Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 1:06 pm Post subject: Help!! What do we do?
We have had our puppy just over a week and between us have had the time off work to be at home with him to settle him in. He is doing so well and has been really good.
Anyway, the plan all along was that my OH would take him to work with him as he works outdoors every day. Other people have done this and so we assumed it would be ok. However, it now appears that this is not going to be possible as his boss has turned round and said this is no longer possible to all dog owners. So now we dont know what to do and are in a right dilema.
The only way to keep him will mean leaving him at home in the garden all day. We have a shed and our garden is very safe and quiet so he can have the run of it if we can get someone to pop in and feed him midday. However, this really isnt fair on him, and the neighbours if he decides to bark all day.
The only other option is to find a new good home for him. We will be absolutely heartbroken to see him go and I would dread that his new owners wouldnt look after him as well as we do at the moment. If this is the option then we need to do it now before we get even more attached.
What do you think - any advice please - am in a total mess.
Oh hun - how awful!!!!!! I wouldn't leave your pup in the garden. Theft, barking and the cold (this time of year) is a big worry for me. Couldn't you leave him in the house? How long would he be left for?
It wouldnt be fair to keep him crated all day. We both leave at 7.30ish and my OH gets back about 4.30. Even with someone popping in midday, there is no way you can keep a puppy caged all that time - that is simply not fair.
Hi, with all the dog theft going on lately, I definately wouldn't leave him in the Garden.
Lots of people have dogs and work, although it isnt the ideal situation there are ways to cope with it. Do you not have a neighbour, relative, or some one who could pop in during the day? I know you said you had some one to come at lunchtime, but, just an idea, how about getting them to come at 11ish and getting a dog sitter or some one else to come around 2.30 ish, to break up the day?
Good luck, I am sure others will be along with more advice.
____________ I am only responsible for what I say, not for what you understand !
oohhh a crate is ok at least when he is tiny and if you have a big crate - Ruby could more or less do cartwheels in her 42 inch crate when she wasteeny we used to leave her in it for four hours at a time. Then around 10 months of age we de crated her and now she has the dining room and the kitchen to mooch around in.
It isnt ideal I know for dogs to be at home alone all day but lots of peopledo it and the dogs are healthy and happy - when he is bigger maybe hire a dog walker also to give him a walk midway through the day. Combine that with getting someone to pop in and voila - also an option is doggie daycare - arund here its about a tenner a day and my be an option at least once or tiwce a week whatever your pocket allows.
You say your OH`s boss says its not possible for all dog owners to take their dog/s to work with them, is it just him that doesn`t want Zac there?. Depending what type of work your OH does, I`d have thought Zac could be kept in his van most of the time with "wee breaks" occasionally.
Otherwise as the others have said, a crate would be the answer, if you have someone who can come in and break up the day for Zac by spending a bit of time with him
We have a 42" crate so it is massive compared to him as he is only small. I just really worry how he will be on his own for 4 hrs at a time? I really worry that he will bark loads and annoy the neighbours. To be honest, he has hardly barked at all so far but I still worry (too much probably!).
We were in a similar situation when we had Hally - although I was able to work from home a fair bit, and we did live next door to the school, so my daughter used to come home at lunchtime, and was back just after half three - usually with a houseful of kids
We didn't use a crate with her - we had an outside run and kennel for the mornings (it was summer:D), and then a large inside area for the afternoons - once she was housetrained, she had the run of the downstairs this worked really well for us, although knowing the issue with dog theft, I am not convinced that I would do the same again
With Clover someone has always been here - but on the occasions we do have to leave them, the neighbours reliably inform me you wouldn't know they were here - they tend to sleep for most of the time, and Hally will only make a fuss if someone comes to the house (she is a very good watchdog )
It is possible to do, certainly when he is smaller use a crate, and then maybe look for a sealed off area of the house for when he is older and housetrained good luck whatever you decide
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You cannot attach files in this forum You cannot download files in this forum
