Hi

We have a 17 week old female Rhodesian Ridgeback.
My husband has fallen ill and will be in and out of hospital for the foreseable future. This means I am going to have go back to work full time in order to pay the bills.
I'll obviously be visiting him after work and weekends with our daughter as well.

I need some advice about the best thing to do with our pup.
She is used to being alone in her cage for up to 4 hours as well as all night.

If we got a dog walker to walk her at luchtime, it could still be 8 or 9pm before I return home and I'm not sure she should be left that long on her own?

Any advice you could give would be greatly received.
We want to do what is best for the puppy, whatever that may be.

Thanks in advance

Jess

I'm very sorry to hear about your husband's illness forcing a change of circumstances on you. :-( The added stress of how best to manage your puppy won't be helping matters at all.

Certainly get a dog walker to come in at lunchtime to walk her (not too long yet because she's only young) and play with her and feed her and keep her company for about an hour. You clearly aware that 8 hours or so is far too long a stretch for a dog to be left unattended; if you could get the dog walker could come in again a few hours later - say around 5 o'clock - to do the same again, and then she'd hopefully manage until you get back later in the evening.

Good luck - this won't be an easy time for any of you but with a concerted effort you can make it work.

Would the dog's breeder maybe take her back for a while just to let you get over the bulk of working f/t & hospital visiting.  When your husband is discharged then obviously there will be someone back at home to give her company throughout the day and a dog walker could take her for her exercise.

Christine's right - a good breeder will do her utmost to help, and taking the pup back on a temporary basis would help continue her training and take some of the pressure off you, so that when you got back home in the evening you could relax and unwind rather than have to give the pup the interaction she's been missing during the day.

Hi Jess

What a horrible situation for you all.  You have my sympathy

Realistically this is the worse time for you to have the responsibility of a puppy.  For the next few months your dog will need alot of time and effort to continue her toilet training, socialise her, and to get to grips with her training.

From the information you've given about your timings you are just got going to be there enough.  A dog walker isn't a substitute for a concerned owner and is really only a stop gap for someone who can give their dog full attention when they are home.  With the best will in the world this isn't going to be you.  Your husbands illness has rightly changed your priorities and your focus will now be on maintaining an income and looking after him and your daughter.

You haven't said how long your husbands illness might continue but it sounds as if you already know it might be kinder on you all to rehome her.  It's a heartbreaking decision but is likely to be the best thing for all concerned.  Can you ask the breeder to have the puppy back?  If she cannot, then a good breeder will always move heaven and earth to help you find the best home for her.  Unless you have a family member willing to take her on?

Wishing you all the very best xx

As said before i would call the breeder and see if they or anyone they know can help. if not i wouldn't be happy leaving the dog for the length of time you've said even if you have a dog walker in twice a day, whci isn't going to be very cheap and you must need the money else you woudn't have to go back to work.
a lot of this depends on how long your poor husband is going to be ill etc and if he will be going back to work so you can stay at home again.
i feel for you this is a hard decision but unless the breeder can help or this is short term then  i would consider rehoming her. the breeder should be able to help you with this as well. what ever you decide i'd ring the breeder anyway as they'd want to know what was happening to one of their pups. 
really hope you can sort this out but your family needs you at the moment so you must do whats best for them and the dog will be happier with a family that has all the time it needs.
good luck

Jess,

I'm really sorry about your situation.

I agree with others to contact the breeder.  I personally think it best to rehome the puppy.  A puppy left alone for long hours is likely to turn into a "problem dog" and you really do not want that to happen.   Not just for the dog's sake, but it is an added level of stress for you and your family. 

Really tough as I know that attachment is there almost instantly, but the longer you keep the puppy the harder it will be to let her go.

Hi Guys

Thanks for all the help, I think we're resigned to rehoming her :(

Should she go back to the breeder or should we try and sell her?
If she goes back to the breeder should we get any money back from her?
Do we sell her or rehome her for free?

Never wanted to be in this situation but we have to do what is best for her and us.

Thanks in advance

Jessica

> Should she go back to the breeder or should we try and sell her?

Did you sign a contract?  This sort of scenario is often covered.  Your breeder deserves at least the chance to get involved so you should contact them immediately to explain what has happened.  A great breeder will completely understand your situation and would probably offer to have the puppy back.  This sort of breeder may have people on their waiting list and, having the best interests of the puppy in mind, will do whatever is necessary to find a perfect home for her.

If your breeder isn't able to take the puppy back he/she may still want to help you find a good home and may have contacts they can call for short term foster care or rehoming.

If you are unlucky enough to find a breeder who doesn't care or who does not wish to get involved then at least you can rest assured that you tried!  Perhaps you could contact the breed club for help and advice.  There may be a breed rescue that can help.

> If she goes back to the breeder should we get any money back from her?

This would usually be covered in the contract and you are likely to be given the money from any resale LESS costs such as as food, boarding fees, vet checks etc.  This money is unlikely to be forthcoming until the pup is rehomed but in your circumstances your breeder may well wish to help by refunding part of your money immediately.

> Do we sell her or rehome her for free?

She isn't worth less than you paid but it probably depends on your motivation.  You are unlikely to profit BUT a good home/owner should be willing to pay something for her.  I don't think pets should be given away for free - there are significant costs involved in raising a puppy or homing a dog and anyone who expects to pay nothing for a quality dog is unlikely to be able to afford to look after it.

:) I really hope your breeder is one of the good guys - it could really take the pressure off you and give your puppy a very good chance of finding a forever home.  Good luck xx

>Should she go back to the breeder or should we try and sell her?

Her breeder should certainly be contacted in the first instance. Hopefully she's one of the reputable ones who takes a lifetime interest in their litters, not just 'take the money and run'. It's possible she will have a waiting list of people wanting a puppy. It can be very hard to sell an older puppy - most buyers want a baby puppy, and once they're over about 14 weeks they become less and less 'desirable' unless they're well-bred and from a well-respected breeder. A breeder like this will have the contacts that you naturally don't have. A 'private' owner selling an older puppy will be lucky to get about £150-£200.

>If she goes back to the breeder should we get any money back from her?

You might get some money back for her; not necessarily up front but after she's been homed, less expenses.

>Do we sell her or rehome her for free?

People who get free puppies are sometimes (not always) the sort of people who'll sell them on again for a profit or pass them from pillar to post. Not what you want for your girl. 

If the breeder is one of the ones who can't or won't help, then contact one of the breed welfare societies for help and advice.

Midlands and Northern Rhodesian Ridgeback Club Rescue
Mrs S M Firth, Oldham, Lancs. Tel: 01457 872520

Rhodesian Ridgeback Welfare Trust
Mr B Davies, London. Tel: 020 7485 0691

Southern Rhodesian Ridgeback Association Mrs Marie Rose Crunden, Hythe, Kent. Tel: 01303 268305

Hi
windered what happend to puppy maybe can  offer some help..if help is needed then please get in touch..

I have a feeling that the pup came from a first time breeder - hopefully they will take the pup back.

Sheila Firth is now in France :)

I'll post again this afternoon when I get back from work.

if it were me i'd be less worried about getting money back for her and more interested in finding her a good home that your happy with.
first thing i'd do is ring the breeder, even if they can't take her back full time then they may well know some one who wants her.at least then your be comforted with the fact she is with the right people. i'd feel unhappy just trying to sell her myself and would rather give her away free to the right home.
the money really isn't the issue here even if you could do with it at the moment.
get on the phone to the breeder and have a good chat.   

Thanks for getting on your high horse there.
I'm really not interested in the money but I don't know what the right thing to do is which is why I'm asking.
I've never been in this situation before and never hope to be again.

Someone else has said not to give her away for free so we have two differing opinions.
The breeder has said she'll take her back but she would prefer us to find her a home. This is why I'm asking what to do!

So please don't take that attitude without actually finding out the facts first.
I could do without the "if it were me i'd be less worried about getting money back for her" at the moment, I just what to do what is right, whatever that may be.

If anyone else could provide advice, I'd be greatful

i wasn't actually having a go at you so i'm sorry if it sounded that way. i was only saying what i'd do. i was in know way suggesting all you were interested in was the money.i also know this is a nightmare situation that your in and have no choice at the moment which is upsetting for your family.
it's a shame the breeder would rather you find her a new home but hopefully the right person will come along.

My apologies, I'm just a bit highly strung and short fused at the moment!

Appreciate all the adice give and thanks.

It'd certainly be worth contacting the breed rescue societies to see what advice they can give in finding a new home - what questions to ask of prospective owners, etc. Also ask at your vet if they know of someone looking for an older puppy, or whether you can put a notice up on their board. Is her breeder asking around as well?

I hope you can find a solution soon.

> The breeder has said she'll take her back but she would prefer us to find her a home.

Now you've made the decision you need to act quickly.  For your puppy's benefit as much as yours it makes sense for you to rehome her quite soon.  She isn't too old to rehome and there are a lot of people that would welcome a partly trained, older puppy into their lives. The problem is in finding such a person.

It would be helpful if your breeder can make some calls for you - perhaps to people that were on her puppy list.  If, as someone mentioned, she was a first time breeder maybe she has a mentor that could also offer some assistance.  If either of these people could help to spread the word it will make your job much easier.  Word of mouth might be one of the most effective ways to find a home.

Alternatively do you know someone that would be willing to help you.  A 'dog aware' friend perhaps that can make some calls or who is willing to meet potential owners with you.  With your husband in hospital this is bound to be an emotional time and sadly doesn't put you in a great position to make objective decisions.  No matter how stressful this has been so far it will be very difficult for you to part with her I'm sure and a third party might just give you the support you need.

See whether anyone on here has experience of placing adverts - this may be your last resort but could be effective.  I wouldn't buy a dog from the back of a newspaper but I might make enquiries about a dog I saw in a well written card and photograph in the local pet shops, or vets.  Even when I'm not looking for pet I always read these :)  Good luck to you and your pup

PS If you're worried about taking payment for her - ask for cheques to be made payable to your local hospice/charity etc.  Something that may be related to your husbands condition perhaps.  It will reassure potential owners you are genuine, may prompt an enquiry you might not otherwise receive and may assuage some of the guilt you'll be feeling xxx

If you want to pm me details of her pedigree, there may be some breeding that I know of and the breeders of those dogs may be able to help.

I'm not sure whereabouts in the country you are, but you could try contacting the Midlands & Northern Rescue Coordinator
Janice Ellis
Tel : 01889 508295

Feel free to pm me if you'd like - I've had RRs for nearly 25 years.