Some Advice regarding someone else's dog........
Discussion
Hi, bit of an odd one this. I have some acquaintances who have a 1 year old Labrador b
h which I don't think is being cared for properly.
A bit of background for you. They have one of the only dog friendly pubs I know of in my area and i've been going there with my dog for just over three years, as such my dog has become very well known and will wander around being fussed by staff and punters alike. The owners love her and two years ago decided to get a puppy of their own. Said puppy was tragically knocked over and killed a year ago. They then went out and bought another.
Now this is where my problems come in.
They have a dog friendly pub yet the dog stays upstairs barking all day while the owners work. If i'm sat outside I see her sat at the window barking. They barely walk her, all i've ever seen them do is walk accross the road and let her do her business then it's straight back upstairs. I've often asked why they don't take her to the beach as we're on the east coast. This is met with "she's scared of water, wind and rain"
Last week I was asked to look after her overnight which I agreed to, I thought it would be good opportunity to give her a damn good work and see if she really is scared of water.
When she was brought down to me her eyes were bulging and she looked like she was about to explode, nothing like a lab at all. I took her to the beach for a damn good run, she ran straight into the sea with my dog, swam and basically had a wonderful afternoon running and playing. Whilst walking along a pebbly part she was terrified of walking on the stones, confirming to me she had never been or felt pebbles on her feet.I got passed it though and encouraged her along. Afterwards the bulging eyes had gone and the classic Lab 'Smile' had appeared.
Later back at mine it became apparent she had no house training at all. And after the second accident she went and hid and flinched away when i went near her which made me think she gets hit when she makes a mess.
Basically I don't think she's being mistreated, I know she gets a lot of love and affection, I just feel that she isn't being cared for in the correct manner for a lab. Their son is more than happy to come for a walk with me and my dog but when i suggest bring his dog he says "She's asleep". She's 1 for christs sake!
Sorry for the long post, it's just driving me mad.
h which I don't think is being cared for properly.A bit of background for you. They have one of the only dog friendly pubs I know of in my area and i've been going there with my dog for just over three years, as such my dog has become very well known and will wander around being fussed by staff and punters alike. The owners love her and two years ago decided to get a puppy of their own. Said puppy was tragically knocked over and killed a year ago. They then went out and bought another.
Now this is where my problems come in.
They have a dog friendly pub yet the dog stays upstairs barking all day while the owners work. If i'm sat outside I see her sat at the window barking. They barely walk her, all i've ever seen them do is walk accross the road and let her do her business then it's straight back upstairs. I've often asked why they don't take her to the beach as we're on the east coast. This is met with "she's scared of water, wind and rain"
Last week I was asked to look after her overnight which I agreed to, I thought it would be good opportunity to give her a damn good work and see if she really is scared of water.
When she was brought down to me her eyes were bulging and she looked like she was about to explode, nothing like a lab at all. I took her to the beach for a damn good run, she ran straight into the sea with my dog, swam and basically had a wonderful afternoon running and playing. Whilst walking along a pebbly part she was terrified of walking on the stones, confirming to me she had never been or felt pebbles on her feet.I got passed it though and encouraged her along. Afterwards the bulging eyes had gone and the classic Lab 'Smile' had appeared.
Later back at mine it became apparent she had no house training at all. And after the second accident she went and hid and flinched away when i went near her which made me think she gets hit when she makes a mess.
Basically I don't think she's being mistreated, I know she gets a lot of love and affection, I just feel that she isn't being cared for in the correct manner for a lab. Their son is more than happy to come for a walk with me and my dog but when i suggest bring his dog he says "She's asleep". She's 1 for christs sake!
Sorry for the long post, it's just driving me mad.
I had thought about the RSPCA, I just don't know if I'm overreacting. I really wish I'd taken a photo of how she looked when I picked her up. She looked like she was being throttled.
I've also thought about offering to adopt her but I'm sure I'd cause offence.
I really do think a discreet call to the rspca is in order, I fear it may not be taken seriously though.
I've also thought about offering to adopt her but I'm sure I'd cause offence.
I really do think a discreet call to the rspca is in order, I fear it may not be taken seriously though.
That had to be the.most pathetic excuse ever "she's asleep",
Tell them your dog loved her company and you want to take her out for your dogs sake.
You could phone RSPCA but I'm not sure they have enough to act upon, though they can offer advice but the owners may realise you phoned and break the chance of you getting to know her better. It would be taken seriously though.
Were they the same with the dog that got run over?. Could they be scared the same may happen to her?
Tell them your dog loved her company and you want to take her out for your dogs sake.
You could phone RSPCA but I'm not sure they have enough to act upon, though they can offer advice but the owners may realise you phoned and break the chance of you getting to know her better. It would be taken seriously though.
Were they the same with the dog that got run over?. Could they be scared the same may happen to her?
Hi Bex, they were the same with the last dog too. I used to take her out a fair bit with mine but it came to a point where it was almost expected. I promised myself I wouldn't do it again as although I hate her not being walked she ultimately isn't my responsibility. They have asked me to have her overnight again on Saturday but I've said no before I make a rod for my own back.
I forgot to add, after I had her last she apparently slept for hours and they thought I'd made her ill. In reality she was just shattered from a good walk/swim and she clearly wasn't used to it. I really am stuck.
I forgot to add, after I had her last she apparently slept for hours and they thought I'd made her ill. In reality she was just shattered from a good walk/swim and she clearly wasn't used to it. I really am stuck.
As I see it You have 4 main options
1-You make that rod for your back and feel good knowing you are improving her qol.
2-You have an honest chat to them re the dogs lack of qol and hope they take note,
3-You wipe your hands clean of her and accept that this is the life she is going to get and there is nothing you can/will do so don't worry about her (no point worrying if you don't want to get involved if you see what I mean; the harsh approach basically)
4-You phone the RSPCA and hope they intervene but if they don't decide whether you are going to do number 1 or 3 (assuming you'd have already tried to do number 2!)
I've simplified it I know but as far as I can tell these are your main options so I just hope that clarifies it for you. It is never easy knowing that someone's care of an animal is well below par..
Not great options
1-You make that rod for your back and feel good knowing you are improving her qol.
2-You have an honest chat to them re the dogs lack of qol and hope they take note,
3-You wipe your hands clean of her and accept that this is the life she is going to get and there is nothing you can/will do so don't worry about her (no point worrying if you don't want to get involved if you see what I mean; the harsh approach basically)
4-You phone the RSPCA and hope they intervene but if they don't decide whether you are going to do number 1 or 3 (assuming you'd have already tried to do number 2!)
I've simplified it I know but as far as I can tell these are your main options so I just hope that clarifies it for you. It is never easy knowing that someone's care of an animal is well below par..
Not great options
Edited by bexVN on Thursday 4th June 02:53
bexVN said:
As I see it You have 4 main options
2-You have an honest chat to them re the dogs lack of qol and hope they take note,
This looks like the most awkward but best option to me! You know them well enough to be able to have this level of conversation with them, so hopefully would yield the right result!2-You have an honest chat to them re the dogs lack of qol and hope they take note,
I once went to see if I could take the dog for a walk, as I arrived the son was letting her have a wee outside, as he walked back in with her I pulled up and offered to take her. He said yeah no probs so I bundled her in the boot and set off. I was gone 2 hours. After the walk I went to the pub for a drink. Walked in, owner said "hi have you come to get the dog to take her out?" They'd not even noticed she'd gone.
So stealing is a possibility!
So stealing is a possibility!
VRSAndy said:
I once went to see if I could take the dog for a walk, as I arrived the son was letting her have a wee outside, as he walked back in with her I pulled up and offered to take her. He said yeah no probs so I bundled her in the boot and set off. I was gone 2 hours. After the walk I went to the pub for a drink. Walked in, owner said "hi have you come to get the dog to take her out?" They'd not even noticed she'd gone.
So stealing is a possibility!
Suspect from what you've said they wouldn't say anything.So stealing is a possibility!
We went through exactly the same thing with a pub dog, in the end she came to us for a 'holiday' and stayed.
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