worried about friends dog - UPDATE!!!

[twinkle2]

Hi all!
Well went over tonight, he was out in the back yard. So i said my bit and as i thought it went down like a lead balloon. She got upset then her Husband came in and started saying why they have done it - his words were, i cant handle the hair, im hoovering all the time and he makes the place dirty, we have new floors etc etc.... i said what did you expect? (i told them all this when they said they were getting him) Then I said look do you want him or not? I got a complete look of horror and they said how could i even say that, i gave my reasons again. They both assured me he gets all the love and affection he could need (didnt see any of it though while i was there, apart from what i gave him) but that he is still going to stay outside. They said he is walked twice a day aswell. So ive said my bit but its almost 100% he wont be living back in the house. I also checked and he had toys and lots of bedding in his new kennel, its honestly huge, its like a dog mansion. It has improved alot since my mum last went over but it stills niggles at me. He went mad when i went out to him by the way, i spent more time with him than them!! I came back in the house and looked like id been mud wrestling, i made a point of saying (sarcastically) ill stand up cause dont want to ruin your chairs! I tried to work out if he seemed happy but it was difficult to say cause i only saw him when he went mad at seeing me! So what do you think? Would this be seen as acceptable? Should I be doing more? if so, what? p.s i asked if could have him during the day some weekends and she said yes, she didnt think this was odd cause she knows how much i love him and dogs in general so trust me he will be loving his weekends!!!! x

[B00]

Oh its a toughy twinkle :-(

Personally, it breaks my heart to think that he's alone 99% of the time, dogs are natural pack animals, they dont react well to being left alone without company of any sort.

I think your quandry now is- you know he's cared for physically, but emotionally? id say no he's not.

I still dont understand why they are stubbornly refusing to have him rehomed.

What i'm trying to say here- I really dont know where you can or should go with this. Perhaps others may have sounder advise than me. I'm afraid imma softy and let my heart rule my head over things like this.

[maggie01]

I can't see there's a lot more you can do. He has somewhere dry,bedding food and water. At least he has his weekends to look forward to. He has at least got you to give him some love. I feel very sorry for him but I suppose he's better off than some even if the situation is not good. The winter must be hard for him as it gets dark early. At least in the summertime the daylight hours will be longer and he may not feel so alone. Just do your best for him, that's all you can do till they see sense.

[lankeela]

Maybe if you get him at weekends, they will realise life is easier without him and let you keep him. Make a point of sending him back muddy!

[drgnrdr]

I agree that you have done what you can, I knew they had no common sense. At least they have tried to give him a nice place outside, he may start to guard his area more and more, depending on his breeding, (genetics). If he has food and shelter and a warm spot, then that is it. Try to get over there, if you could get him a few weekends in a row maybe you can take him to a training class, that would make him more pleasant to be around, he will always go nuts when he finally is reunited with his pack maybe training will help you get him under control. Try to do what you can for him.

Good luck and the best to you, you can always visit the topic again at a later date.

Did they ever say why they got a dog in the first place? And why they chose this particular breed? I was just curious...~/:\~

[shaneystar2]

How they can sit indoors in the warm knowing that he is outside,alone ,albeit in a kennel ,is beyond me.Dogs need companionship.We need them as companions.God help any children they ever have.
You though are a star Twinkle to be so concerned. Good luck and I hope they come to their senses.

[woofgang]

we got involved with a potential rescue once, young male weimaraner, no training, no exercise, had dug through a wooden door and eaten a 3 piece suite, poohed all over the house and bitten the wife. It didn't come to anything because they both "loved the dog too much to let him go" some people..........

well done twink though, Saint Francis sees you and blesses you

[mydogsandme]

any chance that they would let him go and get a smaller, less messy breed? Not ideal I know but then he may get the home he deserves. Some people get bigger breeds that look "macho" and the man won't be seen with a small dog. I have a messy, dirty cocker spaniel (who's deeply loved just the way she is) who sheds and wipes her face on the tables and carpets(!) and a dachshund who I can honestly say makes hardly any dirt at all. He likes being clean and only walks on paths while we're out while my cocker ploughs through the mud and puddles. She could have had a non-moulting breed like a poodle or bichon. Just thought if you ran that past her she might re-consider, only of course if she'd let that live in the house! You're doing a great job anyhow, twinkle. Bless you.

[orange-gnome]

Thanks for letting us all know twinkle, he has hardly left my thoughts these last couple of days!

It is a hard one, I mean, I know of guard dogs (g.shepherds) who live outside all the time and have virtually no human contact either but at least they have each other! Like Boo says, dogs are pack animals and are always going to be miserable when they are on their own! It breaks my heart even more because he is a lab and these are such loving dogs who love to have attention, no wonder the poor boy goes nuts when you go out to see him, he is obviously not getting enough attention.
I would hate to suggest that they get him a companion dog and put another dog through it but if they wont give him up, he would be so much less lonely with another dog buddy to play with and cuddle up to!

Its great that you are having him to stay regularly....good for you twinkle!! You have done a great job!!
It must be hard as you can't force them to give him up and its not like he isn't being fed or anything, some people have different ideas about how to keep a dog I suppose. I do think you have to make it clear though that they cannot leave him alone for days at a time while they go galavanting across the globe!!!! That is totally unacceptable!!
All in all though at least you have let them know that it's not really right to keep him that way and you can't actually do an awful lot more! Do they think about his happiness?
WELL DONE TWINKLE!!!!
Next time you see him give him a big kiss and hug from me and my doggies!!!