Around 5 months ago, i adopted the SWEETEST bully/lab/GSD mix. i got him as a companion for my partner and i, but mostly me. i take full responsibility for him and take care of him! my partner helps out if i need, but i proudly take full responsibility. he’s like my son! in the last 5 months we’ve had him, (9 months old now) our schedules with work are slowly changing. i work in healthcare, so my schedule is kind of going all over the place right now. we also have to go out of town every now and then, which is fine! because usually one of my friends (multiple) can all stop in throughout the day to let him out, feed him, play with him, etc.
but the last two vacations we’ve gone on (5+ days) it’s been a PAIN to find anyone who can stay over and watch him. i have already canceled one just because i couldn’t find anyone to watch him. so i sacrificed my vacation to spend time with my sweet baby. which ended up being great, because i didn’t have to work and we got to be together a lot! – but we have NO ONE who can take him to their house. people have to come to our house. we are both in our early twenties, and just don’t have the funds to pay for boarding or in home sitting.
and with my schedule changing at work more frequently, i am not able to give him all the time and attention he deserves. yes i do still walk him twice a day, train him, play with him, etc. i meet all his BASIC needs! he gets a lot of mental and physical enrichment! but i feel horrible because yes, i am giving him what he needs, but i dont feel like im giving him what he DESERVES.
he is a wonderful dog and i love him SO much, but i feel as time goes on it may get harder to take care of him. the thought of rehoming him is slowly creeping in, just because i feel he deserves better than what i can give him. this is also becoming hard on my partner, because if someone can’t watch him, they don’t want me to sacrifice my time just for a dog. they tell me “sometimes it’s okay to put yourself first!” and that i am starting to lose myself by taking care of the dog. that i’m becoming ABSORBED in him. which now that i’ve been thinking about it… i am. i sacrifice so many parts of my social life for my dog. and i love him so much, but i want to live out my early twenties. i know it will be better as he gets older, and things will get easier. i just don’t know what to do because the stress of raising a puppy, work, THE WORLD is all getting to me.
just needed to vent and put this out somewhere. i love my dog more than anything in the world, but sometimes i feel the most loving thing i can do for him is to let someone else love him more.
submitted by /u/sydbug707
[link] [comments]