Introducing a BIG change is a dog's life

[Teresa]

In September, I'm starting my last year of University. Then, It'll be internships time and after that, I'll have to find a job! This also means, that this will be the last year Pitanga and Romã's lives will be as they are used to it. i'll be doing my internships away from home, and hopefully 2 of them will be abroad, wich means that they can't come with me. And then, who knows where I'll get a job, and if it's far from home, they'll have to stay behind a couple of extra months (and meet me later, no doubt about that). I konw I have an entire year to plan their little red lives while I'm away, but I'm already concerned about it....

I'll be facing some tough decisions about where they'll live, for how long, and how they'll adjust to that. I currently have two options:

a) leave them with my parents, in our home, in a place they know well since we spend every class free day here. Romã was born here! Great option, exept they tend to get into VERY strange accidents under my parents care - definetely not neglect, just my girls bad luck kicking in in the worst times, so now my parents are a bit scared whenever I leave the girls with them!

b) leave them with a couple of friends (vet and vet student, so no major concerns about health) in another house they already know, with their Border Collies best friends, and keeping their weekly routine while I'm away (exept for the part I won't be there), since these are the dogs we normally do our daily country walks with, and they spend loads of time toghether. However, I'm not sure how my parents would feel if I decided to leave the girls with my friends...

In any of the situations, they won't be sleeping in my bed, and they won't be spending almost 24hrs a day next to me, and I seriously doubt I can convince anyone to take the same care of their coats that I do.

I'm not so worried about Romã, because as long as she has Pitanga, she does fine without me. Pitanga however, since she was sick this year, has become more attached to me, and shows a lot more sadness (not anxiety, thank God) when I leave then what she used to - she really just wants to spend her days next mo me, goof around for an hour to burn her energies, and come back to be next to me. This may be a permanent change, or she may still feel a bit unsure about the world after being sick for so long, I guess time will tell... Either way, I'm not sure how I'm going to make her adjust to the new reallity...

It does not seem fair to them at all, and right now I'm not sure how I'm going to introduce the changes to them... Anyone has any advice?

[Christine Pullen]

Hi Teresa, I do feel for you, obviously you want your girls to be happy while you are away and it sounds that they would do well with either choice, although missing you!!! If it was me I think I would ask my parents to be honest about how they feel having them for such a long period first and depending on that answer go from there. Pitanga is going to find the adjustment harder by the sounds of it but she will learn that you come and go even though you are not around all the time and will accept that that is how life is now.

 

It is very hard, I am having to make similar decisions for my (soon to be three) dogs as next year my husband is donating a kidney to me so I do understand where you are coming from!!! I have no family or friends able to help out and I worry that they will miss the two of us even though whatever i decide, they will be well cared for. I think we always feel that we are the only ones who can look after our dogs and in some ways that is true but other people, especially "doggie" friends are just as able!! You will have to make a decision YOU feel happy with...good luck!!!

[Dee Rance]

Oh dear Teresa, I wouldn't like to have to make your decision, I am not going to give you advise...lets face it whatever is said is going to upset people....very good luck with what you decide, I am sure that the 'kids' will adapt well,,,,not sure about you though....

Good luck and I am sure you will let us know what you decide to do...and it will be the rite decision for all of you...;o)

[silvia]

oh Teresa, that's  a painful decision really... I woudnt like to be you :(( I am pretty sure they'll adapt quickly, not sure how much you'll do, and be prepared for the sad look they'll give you when back (they may have been playing like crazy just few minutes before ;) 

If your parents are scared there is a chance the freedom of roma and pitanga will be less.. in case they are a bit afraid to leave them off lead and things like that.. not sure what to say, really.. keep us posted and a bit hug of support on such painful decision !!

would you know already where your internship will be, abroad, and how long will be?  I woudnt take them for a 2-3 months period but if, after the internships, you do postdocs (2-3years long) there is a good chance you can take the girls with you: I know several friends who did this. A friend of mine travelled with her german shepherd from Rome to Trieste (2y) to amsterdam (3y) and Barcelona (3y), for different postdocs jobs :) only downside is that she had to travel by car all times ! good luck!!!!!!!!!

[silvia]

On the other hand, i had a look at the websites of your home/impresa.. it looks to me a wonderful place to be as a dog, really!!! If your parents live there, and Roma and Pitanga knows so well the environment and the other members of the "zoo", maybe is great for them to stay?? XXX

[Teresa]

Tahnk you so much for your imput Silvia. I'll have to do 3 internships, 2 of them will last a month (and one is right next to our home, so everything will be normal then) and the biggest one will last 4 to 6 months, and I'm hoping it'll be either in the UK or USA, so they won't come for sure. After the internships we'll see, but I won't take a job if they can't be there with me, that's for sure!

As for being with my parent's, yes, they'd be staying here at the "zoo" - they have a lot of freedom and have lots of fun things to do, but right now, my mom says she's scared of having them for so long: The pine tree caterpillar, Romã's necrotic finger, Pitanga's eye laceration, and many more incidents happened while I was away, because they tend to "wild up" a bit when I'm gone. I'm currently trying a transition thing: I'm here with them but instead of sleeping in my room as usual, they are sleeping with the other dogs, as they will be next year if they stay here. They don't find it very amusing, but have accepted it quite well, so I'm hoping the transition will help them!

[silvia]

sounds a good plan! as long as they dont paws your bed tooooo often :)

[Teresa]

The last time I had My bed was in 2007, the day before Pitanga was able to climb it up. Ever since, it has been our bed, so I normally have paws in my bed and red heads in my pillow =P (that's why is going to be such a big change, hehehe!)