I have a one year old half lab half pit named Tank. He is the sweetest, most hyperactive dog, and I am moving into an apartment which is a lot smaller than my current house. Me and my fiancee are deeply attached to the dog, but we work the same schedual 10hrs a day 5 days a week 8am-6pm. I have a kennel for him, but at my house my brother and sister are here through out the day and keep him out and play with him. At the apartment he'll be locked up 10hrs a day. Is that fair to him? I think it would be better to give him up to some one with a big back yard and family, but I also think he would miss me. I saved this dogs life. As a pup I gave him CPR when he came out and had to bottle feed him. I went to San Diego for a week for buisness, and he wouldn't eat, not even for my fiancee, who has lived with us since I got him. I need help. Im torn between me being happy and him being happy, and I dont know what will make him happy, but he can't talk to me about it. PLEASE HELP!!! Thanks!!!!
2007-02-02 12:24:11 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
Will this dog attach himself to someone else? Eventually, yes. In fact, at times dogs bond with their new owners more than their old! But will he miss you? Sure, but he can adapt. I actually think you will miss him far more.
And in that sense, I strongly encourage you to consider ALL options. I do not view pets as "disposable" - that is, I insist that any job or home I have considers my pets. I couldn't live without my dogs and I think you really feel the same. It's only out of your love that you want to make this sacrifice. However, let me offer alternatives.
Most likely you work a 9 hour day (with lunch) with time for travel. Hence why you are gone so long. Your day is normal. As you are moving, can you find an apartment close to your job? This may enable you to go home at lunch to let your dog out. I currently do this every day with my dogs.
If that is not feasible, then consider doggie day-care, a dog-sitter or a dog-walker. The latter could be a person who comes in while you are at work to walk your dog. My last dog (who sadly passed away last year) was not fond of kennels. So even when I had long trips away, I'd hire a dog-walker to come by at least 3x a day to walk and feed him. This arrangement worked very well, especially when he was older. He relaxed on the couch most of the day anyway, and was able to enjoy a long walk and food 3x a day. This can also be done relatively cheaply too. Also, ask friends and family if they can care for him. You may find that after a year, your life has changed so that you can take Tank back into your life!
But if you do have to give him up, bring him to an animal shelter than has a VERY low euthanasia rate. Please note that no shelter is perfect, but some will keep a dog, as long as he passes a personality test, forever until he gets adopted. This is the type of shelter you want (and are more predominant in California).
I wish you the best!
2007-02-02 12:54:29 · answer #1 · answered by doctoru2 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not fair to move a dog into an apartment when you don't have the time to get him activity and attention because you're gone all the time. Can you adjust your schedule? This may sound rediculous, but you could look for a pet sitter if you really want to keep him, and then he'd have interaction with other animals and people. It's a pathetic sort of life to live locked in a kennel all the time, but if you can keep working it out wiht your family to watch him, you might be able to make it work in both your's and Tank's best interest.
2007-02-02 12:29:03 · answer #2 · answered by M H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Neither of those choices are fair to the dog. Unfortunately, you made the commitment to adopt and take care of this animal. It is not right to give him away and put him into a situation which you can not be positive that he will be well cared for. It is not okay for you to dispose of a living thing that has become an inconvience. It is also not right to leave a dog kenneled for that length of time. He needs plenty of exercise and attention. My suggestion would be to try and rework your job schedule. Most people do that when they have children, so I don't know why it would be any different when you have a young dog.
2007-02-02 12:31:43 · answer #3 · answered by KS 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
if you take him on frequent (and by frequent i mean like four or five times a day) walks he may be fine in an apartment. A lady i used to work for bred great danes, and she told me that they make great apartment dogs, as long as you walk them alot, and run with them. i used to have a lab as well, when i lived with my parents. they never let him out of the kitchen and onto the carpet his whole life, but he was a hunting dog, and got lots of outdoor time, so he was really chill with it.
it may be a hard adjustment, but if this is YOUR pup, then what else can you do but try?
2007-02-02 12:28:56 · answer #4 · answered by aging_goldfish 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I have 4 pits, and they're all primarily indoor dogs. Mine prefer to be inside the house more than being outside anyway. Pits make excellent apartment dogs. So no, don't get rid of him. Just make sure you get in the habit of walking him so he gets his exercise. And make sure he's housebroken, too.
2007-02-02 12:42:53 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
do whats best for your dog dude. He's already used to being able to run around. If hes no kennel trained or used to being in there 10 hours it might be hard on him. I recomend you deciede by his personality and if you think he could ajust then do it. It depends on your dogs personality and weither he will be miselable with out you. Good luck
2007-02-02 17:26:45 · answer #6 · answered by Megan 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no... i think it would be a bad idea to take him to a apartment seeing as you said he was hypo he probaly needs more than a apartment and keeping him looked up would be to mean. if you did give him away he would miss you for a few weeks mabey but he'll get over it.
2007-02-02 12:31:30 · answer #7 · answered by henaz 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋