We’ve had our puppy for 3 months by now and he’s gorgeous. Doing really well and generally couldn’t have asked for a better puppy. But I am really struggling with fitting his needs in around day to day life in this weather.
Outside of heat waves, he fits in pretty well … brief potter in the garden in the morning then around the downstairs whilst the kids are getting ready for school, drop them off and then we go for a walk, home & then he has a decent nap for a good 90 mins or so. For the rest of the day, what we do varies but it will often involve me going out at some stage and him coming along too as I’ve arranged any in person meetings in dog friendly places now (if the other person is happy) and then we’d go for a quick walk and then off to the park before picking up the DC. On the days I know that’s not going to work, he goes to doggy day care which, judging by the tail wagging and enthusiasm to get out of the car, he loves or, if I’m out all morning or all afternoon, a dog sitter will pop around for a bit. It was all going so well!
Now, he needs to be walked before school drop off which also means he’s napping when I’m doing the school run so I’m missing that chunk of time when I know he’ll probably be asleep. Doggy day care is closed most days due to the temp and the dog sitter is looking after her grandchildren who aren’t at their childminder due to the temp. I also can’t take the dog with me as he’d have to walk from the car park to wherever we’re going and it’s just too hot for that. Likewise, I can’t leave him in the car at any point as it’s just too hot so I can’t stop on the way anywhere and just go to the post office.
I feel as though I am largely stranded at home with him at the moment and, whilst he is pretty good at being in his crate and also at just lying down not doing anything, I do need to keep an eye on him at all times as he still has a tendency to chew or otherwise get up to mischief. Both yesterday’s and today’s plans have been messed up because of the dog and I can see the same happening next week. It’s rather limiting. Next week, we have workmen in the house for two days and I’m not sure what I’m actually going to do as doggy day care is shut but we can’t go out for the day.
As I said at the outset, this is rather a self indulgent post (particularly as the doggy day care people, the dog walker etc must all be missing out financially from this).