What to do!?

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serena2005

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I feel terrible and dont know what to do for the best.

sorry if this is long and boring but an oursiders opinion is always a clearer opinion, not shadow by guilt or feelings...

so this is the situation:

I took in Nanook in march last year for the weekend for the police, however hes never left as i didnt have the heart to take him to the kennels :(
we had planned to move house by now, so we would have a bigger place, to suit the dog! ( currently in a flat without a garden) however things have changed and that probably wont happen for a long time due to work commitments.

Im also pregnant which is starting to make me think about poor Nooks furture with us :( hes a very big dog and we really have to work hard some days to find the time to take him out 3-4 times a day! how am i going to cope walking him with a baby and my 5 year old!? plus hes not even 2 so hes a big bouncy bundle of a dog, not sure how he would be with a baby about.

i dont know what to do for the best!?

keep him and hope things work out in the long term?
make a tough decision and find him his 5th home?

if only there was a option to full loan him out for a little while like u can with horses!
 
Oh dear, not a good situation. However, are you coping ok now? Is he happy? I don't think it matters to a dog particularly if they don't have a big house and garden etc. I think it's more important they have a consistent home life and discipline - of course they do need adequate exercise.

I am assuming he is fine with your 5 yo so the prospect of the new baby isn't the problem as such it's more the time issues? Is it possible to get a dog walker to maybe pop the dog out at lunch times if you are working? Could anyone from this forum who lives nearby assist you maybe?

I think there are ways to work it so you can cope and the dog is happy BUT at the end of the day, IF you decide to rehome him it isn't the worst thing that can happen. It depends I guess on how long you think you're going to be in your situation - ie before you move. You could maybe foster him out if you know anyone who could take him short term?
 
I would keep him and see how it works out, my mother was walking two when I was two weeks overdue and we always had at least one adult GSD when I was growing up, my mum worked full time too.
The dog will adapt.

However I know there would be people on here who would take your hand off for a dog like that! Hope he gets sorted, whatever happens x
 
He's great with my 5 year old, he can be a bit pushy when she tries to play with him, i do worry about the whole play biting thing, which iv been trying not to let him do.

I work part time but most of the other time is spent on the school run or up the stables, i usually walk him on the weekends, its my OH who has to deal with him during the week and juggle a full time job.
He never wanted a dog so he stresses him out quite alot which he takes out on me sometimes as i insisted on having him. i suppose it feels worse at the mo because its winter and its horrible going out in this weather espically when he comes back covered in mud and stinking to high heaven!

i have asked everyone i know and their friends if anyone will take him for a while, and the answer is always the same, if he wasnt so big they would!
 
Thing is, you don't want to be putting excess stresses on yourself BUT I also think you may be overcomplicating things as well. If you really do want to keep the dog then I believe you will find a way to keep him but if you are not entirely sure then that's where the problem lies. s it just the walking that is the issue though? If so I don't see the problem if that has been going ok up til now. What happens with the dog usually on the days you are working? i am not quite sure how things are going to differ too much with a baby?

People have kept dogs (of all sizes) and had babies for a long time so it must be possible. If you really feel you cannot cope though then i would look seriously in to finding him the appropriate new long term home.
 
Ahh, that's a shame, if you were in central London I know a bloke who'd give his two front teeth to come and walk/run a big hairy dog a few times a week (and/or come and drop him off at mine for a few months, lol).
 
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