I don't post too often about our family dog, Moses, but I need some advice. I'll add in a bit of context first though.
Moses is twelve, going on thirteen, and although he'd like to think he's about two years old... he's not. He's starting to act his age, so to speak, and is having trouble going up/down stairs and sometimes holding his bladder until he is let out. My mom figured we could try crating him. It worked for a couple days but I came home one day to find his paws and nose covered in blood. So, needless to say, we are not crating him anymore.
That leaves us with two options:
1) He can go live with my dad, who works from home so Moses would get to go out more frequently during the day. My dad's home also doesn't have stairs aside from a small flight of stairs at the entryway. He'd continue getting attention and daily walks as well.
2) Hire a dog sitter who comes and takes him to the bathroom about halfway through the day.
I know my mom is leaning towards the first option. Moses absolutely loves my dad and is always super excited to go visit when we go somewhere for a weekend, but I'm worried as to how he'd adapt. Plus I know I'd miss him as well.
I understand that maybe there's a third option, but aside from those two issues, he acts like he always has. He still runs circles around us when we get home and he still loves going for walks. I just feel like it'd be horrible of us if we sent him to live with my dad, even if it may be beneficial for him... he's just lived here his whole life so I don't know how he'd handle living somewhere else in a completely different environment.
Moses is twelve, going on thirteen, and although he'd like to think he's about two years old... he's not. He's starting to act his age, so to speak, and is having trouble going up/down stairs and sometimes holding his bladder until he is let out. My mom figured we could try crating him. It worked for a couple days but I came home one day to find his paws and nose covered in blood. So, needless to say, we are not crating him anymore.
That leaves us with two options:
1) He can go live with my dad, who works from home so Moses would get to go out more frequently during the day. My dad's home also doesn't have stairs aside from a small flight of stairs at the entryway. He'd continue getting attention and daily walks as well.
2) Hire a dog sitter who comes and takes him to the bathroom about halfway through the day.
I know my mom is leaning towards the first option. Moses absolutely loves my dad and is always super excited to go visit when we go somewhere for a weekend, but I'm worried as to how he'd adapt. Plus I know I'd miss him as well.
I understand that maybe there's a third option, but aside from those two issues, he acts like he always has. He still runs circles around us when we get home and he still loves going for walks. I just feel like it'd be horrible of us if we sent him to live with my dad, even if it may be beneficial for him... he's just lived here his whole life so I don't know how he'd handle living somewhere else in a completely different environment.