Does anyone else feel guilty leaving their dog?

Or is it just me? Every time I have to go out and put him in his cage I feel so guilty. I hate the though of him being in the cage for hours and I can't even enjoy myself out b/c I know I have to get home to walk him. It's getting to the point where I don't go out unless I have to. I kind of feel tethered to my house. Does anyone else feel like this or am I just crazy?

Re: Does anyone else feel guilty leaving their dog?

You're crazy.

Just kidding. You have to realize, you are the one with the problem with the crate, not your dog. When trained correctly, most of them see it as a safe haven. So if you change your own perception, it will be fine.

We started with the crate and within about six months were able to slowly transition him to having the run of the main room of the house. Nine months later, we have had absolutely no problems with it.

That said, the other day we were in the city all day and had our dog walker visit twice for an hour each time. However, when we walked home from the train station and turned into our driveway, we found Brinkley already laying down at the front door, staring out the window looking for us. That hurt my heart a little bit, wondering how long he had been sitting there.

Re: Does anyone else feel guilty leaving their dog?

You are not crazy!!!! I do. Always did, always will. That's why I got him a friend and I still feel guilty!!! Better though, so maybe getting him a friend if you are up for it will help.

I was like this before I had a child even.Too many people told me I would "forget" about my dogs once I had a child. I told them they were wrong and did not know ME. Well, even with a one year old child, I feel worse when we all go out and have no choice but to leave them (we take ourdogs wherever we can). I actually wont ever take DD for a walk even if I cant take both dogs, b/c they get so excited and want to come. So it's all 4 of us or we don't go.

The more I am home with them (sahm here) the guiltier I feel leaving them. I also feel tethered to my house and never feel totally comfortable leaving if my dogs are home. I am sap. My male dog will literally wait by our back door the entire time we are gone, even if it were hours. So the max we ever leave them is 6 hrs and that is RARE. We take them to families houses on holidays for this reason.

My heart broke tonight as I was getting DDs stuff ready to go and my doggies got excited seeing the diaper bag, and seeing me get the stuff together. They thought they were coming. But they could not. So I am actually up right now with my dogs b/c dh and baby are sleeping, and I wanted to spend some alone time with my doggies .I am such a sap. I always worry about them.Just the thought of my male dog waiitng for hours in one spot, for us, breaks my heart so badly. I even set up one of his beds there but he can't relax until we are home. He has his head on my shoulder right now as I type (on the couch cushion so he is behind me).

You are not alone.

Message edited 1/2/2010 2:00:03 AM.

Re: Does anyone else feel guilty leaving their dog?

Guess it's just us.

Re: Does anyone else feel guilty leaving their dog?

I feel bad leaving Lilly every Monday when I have to go to work. All weekend long, she's either on our laps or snugled in right next to us. She sleeps in our bed as well and it kills me to have her in her crate whenever we are out of the house.

If we weren't positive that she turns into Captain Destructo when we are out of the house and she's left alone, we would leave her gated in the living room. Unfortunately, she has created her own crate-fate ( ) by her actions in the past. Crating, her, as much as it kills us, is in the best interest of her safety.

She has actually grown to LOVE her crate and goes in it willingly.

Re: Does anyone else feel guilty leaving their dog?

Don't worry, You're not alone, I feel terrible leaving my pups home alone all day while I'm work. I bought another pug, because I thought she was loney during the day, but now it's just as bad, now I feel twice as bad. The first pug has such bad separation problems too, that she pulls on my pant leg in the morning when I try to leave for work. It actually breaks my heart.

I don't even want to go away in 3 weeks and leave them. I'm going to be a mess.

Re: Does anyone else feel guilty leaving their dog?

Thanks everyone. Glad to know it's not just me.

Re: Does anyone else feel guilty leaving their dog?

When I first got my Sadler, I felt the exact same way as you. I never went out. I left him all day while I was at work, that I would feel guilty leaving him at night. If I had to go somewhere, I would bring him to my parents so he wouldn't be alone. Now that we added 2 to the mix I don't feel so bad,.

Re: Does anyone else feel guilty leaving their dog?

I feel that way too - guilty about leaving my dog behind. I do things to combat my guilt. If I"m leaving for the day or a night out I make sure I take him on a very long walk (at least 1hr) at some point beforehand. Then I know he's tired and will just sleep when we're gone. I also hide a kong with his meal and a few special treats inside or a flossie/bone somewhere in the apt for him to find. I don't leave toys laying around unless it's his rubber gorilla toy, which I know he can't destroy and possibly swallow.

While I'm out, I do enjoy myself, but definitely find myself watching the clock to make sure I'm not leaving him alone too long (i.e. more than 7hrs). Sometimes I'll arrange for his dog walker to make a special trip if we'll be gone longer. I also have found that I don't like to go to dinner after a full day of working (i'm not working now but when i was). I'd save that for a night when DH could be home w/ him or on the weekend.

DH always comments on how so many ppl think we're crazy and pamper our dog, and how they'll just leave their dog alone for 10hrs straight without an ounce of guilt. That's fine for them, but I still feel bad. He is such a social boy and loves being with us that I feel guilty doing that myself. I say to each his/her own, so long as the dog is okay with it.

Re: Does anyone else feel guilty leaving their dog?

Not crazy.
I feel guilty leaving my cats and they ENJOY being alone!