Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

The doghouse

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

Has anyone done a dog share ?

22 replies

Woldspace · 09/09/2025 17:42

Hello- Ive
been given much appreciated advice last night about choosing a dog from a litter.
I am really grateful .

Since talking to friends locally today about our plan to get a dog - the good, the bad and the ugly
! .. and the fact that we live a gentle life and often go camping as well as pubs , cafes , local walks etc - one of our friends whose dog I am attached to and regularly care for and is a really easy dog ( shitzu) - has suggested that instead of getting my own dog- that we dog share hers until she retires in 5 years time.

She obviously wants me to keep caring for her dog- ( she does have other options for care ) and her dog has a great time with us.

She says its the best , potentially , of both worlds, as she gets dog care and we get a dog in the week .
She often likes city breaks and she says it means we would be able to holiday abroad still.

On paper it sounds that we should at least think about it according to dh—its a bit of a curve ball as it was only night on this forum that I was asking for support to choose a pup from a litter and my mind had cleared about that ! .( and for that advice we are grateful) .

Anyway - as I said this is a curveball that dh feels we should at least look at !! … anyone had experience of this or has views? ( this offer does not affect our appreciation of the kind and excellent advice given ) .

OP posts:
hereismydog · 09/09/2025 17:44

How confusing for the poor dog.

By all means look after her dog when she’s on holiday, but you can’t drag a dog between two houses every week and expect it to understand what the hell is going on.

NoSuchThingAsAFreeHoliday · 09/09/2025 17:46

I think it’s a really big tie having a dog and often people underestimate it. I think it’s a really good option if you like the dog and trust the owner but you would need to have really firm understanding of arrangements about vet bills etc.

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 09/09/2025 17:49

hereismydog · 09/09/2025 17:44

How confusing for the poor dog.

By all means look after her dog when she’s on holiday, but you can’t drag a dog between two houses every week and expect it to understand what the hell is going on.

Of course you can! It's no different to using daycare or having family watch the dog during the week.

OP - we "share" our beagle with FIL during the week. We pay all the costs and he's with us the majority of the time, but when we work or need to go out for long periods, he goes to FIL's house. He has a bed there, his food and bowls etc. and they have an absolutely fantastic relationship. He's never shown any signs of confusion and often doesn't want to come home 😂

SpanielsGalore · 09/09/2025 17:56

What is she proposing? Are you having a 50/50 shared custody arrangment of the dog? Are you only getting the dog when she wants to go away? In which case it sounds like she's just worried about losing her own dog sitter.
If you want your own dog, I would get your own dog. Other people's dogs are nice, but nothing beats the love you have for your own.

Woldspace · 09/09/2025 17:58

hereismydog That did cross my mind.

We have much more time to spend with her - long walks etc. When the owner collects her over 50% of the time she gets on sofa and presses against me to avoid her lead to
go home- but always copes .
If i was the owner Id be jealous- but she says its just like a grandchild wanting to stay for treats .
my concern wd be that she changed her mind .

OP posts:
DinoLil · 09/09/2025 17:58

Hmmmm. Who would pay for the dog health club, the insurance, food, dog walkers and dog sitter? How would you split the share? One week on, one week off? What happens if one of you is going away but the other half of you isn't available to look after the dog? Who would be registered on the microchip? Who would have ultimate decisions in the case of an emergency?

Personally, and as a dog owner, I would never, ever share my dog with anyone.

Either commit to having your own pup and train it to match your lifestyle or don't have one. Don't be a glorified dog sitter.

Woldspace · 09/09/2025 18:01

She works nearly full time . The dog comes to us x 1 a week and is in day care the other 3.
She works term time only .
offer is - mon to fri - cam take on some hols- no bills.

OP posts:
Woldspace · 09/09/2025 18:04

DinoLil
know what you mean - but the dog actually does fit our lifestyle as she has been on holiday with us before. She has been at our house weekly for quite a time now .
But yes - we holiday a lot and 100% would want to train a pup to come with us !

OP posts:
Woldspace · 09/09/2025 18:05

DinoLil
split is
us mon to fri
owner weekend s
term time only
no bills
her decision re vet etc

OP posts:
Woldspace · 09/09/2025 18:07

Personally, and as a dog owner, I would never, ever share my dog with anyone.

Me neither! thats why it has suprised me and I think that the owner would miss her in the week in reality!

OP posts:
Melsy88 · 09/09/2025 18:16

It sounds like the owner stays as the owner (as they are responsible for bills etc) but you help more with dog care... which isn't a bad set up if you love the dog! But I'd think of it like that, rather than shared ownership.
If it was shared ownership and a difficult decision needed to be made, that you had different views on, that could cause friction.

m00rfarm · 09/09/2025 18:18

hereismydog · 09/09/2025 17:44

How confusing for the poor dog.

By all means look after her dog when she’s on holiday, but you can’t drag a dog between two houses every week and expect it to understand what the hell is going on.

😂

Melsy88 · 09/09/2025 18:19

Also what happens in 5 years when she retires?

NoSuchThingAsAFreeHoliday · 09/09/2025 18:21

That’s not shared ownership. That’s you dog sitting during the week. I think I’d be more reluctant about that.

Woldspace · 09/09/2025 18:22

Melsy88
it ends - apart from ad hoc care

OP posts:
Woldspace · 09/09/2025 18:23

The dog is on her will that if anything happens to owner she comes to me .She is single .

OP posts:
hby9628 · 09/09/2025 18:24

My friend does this with her sister. Works amazingly well. The dog loves it too x

Woldspace · 09/09/2025 18:25

NoSuchThingAsAFreeHoliday
What are your thoughts ?

OP posts:
Melsy88 · 09/09/2025 18:38

Woldspace · 09/09/2025 18:22

Melsy88
it ends - apart from ad hoc care

Would you be ok with that? You'll have built up quite a bond looking after the dog over 70% of the time for 5 years...

I'd be devastated to suddenly have hardly any contact with my dog.

NoSuchThingAsAFreeHoliday · 09/09/2025 18:39

I worry that I’d get attached and she could move away, we could fall out or anything that could affect the arrangement. What if you want to go away for some reason? Are you responsible for sorting care for the dog during the week? What if you disagree on dog care? It’s just too open. I wouldn’t worry about the dog, but the arrangements are too susceptible to problems.

Thundertoast · 09/09/2025 18:46

If the dog is well adjusted and takes to it, I dont see why not. Totally depends on the dog though. I would also always have a backup plan in my pocket for if the relationship between you and the other owner breaks down for some reason, work through the logistics and financial impact of if you suddenly had the dog full time, if one of you changed jobs, moved away, got another dog etc. You need to sit and work through these scenarios individually and 'we'll figure it out' and 'the other person would never do xx' are not options. To include. Worst case scenario the entire thing.

Woldspace · 09/09/2025 18:46

Melsy88
I already joke with dh - and her - about bumping her off 😂

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page