moved town - should I bring my babies with me

haye1jen · 04-07-2011

I dont know what to do. I have three dogs, two of them are mini fox terriers and one is a bitsa something, aged 10,9 and 7. I have had them since they were babies and we are very very close. I have since relocated to a small country town. I brought my dogs with me but took them back home after a few weeks as I travel a lot and thought they would be better off at home with my ex husband. I dont know what is the best thing to do for them. Do I bring them back to live with me in an unfamiliar environment or is it better to leave them in the house and surroundings they have always known. I miss them so much but I only want to do whats best for them. Do dogs get homesick? Do they adapt to their new environment or are they happier in the environment they have always known? They are loved and pampered in both homes but I know the youngest dog is completely bonded to me and misses me. What should I do? I only get to see them every few weeks now because they live in Sydney and I have moved to Moree.

Lunareclipse · 04-07-2011

Dogs get attached to their PEOPLE, it doesn't matter where they live.

While it can be scary for them to move, living without their people is worse than that.

cigwyllt · 04-07-2011

I totally agree. It would never occur to me to move without my dogs because I know they would miss me. I moved out when I got married and until we were in a position to keep my dog he stayed with my parents but our reunions and our partings were heartbreaking! He was a little short legged Jack Russell and he would quite literally dance for joy when they told him I was coming and when I was in the house he would be glued to my side. We moved house a couple of times in his lifetime and he took it all in his stride - as long as he had his person he was happy.

CorkyMax · 04-07-2011

This is the thing I am wondering about:I brought my dogs with me but took them back home after a few weeks as I travel a lot and thought they would be better off at home with my ex husband.

What will you do with the dogs while you are traveling---Is this to do with your job? How much time at a time are we talking here?

Yogi · 04-07-2011

I think there is a small part of the OP's post that has not been addressed as to why she thinks it may not be good. She travels alot whether for work or whatever. This entails I can only assume that the dog is then left to be kenneled somewhere. In either case she does not take them with her. This creates continued separation where if they are left with her ex, they are at least receiving daily love from someone they know and in a home they are accustomed to. Therefore this is a question of what is actually best for the dogs.

haye1jen · 04-08-2011

Hi Yogi
Thanks for your response. I actually only travel for work for maybe one or two nights at a time, I have never left them on their own and they never go to a kennel. I just take them back to my ex, its just a very long drive ie 9 hrs dirve and whilst I dont mind the distance I dont like to put them through these long journeys every month either. I probably need to travel overnight once or twice every six weeks. I just feel guilty. But my main concern was whether they are happier in their home environment or simply happy anywhere as long as they are with their loved humans.
Regards
Lizzie11

Yogi · 04-08-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by haye1jen

Hi Yogi
Thanks for your response. I actually only travel for work for maybe one or two nights at a time, I have never left them on their own and they never go to a kennel. I just take them back to my ex, its just a very long drive ie 9 hrs dirve and whilst I dont mind the distance I dont like to put them through these long journeys every month either. I probably need to travel overnight once or twice every six weeks. I just feel guilty. But my main concern was whether they are happier in their home environment or simply happy anywhere as long as they are with their loved humans.
Regards
Lizzie11

In that case, as the prior posters noted. So long as they are with their loved ones, generally dogs adapt very well. It is with the loved ones that is the important thing as that is the bond, not the location as much.