Hi

I would like some advice about whether I should rehome my dog, so I thought I would start by asking the people on here for their views.

Firstly I will apologise for the length of this post, but I feel that I want to give people as much information as possible.

Also, please be understanding, and don’t have a go at me etc. This is a very upsetting thing for me and I don’t need people telling me off.

Last summer I bought a female puppy (Dalmatian x whippet). Shortly after getting her I found out she is deaf (this is not why I am thinking of rehoming but does have implications when looking for a new owner).
I am 34 and have no kids, so this little dog has become like a child to me. I love her to bits and want her to be the happiest she can be.

When I first got her, my partner was off work so looked after her at home for a couple of months. Since then he went back to work and she has been home alone in the day time. This wasn’t too bad at first as he left at about 10 and I was home at about 4.30. However, my personal situation has recently changed, which has resulted in her being in the house on her own from about 7.30 until 4.30.

She is housetrained and never has accidents in the house when I am around, but obviously when she is on her own for that long she struggles to hold it and often wee’s on the kitchen floor. I put a puppy pad down for her ever day but she prefers to rip that up and wee on the floor!
Question: Will she ever be able to hold herself for that length of time?

Now, being deaf, people told me that she would never be able to walk off lead. I am lucky enough to have some small woods just across the road from me and she has been off lead since having her injections. She has never run off, constantly looks for me and never goes out of site. She has at least 2 walks a day in the woods.

At night she snuggles in to my neck, gives me big kisses and cuddles and looks at me in a way that could melt my heart.

So, why am I thinking of rehoming her?
Firstly I don’t know whether it is fair on her to leave her on her own for that length of time, and I genuinely can’t afford a dog walker (I have looked in to this already). Also, and I know this is selfish, I used to do things in the evenings (not every evening but probably a couple of nights per week). Now I don’t do anything, nothing at all. Having left her at home in the day, the last thing I would do is leave her again in the evenings, so my life has literally stopped. I know I should have thought of this before but I guess I didn’t realise just how tied down I would be. Some of my friends say that it would be fine to leave her on her own for a couple of hours, a couple of night a week, but I can’t do it to her.

Worries about rehoming...... If I was to rehome her it would break my heart (but if it the right thing for her I might have to). My fear, is that because she is deaf she would get passed from one house to another and never settle anywhere. I have heard of deaf dogs that have been in more than six homes in their first year. I am also scared that someone might get fed up of her and take her to some kennels (I can’t stand the thought of that). I would want to know that she was able to run around off lead somewhere secure and away from the roads (as she obviously can’t hear the traffic) and most of all I would want to know that she was truly loved.
Please could you give me your opinions in the nicest way possible. I’m feeling very delicate.

Thanks

Firstly Sarah I think you are taking this very seriously and well done you.

Could a family member or neighbour not call in and let her out for a wee during the day? 7.40 til 4.30 is a long time, could you hold it that long?

I hope you find a solution that is best for both you and her :)

Would it be possible to ask a neighbour or a friend to let the dog out for a toilet break at dinner time - it would only need to be for about 5 minutes to give her chance to have a wee etc on the garden. The sad thing is that there are hundreds of dogs looking for new homes at the moment, and with her being deaf that wouldn't make it any easier. Also you need someone either with experience of a deaf dog, or someone who is committed to working with her and learning as they go along.

I just hope that someone has got some good advice/suggestions for you - it must be a heart wrenching time for you at the moment

Sarah,

I know what it's like to not be able to afford a dog sitter so I have to have Eddy with me at the shop which is a total nightmare because he doesn't like it when people come in (as he can't see them) and it's a nightmare for both of us! (And Takara!)

Personally, whilst I know it really hurts - I think you have to look at the quality of life - yes, there are way too many dogs in rescue already and I disagree totally with people getting shut of dogs in the wrong way or for the wrong reasons but you are thinking of Poppy here and if you have doubts about how you can care for her then I can understand that.

I'm assuming that due to things changing the other dog is no longer living with you? in which case, Poppy doesn't have any company during the day either?

Dallies need time with their owners, they've very sociable dogs and whilst they can be left for long periods it seems obvious that Poppy is telling you that she can't.
Also aren't whippets pack hounds? Again, thriving on company?

However - if you do decide to rehome her, get in touch with Dalmatian Welfare. They should help even though she's not purebred and will have a list of experienced dalmatian owners, some of whom will have already owned or worked with deaf dogs.

They will also ensure that if the new owner can no longer keep her, she must be returned to Dalmatian Welfare so they can find her a suitable home, reducing the risk of her falling into the wrong hands.

If she isn't spayed yet, I'd suggest getting that done first before rehoming her if you can - the last thing you want is people taking her on to breed from her.

You know where I am if you need me :)

Hi

Thank you for your responses.
I considered asking neighbours to let her out in the day but I only know about 3 of them and they are all in full time work too, and none of my family live anywhere near.
This is tearing me apart. I can hardly type this because I have tears streaming down my face.
It's awful.

Lotti, I will PM you.

You never know maybe there is someone who could help? maybe you could say what area you are in?

Thanks Moonbird.

I am just off of Linley Lane, on Alport Road in Frechville, S12.

Sarah

Thanks Moonbird.

I am just off of Linley Lane, on Alport Road in Frechville, S12.

Sarah

Aww a bit too far for me, if you had lived nearby perhaps she could have come here for some of the day if she could integrate with my pack, wonder if anyone else can help?

I hope so!
Even if if was just to let her out for a wee.
Thanks Moonbird.
Sarah

HI THERE, i would be happy to let her out for a wee for you , but wouldnt be able to commit to every day as i ama volunteer driver for a rescue plus run my own rescue , i have had experiance with deaf dogs i have trained 2 , one a boxer ,&^one a great dane both white , i had my boxer for 12 yr no problems ,what is she like with other dogs ? i know i should be the last to say this ~(no comments anyone) but mine are able to go 12hrs on their own if asked , with no mess , please pm me if you think i can help !!!

pets@home to the rescue AGAIN! Well done!

mine stay on there own monday to thursday 7.30 while 4 and days when i visit the parents probably about 6 hours up to 12, my dog i have had 7 years has always been fantastic and just sleeps on my bed, but after living with 5 dogs i knew she was lonley so adopted another, well nealy adopted, and now they are both happy little girls as soon as i walk out that door up they go to bed lol, and they always sleep together groom eachother, always cuddeling, i think best solution is to get somebody to help out with toileting, luckey i dont have to with my 2 there good girls,but older than yoursxgood luck hunny:thumbsup:

Its hard to decide what is best. We both work full time but I can get home at 2 lunchtimes and have two days when I work part time hours as such as I do extra hours on other days so I have a 1/2 day then work from home and a day when I can get home for 2 hours mid day. The fifth day I have a dog walker as there is no chance I can get home. By the end of my holidays he seems quite glad to be getting rid of us!

Some people said we were ill advised to get a dog but he seems happy enough being left, as a rescue he'd already spent 4 months in kennels around dogs that he hates and I'm sure that the life we offer is better than that:) then again you could look at it and say that someone with more time might have eventually took him on.

He never has any accidents and we leave him with food based toys, chew toys and large bones to try and keep him busy :lol:

I think you have had some good advice in the end you know if she is happy and if she makes you happy.

Haha Evei, Takara's breeder when she quizzed us about when we'd be around I was explaining when I would be out but that she wouldn't be left for any more than 4 hours at a time and she told me that she worked full time and if she was late or had a day off, Takara's Dad (who she owned) would often sit looking at her as though to say 'will you go away?? I want to go to bed!' :lol:

Hi pets@home

I've PM'd you.

Thanks
Sarah

Haha Evei, Takara's breeder when she quizzed us about when we'd be around I was explaining when I would be out but that she wouldn't be left for any more than 4 hours at a time and she told me that she worked full time and if she was late or had a day off, Takara's Dad (who she owned) would often sit looking at her as though to say 'will you go away?? I want to go to bed!' :lol:

Thats just the same as D, he was really confused when it snowed and we got sent home :lol:

He goes and puts himself to bed in the morning if I'm running late as if to say 'what are you still doing here?' I suppose it is what they get used to. We fell really lucky that he is so good at being left, he just tucks into his food toys and ignores me when we go out of the door, he loves it when we get back in so we must not be too useless :lol:

If you're really desperate i can offer to let them out for a pee. Like pets@home i can't guarantee everyday,but i could walk my lot on the fields opposite at the same time.

I'm not a professional, i don't have insurance or a crb check before anyone else asks. Oh and i wouldn't want paying either, it'd be favour.
tbh some of the professionals might be worth employing.

Hi Willman
I am hopefully meeting with Nigel (pets@home) soon to try and work something out.
If we can't sort things for any reason I will definitley get in touch.

Thank you
It is a VERY kind offer
Sarah

Thank you to everyone on here for your support.
It looks like I might be able to sort things out with help from some of you.

The offers I have had have been so kind and I truly appreciate them, as does Poppy.

Thank you all so much.
Sarah (& Poppy)

Here is a photo of Poppy that I took this evening...(note the slightly chewed skirting board, courtesy of her!)

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t306/sarahjanephotos/Poppy.jpg

shes beautiful

awww sarah she's soooooo cute! Glad it looks like you've managed to sort it :)

She is very pretty. Love the big dark eyes!

she is a pretty girl glad you could sort the problem out:thumbsup:

she is gorgeous and im so glad youve managed to get sorted. annax

Thank you everyone, I am so pleased that I seem to have found a solution!
She is gorgeous, even if I do say so myself!
x

Thank you to everyone on here for your support.
It looks like I might be able to sort things out with help from some of you.

The offers I have had have been so kind and I truly appreciate them, as does Poppy.

Thank you all so much.
Sarah (& Poppy)

Here is a photo of Poppy that I took this evening...(note the slightly chewed skirting board, courtesy of her!)

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t306/sarahjanephotos/Poppy.jpg

i must say you may be in danger of losing her-only joking i have enough al ready- she is beautifull, would 6pm be ok tonight ? i will bring my driving liecence to confirm i.d.:thumbsup:

6pm would be great!
Thanks!!!

She's beautiful. It's great you've managed to get sorted. It's happy endings like this which remind me why this forum is so good!

Hi Sarah, my emails stopped working for some bizarre reason so i've had to move it to elspeth@barkerandpaws.com
Sorry if you've emailed me, I've been trying to sort it for the last few weeks but have had no success :( I had to google you :rolleyes:
Hope Poppy's well xxxxx

Aww Poppy is gorgeous :love:

I just noticed this thread is 7mths old... how is it all going?

Have you managed to get out much in the evenings at all?

xx

Just seen your thread. I am Irondukes wife. We lost our little girl about two months ago and we dont live too far from you, if you need any more help with walking then i will only be too happy to help.