How to get everyone in the house to help?

[hackedoff123]

We got a puppy a year ago. My husband just gave in to the kids one day, I think it was in hope of restoring something to look forward to as I had just lost my dad.

Fast forward and I'm struggling. Dog is lovely but needy and hard work and it seems most things have become my job. I walk him everyday, feed, bathe, train etc etc. Kids love him but do bare minimum and husband literally not interested. All came to a head last night when the dog managed to smear shit over kitchen floor after a walk in the rain before bed. I bathed him then had to clean all the floors. Lost it with kids and husband and now I'm lying here at 3am feeling bad about it.

Just feel like their lives go on as normal and I'm stuck here taking care of a clingy dog. My husband never liked dogs. Fed up. How do you all manage it without going mad? Genuinely think I'm depressed and can't figure out how best to deal with it.

Just stop dealing with the dog, leave it to him it's his problem.
He sounds like an idiot, instead of helping you he's just giving you another problem to deal with 🙄

The problem with the is then OP has to dig there and watch the dog get neglected.

Have a come to Jesus chat, but focus on two things-

the dog needs them to step up. He needs them to do training classes- maybe enroll a child and the dog so it becomes their ‘thing’. He needs them to be his buddy- he’s bred to be part of a pack.

You need them to step up. You need to know that the dog has other people than you. That other people will walk him, wash his bedding etc. everyone steps in when there’s a disaster, not just you.

The way that should look is, one person washes the dog, one person holds the dog still for washing, and one cleans the floor. The left over person makes a cup of tea for the hard working team and lights a scented candle!
Everyone in.

I think you will love him, and need him, and as time goes on he’ll be a blessing. But they need to step up.

Consider sounding out friends and family looking for a dog so you can line up another home of things don’t change.

Why are you default carer for the dog when it was your husband who chose to get it? Let him deal with his choice. If he neglects the dog, divorce him.

You can choose to not get stressed about this, drop the rope, tell your husband the dog is his responsibility.

I know, you're completely right ☹️
It's like he's done it deliberately to trap her, give her a massive problem to deal with when she's already struggling and in pain.
He doesn't care enough to take the time to think about things, think things through he's just knee jerked and made everything much much worse for her.
I hope you can find some way to make this pet his problem op.
It's very tricky, it will turn into a game of chicken, he knows that you will blink first because you will be more upset than he is at the suffering of the pet.

The dog needs to go. Get a loving, friendly adult rescue cat instead.

@pitchfever but ultimately when kids are at school all day and out with friends or at sports or activities at weekends, the bulk of the care is always going to fall to the parents.

The 12 and 15 year olds aren't at fault here.

@pitchfever why not just make one post? 😄

Pretty standard imo.

Never get a pet because your child begs for one. That's just basic common sense.

@pitchfever what on earth does that have to do with anything?

Parents should only get a dog (or any animal) if they're willing to do all the work that's involved in their care.

Children lie. They lose interest. They grow up and move out and can't (or won't) take their pets with them.

There's a reason why 12 and 15 year old children can't take out pet insurance and be legal owners!

What does not having a kid have to do with anything? It's very basic common sense to not get a sentient being on the basis that a kid said they'd contribute to its care.

It wasn't pedantic, I was pointing out the thread is being clogged with multiple posts that could have been in one.

Thanks @FineWordsButterNoParsnips - I wasn't quite sure why that was relevant

Get your DH to walk the dog on alternate days and pay a professional dog walker/ doggy daycare so you get a break now and again.