I've heard so many pet owners ready to give their animal up to a shelter say, "I just don't have time" or "It's not fair to the dog and they need a family that can spend time with them". I don't really know what that means. How is your family situation different from the millions of others that make it work and work well? How is being ripped from your people, thrown into what must feel like chaos and being homeless fair?
I spend a lot of time with my dogs if you count me sleeping, cooking, walking around, talking on the phone, sitting in front of the TV. If you only count the time spent actually doing some sort of 'dog thing' then, according to that logic, I should give my dogs away.
What does a dog really need from his people?
My little Dixie and Tinker, rat terriers, need a cushy dog bed for the majority of their day. They solicit me for petting, maybe a few times a day, and like to lay next to me on the couch sometimes. They run like a nut when outside to potty but otherwise doesn't seem to need much of me for activity. They prefer to just be in the house hanging out. How much extra time does this take? Except for the time spent letting them outside, NONE.
My Pheasel is a slightly different story but the ending is the same. She is a golden/lab mix and much more interested in playing. So guess what? I modified some things to accomodate this. I transformed my 2 car garage into a "dog living and play" area (I can still park in there if I want to). I do outside things when Pheasel wants to be outside. I hang out in the garage and read a book or text when she wants to play toys. I foster playful dogs for her to play with either in the garage or outside. And just this week, I installed U-Verse in my garage so I could watch TV while they play!
Of course, I KNEW she was this type of energy when I adopted her. I also knew I had or wanted kids, that I had a cat, a bird, a job, friends, would occasionally be sick or tired or in a bad mood. I knew I might take a trip or have company. Basically, I knew I would be adopting a dog that needs me and that I would be responsible for until they died and that my life would include her.
Does any of this take extra time?
Maybe, if I have a new baby, but babies grow up and I'm sure the dog will survive less time spent with them for a while. If your life only revolves around the child then you have more problems facing you than a bored or underexercised dog anyway. Get help. Ask friends. Include the dog. Make time. If you're smart enough to give birth, you're smart enough to figure it out.
Maybe, if your leg is broken, but it heals, doesn't it? So it hurts and you hobble and can't do much for several weeks. Don't you have friends or family that can help? Can't you hire a pet walker sometimes? Don't any neighbors have a fenced yard or a playful dog friend? Come on! Figure. It. Out.
Maybe, if your social life blossoms, but why are you making that a priority all of the time? Surely, you can manage both a dog and your social calendar. Go out an hour later. Come home an hour earlier. Wake up earlier in the morning and start your day spending time with the dog. There's three whole hours of possiblity! Make it work!
Maybe, if your job is slaying you with too many hours. Again, call a friend, a neighbor or a professional pet sitter. Even if your hours suck you can find a way. Quit watching TV. Go home for lunch. Make it up on the weekends. There are ways!
If you want your dog and love your dog, you CAN MAKE IT WORK. Or, you can just be honest, and stop saying you're giving your dog up because you don't have time and it's so unfair to them, blah blah blah. Just tell the truth - YOU DON'T WANT THE DOG ANYMORE and you are unwilling to make it work no matter how many good suggestions you get.
There, now that wasn't so hard was it? I might think you're a jackass, but at least you're being honest. It's too bad you think being homeless and stressed is a better alternative to more effort figuring it out. You don't deserve that dog anyway.
I spend a lot of time with my dogs if you count me sleeping, cooking, walking around, talking on the phone, sitting in front of the TV. If you only count the time spent actually doing some sort of 'dog thing' then, according to that logic, I should give my dogs away.
What does a dog really need from his people?
My little Dixie and Tinker, rat terriers, need a cushy dog bed for the majority of their day. They solicit me for petting, maybe a few times a day, and like to lay next to me on the couch sometimes. They run like a nut when outside to potty but otherwise doesn't seem to need much of me for activity. They prefer to just be in the house hanging out. How much extra time does this take? Except for the time spent letting them outside, NONE.
My Pheasel is a slightly different story but the ending is the same. She is a golden/lab mix and much more interested in playing. So guess what? I modified some things to accomodate this. I transformed my 2 car garage into a "dog living and play" area (I can still park in there if I want to). I do outside things when Pheasel wants to be outside. I hang out in the garage and read a book or text when she wants to play toys. I foster playful dogs for her to play with either in the garage or outside. And just this week, I installed U-Verse in my garage so I could watch TV while they play!
Of course, I KNEW she was this type of energy when I adopted her. I also knew I had or wanted kids, that I had a cat, a bird, a job, friends, would occasionally be sick or tired or in a bad mood. I knew I might take a trip or have company. Basically, I knew I would be adopting a dog that needs me and that I would be responsible for until they died and that my life would include her.
Does any of this take extra time?
Maybe, if I have a new baby, but babies grow up and I'm sure the dog will survive less time spent with them for a while. If your life only revolves around the child then you have more problems facing you than a bored or underexercised dog anyway. Get help. Ask friends. Include the dog. Make time. If you're smart enough to give birth, you're smart enough to figure it out.
Maybe, if your leg is broken, but it heals, doesn't it? So it hurts and you hobble and can't do much for several weeks. Don't you have friends or family that can help? Can't you hire a pet walker sometimes? Don't any neighbors have a fenced yard or a playful dog friend? Come on! Figure. It. Out.
Maybe, if your social life blossoms, but why are you making that a priority all of the time? Surely, you can manage both a dog and your social calendar. Go out an hour later. Come home an hour earlier. Wake up earlier in the morning and start your day spending time with the dog. There's three whole hours of possiblity! Make it work!
Maybe, if your job is slaying you with too many hours. Again, call a friend, a neighbor or a professional pet sitter. Even if your hours suck you can find a way. Quit watching TV. Go home for lunch. Make it up on the weekends. There are ways!
If you want your dog and love your dog, you CAN MAKE IT WORK. Or, you can just be honest, and stop saying you're giving your dog up because you don't have time and it's so unfair to them, blah blah blah. Just tell the truth - YOU DON'T WANT THE DOG ANYMORE and you are unwilling to make it work no matter how many good suggestions you get.
There, now that wasn't so hard was it? I might think you're a jackass, but at least you're being honest. It's too bad you think being homeless and stressed is a better alternative to more effort figuring it out. You don't deserve that dog anyway.