Talk some sense into me.

[Dopeydapple]

I know this probably isn't the place to get sensible advice on thus one and maybe that's what I want but having said for a few years we aren't getting another dog till we retire / semi retire my OH sent me a link to a malamute at Cardiff blue Cross, apparently he might be coming round to getting a dog again. Now apart from feeding the last ones he did very little to help with them so whatever he says I know I'll have to make time for her, she can fit into my routine but my days are pretty irregular so not a very predictable routine for her. Someone convince me it's the wrong time for a new dog.....

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Have you had a malmute before?

 

[Jenko109]

What do you mean when you say your days are pretty irregular?

 

[CorvusCorax]

My dogs never have a predictable routine (it would actually drive me nuts if they were looking out or badgering me for food or something at a set time of the day) but things happen when they happen, they get fed and exercised every day and their heads don't tend to fall off.
One came to me being walked daily at 5am but he soon learned that wasn't happening in this house but we'll be up very early next two days in a row.
Depends what she is used to, really.

 

[Dopeydapple]

Have you had a malmute before?

Yes had 3 previous ones, always tried to have 2 at a time though so they had company when I'm out.

 

[Dopeydapple]

What do you mean when you say your days are pretty irregular?

Someday I work 4 hours, other days I can do 13 hours but with several 30 minute flying visits home to check / walk them.

 

[Dopeydapple]

My dogs never have a predictable routine (it would actually drive me nuts if they were looking out or badgering me for food or something at a set time of the day) but things happen when they happen, they get fed and exercised every day and their heads don't tend to fall off.
One came to me being walked daily at 5am but he soon learned that wasn't happening in this house but we'll be up very early next two days in a row.
Depends what she is used to, really.

To be honest our previous ones never had too regular a routine for that exact reason and they were very chilled out so....

 

[Amymay Again]

Someday I work 4 hours, other days I can do 13 hours but with several 30 minute flying visits home to check / walk them.

The decision would probably be taken out of your hands, unless your husband is home all the time.

 

[Dopeydapple]

The decision would probably be taken out of your hands, unless your husband is home all the time.

He's not but he has the option of taking her to work with him, again I think this is something he would say then not actually do.

 

[Amymay Again]

So, not a great set up currently

 

[ArklePig]

I don't know if your previous malamutes were rehomes, or you had them from pups, but it might be the case that she comes with a bit of anxiety and you might have to put certain aspects of your life on hold for a while. When we first took our dog home there's no way we could have taken her to a work environment, or left her alone waiting for check ins every couple of hours she would have been so distressed. Took me a while to go to the loo alone in all honesty. I know many rehomed dogs who have been similar, and I know the very odd dog that made themselves at home immediately and were very chill about the whole thing.

So unless someone can be with her the majority of time until she settles in and gets used to her new life I wouldn't personally think this is a good idea.

 

[Dopeydapple]

I don't know if your previous malamutes were rehomes, or you had them from pups, but it might be the case that she comes with a bit of anxiety and you might have to put certain aspects of your life on hold for a while. When we first took our dog home there's no way we could have taken her to a work environment, or left her alone waiting for check ins every couple of hours she would have been so distressed. Took me a while to go to the loo alone in all honesty. I know many rehomed dogs who have been similar, and I know the very odd dog that made themselves at home immediately and were very chill about the whole thing.

So unless someone can be with her the majority of time until she settles in and gets used to her new life I wouldn't personally think this is a good idea.

2 of the 3 were from rescues, OH is a gardener so very relaxed environment just him and her if he did take her, I did say that someone needs to talk me out of it lol.

 

[CorvusCorax]

I don't know if your previous malamutes were rehomes, or you had them from pups, but it might be the case that she comes with a bit of anxiety and you might have to put certain aspects of your life on hold for a while. When we first took our dog home there's no way we could have taken her to a work environment, or left her alone waiting for check ins every couple of hours she would have been so distressed. Took me a while to go to the loo alone in all honesty. I know many rehomed dogs who have been similar, and I know the very odd dog that made themselves at home immediately and were very chill about the whole thing.

So unless someone can be with her the majority of time until she settles in and gets used to her new life I wouldn't personally think this is a good idea.

It's a lot of the reason why they get rehomed in the first place, sadly

 

[Cinnamontoast]

I’m not sure you should do this when your OH sounds like he won’t support anything you do and you’ll be doing all the heavy lifting. Running back and forth to work when your OH could/should be doing his part sounds very unfair. He may talk the talk but you already know he won’t put this into practice.

 

[Dopeydapple]

Yep, I've put my sensible head on and said no. It's just so annoying that when we lost the 2nd one he said no to getting another and that the 3rd one would be the last one until we retire / semi retire, then he changes his mind and I have to be the horrible one saying I don't have enough time to give her the life I want for her. Urgh men

 

[poiuytrewq]

Never EVER believe anyone who previously hasn't bothered too much with dogs (or any other pet) claims they will change and help more, or it will be different this time.
It won't, so YOU have to be the one to make the decision and expect full responsibility for every bit of day to day care imo!

In our house Mr P and my daughter will never have their own dog's again as long as I live!

 

[AppyLover1996]

From what I've read (and please correct me if I'm wrong!) - your OH wants to get a malamute, you have experience with the breed, but you have irregular days and your OH won't really be contributing to help take care of the potential new dog? I'd politely say to your OH that there isn't a hope and you want to stick to the plan of getting a dog when you semi - retire/ retire completely, and if he says anything, I'd politely point out that historically you've done most of the work with previous dogs, you want to make sure you have the best set up for a dog and now simply isn't the best of times x

Your OH is mega keen on the idea of having the dog, but won't really do much to help which means that it'll all be left to you. You already have said that you expect to be doing most of (if not all of) the work with the dog if you do get it, and coupled with the fact that the dog will naturally be unsettled for what could be a long period of time if you do get it, sounds like a stressful time for all involved. In one sense it's great that there isn't a regular routine as it means that you aren't tied to a schedule, however my experience with rescue dogs is that they tend to crave routine and safety for a good period of time before they come out their shell. With you popping in when you are working irregularly, this has the potential to go south sadly. Not saying that the irregular work schedule is a bad thing, but for a rescue it could easily be the tipping point.

I'm experienced with larger breed dogs (German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Dobermans, Huskies and Malamutes in particular) - I once rescued a beautiful Malamute, and was extremely lucky that due to the various work patterns of my family and I, someone was always at home so the time spent alone was minimal. Despite this she never sadly settled. I used all my prior knowledge, took all the advice from the rescue, several behaviourists and the vets, plus a 10 hour car trip to a dog trainer who specialised in Malamutes to see if I was missing something obvious in helping her settle. She became destructive despite plenty of training both physically and mentally, she started blocking the door so that we couldn't open it to leave and on one or two occasions, she leapt the 8 foot garden perimeter fence and followed my Mum to work - how she didn't get hit by a car we do not know to this day! Unfortunately after the second escapee incident, my family and I sat down as a whole and agreed that she needed a lot more than we could give her. It broke my heart as she was the most loyal dog I've ever had and was insanely intelligent, but I'm so pleased that she was happily gifted to a friend of ours who has over 100 acres of land, is always at home and she has a set routine that works great for her. I still get to see her and have cuddles, while she is living her best life - so luckily it was a win win all around.

If you were to go ahead and rescue the Malamute - do you have a back up plan in case things get out of your control and you have to rehome?

 

[Dopeydapple]

From what I've read (and please correct me if I'm wrong!) - your OH wants to get a malamute, you have experience with the breed, but you have irregular days and your OH won't really be contributing to help take care of the potential new dog? I'd politely say to your OH that there isn't a hope and you want to stick to the plan of getting a dog when you semi - retire/ retire completely, and if he says anything, I'd politely point out that historically you've done most of the work with previous dogs, you want to make sure you have the best set up for a dog and now simply isn't the best of times x

Your OH is mega keen on the idea of having the dog, but won't really do much to help which means that it'll all be left to you. You already have said that you expect to be doing most of (if not all of) the work with the dog if you do get it, and coupled with the fact that the dog will naturally be unsettled for what could be a long period of time if you do get it, sounds like a stressful time for all involved. In one sense it's great that there isn't a regular routine as it means that you aren't tied to a schedule, however my experience with rescue dogs is that they tend to crave routine and safety for a good period of time before they come out their shell. With you popping in when you are working irregularly, this has the potential to go south sadly. Not saying that the irregular work schedule is a bad thing, but for a rescue it could easily be the tipping point.

I'm experienced with larger breed dogs (German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Dobermans, Huskies and Malamutes in particular) - I once rescued a beautiful Malamute, and was extremely lucky that due to the various work patterns of my family and I, someone was always at home so the time spent alone was minimal. Despite this she never sadly settled. I used all my prior knowledge, took all the advice from the rescue, several behaviourists and the vets, plus a 10 hour car trip to a dog trainer who specialised in Malamutes to see if I was missing something obvious in helping her settle. She became destructive despite plenty of training both physically and mentally, she started blocking the door so that we couldn't open it to leave and on one or two occasions, she leapt the 8 foot garden perimeter fence and followed my Mum to work - how she didn't get hit by a car we do not know to this day! Unfortunately after the second escapee incident, my family and I sat down as a whole and agreed that she needed a lot more than we could give her. It broke my heart as she was the most loyal dog I've ever had and was insanely intelligent, but I'm so pleased that she was happily gifted to a friend of ours who has over 100 acres of land, is always at home and she has a set routine that works great for her. I still get to see her and have cuddles, while she is living her best life - so luckily it was a win win all around.

If you were to go ahead and rescue the Malamute - do you have a back up plan in case things get out of your control and you have to rehome?

I've told him it's a no go which he's fine with, I would love another Malamute but it's just not the right time. It was much easier taking on a rescue with a settled older dog at home who helped them settle in / gave them confidence / was company if we were out a bit longer etc but that's not where we are at the moment and there's too many days where she would be shoe horned into my schedule and if she needs more than I could give her then there's no more ammendments I could make than what I would of already done to take her in the first place. It's so upsetting to see them in rescue though and you can't help but think "could I??"

 

[AppyLover1996]

I've told him it's a no go which he's fine with, I would love another Malamute but it's just not the right time. It was much easier taking on a rescue with a settled older dog at home who helped them settle in / gave them confidence / was company if we were out a bit longer etc but that's not where we are at the moment and there's too many days where she would be shoe horned into my schedule and if she needs more than I could give her then there's no more ammendments I could make than what I would of already done to take her in the first place. It's so upsetting to see them in rescue though and you can't help but think "could I??"

I still think what could I have done for my girly that I had to give up, even though it was the best for her....

When the time is right the right doggo will come along I'm sure x

 

[Dopeydapple]

Little update, OH says if I drop my hours to make a better routine for a dog he will pick up the shortfall in money for bills etc so I've filled in an application. Dog wouldn't be alone for more than 3 hours and has at least 1.5 hours in between me going back out each time.

 

[AppyLover1996]

Little update, OH says if I drop my hours to make a better routine for a dog he will pick up the shortfall in money for bills etc so I've filled in an application. Dog wouldn't be alone for more than 3 hours and has at least 1.5 hours in between me going back out each time.

So nice to hear a positive update - fingers crossed that everything works out for you guys

 

[Dopeydapple]

Well that was quick, application done on Monday and just had a call from the centre, they think we sound like a good fit and have reserved her for us, we go to meet her on Sunday

 

[Jenko109]

Gosh that is exciting.

I assume she has not had much uptake? I don't know much about Malamutes but I don't think they are that popular are they?

 

[Dopeydapple]

Gosh that is exciting.

I assume she has not had much uptake? I don't know much about Malamutes but I don't think they are that popular are they?

Apparently she has had 3 failed re homes, I think this was at a previous rehoming site but the woman was firing so much info at me I lost track a bit. She is noted as having biten but i was told this was more hard mouthing as there was no broken skin but did leave bruising and was probs when she was about 18 months so the age they do push boundaries. Also told 1 of her homes had issues with resource guarding, so a few things to work on if we get her but they have had 12 months of training her with their trainers so will find out more on Sunday.

 

[Dopeydapple]

Well first visit went well, she seems a happy, friendly girl, visiting again next sunday

 

[Dopeydapple]

3 x visits to her done, she's been out to us today and was very chilled so she's coming for a home trial to hopefully lead to adoption next Tuesday. New harness, lead and joint supplement ordered, still got to shop for a bed and toys. She definitely loves being outside in a garden and didn't like having the door shut to keep her in the house but was OK. I'm hoping that after a bit of time out of kennels and having more exercise and more access to outside generally she will settle indoors better. Poor girl has spent 18 months in kennels so I can understand why she wants to be out as much as she can be.

 

[JoannaC]

Fingers crossed she settles in with you

 

[Dopeydapple]

Fingers crossed she settles in with you

I honestly haven't seen anything from her that worries me. I do think given the report I've seen covering her vet visits / treatments that she came in in a bit of a state and probably hasn't really had much of a chance to be a puppy so I'm expecting a little bit of extra fun and excitement coming out when she settles and some boundary pushing but she seems a nice person so I think we'll get through it all OK.

 

[Jenko109]

All sounds promising. Great news.