Please don't get me wrong, I love my dog very much, but I just don't know what to do! I adopted a dog last year (he's a Great Dane mix, Huge, and is about 16 months old).. At the time, my husband and I were working opposite schedules and one of us was home most the time. I changed jobs recently and now we both work graveyard and aren't home very much.. We live in an apartment, and my dog chews a ton, so we have to crate him when we are gone.. Most nights, he has to be in the kennel for 10 hours.. When we get home, we take him for walks and to the dog park and stuff, but he has really high puppy energy and it never seems to be enough. He goes to doggy daycare 1 day per week, and that helps, but I can't afford to take him everyday. When we go to sleep, we have to put him back in the crate so he won't chew everything.. I worry that I am being unfair to him because he is crated so long and so often. I am seriously thinking about giving him away when I move next month.. What would you do?
2007-07-22 21:32:21 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
My husband and I won't be changing jobs or shifts any time soon, and we don't have any family willing to get up and come over in the middle of the night to let him out...
2007-07-22 21:42:38 · update #1
To everyone who thinks I am not taking care of him.. Yes, my dog is large, but when he is in the house, he is a couch potato! It is only when we are on walks or at the park that he is so hyper! My dog is neutered, has all his shots, is groomed regularly and like 20 chew toys.. This dog is not ignored by any means.. I just don't think I can give him enough time..
2007-07-22 21:57:12 · update #2
Hi naledi, firstly I live in an apartment also and I have one of the Giant breeds. It is a big misconception that Large dogs shouldn't be in an apartment. We get on great together.
It seems that your main problem is the dog chewing up your home which is why he is in the crate so much. Why not try a cage 'muzzle' These are very dog friendly and allows the dog to do everything like, yawn, bark, drink etc - but it will stop the chewing. This way, the dog can get some freedom to change places around the apt.
2007-07-22 21:45:16 · answer #1 · answered by Scoundy 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
This really isn't a healthy situation for you or your dog. Most likely he is chewing so much because he is not being supervised & he is bored to tears.
If you can't provide the time, training, excercise and supervision that a young dog needs, esp a large breed like that, perhaps a family who has time for him would be more ideal. Finding that family is another problem.
Frankly, as a rescuer, I do not permit large breed dogs to go to families in an apartment and I don't often adopt to those in apartments because when they move, it's usually to another apartment that won't allow dogs.....IE he winds up back in a shelter.
Unfortunately, there is no clear answer unless you really can find a great family to take him. Your story is one rescuers and shelter staff hear all over the county hundreds of times every single day. Just ask all the dogs in the shelter.
2007-07-22 21:47:54 · answer #2 · answered by panjpetevents 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You have to buy him something tasty to chew on everyday. I would buy 20 or so different large rawhide toys that would last a day or so with him. Give him a different one everyday. If he still has one left, take it away and give it to him a few days later. He also needs 5 to 10 durable chew toys that he cant eat or destroy.
He needs to be in the crate when you aren't home and out of it when you are home and awake.
If he sleeps when you sleep he should be ok at night. If he ever gets up and walks around it's perfectly ok to put him in the crate.
Crates make them feel safe. You cannot leave them in there for more than 6 to 8 hours without letting them out to pee and walk around.
If you play games with them they will know when they can get your attention.
The hyper activity should start tapering off at age 2. Keep him. Remember this animal is built to run. He needs to run as much as possible.
2007-07-22 21:46:52 · answer #3 · answered by kijafha 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This is a sad outcome... Without going into the reasoning about why you chose a Great Dane mix to live with you in an apartment, I think the best option is to find him a new home. Your question almost seems like you are asking for people to sympathise with you for having it so hard. Dogs are hard full stop and their needs NEVER decrease the older they get. They need training and discipline to overcome behaviour problems such as chewing and destruction.
I am not going to sympathise with your 'hard' situation. I am going to sympathise with your dog that was brought into a situation that he had no control over, and now 16 months after finding a 'home' he has to get uprooted because his 'parents' lives don't agree with dog ownership.
Please find this dog a new home asap.
2007-07-22 21:50:12 · answer #4 · answered by dogcazza 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
in this situation, i think its better for the dog to be given away.
it is unfair for the dog being in the crate for 10 hours. i mean, he has to want to pee/poop during his crate-stays!
when you move next month, would you have more space for him or would you have more time with him?
or maybe you can have a friend look after your dog while you're away (someone with another dog would be better since he's a dane-mix and a bit harder to manage for someone w/o a dog...doggy playdates or something.) or until you /your husband change jobs again? that way, you can avoid giving away your dog permenantly.
2007-07-22 21:39:35 · answer #5 · answered by i♥mybichonfrise 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I know how it is to have larger dogs in apartments (I have a siberian husky xAkita) But our schedules don;t overlap(most of the time) so, there is aklways someone with him.
I would say since no one is home to take care of him, to find a new home for him, as in not the pound.
I'm sorry for this horrible decicion to have to rid your home of your furry family member
<3
Amanda
2007-07-22 22:11:26 · answer #6 · answered by Tibby Lush 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
well that is definately a tough decision. i would try looking up on how to train a dog like that so you wouldnt need to put him in a kennal. If that doesnt work you might want to find a close friend or relative who would be happy to take him so you could still see him and walk him all the time. goodluck
2007-07-22 21:41:58 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Wow that is though. Like the guy ^ said...try the cage muzzle and try to get him to pee on a pup pad? It may be a foregin thing to him since he is housebroken, but worth a shot. I also work the graveyard shift and my pup is fine.
If that doesnt work, try a GD rescue.
2007-07-22 22:41:53 · answer #8 · answered by Sandbaby327 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some people arent ment for big dogs. He's a big boy i bet. So i think its kinda unfair for him to live in an apartment. Your best option is looking for a good home for him. Dont just give him to the pound. Look for someone that can give him what he needs.
2007-07-22 21:38:13 · answer #9 · answered by Tina 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
You should realy consider giving your dog to a Humane Society, they will find him the best home possable, they will be more than happy to help you. It is best to let a proffesional help in this situation, so he will recieve all his shots and be neutered. This will help your dog in the long run. Please do it before you move.
2007-07-22 21:49:35 · answer #10 · answered by K-train 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋