Puppy left at home all day :(

Mupette

Sorry but i feel shocked that you say you have thought about this, but you haven't, it is cruel to leave a dog so long, are you expecting your dog to do it's toilet in the house all the time, because by leaving him so long you are telling him to do so.

Suggest get more time off work until all puppy jabs are done and get a dog flap.

Or find a forever home for the pup this weekend.

You have allowed your heart to rule your head and get a pup because you knew someone with some puppies, what you didn't think was the return to work.

shoot me down it flames if you like but i speak the truth, no wonder so many pups in dogs homes and shelters with people like this.

Abbafan1972

I read your original post and decided to have a look on here.

When we were 1st married and got the house we both worked full time, hence getting a dog wasn't an option because of it being left alone all day. So we got 2 cats instead.

Things have changed now and I only work part-time, but still have cats as I prefer them.

I am honestly shocked that you didn't get something into place regarding walking/company etc before getting the dog. If I couldn't have got it sorted first, then getting a dog wouldn't have been an option for me.

I'm not sure where you researched all this, but I'm pretty sure that dog charities like the RSPCA wouldn't have advised you it was ok to leave it alone all day. The owner of the dog wouldn't have been bothered by this, he/she would obviously just want rid of the pups. :mad:

Sorry to sound harsh, but this is not fair on the puppy at all. I would love to be able to help you out, but you say you're rural, so there's no chance you're near me.

SophieCat

Mupette wrote: »

Sorry but i feel shocked that you say you have thought about this, but you haven't, it is cruel to leave a dog so long, are you expecting your dog to do it's toilet in the house all the time, because by leaving him so long you are telling him to do so.

Suggest get more time off work until all puppy jabs are done and get a dog flap.

Or find a forever home for the pup this weekend.

You have allowed your heart to rule your head and get a pup because you knew someone with some puppies, what you didn't think was the return to work.

shoot me down it flames if you like but i speak the truth, no wonder so many pups in dogs homes and shelters with people like this.

I agree with this post. I don't understand why you'd get a dog knowing that you'd be at work/out of the house 9.5 hours a day, Monday to Friday, & with no plan in place for somebody to check on him/let him out/take him for a walk, etc. I have cats & a dog, & there's no way I could leave my dog for that long (& she's not a puppy). I think you should have had a plan in place before you decided to get the puppy, as your current situation is not fair on him.

mcja

I know they are more independant but I actually feel bad leaving my cat for that long.

Good luck with whatever decision you do make, and I am sure that it will be the right one for you and your dog.

xx

squibbs25

Hi op,

changing the topic very slightly, my mum had an accident just before christmas and we thought her dog was going to have to end up in kennels as none of us could take the dog while she was in hospital - all got dogs of our own - or personal circumstances not suitable, anyway i rang the vet to see if they could recommend a dog walker or someone who would foster the dog short term till mum was back on her feet.
The lady at the vets gave me a few phone numbers - one of which was a lady that had very recently lost her dog after 15 years.
She offered to walk mums dog every day for nothing more than the company of the dog.
She loves dog contact but was to raw to get another dog so soon.
Mum hospital stay was not the long planned stay we were expecting -she was allowed home a few days later. My youngest sister was a diamond as she was the one to go over to mums and help with the dog on a daily basis.

In the end the lady wasnt needed but i just wanted you to know there are kind people out there that dont mind helping and dont expect payment, just the company of a dog.

Good luck.

gettingready

This kind of kindness towards someone who found themselves in a temporary unfortunate siruation is one thing.

Expecting someone to step in what seems to have been a tottaly not thought through decision is quite another.

As I sais before, my dog walker costs take almost 20% of my home pay but this is an absolute MUST if one works.

You say you can not afford a dogwalker? Well, neither really can I BUT - i scrape by.

Last month I had £146 left for myself after paying all bills (including pet insurance for all 5, food, litter for them, dogwalker etc) - that is for a month.

I do not go out, I do not by anything without thinking 10 times if I really NEED it.

I got a dog and 4 cats, when I got them I know what the prospective cost was, I was on double my curent salary then and it was fine.

Now I struggle like hell BUT - the pets have a decent quality life and that includes access to fun times outside no matter what and no way staying at home alone for 9 hours 5 days per week.

Redo your finance, see where you can cut corners - see if you can stretch for a dog walker.

If not - rehome the pup to somoene who wil ensure his good quality of life.

Caroline_a

To be honest I don't think the OP has thought at all about the costs of getting this pup. No answer yet to my question about vaccinations, but at 12 weeks the pup should have had at least one. I'm betting that a back street breeder won't have had them done either.

OP, I know you haven't been back much to comment, but unless you can afford this dog, to care for it, to pay for dog walkers, vet fees, insurance, worming, de-flea'ing, etc etc you should find him a more suitable home.

Mrs_Z

Like Abbafan1972, when we moved from a flat to a house with a garden - I yearned for a pet. Both myself and my other half wanted a dog but we both worked full time, although fairly locally - i didn't think it would be fair to have a dog. Plus I know for a fact that I'm not a morning person to fit in a decent walk before going to work.

So we got a cat instead - and went from one cat to three, now 2. I would still like a dog but I now work even longer hours. So I'm not having one. It'll be the first thing I do though if I ever get to work part-time or retire (!)

You must do what's best for your pet - and put your emotions aside.

StudioBeau

I understand you are doing the right thing now in looking for help, but you should not have got a puppy.

You have 3 choices:

Try and become more flexible on your hours at work (2 hour lunch break maybe?) to be able to go home in the middle of the day/see if you could take your dog to work?

Get a dog walker/puppy sitter. Look out for someone who is just starting out and you will get an amazing deal. Put an add on gumtree and say what you are prepared to pay, if you do not get anyone, fine, if you do, yay! Some people are not in the position to have a dog and would love to walk someone elses puppy.

Rehome the puppy.

Cacran

The OP is obviously aware that she has made a mistake. She can't turn the clock back so can only look for a fair solution. Maybe if she were to put her story on a card and put it in a local sho p window, someone might want to help her or someone might know someone who would help her out. Perhaps she could offer to do something to repay them, like doing their shopping for them or treating them to the odd trip out.
I would be gutted to have to give my dog away but do agree that it is too long for it to be without human company. I don't think the OP should be castigated for realising the error she has made.
By now there may have been a solution. I hope all worked or works out okay.