I messed up our retirement and my wife front let me forget it

[cantdrv55]

I decided to adopt a puppy in 2021, just two months before I retired. She’s a lovely, very smart and gentle dog but she’s a ball and chain. If we want to go on an extended trip, we’d have to hire a house and pet sitter or put her in a kennel. Man, both options are expensive so I have to include the cost in our vacation budget. She won’t let me rehome the dog so I’m going to hear about this until the dog dies in about 10 years. For now, most of our vacations are camping trips except for one overseas trip every year which costs a freaking fortune.

[Tobra]

What kind of dog? I can probably watch them at my house

[cantdrv55]

Originally Posted by Tobra

What kind of dog? I can probably watch them at my house

She’s big and sheds…a lot. But she’s pretty and friendly. She’s part Great Pyrenees and GSD and the rest are other herding breeds.

[rwest]

Dogs are great, but they hold you down from just getting up and going as well as making you get home by certain times.

I foster for a rescue and specialize in paralyzed dogs (which don’t usually get adopted quickly) and didn’t want to have a dog in retirement, but literally one month into my retirement I get a call from the rescue and I couldn’t say no. Luckily a great young couple adopted him after only 8 months.

Because of his paralysis he is hard to find a sitter for, but I will watch him as needed as well as another one I fostered. I don’t charge for it, but the one couple “forces” money on me.

Try and find someone who likes dogs and will watch him for nothing or a small amount. The dog will like being in a home and you’ll feel better.

Hopefully Tobra can help.

[Steve Carlton]

Was your wife involved with the decision to adopt the puppy? Rehoming would suck, so she’s probably right to say no to that. Maybe rehome the wife?

[Cajundaddy]

No family nearby who will handle reciprocal dog housing duties?? We have a daughter who lives nearby and when we travel, our dog vacations at their house. When they travel, their dog vacations at our house. Win-win.

[Rot 911]

There are more and more Airbnb’s and VRBO‘s that allow pets. And more hotels even. We’ve got two dogs and look to find a place that will let us bring them. But both of them are well behaved and don’t damage anything.

[rockfan4]

I understand what you're going through. We have two dogs. A crate at the boarder isn't good enough, so they share a 5' x 5' "Efficiency suite". I think it is now up to almost $100 / night for the pair. We want to go on a 15 day vacation this spring, that's going to be a big bill. She won't let me turn them loose and get new, better dogs when we get back. I don't have any friends with dogs, maybe she can convince one of her friends to watch them.

[juanbenae]

My buddy up here has a Great Pyrenees/Lab mix, biggest dog I've ever been around regularly. He is really sweet but does not realize he's not a lap dog.... You prolly should have done some research before you got such a large breed.... I've been a Lab guy/family forever, on my 3rd example these days and he will be 12 in January... You met McQueen my chocolate at least once as I reckon? Legend

I boarded my dog onetime and would never do it again. I was only gone 3 days, gave a highly rated place up here on the details of him possibly be standoffish when caged, not familiar, does not like the hose (not lab-ish no?). They took this as leave him locked down the entire time and hose his waste out of the kennel all weekend. When I picked the dog bed I provided it was soaked and he had a gashes on his snout and nose from running into the kennel fencing when they hosed his cage out. Never again.

[Tobra]

So, like 120 lb, female
Brindle is 9 yo 100 lb Black is about 90lb,almost 2 yo, both male




I don't think I would notice shedding if she is black. Would have to run it by the wife of course

I would get a camper myself. My buddy takes his dog with them. There are apperently a lot of hotels that are dog friendly

[Brian 162]

Were the only ones in the family that doesn’t have a dog. My wife wants to get one but I’m holding out until we stop travelling. Meantime we dog sit a couple of the families dogs here and there. We have a bag full of toys and they go straight for the toy bag when they’re dropped off.

[wdfifteen]

Brian, that is so cool! And devious - banking favors for the future.

[Brian 162]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Brian, that is so cool! And devious - banking favors for the future.

I hope so
These two guys are frequent flyers here. Both well trained and pretty chilled.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by cantdrv55

She’s big and sheds…a lot. But she’s pretty and friendly. She’s part Great Pyrenees and GSD and the rest are other herding breeds.

Holy Carp! "Big" and "sheds" indeed! But probably super sweet, beautiful, and protective.

[ryans65]

I never understand people that welcome a dog into their lives then are somehow inconvenienced by them when they don't fit into their lifestyle. We have three pitbulls and they go everywhere with us. We make the sacrifice because they are our family, if there is a pet fee we pay it. If we go on a long trip we make them comfortable in the car. If there is an emergency we have a backup plan on top of a backup plan. Hell the main reason I have a camper is because of our dogs. Lots of animals out there "rehomed" out of inconvenience rather than circumstance out of their control. Be a responsible pet owner or don't own an animal.

[LWJ]

I get it. We like to travel. We have a very sensitive dog. It is very much a challenge and something we deal with regularly. It is a chore.

And? I wouldn't have it any other way. We walk our guy daily. I significantly increases my level of fitness. He is super bonded to us and is a large piece of my daily enjoyment.

Choices.

[aigel]

Many hotels take dogs now, no problem. Europe is also very dog friendly, just have to get her used to riding in the belly of the plane. My dog has been flying to the east coast no problem and any longer stays in Europe, he will come.

+1 on sharing dog duties with fiends that also have dogs. And finding a local pet sitter that you trust, ideally a retiree as a backup. Yeah, it will add up to 100/day but if you’re in Europe for 2 weeks, 1500 bucks for a sitter is the smallest of your expenses.

I love camping and I hunt with my dog, so all our solo trips he is the main reason we go!

[KFC911]

If I was a dog, I would LOVE to go visit Toby or some other place I "knew" for a few days. A strange place ... nope, I'm not gonna do that ... I just won't leave her... I can't.

Good luck .... there is a solution ... maybe hire a "dog person" to doggy-sit, etc.

Best to you all ....

Moka (Choc Lab) sez "woof" btw

[911 Rod]

When I raised my 2 boys on my own we had a lab.
I always said if I wanted to go away by myself it we easier finding someone to take the kids than the dog.
I'm single again and I don't even want a goldfish

[masraum]

For all of the folks that keep saying that lots of places are taking dogs. I think I've seen several places that take dogs but have a limit on size (eg, not over 75#).