Hello there. I am fairly new here. I posted in the pics section yesterday and got some wonderful comments and support for my situation I am in. My husband and I are in the process of splitting up, and so many of you left kind words and told me how my Wookie will be my rock. So true, he is a God send! I don't know how I would get through this without him. But he is also a big part of what is worrying me most. My family and friends think I am crazy and say 'he is a DOG, he will be fine', but I think you guys here know how much more he is than that.
Currently, my husband and I are still in the same house, but that will be changing soon. I leave for work at 5:45 in the morning and get home around 3-3:30. My husband doesn't leave til around 9, so Wookie has him there with him a few more hours in the mornings, but that will change once we move out. I HATE the idea of him being alone that long! I am not worried about accidents because I have had to do it occasionally when my husband has been out of town and he does fine. I am worried about his well being. I know how important it is to excercise dogs and keep them stimulated. As it is now, I don't go places in the evening during the week unless I know my husband will be home cause I don't want Wookie having to stay alone any longer. When I get home I try to spend as much time with him as possilbe, going for walks, playing and just trying to keep him stimulated. I don't mind giving up somethings for him, but it is getting where I am not getting ANYTHING else done. One of the things is my art. I am currently trying to further develop a line of paintings (of dogs, go figure!) that I want to start trying to market myself with and get commissions for (maybe actually make money on my art!). I really need to spend time on it each night. But when I sit down at my art table and see him sitting by my chair holding a ball in his mouth, I just can't deny him. It breaks my heart! Tennis is another thing. I love to play and it is a great stress relief for me (which I need right now), but I can't practice after work, cause I have to get home to him. Once we move out money is going to ber VERY tight for me, and I really need a second income source, but there is NO WAY I will take a second job and leave him alone any longer than I already do. (This is where my family and friends say I am just crazy) And since money is tight, I can't afford a dog walker to come during the day to help (plus I am just not real trusting of people with him, I am always afraid he will get away from them and be gone!). Since I have a sometimes pretty physcial job, I get tired early (plus from getting up so early) but I just hate lying around relaxing or going to bed early cause I know he probably spent all day sleeping and will sleep all night with me. I feel horrible that he only has a few hours in the evening to be active and with me. This is exactly why I waited til I was married and settled to get a dog, where I could have help and time for him. I just feel so guilty all the time. Plus I worry about how it is going to affect him taking him out of the only home he has ever known and away from his Daddy. Does any of this make sense or is this just an emotional mess of a message??? (Sorry) Is there anyone else who has felt this way? How do I deal? Maybe I am just that 'crazy dog lady' everyone thinks.....sigh....
