Dog sitting - what can I expect?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have your husband take off work the first day or two to help transition the dog in and work on a schedule with the dog.

This would be a great idea if he could do this. Unfortunately, with his job, he can't take the time off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is the dog still not housetrained? Without a fenced yard, this is going to be a real drag I’m sorry to say. Your husband is being ridiculous.

The dog is 85% house trained but still has occasional accidents. How often during the day does the dog have to be let out?

Depends on the dog. But mine go out as soon as we get up in the morning, after meals, and at bedtime. We also let them out as soon as someone comes home and we try not to be gone for more than like six hours but sometimes it’s 8 or so in between they go out a few more times. If the dog is having accidents then I’d crate unless the dog was right here my side.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Use the phrase "Sorry we can't because of the dog." as often as you can with your kids during this time.

Let some things get ruined.

Yes, in a way, maybe this is a positive thing in that we get to do a test run and the kids get to see first hand how much work and commitment a dog really is. I would also just like my husband to experience the same however.

[Anonymous]

Just tell your husband that the first instance in which you are solely responsible for the dog, you will be taking it to a no-kill shelter. If he wants to pick it up from there and provide for its care (himself), that’s fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have your husband take off work the first day or two to help transition the dog in and work on a schedule with the dog.

This is a good idea. If he is unwilling to do this, ask him why he's signing you up for it. Is he in the habit of unilaterally assigning you work?

Agree. He gets first and last walks of the day and all house accidents when he’s home (unless kids are old enough to help). You get stuck with work hours.

He's gone by 7:30a and home at 6:30p but then continues working for a couple hours after he gets home. Are first and last walks feasible for him?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Background: My MIL really wanted a puppy, but my FIL did not. They are experienced dog owners. A campaign of my MIL convincing my kids that WE should get a puppy ensued, and telling them to convince our parents, and then our kids were begging us for a puppy for almost 2 years. I never grew up with any pets growing up and I don't want to get a dog until all our kids are a little more independent, if at all - I think it's a huge responsibility and I can still barely get my kids to brush their teeth every day and sit down for meals or pick up their toys.

When it became clear to my MIL that we would not budge, she went and got a puppy from a breeder. They have been complaining about how hard and difficult the dog, and also my MIL kept offering the dog to my kids to keep, and of course the kids got super excited and wanted to take the dog. We still did not budge however much they whined and begged and said we were mean and the worst parents ever. The dog still can't be left alone in the house, unless caged, is a runner, tries to eat everything, can't handle car rides, and apparently can't be around other dogs either because it kind of freaks out - not trying to attack, but getting over-excited and out of control. My MIL said she hadn't been sleeping because of the dog, just from the stress of caring for it.

Fast forward to August - my FIL shoulder surgery scheduled, and my MIL continues to have back issues and can't bend over, so my husband offered to take the dog for a month or two until they recover. I am home with the kids and work part time from home so while it's feasible, I had a lot of reservations. I brought up my concerns, this led to a big fight, because my husband was upset I was even questioning helping out his parents, and said it would be much easier for us to take care of the dog than it would be for my parents. Mind you, I have never taken care of a dog, and my husband works 60-65 hour work weeks, we still have kids that can't be left home alone, and we do not have a fenced in yard.

Fast forward to now, we have arranged to take the dog while my FIL recovers from surgery - but now for some reason, our in-laws only want us to take the dog during the week, while they take the dog on the weekends. Which basically puts me on the hook for taking care of the dog almost entirely, while my husband is working. And the thing is, I really want my husband to understand what is involved in taking care of the dog, because he is making it sound so effortless.

My question is:
1) What am I in for here? I am a total pet newbie
2) Should we also take the dog during the weekends so my husband gets the experience too?
3) Why do you think my in-laws only want us to take the dog for the week and not the weekend?

I feel bad for the dog. I feel that this is a big mistake and if I were you I would rather take the heat from my dh than do a poor job with the dog. How old is the dog? Sounds like you live near each other. I would research board and POSITIVE ONLY training. If dh is so upset have him take leave to care for the dog.

Poor dog

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do your in laws have $$? If so (or even if not frankly), I’d pay for a 2x per day dog walker. I’d be sure your husband knows this is a necessary expense and non negotiable. After all, this is a young dog with lots of energy, it’s not housetrained, you have young kids to take care of, and you don’t have a fenced yard.

For some reason, my husband does not want them spending money on someone to help out because it's something he thinks we are able to do and should be doing. They do have options in terms of a doggie day care, but for him that's not an option. I can't even bring it up again without him getting very upset about it and starting another big fight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do your in laws have $$? If so (or even if not frankly), I’d pay for a 2x per day dog walker. I’d be sure your husband knows this is a necessary expense and non negotiable. After all, this is a young dog with lots of energy, it’s not housetrained, you have young kids to take care of, and you don’t have a fenced yard.

For some reason, my husband does not want them spending money on someone to help out because it's something he thinks we are able to do and should be doing. They do have options in terms of a doggie day care, but for him that's not an option. I can't even bring it up again without him getting very upset about it and starting another big fight.

Now I see you have bigger problems..your dh. It is totally unacceptable for him to treat you this poorly. What if you said I am not going to care for the dog? What would happen? Would they dump it on you anyway? This is so awful I can't think of solutions!

[Anonymous]

If the dog is struggling hard with anxiety, how well is it expected to do in a new environment with kids? What happens if it bites out of fear?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is the dog still not housetrained? Without a fenced yard, this is going to be a real drag I’m sorry to say. Your husband is being ridiculous.

The dog is 85% house trained but still has occasional accidents. How often during the day does the dog have to be let out?

Depends on the dog. But mine go out as soon as we get up in the morning, after meals, and at bedtime. We also let them out as soon as someone comes home and we try not to be gone for more than like six hours but sometimes it’s 8 or so in between they go out a few more times. If the dog is having accidents then I’d crate unless the dog was right here my side.

I think I'll be ok with taking the dog out multiple times a day. I'm outside almost every day taking care of the garden and yard anyway. The hardest part for me, I think, will be not being able to leave the house. They haven't left him alone in the house for longer than a couple hours, and only during his nap time which is in the early afternoon. Logistically, this will be the most challenging, since I need to be out for something every day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the dog is struggling hard with anxiety, how well is it expected to do in a new environment with kids? What happens if it bites out of fear?

I brought this up with my husband as well. He said his parents are the problem, that the dog is just picking. up on their anxiety, and he says the dog will do better with us.

[Anonymous]

The BEST thing about watching a dog is that you learn that you don’t want to do this full time. Do not back down after FIL is feeling better. Your in laws will will try to guilt you into keeping this dog. Tell them to bring it back to the breeder if they don’t want it. Not your problem. Remind the kids daily that this is temporary.

[Anonymous]

Wait, your husband is demanding that YOU dogsit? There is no WE here.

I see your reply at 11:32. Your husband is part of the problem, not just his parents. If his parents can't take care of the dog appropriately, and if their anxiety is rubbing off on the puppy, it needs to be rehomed. And if it can't be rehomed because of the poor socialization and anxiety, you shouldn't be the one taking the bring of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait, your husband is demanding that YOU dogsit? There is no WE here.

I see your reply at 11:32. Your husband is part of the problem, not just his parents. If his parents can't take care of the dog appropriately, and if their anxiety is rubbing off on the puppy, it needs to be rehomed. And if it can't be rehomed because of the poor socialization and anxiety, you shouldn't be the one taking the bring of it.

Yeah unfortunately this is just a very touchy subject for him that I've learned that we cannot revisit. There is some emotional minefield here for him that I can't completely explain. I honestly feel that if I were to question it again, it would be very damaging to our relationship. He's already very hurt that I even brought up concerns and have not been falling over myself to help them out in this situation.

[Anonymous]

I would be very hurt that he is not willing to hear you out on your concerns. This is a huge ask to be responsible for another living creature in your home for serveral weeks, with little to no help.