Does my dog have a bad life?

[Cavalierchaos]

I normally post on the puppy threads but wanted a wider range of views. Basically, I'm very paranoid/guilty/worried that I'm too boring for my dog and he's not having a good life. I mainly think this because he whines a lot and I'm aware that I'm not a very stimulating owner.

I live alone.
I work three days a week.
Live in two bed terrace (two reception rooms plus kitchen) with yard.
3 nights a week we go to my boyfriends house who has a small garden.
Two nights a week he goes to bf's parents and they have a bigger garden and also a field he can run in once a week. They have a Labrador and the dogs get on well. He is so happy here as there is so much more going on to entertain him.

He's a 9 month old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who has lots of energy and is very hyper.

When we're at my house, this is a typical day:

8am breakfast and toilet in yard
8.15-10am cuddles on sofa
10-11am in crate whilst I go to the shops
11am -11.45am dog walk in park, lots of sniffs
11.45 - dog bath
12pm -6pm I do sedentary activities eg jigsaw, crafts, playstation - pup ideally chills next to me/on my lap/at my feet/mooches around during this time. Will have a break at some point to throw toys for pup and take him into yard for a pee.
6pm- pup 'helps' me prepare dinner.
6.15-6.45pm -walk pup
6.45 - 7.15 -pup in crate while I eat
7.15 - 11pm pup chills while we watch tv.
11pm bedtime

I'm sedentary for long hours in the day and I naively thought a lapdog like a cavalier would be happy just to be with me. But I don't think he is because he whines a lot and paces. I think about rehoming him a lot to a busier household with lots going on to entertain him.

I should add that he gets lots of pets and cuddles thoughout the day with me.

Please answer the poll. I don't know what to do.

8hrs in a crate is a very long time and not fair to a dog

Can he be left to roam in the kitchen , with crate door left open/dog basket to sleep in

with a tall dog gate so rest of house safe so has room to stretch and move and if accidents easy to clean up

Without wanting to be critical of the OP, I do agree with this.

We never crate, all our puppies/dogs have been free range. We use dog gates to restrict them to kitchen or tiled orangery and the pups seem to learn very quickly what is acceptable behaviour in the house. All of ours were toilet trained by 4 months.

@Snoken there's a difference between "he needs a lunchtime walk" and "he can't possibly go out any later than exactly 12pm" though.

A dog who needs a walk at bang on a specific time else their behaviour deteriorates is a huge problem imo - what happens if you're unwell or there's an emergency?

@PyreneanAubrie glad you agree

Seems sad to have a dog and leave in small space for long periods 🥲

I don't have a dog as wouid be alone a lot of the day and too lazy to walk them every day in cold or rain

But often have friends dogs to stay if they go away and their dogs get a blanket on sofa and I have a stairgate so can't escape to rest of house

Yes, that's true. I couldn't just suddenly decide that the morning walk is at 9am instead of 7am that the dog is used to but I could definitely take him out at 6.30am or 7.30am. It's more to do with the length of time between walks so that he can go to the toilet (don't have a garden) than the precise time I guess. I wouldn't want to be denied a toilet break either so when he shows signs of needing to go out we go out.

Yeah, needing a toilet break is totally fair enough - we're lucky that we have a garden so ours can just be let out, and when we're home in summer the door is open all day anyway.

As a dog walker I can't offer set times - I just do time slots, but you'd be surprised how many people think that their dog is the only dog who wants an 11am walk (for example) and get pissed off because I can't miraculously be in five places at once, lol.

My cavalier is much higher energy than I'd been led to expect and fairly vocal. He 'talks' through barks, whines and grumbles all day.

He loves his walks - but not going out to the garden for a wee in the rain 🙄.

Puppies are always more active and need more socialisation and stimulation but adult dogs are generally quite restful around their walks and playtime. It takes a couple of years for them to mellow though.

Honestly, some days they just seem to have endless energy, especially at that age. My trick has been using toys that make him work a bit for treats or hiding snacks around the room for him to sniff out. It doesn’t take much, but it keeps him busy and happy without needing tons of effort.
Oh, and if you’re ever in the mood for a laugh, Retro Pugs has some funny stuff about the silly things dogs get up to

Can I suggest scent work - I have a similar age high energy pup she enjoys varied walks I am very lucky that my mum takes her out when I'm at work and we live in the country. We do standard training but did a bronze level scent work course and she absolutely loved it - it's very low impact wouldn't be strenuous for you and can really help with building a bond with your dog. Gives them a job to do and also tires them out gives you lots of options to engage with her at home and also out and about - may also give you a new hobby we do it for fun but you can compete. Lessons can be taken 1-1 or in a group would be worth searching and seeing if there are any options near you. PS we enjoy lots of cuddles on the sofa too - best part of my day nowadays!

Also, your dog is hitting prime teenage arsehole times.

I would happily have swapped current dog for a goldfish at that age, he was a total PITA and it was purely his age and hormones. At 3 he's now Mr Chill and as a comparison this is his day:

6:30 up, toilet and breakfast
6:30-7:30 hang round in the kitchen for toast crumbs and cuddles
7:30-11am morning nap
11am long walk off lead with training
12:30--4pm afternoon nap
4pm play tug with first DC home from school
4:30 walk to bus stop to collect other DC
5pm dinner using one of various puzzle feeders
6pm hang round the dinner table
6:30pm sniffy walk round the village, reading peemails and leaving them for others
7pm chew and settle down

His life sounds very dull but he's perfectly happy and he's a cocker spaniel so 🤷‍♀️. We do gundog classes and work on walks, and do a bit of agility and scentwork for giggles.

I've never bathed our lurcher in ten years! She doesn't roll in stuff now, she's 13, but like you gave her a quick rinse then. She doesn't swim either.

I bloody hate crates as well.

Crates have a place for keeping pups safe while household stuff is going on, out of the way while people are cooking/eating, or to give a young pup some forced downtime but that’s it ime. Using a crate for hours and hours every day is horrendous imo, but lots of people do it.

Stop bathing him every day that awful.

Chuck the crate out, that's cruel.

Go differ t places on walks, don't go to the same places day in day out.

Arrange to meet other people with dogs on your walks so that your dog is part of a pack and enjoys the stimulation of his friends.

I think it’s fine oP. He’s in a good loving home, he’s got food and interactive toys and, most of all he’s got lots of company. Honestly, think how many dogs are left home between 8 and 6 when their owners work yet people are having a go at you for not playing games with him more often. You’re there with him, he’s getting a daily walk plus a yard run at night, as well as dog company twice a week.

He already has two dog play dates a week. That’s more than many human children.

Crates are amazing but what people don't understand is that it takes months to condition a dog to them and then it has to be at their pace. My 2 year old terrier loves her crate but we have slowly built up the time for her to be in it.

We don't crate as a matter of course but as a dog sport competitor she needs to be comfortable in one. She has been spayed recently and the vets were really complimentary about how well she handled the day of confinement and was genuinely happy in one whilst she waited for her op (it was delayed due to an emergency).

As a trainer I'd argue that for the average pet owner they are not worth the effort. We dog proofed our main room instead and kept eyes on her when she was in the chewy phase and have had absolutely nothing even chewed let alone destroyed. The crate training was entirely separate.

Agree! There is a reason it's illegal to crate dogs in some countries.

I wish it was here. Dog behaviour has definitely deteriorated since crating became the norm.

@Newpeep

I need to add that crating for sport, showing or travel is an entirely different matter from keeping a dog in a cage inside your house.

It looks to me as though the dog is in a crate for an hour and a half spread over two sessions. Why is everyone acting as though he is crated for hours on end? I’m guessing the hour at the shops is as much as anything to keep him safe and out of trouble. Puppies can eat ( and choke on) all sorts of things that aren’t good for them - tv cables etc etc. Op do you have a utility are or similar where he could have a crate but with the door open if he wants to stretch his legs a little? Chances are he will learn to retreat to the crate anyway if it’s cosy with bedding and a fun toy to chew. But it just means he can move a bit more .

But honestly oP, it all sounds very attentive. Think how many people just leave them home all day. They’re lucky if they get hauled out for a couple of blocks by a dog walker, let alone cuddles on the sofa for an hour and a half and a twice weekly Labrador playdate.

@Calliopespa Please read the full thread. He is crated for 8 hours on a work day. 4 hours, a break, 4 hours.

He is not even toilet trained at 9 months, so he has to be crated for 8 hours...

I don't think it sounds that bad really but agree with finding a class of some sort if you can afford it. Not only is it great fun & good socialisation for pup, but gives you training to focus on at home. The day crated does sound too long and would definitely look at either doggy care or at least giving him a bit more freedom on those days.

Does he settle properly when you're at home or is he always wanting attention? It sounds like you might be better off having a few more focused & interactive play/trianing sessions but then teach him to properly settle in between rather than constant up & down and the whinging that goes with that. My pup doesn't like a walk before 10am so nothing wrong with that and I'd also agree with a walk last thing at night - it helps mine properly settle and ensures he wees & poops before bed (we only have a yard & he won't poop there) but I quite like that quiet time for a leg stretch.

I had tried to follow his routine carefully but it seemed to me the op was home with him (“ lots of cuddles from me through the day.”) ( and I couldn’t see crating in that apart from the 1.5 hours) or at the bf’s/ parents’ house while op went to work. I thought the crating was one day only if she couldn’t rely on her bf that day. That obviously isn’t ideal but it didn’t seem that was very often. Maybe I’ve still read that wrongly?

Walk your dog more, ditch the crate.
And finally, walk your dog more.
With all of those autumn leaves on the ground, your dog is missing out on lots of wonderful smells. 2 half hour walks a day, hours and hours apart is the area that needs improving, if I am honest, OP.
And remember, smell is their main sense. Their nose is equivalent to our eyes. It's literally heaven scent for dogs out there, this time of year. All those stinky smells in the earth and within all of that decaying foliage is better than snuggles on the sofa. And it's hard to compete with sofa snuggles. But if you love your doggo, and I know you do, get that wet nose into the earth and let your dog enjoy the outdoors more. It's great for you too! Listen to a podcast, get exercise, breathe, and enjoy the fact that your dog is enjoying so much fresh air with you.