we thought they were and we just have to accept that if we want to go somewhere, we pay for doggy daycare. Expensive, but manageable.

I suppose I'm just fed up that our entire lives seem to revolve around him. Honestly, I know this is all our fault. I had my reservations anyway but our DCs were so keen and I have to admit, I was too.

I'm not quite sure what I hope to achieve from this thread. Has anybody else felt the way we do at this stage and then gone on to fall madly in love with their dog? Or do I just accept that this is the way I will feel for the next 12 years?

He is a really beautiful boy and does get a lot of attention and affection so he's not neglected (apart from the crate thing), I promise!

8 hours alone and without the chance to go to the toilet is cruel and unnecessary. Employ a dog walker at the very least.

I’m sure a lot of dog walkers would do pop in and play visits. A lot are also house sitters so could probably pop in for a play.

My dog does 8+hours a day with no problems. I'll get home at 6pm, after he's been in the house for 8hrs and he still won't desperately need the toilet. He's more than happy to wait until we go for out evening walk.
Its mostly about building up a routine. And having a larger breed dog.

But I don't feed him breakfast in the morning -obviously if they have a morning meal with no chance to empty their bowels/bladder then you are going to have accidents or an ill dog.

8 hours is far too long. A dog may avoid drinking. And big dogs shouldn’t really be fed once a day.

My dog is perfectly healthy and happy and it is much better for him to be fed once a day for reasons which are too outing to post.
He is in peak condition, and competes competitively for a sport which requires periodical vet checks before most events.
He probably wouldn't be classed as a large breed, hes big but not deep chested. Luckily he doesn't bolt down his food either so bloat is not a concern in this case.

The dog walker forgot to take DDog out on Monday - mix up with their diaries and it made me think of this thread.

He was ok - luckily DS had no sport on that day so was home for about 4 - we didn't realise until DH got home and saw that the walkers hadn't taken the food. He's 10 months old but is a bigger breed. He did however barricade himself against the door for the next few days to ensure that nobody left without his say so.

I do think it's kind of sad to get a social creature and then expect them to be on their own for long periods on a regular basis.

My dog only had one chewing incident as a pup, while he was teething he put down a chew toy and took one of my dolly shoes and went back to his bed. I thought he still had his toy so left him at it. When I saw his toy on the self I had left my shoes in I coped he had the shoe. I said bold, no and took the shoe. He went into the hall and picked up an expensive runner. I went straight out after him and used the runner to give him a gentle tap on the noes said no and bold, and he has never chewed anything but his own toys since. And chew them he does.

Now all he needs is to see the finger pointing at him to know he is bold. 😂

Make sure he has loads of stimulation. Dog chew when teething or bored, which yours clearly is. Get a king and freeze it with his kibble inside, hours of fun for them. Try leaving the dog in the kitchen for a few mins at a time with distractions and see how it goes.

And if he still isn't the lovely dog you want, give him to someone with the time to give the dog the love and attention they deserve.

Why do people not research animals properly? They think get a car get a house get a dog.

Your dog is chewing because he's bored. You could speak to the breeder and see if they will take him back and rehome. I can't be bothered to indulge you further than that.

he has to be in his crate from 8.30-3.30 4 days a week,

How absolutely disgraceful. How can anyone do that?

It's simple.

Your options are:

Doggy daycare

Find someone locally who can pop in am and on for a play break (local dog walkers do house visits for £5 for half an hour) or someone who is retired who might welcome the company

Take the pup to work with you if you're allowed dogs in your office/place of work

Work less hours

Rehome dog

Did you get the pup from a breeder? Most breeders who are worth anything would not have let a pup go to a home where someone wasn't home most of the day.

How are you getting on OP?

Rehome. He’s acting up because frankly, he’s in prison.

Don’t hesitate. He needs a home that can look after him in a way you’re not able to. Don’t get another dog. I’m not having a go. Just DO THE RIGHT THING now.

We made a mistake and we need to look at ways of dealing with that.

Return him to the breeder or take him to a reputable rescue.

You need to do the right thing for your dog not for you. You may not be a cruel person but leaving him in a crate for all that time IS cruel.

OP, I have 2 threads I’ve just updated. One was saying “Ive had my Golden 4 days and want to send her back”. The other is about training “entitled “From Bad to Worse”. What I’ve learned over the past three and a bit years is that dogs don’t just fit into your lifestyle. I’m 56 and never owned a dog before now. That’s because I worked shifts and had a busy life. Now, I work from home and I’m just contemplating taking my girl out in the rain for her second walk. She’ll be wet and muddy and I HAVE to take her because otherwise it’s NOT FAIR in the dog.

I’m not suggesting you’re an unkind person but realistically, your dog is not being treated well. And it’s NO life, for the dog. Seriously, just rehome or contact the breeder. Do the right thing.

I agree, my husband and I work full time and did lots of research into the breed we finally had. Then we researched day care and made sure we could afford the £100 a week that cost so she was not on her own. Finally I made a flexible working request so that I could be at home when she was small and being trained and ready for day care. A reputable daycare doesn't take dogs until they are 6 months old. Then and only them did we actually start looking for a dog. I am not anti cages I think it is important to get dogs cage trained but the time this poor sole is in there is part of the chewing issue. I do not usually advocate rehoming dogs but that may be the only answer if you are not able to make changes. I think it is admirable that you realised you made an error, not everyone does like to except they made mistakes . If you really want to keep him maybe if not all week daycare a few days a week will benefit or mornings so you can pick him up at lunch time and take him home after a lunch time walk , he will be tired after daycare in the morning and then the walk and more likely to be calmer when you get home. Good luck what ever you decide to do.

These things are fixable 🙂 SA is really tough but most dogs of any age can learn to be ok alone. You just have to commit to the training which is really boring. He’s only half way through his life. Have a look at Julie Naismith for the training plans.