What am I Gonna Do?

Cortica,


I have a huge dilemma!!!! I started a new job and I am gone all damn day, and I have three big dogs that are use to me being with me every moment! I use to be able to take them to my old job, and we did everything together! This job is not like that, and although I love it so far, my dogs are making me hate it! The last three days two of the three dogs have busted through the fence and are running away from home. They are bored. I have spoiled them to much! My sister has managed to find them and stay with them until I come home around 5:30. I use to leave a door open all day and they could run in the yard and go in the fish pond. There is a huge back yard, but they wont stay in it when I am gone. When I get home at night, they just want to be with me! The real trouble maker who is also my most beloved is a unneutered Taurus male. He is laying here at my feet since I got home. He is so sad and confused that I am no longer able to be with him like before. It is really bothering me. I am considering the only alernative and that is either put a electric fence to keep him in or have his nuts cut off! I wont do the last because he has a lovely disposition and I think that would ruin him. What am I gonna do—?

I meant to tell Cortica in the beginning of that post that I enjoyed the pictures of the pups, and I forgot! The rest of the post is for anybody not specifically directed at, Cortica.

SuzyQ

Animals are adaptable and while it is not an ideal situation (being away from home all day) it is one that going to have to take some getting used to and by you as well.

So, I would imagine you would have the dogs outside b/c you wouldn't want to leave your house unlocked. If they are big dogs, a doggy door would niot be a good idea b/c a person could easily get through. You can't leave them inside all day..that would be cruel for a big dog.

The only option I can see is to do some fencing to make it full proof. Only you will know the capablities of your pooches in the art of escape so will have to focus around that. You said you have 3 of them so they SHOULD keep each other company, BUT you may also have to invest in some play toys, perhaps a sand pit for them to dig in and every day you can bury bones, treats, toys in there for them to dig up.

Animals thrive on routine...you have changed theirs so it will take time for them to accpet a new one. Maybe start by having family or friends drop in a couple of times a day to check on them and have a play and eventually this can be dropped back to once a day then every few days until they are comfortable with the new routine.

Fact is..you have to work...so they will have to adapt. If all that fails you will have to look at other options...do they have doggy sitting over there—? It would be dangerous for them to wander, and I am sure it wouldn't do much for your sanity either. If I think of anything else I will let you know...good luck...our children can really worry us at times can't they. I feel for your dilema, and hope it works out.

Sorry it's taken so long for me to get back to you Suzy - I didn't actually come into this post until today.

I have to stress though that I'm no expert and haven't encountered the same situation (actually there was once with a cat) before, so the advice I'm giving is only my opinion. Having said all that, I think that your dogs will eventually adapt - it would be different if it was just one dog on its own.
Ideally i think, the transition would have been made gradually because, as lawgoddess mentioned, animals function best within a stable routine and dramatic changes are bound to cause reactions that are unpredictable or difficult to manage. It's important to make sure that these reactions don't develop into serious behavioural problems - such as destroying your home or prolonged running away.

So......as a first step I'd try and make your yard escape-proof - definitely important that the dogs have the use of it during the day - I wouldn't desex your dog if you don't want to - his wandering doesn't seem to be related to his entireness, but rather your absence. I think that if you're a responsible owner then desexing shouldn't be a hard and fast rule.

Do you work close to home? Is it possible for you to drop in on them at lunch until they get a bit more used to you being gone all day?

How are they going now? It has been a while since you posted - has their behaviour improved at all?

I don't know if anything I said has helped at all, but let me know how it's going.

Cheerio. H.

Cortica,

This week has been better. They are creatures of habit and it will take sometime. You were right they just needed to get adjusted to the new schedule. I still feel badly to leave them all day. I am gone from 7:30 am - 6:00 pm and they really miss me. I know they are not happy but I try and make it up to them when I can. They literally shawdow my everymove when I am home.

Oh...Oh...*nelly's song starts playing from the background*..


gawd his songs get so annoying after awhile.

deep Luz!

Just a quick line to suzy-q about neutering: It will not "ruin" your dog in the least, my mom has worked at a verterinarian hospital for nine years and she tells me that at the most, it will make the dog a smidge less aggressive. Other than that, it is considered a perfectly fine (often recommended in fact) procedure that unfortunately will hurt the doggy a bit more as he's not a puppy (or is he?) but he will be just fine. Neutering is very humane, it helps the animal population in many ways which I'm sure you've heard a million times before. An added bonus, a neutered dog will not spray p i s s all over everything. Unless you're using that dog for breeding, neutering is a very good idea.