I did register with borrow my doggie, I was just interested. I did have to go through various verifications, checking email, and address, maybe more I can't remember. I got detailed biographies of people who then wanted to take Benson out, they also had to be verified. It does seem quite a good system.
I so totally admire your honesty both @drjs@5 and @FinnOfSoCal . I have been thinking more about this thread. This is an internet forum after all, it's a snapshot of bits of our lives with our dogs. I definitely see it as a place of help and information, which I can choose to apply or not. Myself, I think that "best practice" should always be aimed for i.e not leaving puppies alone for hours and hours, you just couldn't promote that as a good thing. So the right thing is to state that it's not the right thing --- but to offer ideas as to how the situation can be improved with the use of dog walkers etc......which is what happens as far as I can see.
Okay, I have been a member of borrow my doggie, for a couple of years. Harley now occasionaly walks Otis, and they have a lovely bond, he takes him for long country walks, and to visit his grandpa in an old folks home. I trust Harley, he is great with Otis. Recently though, I was looking for someone else, and contacted a woman who admitted to me that she had a personality disorder, she took Otis out a couple of times, and she seemed quite a nice woman, but she then messaged me making a bit of a judgement, saying as I was at home all day, I could walk him ! I am in a lucky position in that because of mental health problems I do not work, and so am at home nearly all the time with Otis. I joined borrow my doggy as a way of getting extra walks for Otis, a couple have contacted me, who are going to take him out next weekend, they seem nice. You can interview the people, and find out a bit about them, then if you feel comfortable with them, let them walk your dog. I think borrow my doggy is a great idea, and would recommend it .
That's really interesting - thanks so much for sharing your experiences! I so much wish they were outside UK/Ireland as it would be wonderful for me while I'm still looking for my next dog. Much more efficient than chatting up random strangers with a dog and offering to walk them - the dogs, not the strangers.
@Emily_BabbelHund You could be the first international dog aunite, flying all over the world for us forum members... I think Jetlag may be a occupational risk England, NZ, Auz, Spain, France etc etc
I put Libby on Borrow my Doggy when she was small and I was at my wits end. I probably wouldn't do it now I'm so attached and in love with her but we met a lovely lady and her family through it who now takes Libby for a good long walk Wednesday mornings and her family take her out some Saturdays. It's a fantastic arrangement. I've turned some people down, one because they looked 'wrong' and others since we've found Zoe. I like that Libby is happy to go with other people. I can feel a money spinner for anyone wanting to arrange it in other countries!!
Haha! I was thinking just that this morning. Here in Canada, I've never heard of it, it's a brilliant idea. Actually, I may have signed up INSTEAD of getting Corona! I really missed having a dog but I also enjoyed having my freedom, it would have been the perfect set-up. Of course, now I wouldn't change a thing, even though she's a stinker sometimes
I used to borrow my friend's lab all the time and take him on walks and to the park. They were stoked I was there to give him some attention. Same thing with my roommate's dog...I would take her out all the time. I loved it! I wish there was a reliable site like that here in the states! I'd let someone take Finn around.
I think I'm too protective. I'd panic they stole him. I'm bad enough trying to find a doggy day care I find acceptable - even though they're getting paid! I'm like one of those parents who thinks their child is the best when really they're a little rotter
I rescued a 7 month old, partly because I thought it would be easier than a puppy. Our apartment is on the 4th floor and having to take a puppy out every couple of hours would have been much harder than on the ground floor with a garden. And I thought that at 7 months he could be alone for 1-2 hours. But, I was totally wrong! If anyone left the house, even if there was someone still home with him, Lucky would go into a state of panic, running between the door and the windows whining and barking. So, we couldn't leave him alone for a minute. My boyfriend wasn't working and my job is flexible so I can work at home, and we also found a vet student through an online ad who looked after him when we went out. So, my experience is that rescuing a dog isn't always a better option for people who work full time, or want to leave the house without taking their dog! Now Lucky is happy to be by himself, but we don't leave him for more than 4 hours per day. Mainly because I've seen this number a lot, and because we take him out every 4-5 hours. I don't know if he needs to go out this often, because he saves his pee for marking, but I don't think it's fair to not have the chance to go to the toilet all day. My boyfriend works part-time, but his hours are in the afternoons and evenings. So, Lucky is only alone in the afternoon. If we are ever both working full time, our plan is to stagger our days, with one working 7-3 and the other 10-6 and have a dog walker come at lunchtime. We don't leave him alone in the evening because this is the time when he wants the most interaction, so we always pay a dog sitter to look after him if we go out. One thing I have noticed is that when I come home Lucky is usually in a very deep sleep. If we're home, I get the feeling that he's always half listening to what we're doing. So, maybe for dogs that find it hard to switch off when their family is home, it might be beneficial to have a couple of hours alone to really relax.
I work full-time and live only with my 11 year old son and within a few days of my pup coming home (she's now 22 weeks) I felt I had made a terrible mistake. I work at home a lot of the week so just naively presumed this would be enough. I didn't anticipate the attention my pup would need when she was awake. I found juggling work and her very very stressful and would find myself walking around the garden, kicking balls, picking up poo and talking to clients or colleagues on the phone all at once. I remember her being in the lounge one time chilled out when my work phone rang and as soon as I answered it, she woke up, started darting about and then wee-d in the middle of the floor and I couldn't respond until I'd finished my call! I had wanted a dog for years and years but my head had always ruled my heart and it was never the right time. I used to look after friends' dogs and when the last one was put to sleep a year ago I think that was a turning point and I became desperate for a dog. I looked for a rescue for months and months but every dog I was interested in would have a list of reasons as to why I wasn't a suitable owner. And then I got fixated on having a pup and convinced myself it would be fine. Work really suffered initially as I dedicated myself to meeting her needs. Now she is older she goes to Doggy daycare 1-2 days a week. The irony is that I used to work part-time but never could've afforded a pup then, now I can afford it (and boy, it's expensive!) I wish I worked those part-time hours. I have just started to relax my 'no pup on the sofa' rule. I find it hard but it means she can relax and snooze next to me whilst I work on my laptop and I don't have to shut her in the kitchen or in her crate, which makes me feel better. It really does take some working at and I have to say, no amount of reading/researching, even growing up with three labs as a child/teen could have prepared me for the reality of owning a pup. I just feel I was on a mission and nothing was going to get in my way! Now she is older and she has settled a lot (for now) but I still have to do a lot of juggling and it can still be very stressful sometimes. I love the weekends! It's interesting; I have made no secret of the fact at work as to how much I have struggled working full-time and owning a pup and some days I would go into work knackered, morose, barely able to think straight and yet two of my colleagues want a pup!!! In essence, it's doable but takes a lot of hard work and juggling. I love my pup to bits now and we're working it out but I still think I was mad!
I was getting into such a tizzy and on permanent look out as time went on and they hadn't returned the first few times! I have total trust now
Oh my I could have written this. I am in the same situation (sans child, however). I thought I'd be all set working from home with the puppy, but it is HARD. My work has suffered as a result. I have to leave the house and go to a coffee shop a lot of times because I just need a moment with no distractions. But it's still hard once I get to the coffee shop to wind my brain down from the stress and focus. I'm curious about your new sofa rules, because I want Finn to be able to wander freely but he has now discovered the game of jumping on the sofa to get a rise out of me. I dislike the idea of having dogs on the sofa but I'm wondering if I should get him a blanket to sit on. I just worry that if I let him up there he won't settle and will instead be jumping on me. Did Plum jump on you or did she just settle once she was allowed up there?
