The Dog Next Door

[smokingboot]

There's a dog next door called Pogey. He's a young adult Springer Spaniel, full of life and personality, owned by a retired couple, who are very pleasant people.

Now, you'd think that being retired they'd spend some time at home, and I'm sure they must do. But it doesn't seem to be during the day. I am trying to write, and Pogey has been barking non-stop. It feels like he has been doing it all day; there have been two breaks. Sometimes he breaks into non-stop howling. He has stopped now. By the end of this post he'll have started again. Actually, there he goes, even as I write. It's nail-scraping to hear, and on a more serious level, I think Pogey boy is unhappy.

Not because they treat him badly; on the contrary, they dote on him when they are there. Often he can enjoy himself in the garden via what I think must be a dog door. But of course it is raining today, and whether it is in the garden or in the house, Pogey spends an awful lot of time alone. Now he has stopped again.

I think he is slowly going mad through loneliness and boredom; I would offer to have him here with me during the day if he didn't chase cats. But of course, he is becoming a little strange and a little unmanageable, developing those tiny quirks that signal the onset of canine behavioural problems.

Larians was thinking of offering to walk him, but of course, Pogues can't be let off a lead, because he doesn't really know us - we've only been in his house once - and he might just run off, hysterical at having something to do. I don't know what we can really do to make things better for Pogey.

They say they can't really walk him in winter, but I have never seen them walk him once in Summer. In fact, what am I saying, I am pretty certain they don't walk him. At all. He never goes out. They are lovely folk, and I don't want to get them into any trouble with the council - though it's a matter of time before someone does report Pogey as a nuisance. There he goes again. Now he is whimpering and sort of hallooing. He's pretty down.

Perhaps we should get them round here for dinner, and offer to take him for walks. Even if he's not off the leash, it has to be better than this.

Comments

[caffeine-fairy.livejournal.com]

He's a Springer Spaniel and they don't take him for walks?

Yeah, that's an accident waiting to happen. They are incredibly energetic dogs and prone to destructive/aggressive behaviour if that's not channelled. I think you need to have a chat with your neighbours...

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

You're right. And he's about 2 maybe a bit more, all ready for a rumble...

We owe them a dinner. I'll try to get them around here and gently introduce the topic.

[abutterflygirl.livejournal.com]

Something definitely needs to be done there, he sounds very unhappy and not getting any walks is terrible for any dog! Loneliness isn't good either, like you said it just opens him up to developing some serious canine behaviour problems and that rarely ends well.

I have a friend who has a degree in animal welfare and behaviour and is also a dog trainer. I just ran this past her and she said agreed that any walk is better than no walk, so even if you Larians only took him on the leash it would be something. She then suggested you could start to teach him, just like you would any dog, to come back to you once he's more familiar with you (using long lines and sausage/cheese treats!!). I’m sure you already know how or know people that can help, but if not give me a shout and I’ll get her to write down some steps. That is, of course, if you and Larians can take it on, you already do so much.

If you can’t, as much as it’s sad, I’d strongly suggest someone is contacted so that the poor doggy doesn’t go mad or develop terrible behaviours. In the long run you’ll be doing him a favour. X

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

These are good suggestions, thank you! I will work with them...walks on a leash sound like a good start from what you say.

Let's see what his humans make of these ideas.

[abutterflygirl.livejournal.com]

Good luck with it. Hoping things improve for poor Pogey x

[nortysarah.livejournal.com]

Oh dear. They're really high maintenance dogs. My parents in law have one and really struggle. They need a LOT of exercise and don't like being left alone. They have to walk it twice a day, otherwise he goes a bit crazy. I'm not sure what to suggest!

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

It is a toughie. I mean, what possesses people to get dogs like this, when a mutt would have been so much easier?

Still, I guess talking to his owners about walks might be a start...

[happybat.livejournal.com]

Walks on a leash can be fun! My parents walk a neighbourdog, and it makes both them and the dog very happy.

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Yes, right now it is looking like the best way forward.

[nyarbaggytep.livejournal.com]

Not meaning to diss your neighbours, but why get a dog if you can't walk them? Maybe they don't know how important it is. Pretty much all dogs need walks. Regular daily ones, regardless of season. I wouldn't offer to walk the dog for them, I'd be suggesting they pay a regular dog-walker or re-home him. It's not fair to keep a dog you can't look after, or aren't prepared to. It's not fair on you having to hear him in distress, and it certainly aint fair on poor Pogey.

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Well, it's a toughie...honestly I think it would be war if I ever mentioned re-homing him! I don't quite know what the issue is, and will try to coax it out in conversation with them.

Perhaps they don't know quite how bad he gets when they are gone.