Ok, might have to go work abroad for about 9months.  Really dont want to leave our much loved staffie behind, but we will be in a small apartment  in Dubai, and probably not fair for the dog.

Anyone ever boarded for that long?  Is there such thing as "foster" parents for dogs for this amount of time?

Any ideas.......... other than not going !

Perhaps your breeder can help you?  Failing that and family, friends, etc., perhaps contact the nearest SBT breed club or SBT rescue and see if they have a fostering scheme?

HTH, Teri :)

family and friends would be great, if she wasnt such a pain !!  lol.  She is a gorgeous, caring puppy (in our eyes!)  but she can be a bit of work.    Friends and family mostly have kids and wouldnt want to.  They dont mind for a few days, but 9 months is a bit long !!!

Any ideas on a "club".  We are based in south essex.

Try HERE for lists of clubs :)

I would go into your local vets and ask if they know of a fostering service. One of my neighbours (no longer living here, unfortunately) used to foster dogs.

As an aside, my brother used to live in Dubai. Dogs there are very strictly controlled. They have to wear a coloured disc that lets everyone know that it has had it's yearly rabies jab. No disc, dead dog. :( It was not unheard of for dogs to be shot in the street in front of their owners because they didn't have the correct coloured disc.

Hi.....we fostered a beagle for a year whilst the owner went on a teaching exchange to Canada.............as the time drew near for her to go home we were really gutted, she had become part of the family. 3 days before her owner was due home he emailed me to say they loved it so much they were going to sell up and move out there.
He then asked if we would like to keep the dog!.....would we !!"....she consequently stayed with us for 4 years, until she sadly passed away..................there are people out there, i was contacted by the beagle club direct, i think they knew i was a soft touch!, but a year is a long time and it really is a big heartache to think you have to part with your new friend.
I hope you can find someone to help, but i agree the breed clubs are the best place to start or put an ad in Dog World / Our Dogs under the breed notes columns, i have seen them there before
good luck though
Pauline

Hi all, thanks for your comments.

I totally agree in that a) it would be SO difficult for us to"Give her away" even knowing we would be back......... would she forget us???  She is such a loving dog, definatly daddies girl !!!! b) if someone had her for that amount of time they might ot find it difficult.

Its strange, but this little mutt  is the only thing stopping us going.........  "its only a dog" I keep getting told, but really, she is like the kid we havent had yet.  I''d miss her wagging tail every morning when I get up, and every evening when I get home.   The way she comes and nudges me when she wants a walk (yes she decides!!!!) her checkyness, the way she steals kitchen clothes and hides under the table - she knows she has done wrong,  her jealously when me and my girlfriend cuddle up on the couch -  how dar we with out her - she has to be part of that !!  The way she paws when she wants a stroke, rolls on her back when she wants her belly rubbed

God, this is upsetting thinking about it.........

ps - if it sounds like she has us wrapped aorund her little finger......................  thats about right !  lol