Insert expletive here

[Momily]

UPDATE: We found a new place! With a yard and a fence and pets allowed. It's actually a little bigger and a little nicer (YAY!!) and a little more expensive, but still within what I can afford.

Now, I just need to let the rescue people know, but I don't think they'll mind given that they never asked to see the other house.



In case anyone here didn't know, we're planning on getting a new dog sometime soon. We have appointments this weekend to meet a few dogs who seem perfect for us, have hired (tentatively) a dog walker, etc . . . Before we can do that however we're moving from a tiny apartment into our own (rented) house with a yard and all sorts of other wonderful things!

The management company called me today and said that they went in to fix a "minor" mold problem in the baement and found a huge mold problem which will mean ripping out the walls waterproofing the basement, etc . . . We can still move in but it means workers in the basement for quite a while.

I feel like this house is like gold -- it's in a great, safe, diverse neighborhood. It's tiny which makes it affordable, it has a fenced yard, it allows pets. After a couple of years in a one bedroom apartment I was so excited about it.

So now, what do we do?

Anyway, my biggest question is -- if we take the house (I'm not sure how we can not do this -- we gave notice on our current apartment, and I think they already rented it) can I bring home a dog when they're working in the basement? I really want our dog home this summer when I have a few weeks off and things are more relaxed so we can really work on training and bonding.

Here are my concerns:

1) I assume we'll have to keep the dog/puppy out of the basement entirely. That means that access to the backyard will be exclusively via the steps from the deck -- which means slippery (if it's raining) wood steps with spaces between them (you know the kind, no backs, just the part you step on) instead of nice stable carpeted inside stairs. I guess we could carry the dog up and down if he's small enough? Should I assume an adult dog would be fine?

2) When I'm at work the dog would be home alone -- would he/she feel scared with the noise of workmen in the house? Would the noise keep him awake and therefore unhappy to be crated? I'm thinking I'd put his crate in DS's bedroom on the 2nd floor so as far from the noise as possible. Alternatively I could take the smallest bedroom and delay moving any furniture in, and use it like an expen -- but that means the dog is hardwood floors (I was assuming he'd be on the basement tile), in a room with molding etc . . . and a window with a view of the street to distract him with passing cars. Also there's no AC in that room, so if I close the window (to keep him from jumping out) and the door he might get really hot. Maybe I could baby gate the door?

I flipping can't believe this.

I should add that I will look for someplace else, but as of today Craigslist comes up with 1 house that meets my requirements (not as nice a neighborhood, not sure how I feel about DS coming home to that house when it's empty), and it was posted a week ago -- I wouldn't be surprised if it was gone.

[Momily]

One more thought -- if I happened to luck out and get Lyle, he could go to doggie daycare. The puppies are over 6 months which means they can't go to daycare unless they're neutered, and they aren't. Of coures we could "fix" that (pun intended) but the vet I talked to said we have to bring the dog in, get his blood tested, then make an appointmet, which would mean at least a week of the dog being home with the workment.

Also, paying for a dog, and neutering, and all the dog stuff, and doggie daycare would be a huge stretch in the same month I'm paying for movers and double rent for a week to allow the move.

Do you think that Lyle (or another rescue dog) would be OK with going to daycare right away? Would he think I was abandoning him again or would he think "Boo Yah! Friends to play with". Would this set us up for separation anxiety later because he missed daycare -- 5 days a week of daycare is not in my long term budget.

[mamallama]

I think the steps will likely be fine. Some dogs are afraid of open steps the first time they encounter them, but no doubt you will find a solution. My rescues have learned our open steps pretty quickly--high value treats are a good motivation. Worst case scenario--you're thinking sheltie, not newfie. You can carry a sheltie in a pinch, esp for a short time period.

I wouldn't worry about the workers unless it shows itself to be a problem.

For most dogs, I think a crate is better stress reduction than an empty room.

I would reconsider the street view. To a lot of dogs, it's more of a barking trigger than a passive distraction.

I've never used doggy daycare, so I can't speak to that.

[Momily]

I was thinking of the street as a problem, not a solution.

If the dog was in the basement all he'd see was the backyard. In the upstairs rooms, though (or the first floor) he'd see the street, which I think might be a barking trigger.

So, you think it's doable with the dog crated in the bedroom? The dog walker could do 2 20 minute visits instead of 1 30 (which is what I'd planned). I'm thinking that might be reassuring?

[Ola_]

How long would the work be going on for?

I would set up the furniture and crate him in one of your bedrooms. Turn on the radio while he's home alone and take him for a nice walk in the morning. He will be fine unless he's a very anxious dog and he will do better in a room that has your smells in it.

With the open steps, I would carry him down the first few times and let him walk up - that seems to be less scary for them usually. After a few times he will be more familiar with them and have an easier time going down. Or he may be just fine with them in the first place.

[beanma]

I wouldn't worry about the steps. Unless you're getting a teeny baby puppy or geriatric older dog I think that's a non-issue. When our puppy was little she was a little scared of our deck steps, but I think she was totally comfortable within two weeks. We got her when she was about 11 weeks old.

We had an older dog who was very unsteady and he did eventually balk at going down the steps, but he was always comfortable going up, so I think the advice to let your pup try going up if he/she is scared of going down is right on.

Sorry about the mold. That stinks!