Hi there - just a warning that this may be a bit of pity party. No apologies for this though because I'm feeling a little wretched at the moment.
I have just moved about 10 hours away from my home town for a new job in my field of study. This is very exciting and I'm still pinching myself - this is my first job in the area and I still have a year to go of study. Am I lucky or what? It's a great opportunity in a great little town. I'm really liking the place so far, I’ve moved into my new rental and am enjoying setting up home - so everything on that front is pretty good. I've been speaking to family/friends often so I'm not really too homesick. I am, however, missing the dogs a lot. I saw an older, grey faced Stafford the other day and cried and when I talk to mum about them (which is quite often) I get all teary. As someone who isn’t used to being all that emotional… it’s a bit strange.
The dogs aren’t with me at the moment because I tend to stress a lot and I wanted to settle in without them to spare them the upheaval and me being a stress case at the same time. I plan to build a dog run and attach it to the outside area which is perfect for them for when I’m at work and they can have the whole rest of the fenced yard/house when I’m at home. I also didn’t want to move them straight in in case the house was completely unsuitable or I had neighbours from hell. My tentative plan is to get them at the end of March, because I will traveling south for uni anyway and it’s only an extra three hours to my trip – the other option is to nick down on a long weekend and grab them.
They are with my parents at the moment – getting spoiled no doubt. They are not the types to fret (thank God) so they are carrying on like nothing has happened. Grace is actually my parents dog, but they have decided to let me take her with Abby because they are so attached and so good for each other. Grace is a calming influence on Abby who has a nervous disposition and is reactive and Abby, who is an active little dog, helps to keep Grace young and fit. I am honoured and oh so happy that mum and dad entrust me with Grace’s care, especially in her twilight years. However, now that I’m here, I’m having doubts about whether I’m being selfish to the dogs or whether I’m doing the right thing.
Mum and dad both work, but they don’t work full time at the same time, so someone is mostly always home and if not, the dogs are only by themselves usually for 3 or 4 hours max. Even that is rather rare. When they come here, it’s just me and it’s an 8 – 5pm position. Of course, my time outside of work will be, and always has been, mainly devoted to them. Training, exercise and just doing stuff together. I’m not a hugely social person –I may go out to dinner once/twice a month, but I’d rather entertain at home or go on a picnic at a park (with dogs lol). I will be wanting to explore this area of Australia while I’m up here which will me a couple of kennel stays for them a year – between 3-4 days and up to a week. I’m not completely happy about that… I know Grace will be fine, Abby is a different kettle of fish, but I’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Of course, they’d be in the best kennel in the region and I plan to inspect and get opinions etc well before putting them in any kennel.
Mum and dad would keep them in a heartbeat – Grace is theirs and they adore Abby. Am I being fair uprooting them? If Abby were a ‘normal’ dog I’d probably be less anxious. And Grace – is it fair to move her at this age. She’s only ever known home. I know I may be just fretting at the moment, but I seriously just want to do the right thing by them. I love them so dearly.
Have any of you ever been away from your dogs for an extended period of time? How did you cope? I was ok in the first week because I was so busy with the move and organising the house – I was falling into bed exhausted every night and waking up early to do it all over again. It’s only been the last few days that have been difficult.
So, am I doing the right thing? Would I be doing the wrong thing leaving them? Can you help me weigh up the pros and cons? Or am I making problems where there are none?
I hate this sudden feeling of insecurity - is it just homesickness rearing it's ugly head?
I’ll leave you with a photo of my gorgeous girls – best mates.
I have just moved about 10 hours away from my home town for a new job in my field of study. This is very exciting and I'm still pinching myself - this is my first job in the area and I still have a year to go of study. Am I lucky or what? It's a great opportunity in a great little town. I'm really liking the place so far, I’ve moved into my new rental and am enjoying setting up home - so everything on that front is pretty good. I've been speaking to family/friends often so I'm not really too homesick. I am, however, missing the dogs a lot. I saw an older, grey faced Stafford the other day and cried and when I talk to mum about them (which is quite often) I get all teary. As someone who isn’t used to being all that emotional… it’s a bit strange.
The dogs aren’t with me at the moment because I tend to stress a lot and I wanted to settle in without them to spare them the upheaval and me being a stress case at the same time. I plan to build a dog run and attach it to the outside area which is perfect for them for when I’m at work and they can have the whole rest of the fenced yard/house when I’m at home. I also didn’t want to move them straight in in case the house was completely unsuitable or I had neighbours from hell. My tentative plan is to get them at the end of March, because I will traveling south for uni anyway and it’s only an extra three hours to my trip – the other option is to nick down on a long weekend and grab them.
They are with my parents at the moment – getting spoiled no doubt. They are not the types to fret (thank God) so they are carrying on like nothing has happened. Grace is actually my parents dog, but they have decided to let me take her with Abby because they are so attached and so good for each other. Grace is a calming influence on Abby who has a nervous disposition and is reactive and Abby, who is an active little dog, helps to keep Grace young and fit. I am honoured and oh so happy that mum and dad entrust me with Grace’s care, especially in her twilight years. However, now that I’m here, I’m having doubts about whether I’m being selfish to the dogs or whether I’m doing the right thing.
Mum and dad both work, but they don’t work full time at the same time, so someone is mostly always home and if not, the dogs are only by themselves usually for 3 or 4 hours max. Even that is rather rare. When they come here, it’s just me and it’s an 8 – 5pm position. Of course, my time outside of work will be, and always has been, mainly devoted to them. Training, exercise and just doing stuff together. I’m not a hugely social person –I may go out to dinner once/twice a month, but I’d rather entertain at home or go on a picnic at a park (with dogs lol). I will be wanting to explore this area of Australia while I’m up here which will me a couple of kennel stays for them a year – between 3-4 days and up to a week. I’m not completely happy about that… I know Grace will be fine, Abby is a different kettle of fish, but I’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Of course, they’d be in the best kennel in the region and I plan to inspect and get opinions etc well before putting them in any kennel.
Mum and dad would keep them in a heartbeat – Grace is theirs and they adore Abby. Am I being fair uprooting them? If Abby were a ‘normal’ dog I’d probably be less anxious. And Grace – is it fair to move her at this age. She’s only ever known home. I know I may be just fretting at the moment, but I seriously just want to do the right thing by them. I love them so dearly.
Have any of you ever been away from your dogs for an extended period of time? How did you cope? I was ok in the first week because I was so busy with the move and organising the house – I was falling into bed exhausted every night and waking up early to do it all over again. It’s only been the last few days that have been difficult.
So, am I doing the right thing? Would I be doing the wrong thing leaving them? Can you help me weigh up the pros and cons? Or am I making problems where there are none?
I hate this sudden feeling of insecurity - is it just homesickness rearing it's ugly head?
I’ll leave you with a photo of my gorgeous girls – best mates.
