Rehoming dogs

F1fan

Hi Everyone,

Firstly, please understand that I am not asking this lightly, and have not come to any conclusions about what to do yet.

I have a much loved German Shepard and Golden Retriever for the last four years. I also have three young children. At the time my husband and I decided to get the dogs everything was quite different. We both worked full time, but different shifts, so dogs were always with one of us.

My husband died a year ago, and now I am starting a new job with an almost 2 hour commute each way. I don't know what to do. I love the dogs, as do the children, but through financial necessity I need to take this job. The dogs would be home alone for approx 11 hours each day, and I am thinking it would be best to rehome them. I feel sick at the thought of this, and while I would of course vet any interested parties I think it is likely the dogs would be separated and that alone would make them upset. Please help, if anyone has any advice I would really appreciate it.

Again, this is not a decision that is being taken lightly.

muddypaws

I'm really sorry for the situation that you find yourself in.

First of all, unfortunately, with the amount of dogs looking for new homes, I think you would really struggle to find a home that would take both dogs together, and may even struggle to find seperate homes. How old are the dogs, are they 4 years old? How much exercise do they get at the moment, and what is their routine? How old are your children, will any of them be home from school before you are home from work? Is there anybody locally that you could ask to walk, or even let the dogs out during the day when you're at work?

11 hours is a long time, but, for older dogs, its not insurmountable. If they could go out for a walk first thing in the morning - not always easy before heading off for a long commute and work day I know, but they would probably settle for most of the day then, and an evening walk could help you unwind from the work day.

gmisk

OP really sorry to hear that.
Borrow my doggy might be a good fit for you? Especially if in an urban area.
Good luck I really hope you can keep them

F1fan

Hi,
Thanks for your suggestions. The German Shepard is almost 5, a pedigree who we had since he left his Mum, and the Golden retriever came from a shelter shortly afterwards, with age unsure but the vet thinks roughly the same as the other. At the moment I am working locally and our minder is here when I am not. I bring both for one hours exercise each day in a forest nearby. I will have to leave home at 6 each morning when I start commuting, and I suppose that is what will hinder early morning/late night walks - I would have to pay a minder for children to do this, and kinder will already be working long hours. Will look into dog sitters etc first. I suppose one other concern is that we will be moving, not a huge distance, in the coming months and so have new neighbours. My current neighbours know us and the dogs and the circumstances well, but I would hate to move and have neighbours concerned that dogs are being 'neglected' by being alone so much. I feel so sad, I want them to be happy but at the same time even now, since my husband died, they are probably not getting as much attention as they were used to.

F1fan

Sorry, just to clarify, eldest child is 11. Minder will come to my home in morn, go at 8.30 for school, and will return children home at 7, I will be home just after. At the moment, dogs are inside with us when we are home, and at night. If I went out for the day they would be outside with food/water, weather dependent.

coathanger

I am very sorry to hear about your husband,you have a lot on you plate to cope with.Its not an easy decision to make, for you & the children as you all have gone through so much already...Is there a doggie daycare near you or enroute, I commute long hours & I use one on my route every other day & they are wrecked when they come home & I reckon they are still recovering the next day =D

I deal with a lot of rescues & its increasingly hard to rehome dogs & to get them rehomed together.if you pm your area ,I can give you some rescue details near to you.They will do homechecks & vet potential owners as unfortunately there are too many unscrupulous people who would use your dogs as a bait dogs or in dog fights or for breeding purposes.

I wouldn't concern yourself with the new neighbours,they may know of your circumstances & if not ,you might find they offer to help with the dogs for you.I have new neighbours & they have offered to walk mine as they love dogs but travel abroad frequently so wont have a dog but are happy to borrow mine !

Good luck with your decision & in the new job.

Bells21

Sorry to hear about your situation OP. I'm not sure how financially viable my suggestion might be but it's just a thought. In the last area we lived there was a retired couple who loved dogs. They would walk people's dogs during the day when the owners were at work. Could you perhaps advertise in the local area for a responsible person to do something along the same lines? Obviously you would need to vet whoever you would use.

muddypaws

It is a really tough situation for everyone, and I do apologise now, I don't want to make it more difficult but ... it can be really hard for children in these circumstances, they have lost a parent, and if they also have to lose family pets, it can have a big impact. I am so sorry, I don't mean to make you feel worse, but I think maybe sometimes it can be overlooked, how much we rely on our pets to get us through things.

Your eldest is only 11, but in a couple of years - and those years will fly by - they will be in secondary school, and may well be home earlier than you from work. I wouldn't worry about the neighbours, and no, I know, it won't be ideal for the dogs to be on their own for that length of time, but I also know how much my dogs sleep during the day.

One of my dogs has to live seperately to the rest of them, due to his early experiences. He basically lives in my son's old bedroom, it didn't used to be so bad when Dan was at home, going to school, home by 4pm, and then Max would have company for the evening, and sleep in there at night. Then obviously kids grow up and leave home, and I felt so bad for Max, being on his own so much, I moved into the room so that at least he has company at night, which he loves, he goes under my duvet each night. I honestly considered having him put to sleep as I thought it was unfair for him to live this way. But, he is absolutely fine. He gets out into the field and for short walks - he can be very dog reactive - and he sleeps lots, and is much less stressed than he used to be. Sometimes though, if I have a long day at work, he will be in the house for 12 hours, and I worry lots about him, but come home and he's fine. I've taken him with me in the van to work, which stresses him out, he is much happier staying in his room. I think we worry more than the dogs do sometimes.

I really hope that you manage to find a solution that you are happy with OP, its very difficult trying to please everybody and do the right thing. Don't forget to take care of yourself in all of this.

F1fan

Thanks everyone. I do understand the point about the children. They complain endlessly about walking dogs but I know they would miss them, as I would too. There is a lot to consider, but I will explore all avenues first. Also re possible new owners, yes, my fear would be be that they would be somehow mistreated. Both are neutered/spayed so wouldn't be used for breeding but the baiting/fighting idea would terrify me. Maybe it is best to keep them in less than ideal circumstances than risk the alternative. Thanks again.

sillysmiles

I would also consider that this is a time to make sure you ask your family and friends for help. All the people that ask is there anything they can do, make sure to ask; whether it is help getting the garden under control or some one to pick up the kids after sports - all the little things that you need to think about, don't be afraid to ask for help.


That said I do feel that if you care deeply about your dogs, sometimes its hard when family or neighbours don't understand that and think they are "just a dog"

sillysmiles

Also, as a thought - what does the minder do after dropping the kids? Anyway you could get her to do the morning walk with the dogs for you?

F1fan

I suppose the problem re help from minder and family/friends is the type of dogs, or dog I should say. The German Shepard is the tallest and longest I have ever seen. My minder is a very small lady in her fifties! She has three dogs herself so is great with them, but would never mange him on a leash. She doesn't bring her own out, leaves it to her hubby. Even when I bring them out we go to a forest so they can go off leash. My husband could bring them anywhere on leash but he is so big I don't comfortable trying to manage in town etc. He is very well behaved, but if he tried to go away I couldn't have proper control, he is too strong. My parents have been saying all along since my husband died to get rid of them, 'they're only dogs', and my in laws have sheep and their own dogs and think they couldn't manage.

tk123

Maybe check with the new neighbours or if there's a local park ask around there - there's bound to be a teenager who walks dogs after school etc. There is in our park anyways!

Ms Doubtfire1

and than maybe there's an option to have a doggie day care near where you work? they could commute with you which tales 2 hours of them being with the daycare as well.My dogs love going on trips...:-). And there are lots of  professional dogwalkers everywhere so that might be another option?

amm2

So sorry about your situation

Maybe I'm too 'human thinking' when talking from your dogs but I think they would strongly prefer to get some impacts/less walking and stay alone longer times (they're actually good company for each other) than getting separated 1) from their loving family and 2) from each other.
For your kids it can also be very hard times to lose their best friends after such a lost - apart of the fact it is highly beneficial for kids to enjoy dog's company..

In regards to re-homing - these days it sounds like a win lottery to rehome each pretty big dog and probably no chance they'll go together.

Your neighbors on new place - maybe makes sense to tell them about your situation and I'm sure all/most of them will at least tolerate your dogs and maybe even help you out somehow.

So my point your dogs rehoming is the least resort.
At least this is what I'd do in such situation based on what you told here...

All the best with your new job and home.