Am I a bad mommy if..

[JUJU814]

I put my two labradors in doggie daycare 3 days a week? I have a 2 1/2 year old yellow lab, and a 6 month old chocolate. I run a busy business from home and am overwhelmed with issues with one of my children as well, not to mention the demands of running around three kids to activities etc.

I simply do not have time to exercise these dogs like they should, and they can't be trusted with run of the house. The yellow was a DREAM dog after our poor black lab died. (the same day we got home from our last Disney trip. ) Unfortunately, with that, she was extremely depressed and scared of everyone and everything, so we got the puppy finally. Now, with the puppy, they are two partners in crime and that puppy absolutely cannot have run of the house. The yellow has started chewing again. I'm ready to pull my hair out.

The chocolate is not housetraining at all. I think he hates his crate. He goes outside numerous times a day to run in the yard. As SOON as he comes inside, he pees and poops in the crate. About 5-6 times a day this is happening. I can't take it anymore.

I believe they need soooo much more exercise than they are getting. I can walk each of them separately..but only once. Dh COULD but will he is another issue.

There is a wonderful doggie daycare place nearby..they even have a pool! I know people who work outside the home that send their dogs there and they say their dogs are very happy. They even get a "report card" each day of how the dogs did, what they did, ate etc.

I think we should send them there three days a week for exercise and socialization. Dh is not so sure. But HE doesn't have to be home with them ALL day cleaning up pee and poop!

My mother tells me I'm a terrible dog owner for crating them and that I shouldn't have dogs.

I feel so terrible, but with everything else going on, they have been low on the priority list. I used to think doggie daycare was ridiculous. It's starting to look like a pretty good option.

Do any of you utilize a doggie daycare service?

 

[DisneyNicole]

No, but I usually have my neighbors take care of them.
Better than kennels, if your neighbors are trustable enough.

 

[JUJU814]

No, but I usually have my neighbors take care of them.
Better than kennels, if your neighbors are trustable enough.

they are, if I was going away, I would have my neighbor watch them. I'm looking for something during the day from 8-4 a few days a week to run them and play group etc.

Actually, last time we went away and my dear neighbor watched my dogs, one of the dogs got sick and died by the time we got home. My poor neighbor was bringing him to the acute care clinic in the middle of the night and everything. Poor lady was so traumatized she'll probably never watch my dogs again!

 

[Pumbaa_]

your mother needs to mind her own business

Sorry, but that bugs me. You are trying to go your best and it is hard. Puppies are a LOT of work

I had a friend with high energy dogs. She brought them to daybcare 3 times a week and it worked wonderfully for her

they got to burn off that energy and she got happy dogs

I say go for it! Just because you are working out of your home does not mean you are home all day. You have to work, and taking time to clean the crate, ew!

I would also suggest investing in a dog training book. The puppy is confused about outside time. He needs to have potty time and play time. Right now he thinks outside is play time Silly boy!

Good luck!

 

[DisneyNicole]

they are, if I was going away, I would have my neighbor watch them. I'm looking for something during the day from 8-4 a few days a week to run them and play group etc.

Actually, last time we went away and my dear neighbor watched my dogs, one of the dogs got sick and died by the time we got home. My poor neighbor was bringing him to the acute care clinic in the middle of the night and everything. Poor lady was so traumatized she'll probably never watch my dogs again!

My, well, We couldn't trust one neighbor the first time we went to Disney.
We had two dogs, Lucky and Autumn, and left them with our neighbors for a few weeks. Well, the man hadn't known how to fed them even though
I left the directions on the food bag, so he hadn't taken our dogs out to go to the bathroom, eat, or provide a bed, also, they "went" on his carpet and left them outside in the pouring rain for 8 hours. Never again. When we came home, they ate half the bag. Never again, with that neighbor.

 

[JUJU814]

your mother needs to mind her own business

Sorry, but that bugs me. You are trying to go your best and it is hard. Puppies are a LOT of work

I had a friend with high energy dogs. She brought them to daybcare 3 times a week and it worked wonderfully for her

they got to burn off that energy and she got happy dogs

I say go for it! Just because you are working out of your home does not mean you are home all day. You have to work, and taking time to clean the crate, ew!

I would also suggest investing in a dog training book. The puppy is confused about outside time. He needs to have potty time and play time. Right now he thinks outside is play time Silly boy!

Good luck!

Thank you! I feel so beat up right now. I just got off the phone with her a bit ago after she was literally screaming at me about the dogs. I asked her if she'd like to take him for a while. LOL Of course, she said no.

This puppy is majorly confused about outside time! He's 6 months old. I think he still needs to be taken out on a leash to do his business. He loves to run around and try to eat things instead...rocks, leaves, twigs..EVERYTHING. I thought our yellow would "train" him...not.

I just hope dh will cooperate.

Last week I told him if this continues, not only will I get rid of the dog, but I'll get rid of him too!

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

I love the idea!

 

[shalom]

You're doing what's best for the family and what's best for the dogs. How is this a bad thing?

The pet sitting service sounds great. You also might look into dog walkers - we have a pet sitter who provides that service as well (our cats are not enthused about that idea, however ).

 

[amez]

I'm not going to be any help, but I also have noticed that our puppy can be a bad influence on our 5 year old lab. Our older dog has always been so well behaved-she learned quickly only chew on her toys etc. Along with that she is very submissive, so she is following the lead with a more dominate puppy.

If you want to put them in a kennel for a few days a week-I say go for it. Both of our dogs will go to the kennel when we go to FL for two weeks-it just wouldn't work for any of our neighbors to watch them. We all have 5-6 acres and no fences. We've all trained our dogs to stay within the boundaries and last time our neighbor watched our older dog the dog would run home every time she let her out Plus our closest neighbor has four dogs now and it would just be a mess if we added two more dogs to the mix. Most people out here have several dogs and the dogs tend to be protective of "their property"

 

[JUJU814]

You're doing what's best for the family and what's best for the dogs. How is this a bad thing?

The pet sitting service sounds great. You also might look into dog walkers - we have a pet sitter who provides that service as well (our cats are not enthused about that idea, however ).

Ok, THIS I am having trouble with and I don't know why. I love the idea of a dog walker. However, then I get mad at myself and say "for heavens sake Julie, you can't take your dogs for a walk??" However, the fact of the matter is, that maybe I can take ONE of them for one walk a day. I think they would benefit from more. They don't walk well together..not yet.

I'm trying to figure out why I'm ok with sending them to doggie daycare, but feel like a lazy you know what if I get them a dog walker.

I mean, wouldn't that be looking out for their best interest? to make sure their needs get met?

I have no clue where to find a dog walker??

 

[Juliet25]

I think you sound like a responsible pet owner. Nothing at all wrong with finding something to lift a burden, kwim? Think of how many people hire housecleaners? Sometimes you just have to outsource!

 

[shalom]

he fact of the matter is, that maybe I can take ONE of them for one walk a day. I think they would benefit from more.

If that works out for you, it'd be great. Walking one dog yourself could be a great break for you or time with one of your kids, and is much easier than walking two uncooperative critters. But IMHO, anyone with three kids and a home business doesn't need to feel guilty hiring out the dog exercise chores if that's what it takes. Everyone only has 24 hours a day, but a lot of us have responsibilities that take more than 24 hours daily, y'know? I don't know why more people don't recognize that moms are like managers - what matters is not that they do the job personally, but that they make sure the job gets done. Nobody scolds office managers for delegating, so why do we scold moms for doing it?

Obviously, moms have a responsibility for personal care that managers don't, but that fact doesn't mean they have to do EVERYTHING personally. It just means their kids need more personalized attention than your average office worker (although there are some employees who make the jobs more similar than you'd think... ).

One of our phone books lists pet sitters as "Pet & Animal Sitting, Exercise and Day Care Services", the other one just has "Pet Sitting Services," but someone not my pet sitter has an ad saying they have hourly and daily rates that include exercising.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Our almost 2 year old black lab LOVES his doggie day care. Depending on DH's schedule he goes 1-3 (usually 2) times a week and would gladly go everyday if I could afford it. If we even say the word "daycare" to him in the morning he starts going nuts: he runs to the door and starts jumping on it until we open it, runs straight to the car and then runs right into the daycare when we get there without a look back at us. Generally speaking, labs are very friendly/ social dogs and love to be around other dogs. At our dogs daycare, they are free to come and go as they please from indoors to the yard and we are told that he chooses to spend most of his days outside running around with the other dogs. He is always outside when we get there. If it is a good daycare, your dogs will see it as a reward, not a punishment.

 

[JUJU814]

Our almost 2 year old black lab LOVES his doggie day care. Depending on DH's schedule he goes 1-3 (usually 2) times a week and would gladly go everyday if I could afford it. If we even say the word "daycare" to him in the morning he starts going nuts: he runs to the door and starts jumping on it until we open it, runs straight to the car and then runs right into the daycare when we get there without a look back at us. Generally speaking, labs are very friendly/ social dogs and love to be around other dogs. At our dogs daycare, they are free to come and go as they please from indoors to the yard and we are told that he chooses to spend most of his days outside running around with the other dogs. If it is a good daycare, your dogs will see it as a reward, not a punishment.

Oh man! Sign me up!!!! I'm *praying* this is going to work. I'm tempted to send them 5 days/week but that would cost me $200/wk (20/day per dog) However, it sure would give me peace of mind to know they are running around enjoying themself and not in their crates. Bella was completely out of her crate with free run of the house until we got our puppy, Samson. Then we would start coming home and little by little, things were getting destroyed from her chewing them.

I called the daycare place today and am going to go take a look Monday.

I'd love to get them signed up before I leave for our vacation on Thursday, so that they can start as soon as I get home.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Oh man! Sign me up!!!! I'm *praying* this is going to work. I'm tempted to send them 5 days/week but that would cost me $200/wk (20/day per dog) However, it sure would give me peace of mind to know they are running around enjoying themself and not in their crates. Bella was completely out of her crate with free run of the house until we got our puppy, Samson. Then we would start coming home and little by little, things were getting destroyed from her chewing them.

I called the daycare place today and am going to go take a look Monday.

I'd love to get them signed up before I leave for our vacation on Thursday, so that they can start as soon as I get home.

Our dog has to be in his crate when we are not home, for his own safety. He was 6 mos. old when we got him and we were his 5th home! For various reasons, others couldn't keep him. When people are around, he is a happy dog. He is also wonderful with the kids. But, when left alone he is stressed out and will eat things he shouldn't and is quite a danger to himself. He has been so much happier since we started the daycare. It did seem to take a few visits before he was sure we were coming back for him and it wasn't another new home. Once he was sure of this, we were good to go. We can't even drive by without him crying to go. LOL

 

[carolinagirl121]

Doggy daycare is everybody at this house's favorite day! Our puppies (2 18 month old Goldens) LOVE going to daycare to play with their buddies. They run to the car and into the day care. We love having two tired dogs at the end of the day. The big thing is to look for a really great daycare. Check out a couple. You should find one with lots of space to run, different size groups (big dogs and little dogs seperate). Get a good feel for the owner. It can be a really great thing but just make sure to really check things out first.

 

[saradela]

I love dogs, really,I have 3, they even sleep in the room with me, so reading that they are in a crate makes me

I think that if you are so overwhelmed, you should put them for adoption, one of them is very young, so no big problem with that one, the other, is going to be hard to give it away, but like children....what is better for them. Just think if you were put on a crate, almost all day...you couldnt speak...you get the idea.......

And by the way...I belive mother knows best. (For what I understand ,you talk to her ofen, so she must be close to you)

 

[SmallWorld71]

Doggy daycare is everybody at this house's favorite day! Our puppies (2 18 month old Goldens) LOVE going to daycare to play with their buddies. They run to the car and into the day care. We love having two tired dogs at the end of the day. The big thing is to look for a really great daycare. Check out a couple. You should find one with lots of space to run, different size groups (big dogs and little dogs seperate). Get a good feel for the owner. It can be a really great thing but just make sure to really check things out first.

I agree with this post. Our daycare doesn't separate the dogs, but this is because the overwhelming majority of dogs (if not basically all) are large breeds and there really is no need.

 

[SmallWorld71]

I love dogs, really,I have 3, they even sleep in the room with me, so reading that they are in a crate makes me

I think that if you are so overwhelmed, you should put them for adoption, one of them is very young, so no big problem with that one, the other, is going to be hard to give it away, but like children....what is better for them. Just think if you were put on a crate, almost all day...you couldnt speak...you get the idea.......

And by the way...I belive mother knows best. (For what I understand ,you talk to her ofen, so she must be close to you)

While I respect your opinion, I have to say that I completely disagree with this post. Giving away the dogs would probably be the worst thing you could do to them. Labs are so loyal and loving that it would be so hurtful to them to just give them away rather than enroll them in something that will be so fun for them! It took our lab MONTHS to get over his feelings of abandonment at being giving away by his former owners and he stills has some anxieties relating to this.
And I half agree with your last statement, "Mother knows best." Only, in this case, I think you have the wrong mom. The mother who knows best in this case is the OP, the "mom" of the dogs.

 

[JUJU814]

While I respect your opinion, I have to say that I completely disagree with this post. Giving away the dogs would probably be the worst thing you could do to them. Labs are so loyal and loving that it would be so hurtful to them to just give them away rather than enroll them in something that will be so fun for them! It took our lab MONTHS to get over his feelings of abandonment at being giving away by his former owners and he stills has some anxieties relating to this.
And I half agree with your last statement, "Mother knows best." Only, in this case, I think you have the wrong mom. The mother who knows best in this case is the OP, the "mom" of the dogs.

I could never give them away. My husband and children would be devastated. they are very friendly and loving dogs. I just feel they need more from me during the daytime than I can give them. They definitely need lots of exercise, which is why I'm looking into the daycare and/or walker. A tired dog is a happy dog, right?

I don't have a problem with crating dogs. I think it's good for them..to a point. We do not allow our dogs in our bedroom or on our furniture. However, crating all day is just too much and I definitely cannot let the little one have free run of the house. I literally have to be watching him every moment and I would never get any work done. He's a creative little guy. Gets under beds and goes for my son's leggos and absolutely ANYTHING in his path. Then he looks at you with those puppy eyes.

When I go down and see he's soiled his crate, he just looks at me like "what mama? what's wrong?" you know..with the head tilted for dramatic effect.