Fine a new home or leave him home alone?
Discussion
our much loved 7 year old Bearded collie is in a difficult situation.
For years either barney had company during the day (either at home or one of our work places).
Change in circumstances mean that 4 days per week we have to find some sort of care as we are both now leaving the house before 8am and never get home until 6pm earliest.
Unfortunately the cost of dog walkers is prohibitive - a new baby has put strain on financial resources and its no longer tenable to spend over £3k/year on a dog walker or day care.
So 2 choices:
1. Find a new home (i can hardly bear thinking about this)
or
2. At least 3 days a week leave him home alone for at least 10 hours per day (not much better than 1)
What would you do?
[we used to have a neighbour who would pop in- but they've moved unfortnuuately- there is no one else nearby who is suitable
]
For years either barney had company during the day (either at home or one of our work places).
Change in circumstances mean that 4 days per week we have to find some sort of care as we are both now leaving the house before 8am and never get home until 6pm earliest.
Unfortunately the cost of dog walkers is prohibitive - a new baby has put strain on financial resources and its no longer tenable to spend over £3k/year on a dog walker or day care.
So 2 choices:
1. Find a new home (i can hardly bear thinking about this)
or
2. At least 3 days a week leave him home alone for at least 10 hours per day (not much better than 1)
What would you do?
[we used to have a neighbour who would pop in- but they've moved unfortnuuately- there is no one else nearby who is suitable
]Sorry to hear you are in this predicament.
I wouldn't rehome until you have seen how he adapts to the new arrangements. Is there any way you could install a dog flap so he can access the outdoors for toileting while you're at work?
Boredom could be an issue but less likely with his age as long as he gets plenty of exercise (mental & physical), and there's lots of brain games on the market now for dogs too so he isn't left with nothing to do while you're out.
I wouldn't rehome until you have seen how he adapts to the new arrangements. Is there any way you could install a dog flap so he can access the outdoors for toileting while you're at work?
Boredom could be an issue but less likely with his age as long as he gets plenty of exercise (mental & physical), and there's lots of brain games on the market now for dogs too so he isn't left with nothing to do while you're out.
I'm sure you must have met other local dog owners on your daily walks - have you mentioned this problem to them? They might be able to offer suggestions for affordable local help.
The going rate for professional dog walkers here is up to £10/hour. Though you are able to negotiate a more favorable rate if it's going to be a regular contract and/or are willing to have your dog walked with other dogs.
The going rate for professional dog walkers here is up to £10/hour. Though you are able to negotiate a more favorable rate if it's going to be a regular contract and/or are willing to have your dog walked with other dogs.
New POD said:
£3K a year ? I suppose it is.
Not really - at the going rate of £10/hour it would be £200 for 5 (4 day) weeks. so 50 weeks would be £2000. Chances are he could negotiate it down to £5 a visit so that would only be in the region of £1000. eta What are you doing with your baby? who is going to look after baby for the 10 hours you're both out of the house?
Edited by condor on Wednesday 22 May 08:16
Guys thanks for the replies:
Russ- thanks for looking. We do actually have a good home he could go to- he was a wedding present from my best mans parents, they have 2 beardies and will take him back if we really need to.
Dog walking costs here are £15/walk/hour- not helped by the fact that live in the middle of the countryside. My job is to negotiate large commercial deals, but i haven't managed to negotiate any reduction in cost for our dog walker.
Barney is OK for 5-6 hours by himself (he just goes to sleep), but we've never left him for 10 hours so have no idea what would happen.
The baby goes to a childminder who charges £4/hour!
Russ- thanks for looking. We do actually have a good home he could go to- he was a wedding present from my best mans parents, they have 2 beardies and will take him back if we really need to.
Dog walking costs here are £15/walk/hour- not helped by the fact that live in the middle of the countryside. My job is to negotiate large commercial deals, but i haven't managed to negotiate any reduction in cost for our dog walker.
Barney is OK for 5-6 hours by himself (he just goes to sleep), but we've never left him for 10 hours so have no idea what would happen.
The baby goes to a childminder who charges £4/hour!
Unfortunately neither of our workplaces would entertain the idea.
We could dogproof the garden (or even build him a run), but we can't install a dog flap (we are in a rented property), nor do we have a porch which we could leave the door open to.
i did just consider getting him a kennel- but we have another problem that he is currently being treated for fear of shotguns, and we haev a lot of shooting/bird scarers round and about.
We could dogproof the garden (or even build him a run), but we can't install a dog flap (we are in a rented property), nor do we have a porch which we could leave the door open to.
i did just consider getting him a kennel- but we have another problem that he is currently being treated for fear of shotguns, and we haev a lot of shooting/bird scarers round and about.
PugwasHDJ80 said:
Barney is OK for 5-6 hours by himself (he just goes to sleep), but we've never left him for 10 hours so have no idea what would happen.
Don't think it will make much difference to him, he will just stay asleep until you get home I suspect. Can you still walk him every day?
PugwasHDJ80 said:
We could dogproof the garden (or even build him a run), but we can't install a dog flap (we are in a rented property), nor do we have a porch which we could leave the door open to.
Could you not install the flap and replace the door if/when you leave the rental property?PugwasHDJ80 said:
Guys thanks for the replies:
Dog walking costs here are £15/walk/hour- not helped by the fact that live in the middle of the countryside. My job is to negotiate large commercial deals, but i haven't managed to negotiate any reduction in cost for our dog walker.
Barney is OK for 5-6 hours by himself (he just goes to sleep), but we've never left him for 10 hours so have no idea what would happen.
The baby goes to a childminder who charges £4/hour!
From your profile you've put that you're near Newbury. I've just done a quick google for Newbury dog walkers and this was 2nd on the listDog walking costs here are £15/walk/hour- not helped by the fact that live in the middle of the countryside. My job is to negotiate large commercial deals, but i haven't managed to negotiate any reduction in cost for our dog walker.
Barney is OK for 5-6 hours by himself (he just goes to sleep), but we've never left him for 10 hours so have no idea what would happen.
The baby goes to a childminder who charges £4/hour!
http://www.kaitysnewburydogwalking.com/page4.html
£10/hour and £5 for half hour.
Those are similar rates to what I charge - though I'm North Bedfordshire based.
PugwasHDJ80 said:
Guys thanks for the replies:
Russ- thanks for looking. We do actually have a good home he could go to- he was a wedding present from my best mans parents, they have 2 beardies and will take him back if we really need to.
Dog walking costs here are £15/walk/hour- not helped by the fact that live in the middle of the countryside. My job is to negotiate large commercial deals, but i haven't managed to negotiate any reduction in cost for our dog walker.
Barney is OK for 5-6 hours by himself (he just goes to sleep), but we've never left him for 10 hours so have no idea what would happen.
The baby goes to a childminder who charges £4/hour!
Yes but the child minder I assume has the child for a proportion of the day a dog walker will only have your dog for an hour a day.Russ- thanks for looking. We do actually have a good home he could go to- he was a wedding present from my best mans parents, they have 2 beardies and will take him back if we really need to.
Dog walking costs here are £15/walk/hour- not helped by the fact that live in the middle of the countryside. My job is to negotiate large commercial deals, but i haven't managed to negotiate any reduction in cost for our dog walker.
Barney is OK for 5-6 hours by himself (he just goes to sleep), but we've never left him for 10 hours so have no idea what would happen.
The baby goes to a childminder who charges £4/hour!
I hope you find a way round it soon. No chance of Barney joining one of you at work?
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