A little history of the situation....
I bought a dog back in march 2012 for my son's 4th birthday. At the time I was working a job that was only 10 minutes away (really only 5 but 10 due to traffic lights) and it allowed me to come home at lunch to play and take our puppy for his mid-day walk. I was also for a short time allowed to bring the puppy to work which allowed me to walk him frequently and do many potty breaks. That ended when the puppy pooped in his crate and my co-worker said no more. He ended up having to stay home after that. Then I hired a dog walker to assist on the days I couldn't make it home for lunch.
Then sadly all of that changed in June 2012 when I lost my job. Prior to this I moved as my neighbor below continually complained about the puppy whining and barking even though I hired a dog sitter to assist me when the puppy was home. We moved into a duplex with a large back yard and other neighbors with dogs. When I was home unemployed my dog got continual exercise due to running around the yards for hours and on walks to the park or where ever we went.
Once I started a new job in July 2012 that required a 20+ mile one way commute and having to start earlier has really put a strain on the care and exercise of my dog. For a while the dog spent most of it days in the backyard running around. That ended when the flea infestation became uncontrollable and bringing the infestation into our home. I ended up having to build a large enclosure in the garage to keep the dog contained. He has a potty area in there along with water and food.
This new unfortunate life style change is unfair to my poor dog. I am not in a position financially to pay for a dog walker at this time. I have discussed with my son about giving his dog to a new family and he refuses to allow that to happen and i personally do not want to do that again to him as I had to give away his kitten and it crushed him for months :(
We came up with a plan to walk our dog in the early mornings but have failed to do so. My problem is that I am a single parent with no support where we live to help out in watching my son while he sleeps so I can walk my dog. My son agreed to go in the early morning (6a) to walk our dog so we can keep him.
My problem is....at 6a its VERY cold, sometimes raining....I do not feel its fair my son should endure the freezing weather or rain for the sake of our dog. However, our dog NEEDS the exercise. What can I put my almost 5yr old son in to include him in this walk and keep the cold weather away from him during our early AM walks? We live in Sacramento California where our mornings get down to 40 degrees. Sometimes colder!!
ANY SUGGESTIONS OR INPUT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!!!!
*********** EDITED ******************
my dog is on flea treatment as well as my yard is regularly treated for fleas. But the infestation is still present and a continual hassle. The decision to place the dog in the garage was to keep him out of the rain, keep his flea infestation under control and out of the mud pit in the back yard (he will be black by days end). This also allowed him continual shelter and warmth as he has a dog bed w/ blankets and I put stuff down to get him off the cold garage floor. His enclosure is quite large and gives him the ability to play, move and sleep without issues. Eventually I will be rearranging the garage to allow him more access to the garage. I have a light in the garage with a timer to allow for continual light so he isn't always in the dark in the garage. I am also considering getting him a used treadmill for those really rainy days and will be looking into arrangements in bringing him to work with me on certain days of the week.
I agree with those who say 40 degrees is not that cold :) Granted, I'm a Minnesotan, but we get out to walk dogs and kids to school as long as it's not 30 BELOW zero.
I am also in the camp of - maybe it's time to reconsider having this dog. :( I know. It's hard, but sometimes the hard decisions are the right ones.
When my boys walk to school this morning it will be -11 degrees f. They will wear snow pants, parkas, boots, hats, scarves and mitts. At 40 degrees a sweater, a good rain coat and some rubber boots should be fine.
I'm sorry, but I'm probably going to say something unpopular. Your son's feelings need to come second in the equation here, Mom. Sometimes kids don't get to have everything they want. My opinion is that you bought the wrong breed of dog and you are no longer a good family for him.
This happens. Try not to feel awful about it. What would be wrong is to continue to make this dog live like this. You need to find him a new home - one that fits his breed's needs.
Your son does not have say in your home. I am not sure even walking your dog at 6 am is going to fix the problem. Your son says he wants to walk that early, but that's not the reality of it. He needs to be asleep in your house.
Please consider what I am saying. You are the adult. He is the child. He can be upset and that's okay. But he cannot tell you no. The needs of the dog and of the family as a unit come first.
Good luck with your decision,
Dawn
Not what you asked ) Most 10yo-12yo boys I know would LOVE $10 a week to walk a dog. They won't be 100%, since they're 10, and do get sick / have familiar vacations, etc... But if you counted on it as an EASEMENT, instead of "you're a business who needs to provide 5 or 7 365 perfect Attendence... You might find exactly what you need, for an affordable price.
1) Sleeping bag & wagon. Just toss the bag in the dryer when you get home.
2) Warm clothes and umbrella & rain boots with wooly socks. The walking & warm clothes will keep him as warm as sitting bundled.
3) 40 and raining is hoodie weather up here. Its not really that cold... So it affects kids a lot less than we adults who are acclimated to certain temps (kind of like if you read someone saying its wicked hot out -75 to 80- how do I keep my kids from overheating?) For adults, we acclimate to temperatures. I wore Woolley socks and snow clothes at 70 degrees when living in 110-120 degrees, and couldn't stop shaking and shivering / went and sat by a fire in a sleeping bag at 50 degrees. Meanwhile MOST people are in shorts in 70 degree weather, and northerners are in shorts when its 50 out.
I worked on a farm @ 4am breathing frost in 20 degree weather and stamping around to feel my feet. IMHO that's "character building". Uncomfy, but no harm comes from it. Just need stout boots, hat, and gloves. This is an act of love. And lesson in responsibility. When "my" horse had colic, I was out at 3am in a sleeping bag poncho, night shirt, and barn boots walking circles for 2 hours.
I believe, quite firmly, that learning to do things I disliked, for someone I love (4 feet or 2)... Has stood me in good stead. Especially as a mom, but also as an adult in general.
So you have a yard that is fenced in but just don't let the dog go out due to fleas? There are products you can use to repel the fleas where they should not get on the dog. He could use the gel once per month or wear a flea collar full time. You could also spray your yard for fleas to get them gone or to get them thinned out.
I would think eliminating the flea issue would solve all your issues. Putting a doggy door in the garage door so he can go in and out, if he's hot he can go in, if he's cold he can go in, it seems like a normal thing to do.
Let him use his yard and you take care of the flea issue.
fair? what's fair? your son wants to keep the dog, but it's not 'fair' that he has to deal with weather in order to do so?
i think the best solution would be to re-home the dog. you are a good responsible pet owner, but life has made circumstances very difficult for you to keep this dog. of course your son will disappointed, but what's really 'unfair' is keeping this dog in less than agreeable circumstances. again, that's no judgment on you. you clearly want to do the best you can, but your situation right now makes it nearly impossible.
if you decide to keep the dog, you dress your son and walk him. kids have been going out in cold weather to care for animals for millenia, but today they have the advantage of polar fleece and excellent rain gear and waterproof warm boots. this is easy.
i don't know why you don't have the yard and the dog treated for fleas. it's not cheap but by far the best and healthiest solution for the dog.
good luck!
khairete
S.
1- As dog owners, we MUST treat our dog for fleas and use heartworm prevention. That is a MUST. There will be no flea infestation in your home after treating yard and house for fleas, then KEEPING the dog on flea medication. Some of these flea meds are so effective that the fleas die off even without treating the whole house plus yard.
2- 40 degrees is not freezing, and will not harm a child with a coat on and using an umbrella/raincoat, unless the child has a medical condition that contra-indicates him being in cool weather or being in cool dampness. Even actual freezing temperatures (as long as not too far below freezing) are not dangerous as long as the child has adequate clothing.
3- The early morning exercise and bonding time for the 3 of you can actually be quite beneficial.
4- Used clothing stores, Goodwill, and such, usually have great deals on jackets, gloves and scarves and sometimes even flannel-lined raincoats.
i am a huge animal lover, and what you are describing is just a miserable living situation for the dog... you seem to be aware of that, and have good intentions, but seemingly no delivery of said good intentions. you need to do one of two things:
1. rehome the dog to a better home where he will get the time, love, attention, training, exercise that a puppy NEEDS(realize that puppy's NEEDS trump son's WANTS)
2. make a LOT of changes in your dog's living situation... i've had up to 5 indoor dogs at a time and NEVER had a flea infestation - it's fairly easy to prevent. i'm baffled as to why the dog is in the garage and not in a crate inside the house????? you need to walk your dog for at LEAST 30 minutes every morning. a brisk pace to wear him out for a VERY long solitary day. it's not cruel for your son to walk in 40 degree weather, sorry, that shouldn't be an issue considered here(it's FAR more cruel for the puppy to not be exercised appropriately). my husband and our sons walk to school EVERY day with our 10 month old puppy, it was 16 degrees yesterday, they put on coats and gloves and carried on... i wouldn't do it in a lightning storm or heavy rain or an ice slick, but beyond actual hazards, the dog NEEDS that walk every morning, whether the kids WANT to or not. after his long morning walk, feed the puppy, and make sure he goes outside for a potty break RIGHT before you leave for the day. you need to repeat his in the evening, long walk, then dinner for puppy. try to find someone that can come just let the dog out to potty mid-day.
if you can't make ALL the changes necessary for your puppy to have a happy life, please rehome him and don't get another animal. an animal as a gift to child is almost NEVER a good idea - the care and keeping of a living thing is just not something that a child can be responsible for. they can/should help, but it's the responsibility of the adult. good luck!
I agree with those that say 40 isn't that cold. Here, 30 has been the high lately and my kids still go out and play. It's good for them. You just need to dress him for it and he'll be fine, if not sweating mid walk. You just aren't used to it, but after a week or so your bodies will acclimate to the colder temp and it just won't feel as cold.
Have him wear a winter jacket with a fleece lining, a winter hat, mittens and maybe some fleece lined jeans or pants (old navy), and sneakers. If it's raining, he can wear a raincoat over a fleece if his winter jacket isn't already water resistant. If he gets hot he can take off the hat.
This coat would be perfect for your climate if you can get it on sale.
http://www.landsend.com/pp/boys-waterproof-squall-parka~2...
These pants
http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=5934&vid...
There is no reason anymore for a dog to have fleas. There are products you get from your vet that repel fleas and make your dog an "unwelcome host." There are topicals you put on your dog once a month. Get that for your dog, and your flea problem will be gone.
Your son can sleep while you walk the dog. You don't have to go far. He can also get up and go with you. In Illinois, we think 40 degrees is a warm streak in the winter. It's not even freezing. Layer him in the clothes he already has and he will be fine. We walk our dogs in Illinois when it's below zero, and we survive.
It sounds like no matter what you do, this dog isn't being treated fairly. Imagine living in a dark garage. So sad. I would tell your son when you find a good home for the dog you WILL re-home him. You have to teach your son that life isn't all about him, and if neither of you spend much time with this dog, your son needs to realize that isn't any kind of life for the poor thing.
I know you think 40 is cold.
Trust me, that's nothing in Western PA!
Why not put the dog on Frontline or such for fleas?
Then he can do mornings in the yard, and a nice 30 min walk after work with you guys?
You had a great plan by wanting to walk the dog in the morning. Unfortunately all you had was a plan with no follow through. Of course your son would love to stay snuggled up in bed while you are walking the dog however with pet ownership comes responsibility. You both need to suck it up and get that dog out for a walk in the morning before leaving him home all day by himself. If you can't do that then you need to rehome the dog. Find a local rescue group on petfinder.com and give that puppy to someone who not only loves him but will be able to take care of him.
I suggest take the dog for a quick 5 min walk in the morning and then when you get home from work, do a family walk in the evening. You can go longer and the dog will get some attention!
Can you afford to hire a teen or neighbor to come and play with the dog 2x a week and pay a small amount for 2 hours a week? I am sure your dog would enjoy and you would feel better about it. Also, there are dog walkers that can come and pick up your dog, walk them and then return them a few hours later. I would see if you could arrange that---I understand financially-but you could probably cut corners somewhere to allow that expense.
Umm, I live in Sacramento and it is not so cold in the morning that you can't bundle up your son to walk the dog. Yes it's cold and no it is not preffered to take your son or yourself out early in the morning in the Winter, but it is not out of the question. And it does not rain very often here. It would be a good lesson to learn for your son if he really wants to keep him.
A jogging stroller for your son so he can relax and be bundled up? A walk so early for a 5 year old I think is tough no matter the temperature. Believe it or not, I think there are treadmills for dogs! My neighbor always tells me about his sister or someone using one.
I know how you feel btw. When my husband is away, hardest part is what to do about getting the dog out enough!
To those who say 40 isn't cold - 40 is cold enough to cause me pain.
I have a doggie door in my laundry room that leads to my fenced back yard so that my dog can let himself in and out any time he wants.
I'd consider getting my child some of those puffy snow pants, rubber boots and a good jacket with a hood. That should work.
Maybe you could just take the dog out long enough to do his/her business and then bring him/her into the house and play with him/her in the house for a while before leaving. I don't know how large of a dog you have, but a good play session in the a.m. might be just as good as a walk.
The only think I can think of is the covered pull wagon. Toss a few blankets over the canopy and cover him with blankets.
Or can't you get the bike trailer and push/pull it? I believe the disconnect from the bike. They have a canopy to enclose the trailer and he can lay down or sit up in there. Schwinn and Instep make them. Maybe you can pick one up used, they look kind of pricey.
Is there any way that you can treat your whole back yard with some type of flea agent, or bug killing agent that won't harm your dog, or if it is harmful, since he is in the garage, you can keep him there until you treat it a few times. If not, at least put a window in the garage somewhere so he can see out, with natural light and he needs natural air as well so he can at least be on guard, which is their natural instinct. If not, treat the dog and the yard and make him an inside dog. Train him. I am sure he will be easily potty trained and you can take him out 3 times a day. Good luck!!
There is a product called Walkie Dog that attaches to the frame of your bicycle and then you can set the length of the leash. I've never used it but met someone who said the dog can't really pull you over no matter how strong. I am lucky to have an area behind our house I can ride my bicycle and let our dog off leash and he runs. But if you don't, maybe you could get your dog a good run with this and have your son sit in one of those bike trailers. Nice thing is biking much quicker than a walk bc obviously your moving faster so cover more ground in the same amount of time. I love our dog but wouldn't have the heart to have my kids go for walks so early in the morning. I guess I'm a wimp but even I hate going every morning but I"m an adult so deal with it. I agree about the fleas btw. I've never heard of anyone not being able to let their dog out bc of fleas...
