https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 20 Apr 2026 17:53:14 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parenting-when-you-have-a-dog#post-2692594 Mon, 06 Feb 2017 17:10:35 +0000 QBbride 2692594@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@fuzzypeaches: we have a great dog walker who takes the dogs hiking! It wouldn't be at 7am but he's really awesome and it's 1 1/2 hour hike plus driving to/from. Let me know if you want his name :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parenting-when-you-have-a-dog#post-2692547 Mon, 06 Feb 2017 15:52:56 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2692547@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@fuzzypeaches: that worked out well! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parenting-when-you-have-a-dog#post-2692501 Mon, 06 Feb 2017 15:19:50 +0000 alphagam84 2692501@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Could you take your dog in the backyard and just play with it? Ours loves to play soccer, chase sticks or tennis balls. Great way to burn up some energy in 15 mins or so! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parenting-when-you-have-a-dog#post-2692113 Mon, 06 Feb 2017 02:05:10 +0000 808love 2692113@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@fuzzypeaches: That is awesome! Totally worth it!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parenting-when-you-have-a-dog#post-2692112 Mon, 06 Feb 2017 02:03:42 +0000 fuzzypeaches 2692112@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks ladies :) thanks to you I put an ad on my local childcare Facebook page and found a college student who lives right nearby and is willing to take him for 30 min at 7am and come back for another 30 min after her classes at 1pm. </p> <p>All for $10. I will give up my Starbucks and call it worth my piece of mind! I'm hoping it works out! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parenting-when-you-have-a-dog#post-2692090 Sun, 05 Feb 2017 22:12:04 +0000 petitenoisette 2692090@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@fuzzypeaches: I do think it's unlikely a dog walker will come that early, but sure you could get someone to come by 8-9. I'd plan to let the dog out in the yard in the am just to give the opportunity to go. Your pup will get used to either doing his business in the yard or waiting til the dog walker comes very quickly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parenting-when-you-have-a-dog#post-2692089 Sun, 05 Feb 2017 22:07:58 +0000 Pollywog 2692089@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@fuzzypeaches: My dog walker has a key to our house. Here's what I would do. Let the dog out to pee, have a walker come in for an early morning walk (8 or 9 am). Then have them come back at 4-5. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parenting-when-you-have-a-dog#post-2692088 Sun, 05 Feb 2017 22:03:31 +0000 avivoca 2692088@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@fuzzypeaches: If it's not too cold, I wear the baby and have the toddler walk with me. She has a leash that she holds that attaches to the actual leash. If it's really cold, I get up super early and walk the dog for five minutes, let her in the yard, and go on a longer one after work. When it's warmer, we'll all get up early and load into the stroller and go for a walk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parenting-when-you-have-a-dog#post-2692087 Sun, 05 Feb 2017 22:02:38 +0000 fuzzypeaches 2692087@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone! It seems like concensus is dog walker😝 Actually I feel better knowing I'm not alone! With DH home it is do much easier. </p> <p>Honestly I can't see another solution either. I need both kids up to be dropped off at daycare and me at work by 8 (40 min commute) and home by 6 with everyone in tow.<br /> And it breaks my heart to not give the dog what he needs either. Obviously it's not his fault that my house is chaos lol. </p> <p>Do you think a dog walker would come at 630am? Is that crazy? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parenting-when-you-have-a-dog#post-2692075 Sun, 05 Feb 2017 20:38:19 +0000 808love 2692075@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When LO was littler I sent our dog to FILs house during DHs trip. It made a huge difference. If I were you I would send your dog to a doggie sitter (maybe someone wanting to try out a dog) or get a dog walker when DH is out of town at least just to give you a break until you feel more up to it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parenting-when-you-have-a-dog#post-2692074 Sun, 05 Feb 2017 20:12:59 +0000 MamaCate 2692074@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@fuzzypeaches: thanks for asking this! We are coming up on the same issue soon--2 kids + dog who likes two walks a day and doesn't like to poop in the yard.</p> <p>I am planning to just get everyone ready early (fingers crossed) and do a 20 minute walk in the morning between teeth brushing and getting the baby dressed. Then repeat as soon as we get home before dinner. </p> <p>I am not sure how this will work but I don't see another option. I may try to bring more work home (which I hate) and leave a little earlier if I have to... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parenting-when-you-have-a-dog#post-2692055 Sun, 05 Feb 2017 18:33:53 +0000 sunnyday 2692055@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am home on mat leave now, 3 kids and dog that gets 3-4 walks every day. DH either walks him before he goes to work or when he can't, and eventually as I get out of newborn days (she's 4w) I walk him as I take our oldest (she's 4 to school. We go for a mid day walk, then walk at school pick up, then bedtime walk. Beginning of day and/or bedtime when solo turns into ball play in the backyard so not as much activity, but then I am mindful of that and do bigger mid day walks. Probably 3-5km total in walk time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parenting-when-you-have-a-dog#post-2692052 Sun, 05 Feb 2017 18:11:43 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2692052@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just let her out in the yard in the morning and then for a proper walk in the afternoon.<br /> I load the little ones into the double stroller and we go pick up my four year old from school. It's about 40 minutes round trip so not an amazing walk but she's ok on just 40 minutes.<br /> I let her in the yard again before bed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parenting-when-you-have-a-dog#post-2692043 Sun, 05 Feb 2017 17:42:05 +0000 MenagerieMama 2692043@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are super lazy and just let the dogs into the yard - we have 2 so they chase each other around for a while. Clearly not the best for them but honestly they haven't gotten a regular walk since LO1 was born :shocked: We try and do some good outings for them on the weekends (LO loves the dog park!). When LO was little we didn't have a fenced yard so I would babywear if she was awake or bring the monitor if she was asleep and just stayed right outside the house for them to potty. They are far more into fetching so they'd rather walk to the park half a block away and fetch for 20 min than have a walk for exercise so we try and do that a couple times a week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parenting-when-you-have-a-dog#post-2692033 Sun, 05 Feb 2017 17:05:06 +0000 petitenoisette 2692033@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I second getting a dog walker and arrange for them to come earlier in the day. What time do you leave? Maybe there is even a high school age kid you could hire to walk your dog in the am before they leave for school? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parenting-when-you-have-a-dog#post-2692025 Sun, 05 Feb 2017 16:13:06 +0000 fuzzypeaches 2692025@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone! I have a yard actually so it's not so much the potty but just the daily walk that's the issue. Also he tends to "do his business" on walks and won't go in the yard. </p> <p>With the two of them and the weather awful it's been hard to take the stroller out. But in the summer could totally get up earlier to try and make it work. </p> <p>A dog walker is a good idea actually. I thought about it but my biggest problem is taking him out before work because it's so chaotic. I feel like I wouldn't be able to leave him without knowing he has had a little stroll. </p> <p>I know I'm a bit of a crazy dog lady hahaha </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parenting-when-you-have-a-dog#post-2692018 Sun, 05 Feb 2017 15:49:32 +0000 nana87 2692018@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is our biggest logistical challenge of city life. We live in a high rise apartment building, on the 20th floor, and do not feel comfortable having only one adult overnight with our dogs and toddler. Just taking the dogs out to pee and come straight back can take 5-10 mins. So when one of us is out of town, we have an additional adult (parent or friend) stay overnight. Major major pita and so we rarely solo parent overnight. I cannot wait to someday have a yard so we won't have this problem! We've thought about hiring a dog walker for the late night/pre-bed walk when lo is already asleep but I wouldn't really be comfortable with the overnight situation </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parenting-when-you-have-a-dog#post-2692017 Sun, 05 Feb 2017 15:44:48 +0000 Pollywog 2692017@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hire a dog walker. What I do is take her out for a quick potty, then work from home and walk her during conference calls, then we do a family walk after daycare and a quick solo potty after LO is in bed. </p> <p>If I have to go in to the office, I get the walker more frequently. I have no problem with then walking her if I'm home. </p> <p>For logistics, I put the toddler in the Tula with a giant coat over us. When he's bigger, I'm sure I'll use a stroller, but the Tula is way easier for now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parenting-when-you-have-a-dog#post-2692016 Sun, 05 Feb 2017 15:37:38 +0000 Iced Tea 2692016@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd like to hear suggestions also. We don't have a yard. We only have one toddler, and walking the dog with her is hard enough! When we know the weather will be bad while the husband is out of town, we actually send the dog to boarding camp! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parenting-when-you-have-a-dog#post-2692004 Sun, 05 Feb 2017 15:04:22 +0000 Mrs.Pinecone316 2692004@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Are you living in a home or apartment? Is there any green grass outside your door? We have a backyard but it isn't fenced so we can't just let him roam free and go yet. We have one of those things that you screw into the ground and it has like 25 feet of leash on it so I can click it on his collar and let him off the back deck and he has enough length to do his business then come right back up to the deck when he is done. Not sure if that would work in the kind of place you are living.</p> <p>When I was in an apartment I pretty much just had to walk him with my daughter every morning, then walk in the evening again while she was awake and just let him pee at night right outside our front door at night since she was already in bed. Not ideal, its tough when the husband travels I can sympathize. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parenting-when-you-have-a-dog#post-2691998 Sun, 05 Feb 2017 14:49:33 +0000 fuzzypeaches 2691998@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi ladies....<br /> When you are solo parenting with multiple children, how do you get out to walk the dog? DH has beeen travelling a ton lately.</p> <p>On weekends it's easier as I just take everyone for a walk, but my biggest problem is before work during the week.<br /> I have started getting up at the crack of dawn and trying to take him quickly while kids are sleeping.... for a less than ideal 10 min or so, but I'm always afraid that they will wake up and panic if they can't find me. They are also old enough to get into trouble when I'm gone (3, 1.5) </p> <p>Anyone have a brilliant solution? I also fee bad for the dog as he generally has more like 1-2h of walking during the day when both of us are home. </p>