Not an easy decision, but one that has to be made...

[Rob & Sophie]

It has come to the point now where we need to re-home our German Shepherds. It's not a choice that has been easy to make. We don't want to re-home of them and the thought of them not being here upets us both

Due to work situations, mainly our shifts changing, they need a better home life than we can provide. Ironic as we have just bought our first home and we bought one that suited the dogs rather than us.

There used to be someone home all the time but a couple of months ago work changed to 9-5 hours. With both if us now doing 9-5 the dogs are left alone 9-12 and then 1-5. We would love to keep the dogs but this amount of time alone is so unfair. We have tried different things with the dogs to keep them amused during the time we are not able to be at home and nothing amusing lasts 3 to 5 hours.

We had a 12ft by 6ft kennel built but he manges to break out and we end up getting calls from the neighbours. Its not his fault, I can imagine the boredom. Our female German Sherpherd is fine in there, she will stay in all day if she had to but I would rather these were homed together. If we have to seperate them, then I supose it will be a bridge we will have to cross if and when we get to it.

The male German Shepherd is quite a big lad, sable colour and 18 months old. Weighed in a couple of days ago at 37kgs. He has special dietry requirements due to being allergic to certain things, mostly the fillers in cheap food. We feed him on JWB and he is fine. Up to date on Vacs and worming etc etc. He has been neutered to stop him being so boisterous. He's a loving dog. The softest male dog you'll ever meet. Give him a stick and he'll be your best mate for life. Walks fine with a Halti. Without the Halti, he walks you. Excellent recall and knows commands. Doesn't like other dogs too much, we think this stems down to him being protective of us and he tends to stand in front of us, even though he took to our female Shep straight away. It was like the where soul mates which is why we don't want to seperate them.

The female is an older girl. We don't know her age. Looking at her teeth we would guess on about 5-6 years old. Shes red with a white belly. Shes completely ditzee. Excitable but not enough to be annoying. She still bounces around sometimes. She will quite happily sit in the corner just watching the world go round. On the lead she is wonderful, off the lead she will trot along doing her own thing. Doesn't run off, will greet other dogs and recall is really good. She seems to have a lead lined stomach and will eat anything and everything. For an older girl seems to have no hip problems at all.

We would love for the two to go to a loving home that can give them the attention they need. We wish we could keep them but we just can't.
We where hoping someone from here would be able to help. We don't want money for them, we aren't interested in that, we just want them to have a nice home with the attention tehy deserve

[Tedsmum]

What about using a dog walking service for them during the day while you are at work?
I would sugget you try that first before rehoming.

[isaacd93]

The place where I go for dog training has a doggy day care service so you can send dogs there and they can have fun while your at work is there not something like this around your area

[jesterjenn]

Originally Posted by Tedsmum

What about using a dog walking service for them during the day while you are at work?
I would sugget you try that first before rehoming.

I was just going to suggest that too.

Also, have you tried freezing kongs for occupying them? You can get treat dispensers as well (not that I know how good they are or how big the gap between dispensaries is). Would your neighbours be able to pop in for say half hour two times a day to play with them to split their day more?

Whereabouts in the Country are you?

[zetstaff]

They're very adaptable, + they have each other for company. A good run in the morning + at night would do it, with a visit at lunchtime for wee break

You CAN keep them if you want to x

Money might be tight, but you can make this work xxx

[wildmoor]

I work f/t but still have dogs - exercise before work so they are tired use activity toys for feeding they will then sleep for part of the day

[kita]

Originally Posted by Rob & Sophie

Due to work situations, mainly our shifts changing, they need a better home life than we can provide. Ironic as we have just bought our first home and we bought one that suited the dogs rather than us.

There used to be someone home all the time but a couple of months ago work changed to 9-5 hours.

We had a 12ft by 6ft kennel built but he manges to break out and we end up getting calls from the neighbours. Its not his fault, I can imagine the boredom.

We would love for the two to go to a loving home that can give them the attention they need. We wish we could keep them but we just can't.
We where hoping someone from here would be able to help. We don't want money for them, we aren't interested in that, we just want them to have a nice home with the attention tehy deserve

I know you want the best for them, but be realistic - how many homes exist that are like you describe?

I know it is difficult - especially in winter, but please realise that your dogs are most probably perfectly happy where they are!

You provide them with a good home, feed them, look after all their medical needs and most of all you love them.

They would be very lucky to find another home as good as the one you provide.

When I got my first dogs (bought a GSD pup, rescued her litter sister and bought a BSD) I worked full time and I live in a terraced house. I used to let them out into the small yard before I went to work, came home at dinner time and let them out into the yard, then left them in the afternoon until teatime when both myself and my OH came home. They got one longish walk in the evening, free running on the beach. We spent all evening/night with them and all weekends with them (we never went 'out'). They were all well balanced dogs and well cared for.

What would they be like if you left them in the house, rather than the outside run? At least he would find it difficult to escape from there.

Sue

[Stuart]

We both work in this house, but we find time, we usualy find our own lives woven around the needs of the dogs,.. exercise morning or night, they will be happy withy that.

I can tell you now, that finding a home that is not a breeder of some kind for two Shepherds, let alone one,..is going to be very hard,..certainly not at this time of year, and by that I mean winter

[Willo]

I'm another one who works full time and has a GSD.

Good walk in the morning, then I come home at lunch time where Olli gets about 20mins with his indestructable ball and 10 mins being fussed by me, Dad comes in mid afternoon and has Olli out for another hour, then we do at least an hour's walk at night with training before, during and after.

Weekends bring proper long walks... by rights I should be a stick insect!

[Poly]

Please reconsider rehoming - im sure your dogs are extremely happy and you are able to get home at lunchtime so all is not lost, please please....rethink about it