As a city dweller, I find that the lack of backyard is a killer. It's a lot
more difficult to let him go potty, and there is no yard to 'dogsit' him.
Without a creative solution, the dog takes over your life. I mean, one is
constantly waiting to do the next walk!!
True?!

We live in the suburbs and have an acre of land, but on a busy road with no
fence (and no plans or funds for a fence). With a not-too-bright dog that
took over a year to housetrain, it was a constant vigil for the next pee or
poo, which he would refuse to do on a walk, btw. I know what you mean. It
added a lot of stress to my life.




Rich wrote:

As a city dweller, I find that the lack of backyard is a killer. It's a
lot more difficult to let him go potty, and there is no yard to 'dogsit'
him. Without a creative solution, the dog takes over your life. I mean,
one is constantly waiting to do the next walk!!
True?!

We live in the suburbs and have an acre of land, but on a busy road with no
fence (and no plans or funds for a fence). With a not-too-bright dog that
took over a year to housetrain, it was a constant vigil for the next pee or
poo, which he would refuse to do on a walk, btw. I know what you mean. It
added a lot of stress to my life.




Rich wrote:

As a city dweller, I find that the lack of backyard is a killer. It's a
lot more difficult to let him go potty, and there is no yard to 'dogsit'
him. Without a creative solution, the dog takes over your life. I mean,
one is constantly waiting to do the next walk!!
True?!

We live in the suburbs and have an acre of land, but on a busy road with no
fence (and no plans or funds for a fence). With a not-too-bright dog that
took over a year to housetrain, it was a constant vigil for the next pee or
poo, which he would refuse to do on a walk, btw. I know what you mean. It
added a lot of stress to my life.




Rich wrote:

As a city dweller, I find that the lack of backyard is a killer. It's a
lot more difficult to let him go potty, and there is no yard to 'dogsit'
him. Without a creative solution, the dog takes over your life. I mean,
one is constantly waiting to do the next walk!!
True?!

We live in the suburbs and have an acre of land, but on a busy road with no
fence (and no plans or funds for a fence). With a not-too-bright dog that
took over a year to housetrain, it was a constant vigil for the next pee or
poo, which he would refuse to do on a walk, btw. I know what you mean. It
added a lot of stress to my life.




Rich wrote:

As a city dweller, I find that the lack of backyard is a killer. It's a
lot more difficult to let him go potty, and there is no yard to 'dogsit'
him. Without a creative solution, the dog takes over your life. I mean,
one is constantly waiting to do the next walk!!
True?!

Rich wrote:
As a city dweller, I find that the lack of backyard is a killer. It's a lot
more difficult to let him go potty, and there is no yard to 'dogsit' him.

I have a rather large yard. It is unfenced. I have one dog that I will
not trust off leash, so I leash him up and go out with him when he needs
to go out. I went out with him in the snow last night about 5 times
(9:00, 11:00, 1:30, 4:15, 6:30). Each time, it took him about 20
minutes to be done. I suspect that both of us would be in the same
shoes when this sort of thing happens. The other dog is completely
trustworthy off leash. However, if you just stick her out the door,
she'll stand there, trying to get back in. She wants her humans to go
out there with her, although we don't have to walk right next to her.
FYI, even if my yard were fenced in, they will still go on walks - it is
important to me that they remain well socialized, are constantly exposed
to new things, etc.

Without a creative solution, the dog takes over your life. I mean, one is
constantly waiting to do the next walk!!
True?!

I don't know about you, but I'm not so busy or important that I can't
spare a couple of hours out of my day to take care of my dogs. If the
dogs weren't in my life, I would be spending that time being
unproductive anyway, and this way I at least get out of the house and
stretch my legs, get to meet other people and their dogs, etc. Just
yesterday, DH and I were talking about how much less interesting our
lives would be without the dogs. The positives far outweigh the
negatives as far as I am concerned. Your experiences and outlook may
differ from mine, of course.

Suja

Rich wrote:
As a city dweller, I find that the lack of backyard is a killer. It's a lot
more difficult to let him go potty, and there is no yard to 'dogsit' him.

I have a rather large yard. It is unfenced. I have one dog that I will
not trust off leash, so I leash him up and go out with him when he needs
to go out. I went out with him in the snow last night about 5 times
(9:00, 11:00, 1:30, 4:15, 6:30). Each time, it took him about 20
minutes to be done. I suspect that both of us would be in the same
shoes when this sort of thing happens. The other dog is completely
trustworthy off leash. However, if you just stick her out the door,
she'll stand there, trying to get back in. She wants her humans to go
out there with her, although we don't have to walk right next to her.
FYI, even if my yard were fenced in, they will still go on walks - it is
important to me that they remain well socialized, are constantly exposed
to new things, etc.

Without a creative solution, the dog takes over your life. I mean, one is
constantly waiting to do the next walk!!
True?!

I don't know about you, but I'm not so busy or important that I can't
spare a couple of hours out of my day to take care of my dogs. If the
dogs weren't in my life, I would be spending that time being
unproductive anyway, and this way I at least get out of the house and
stretch my legs, get to meet other people and their dogs, etc. Just
yesterday, DH and I were talking about how much less interesting our
lives would be without the dogs. The positives far outweigh the
negatives as far as I am concerned. Your experiences and outlook may
differ from mine, of course.

Suja

Rich wrote:
As a city dweller, I find that the lack of backyard is a killer. It's a lot
more difficult to let him go potty, and there is no yard to 'dogsit' him.

I have a rather large yard. It is unfenced. I have one dog that I will
not trust off leash, so I leash him up and go out with him when he needs
to go out. I went out with him in the snow last night about 5 times
(9:00, 11:00, 1:30, 4:15, 6:30). Each time, it took him about 20
minutes to be done. I suspect that both of us would be in the same
shoes when this sort of thing happens. The other dog is completely
trustworthy off leash. However, if you just stick her out the door,
she'll stand there, trying to get back in. She wants her humans to go
out there with her, although we don't have to walk right next to her.
FYI, even if my yard were fenced in, they will still go on walks - it is
important to me that they remain well socialized, are constantly exposed
to new things, etc.

Without a creative solution, the dog takes over your life. I mean, one is
constantly waiting to do the next walk!!
True?!

I don't know about you, but I'm not so busy or important that I can't
spare a couple of hours out of my day to take care of my dogs. If the
dogs weren't in my life, I would be spending that time being
unproductive anyway, and this way I at least get out of the house and
stretch my legs, get to meet other people and their dogs, etc. Just
yesterday, DH and I were talking about how much less interesting our
lives would be without the dogs. The positives far outweigh the
negatives as far as I am concerned. Your experiences and outlook may
differ from mine, of course.

Suja

Rich wrote:
As a city dweller, I find that the lack of backyard is a killer. It's a lot
more difficult to let him go potty, and there is no yard to 'dogsit' him.

I have a rather large yard. It is unfenced. I have one dog that I will
not trust off leash, so I leash him up and go out with him when he needs
to go out. I went out with him in the snow last night about 5 times
(9:00, 11:00, 1:30, 4:15, 6:30). Each time, it took him about 20
minutes to be done. I suspect that both of us would be in the same
shoes when this sort of thing happens. The other dog is completely
trustworthy off leash. However, if you just stick her out the door,
she'll stand there, trying to get back in. She wants her humans to go
out there with her, although we don't have to walk right next to her.
FYI, even if my yard were fenced in, they will still go on walks - it is
important to me that they remain well socialized, are constantly exposed
to new things, etc.

Without a creative solution, the dog takes over your life. I mean, one is
constantly waiting to do the next walk!!
True?!

I don't know about you, but I'm not so busy or important that I can't
spare a couple of hours out of my day to take care of my dogs. If the
dogs weren't in my life, I would be spending that time being
unproductive anyway, and this way I at least get out of the house and
stretch my legs, get to meet other people and their dogs, etc. Just
yesterday, DH and I were talking about how much less interesting our
lives would be without the dogs. The positives far outweigh the
negatives as far as I am concerned. Your experiences and outlook may
differ from mine, of course.

Suja

"Rich" wrote in message
. ..
As a city dweller, I find that the lack of backyard is a killer.
It's a lot
more difficult to let him go potty, and there is no yard to 'dogsit'
him.
Without a creative solution, the dog takes over your life. I mean,
one is
constantly waiting to do the next walk!!
True?!

Hi Rich ,
It's not until you get a dog that you realise how hard it can be and
it must be extra hard not having a yard. I expect some dogs end up in
shelters because of it. In the UK, many rescues won't rehome a dog
if there is no garden, though some take each case on merit .
I have a garden (yard) myself which is fortunate as Dibby my dog has
collitis and often has to go in the early hours. I wouldn't fancy
having to take him into the street in me jimjams !
Alison