Aibu to wonder what’s best for the dogs

[Avabo11shh1]

I’m heavily pregnant and knackered and not feeling great so I’m aware my hormones aren’t helping and emotions etc
basically we have a toddler and primary age children as well as one due and two dogs both fairly young between nearly 1 &2 years old the younger one is still very pup like hyper and chewy etc
older one has always been more lazy and calm probably low maintenance
so here’s my worries
the dogs arnt getting much attention and walks at the moment and dh works long hours and is often gone from 8-8/9pm most days including commute
so it’s mainly on me
the younger dog is barking and clearly bored and annoying the older one more
it’s snapped at her a few times and warns her off so I’ve had to separate them parts of the day and do some seperate walks, as young one gets hyper and excited and constantly hounds and bites the neck/ears/collir of the older one, who wants to sniff and dawdle at leisure so gets annoyed!
now I don’t really want to re home any and the dh and children are very attached to both so I guess I’m just wondering if Aibu for keeping both and seperate and less walks and time? I know eventually I will have more energy and time but it could be a year!! Is it cruel to keep both
should I be doing something different? Can anyone suggest anything that can help? I’m feeling guilty and overwhelmed at the work and time of them both needing and my lack of energy and time!
I looked into dog sitters , day care and walker but unfortunately the prices are way too high especially with two and we’re only just making ends meet and with another baby on the way I won’t be bringing any income in for a while either!

I feel like this sometimes too. One thing we do is play ball in the garden with them so they're getting some exercise and also try to be out in the garden a bit more so they have company.. Maybe there's a local teenager who'd like to earn a little bit of pocket money?

I have a young 2 year old hyper puppy-like dog and have recently been looking after my mums 8 year old dog and it's hard work!
My dog wants to play and is constantly nipping the older dogs ears and barking and jumping at him, and the older dog just wants to potter about and have an easy life and is telling the younger dog off a lot.It's very stressful. I have recently bought a bubble gun though and it tires the pup out great! Ball games in the garden are good too, or if I need 5 minutes peace I scatter grated cheese in the grass and they both sniff it out.

Distraction is the best thing I've found. When the pup starts annoying the older dog we call him over to us for tug of war/ball etc.

You can still tire them out at home - lots of mental stimulation 'find it' 'lucky mats' etc and then ball throwing in the garden. Would a dog walker be an option? Or doggy daycare? Mine goes to daycare one day per week 7.30am until 6pm and she is so tired afterwards.

School holidays is the ideal time to befriend a teenage neighbour!
My dd is hopefully helping ndn now and again.

What mental stimulation and brain work do you do with them?

I’ve been dog sitting a very energetic dog. I been using a child’s soapy bubble blower to burn off some energy

No judgement here
id rehome younger one with a breed specific rescue

I can’t eve man imagine trying to manage a young dog and young kids. Better to rehome now before the dog has serious issues.

Are you able to put just the young one into daycare? Maybe even just a couple of times a month? Will give pup stimulation, peace for your older dog and a bit of respite for you.

Are they both females ?

There's a website called walkmydoggy (or something like that) where people who love dogs but don't have one team up with people who have dogs and take them for the occasional walk. Sounds perfect for this. I have friends who have used it and they all speak highly of it.

Can you look for a local dig walker or teenager who can walk one dog a day?

You know, just walk them.

I presume you are doing things with the kids? Can you not do dog friendly activities you can walk to? Involve the kids with walking them, keeping them stimulated ( dogs and kids).
If the kids are attached to the dogs, then now is the time to teach them about animal care.
Teach them tricks- get the kids in on it.
So, go to a close field with kids and dogs and play retrieval games/ use a ball fling thing

In the house, contain the dogs, hide a bit of high quality treat and let them find it

Get the kids involved!

However, while you are sorting this out, I think your DP should either walk the dogs, or look after the kids while you walk them in the morning

That does sound hard.
Your DH needs to give them both a good walk at 7am for now. Then they should be more chilled for the morning at least. Then I’d separate them with a chewy or toy for a hour in the afternoon, walk them each separately, separate them for another hour late afternoon and then you’ve just got the evening.

Thank you for the suggestions some good ideas I’d not thought about! I’m definitely going to try some of the above and hope we can get through the next few months

Can your dh go for a run with them or one of them in the morning?

Yes both females

He leaves for work at 8 unfortunately until 8/9 pm some days

the kids are toddler and primary age so can’t help in some ways but do interact but with supervision always

the older dog has resource guarding issues so can’t even be given chews at all

the younger one hasn’t got that problem though so can be seperate with a good chew

thanks for all the information and ideas I’m going to start trying some from today

thank you

That could be your problem then.

He leaves at 8 so he can walk them at 7! Honestly plenty of us have to walk our dogs that early or earlier.

My DH leaves for work at 7:30 and walks the dog before he goes. It just needs a change of mindset, and setting the alarm 30mins earlier.
It’s a responsibility and is important for your dogs well-being. You wouldn’t ignore your children in the same way so why the dogs?

I’ve been in a similar situation with young children and dogs at times.

DH watches the DC for 30mins before work so I can run them before he leaves. Then they play in the garden/potter about until he is finished. Once he gets home I throw the kids at him and I walk the dogs while he puts kids to bed. Sometimes this means I’m walking dogs at 5am or 10pm at night depending on what time he gets home.

It’s hard but it’s a situation you’ve put the dogs in so some sacrifices have to be made IMO.

Obviously with you being pregnant it’s going to fall to him but he’s really going to have to just suck it up if you want them to have a decent life. There’s no reason he can’t get up 30mins earlier to take them round the block is there?

Yes your right he’s agreed to start getting up early and taking them both out and feeding then again on an evening once kids are in bed and he’s back

I would be happy to walk a neighbours dog. Ask around you may be surprised.

Or pay for a dog walker if you can afford it. Sounds like they need some more stimulation