I need your opinion, please and thanks

[Sue-Ram]

Starting next week I will be taking a course one night a week from 5:00 – 7:30pm that my employer has arranged to be taught at my office for any employees who are interested. So this means I won’t be home until 8:00pm and I’m not sure what I should do with Ram.

These are my options;

1. Go home at lunch and let him out to do his business and I would have about 20 mins to spend with him.
2. Get a dog walker to spend an hour with him during the day.
3. Take him to a friends house to spend the day and evening. She is retired, but has recently moved her 82 y/o sister in with her who is showing signs of early stages of dementia and they argue all day.
4. Take him to a doggie day care that is 15 mins away from work, and pick him up at 4:15pm, go for a walk and bring him back to work with me for the course.

But, I had taken him to this DDC once before and he didn’t seem to like it. He stayed at the gate all day and barked a lot. I think it’s just that he doesn’t like me to leave him, and no reflection on the place. They have 4 webcams so I can watch him during the day, and I do think it’s a good thing for him to be more independent.

My preference would be #4 but I don’t want him to end up on a therapist’s couch telling them what a terrible mother I am.

[BaconsMom]

I would personally do #4.

[Snowshoe]

I kind of like #3 as it might benefit your friend and her sister as well. But not for all day and the evening. Just for the evening won't work, I guess?

#4 sounds best otherwise. He might be more favourably disposed to the DDC this time around.


Seems like the timing for that course is tight. Don't know what time you finish work but is your employer allowing time for folks with kids to make arrangements for them? And when do you get to eat?

[arentspowell]

They are all fine options, the only thing I would ask about #4 is - has your boss given you the OK to bring him? Have you brought him to work before? Whats the plan for him once he's there at work with you? I would take these things into consideration, you don't want him to become a distraction for you or others during the course.

[POPTOP]

It may not be "one size fits all". How about a rotation between 2, 3 and 4. If one does not work out well, you still have others to fall back on. If he is used to you being gone during the day, a late in the afternoon dog walker, feeding dinner after.

[csblabmom]

Is Ram currently home alone all day? If so, if it were me, I would try and get a dog sitter that would come at the end of the day, walk him, feed him and hang out with him etc until you get home from class.
It would be a perfect "after school" job if there are any students around. (better than babysitting human kids!)

[Berna]

Since he doesn't like doggy day care, I wouldn't do it. I'd hire a dog walker, to walk him once while you are at work. If your dog doesn't have separation anxiety (which I figure he doesn't) he will sleep the rest of the day off. Then you can walk him when you get back home.

Sounds like a very busy schedule, good luck.

[Jeff]

These are my opinions if I was in your scenario.


1) Go home at lunch and let him out to do his business and I would have about 20 mins to spend with him.
This might be what I would end end up doing as a last resort

2) Get a dog walker to spend an hour with him during the day.
Nope, unless you know them, I just have issues trusting strangers with Hemi.

3) Take him to a friends house to spend the day and evening. She is retired, but has recently moved her 82 y/o sister in with her who is showing signs of early stages of dementia and they argue all day.
This can be a blessing or a curse. You know the situation better. On one hand, having Ram around might be actually good for them. Lets face it dogs have a great power to help heal things even emotional issues. But I could understand you if the situation is bad then not wanting Ram alone in that situation where he could be hurt even accidentally.

4) Take him to a doggie day care that is 15 mins away from work, and pick him up at 4:15pm, go for a walk and bring him back to work with me for the course.
This would be my number 1 choice, especially with the cameras, you could keep an eye on him see what he is up to. Chances are he would come home pretty pooped and not mind you being gone.

[doubledip1]

I would do option #4.

[Sue-Ram]

I kind of like #3 as it might benefit your friend and her sister as well. But not for all day and the evening. Just for the evening won't work, I guess?

#4 sounds best otherwise. He might be more favourably disposed to the DDC this time around.


Seems like the timing for that course is tight. Don't know what time you finish work but is your employer allowing time for folks with kids to make arrangements for them? And when do you get to eat?

I finish work at 4:00pm so going home and then taking him to my friend's house and then coming back to work would be really tight especially if there's traffic. Because my employer is making it easier for staff to take the course here instead of having to go downtown after work, as far as kids, dogs and eating goes, that's not their concern.