My neighbours are a lovely young couple, they both work full time, she's a pharmacist and he runs a local nightclub.

They have recently bought a lovely well bred sweet tempered English Bulldog, he's 16 weeks, already well house trained by the breeder and complete with vaccinations. They got him at 15 weeks.

On arrival in his new home he had 2 days with new 'mum' at home, then followed by day three,  his first day left totally alone from 8am til 2pm, he cried most of the time, my OH works shifts so he heard pup crying all day, I was lucky enough to be at work so did not hear him.

On fourth day he was taken to work with the 'daddy' and spent his day in a crate at the club during new daddy's day shift.

He's been to the vets today, day five,  he's got green discharge from his nose and is looking very very sorry for himself.

When OH had heard him crying on day 3 we offered that OH would be happy to let pup out if they needed to leave him for long periods of time and we would even consider letting him spend time with OH and our girls.

The only thing is my girls are all small pastorals, all bitches, 3 entire and all very skittish and wary of new boy next door.

I just would like to help and advise my neighbours without treading on their toes or offending them, my main concern is this little boy having to cope with what I think is a very chaotic start to a new life.

I know I need to tread gently with my neighbours and I would never wish to offend them but at the same time there is little boy that is having what I think is not too easy a start into his new life.

Any ideas?

Id not do this....Id be worried about the green discharge ...1.this pup could bring in an infection to your own dogs
.2.if you did take on the role of caretaker,pup would bond with you.The situation could become very difficult as you clearly are a caring owner and these people don't seem to have a clue...you will get hurt.Your ideas will clash with their unrealistic expectations of puppy ownership.
3.if you let the dog out ,will you also be responsible for what he gets into in the garden...my new pup has to be watched like a hawk ,he grabs any plant etc and chews it...how much time will your oh have to dedicate to this pup,which will also become a worry for him.You will also be responsible if he eats anything inappropriate.
....it doesn't sound like the ideal situation for this little pup...the couple have been irresponsible in bringing in a pup when neither has the time to properly care for it. Bulldogs are such people dogs too,this pup is the loser here.I can't imagine any responsible breeder selling a pup to a couple when no one is home.
Sorry, but I don't see this working out.

Bellamia is correct.  I would maybe print out some useful info on separation anxiety and bringing up puppies and maybe direct them to a dog class but I would stop there.  It's very easy to get too involved when you are 'doggy' but what you need to remember is, most people have a dog in their lives, it's not their WHOLE life(unlike us doggy folk!lol).
Meant to add, obviously let them know you are available for puppy sitting or advice but let them come to you.  Drop a note through the door if the howling continues after a couple of weeks but defo pull back.

> I can't imagine any responsible breeder selling a pup to a couple when no one is home.
>

My first thought on reading this post.

Trouble is, there's every chance the buyers simply said "The pup can come to work with the husband" and didn't explain every detail -can happen so easily without the breeder realising.

It's hard for any of us to listen to a little pup crying and whining, you'd need to be robotic not to get upset.

I would not wish to mix the pup with my dogs with a discharge, but I would too offer to just let the pup out into their garden for a little walk around and company for at least half an hour, especially in this nice weather you or o/h could sit and have a coffee in their garden and play with pup for a little. It's being a good neighbour and helping a poor innocent pup.

When the pup is mature it will be easier to leave for longer periods, but it would be nice for both sides to help if either one of you are out to know that the other could just let the dogs out for a garden break.

Don't preach, people hate it and think they know best, but just be a good neighbour and offer that garden break, don't do more than that, don't do walks or have the dog at yours that is I agree asking for trouble, you will get too attached and too relied on, the dog needs to bond with them and see you and o/h as a visitor only. :-)

Thank-you all for your valued opinions.

I do know that it is their intention that in time pup should go on a daily basis to dad's place of work when he is on his day shift, when dad is on nights of course he will be home albeit needing to sleep some of the time.
This is what they told the breeder.

Personally I feel that a pub/bar/nightclub isn't an ideal place for a dog to be spending time.

I think it is probably best that we do not have pup around our house but could maybe offer just to let pup out for a wee in their garden which is secure, and perhaps OH could spend 10 or 15 mins with pup occasionally.

In the early days we'll just have to get ear plugs for OH when the pup is whimpering.

You could maybe suggest some books for them too - breed specific books and bringing home/bringing up/training puppy type books. It could be that if they haven't a clue about having a new pup, they haven't a clue about living with and looking after bulldogs either! :/