Could dog sharing be the solution?

About two weeks ago, I boldly announced that my house wouldn’t become any dog’s home and shared my defensive tactics.

The Community’s comments streamed in like rain. Opinions differed vastly.

«That’s exactly my take on the matter. There are just too many of them, and on top of that the animal is totally humanised. I scratch my head every time I see someone carrying their pooch in a purse or in their hands. Like it’s a toy,» writes SwissTriggerHappy. «A dogless life is possible, but pointless,» writes Anonymous, on the other hand, in reference to German comedian Loriot. One of his poems famously reads, «A pugless life is possible, but pointless.» (link in German) Mamasliebling thinks: «In my case, the rule is that I’d rather be separated from my wife than my dogs. I made that clear before we got married. Her response was: before I part ways with my cat, I’ll part ways with you.»

I fear I’ll soon have to bow to the wishes and pressure of my desperately dog-wanting family. As so often in life, the solution could be to find a compromise. My family recently put a new idea on the table. Some family friends of ours admitted that they’re not really getting much enjoyment out of their poodle anymore. And so, the idea was born – might we want to share «Juno»? As the saying goes, a problem shared is a problem halved. This is actually something people do. It’s called dog sharing. But before I agree to it, I want to find out if it’s healthy for dogs. So, I spoke to dog trainer and dog psychologist Katrin Andres.

Classic hunting dogs are more suitable for dog sharing

The very first question is whether Juno himself would appreciate being shared. Or, in more general terms, is it ever okay for two families to share one dog? «In principle, nothing speaks against dog sharing,» says Katrin Andres. According to her, what it ultimately comes down to is the dog’s personality and how well it can handle being shared by two families. In particular, it depends on a dog’s origin and life experience. «Especially southern rescues coming from shelters need some time to settle into their new homes,» Andres explains. She says this can easily take half a year. «During this time, it doesn’t make sense to share the dog between two households.»

According to Andres, dogs that were bred for defence, such as German Shepherds, generally form an attachment to one single person. For this reason, they’re less suited to dog sharing. «On the other hand, classic family dogs – which were originally bred for hunting – such as golden retrievers, are used to being around lots of people and are better suited to dog sharing.»

Dog psychologist: «Not just the owners benefit; the dogs do, too»

Katrin Andres is convinced that not only dog owners, but also the dogs themselves can benefit from dog sharing. «This allows dogs to experience something different one or two days a week.» In addition, Andres says it’s good for a dog to get used to other carers. After all, the main carer might not always be around. «Staying at a kennel for several days at a time can also be a positive, varied experience for dogs. That’s because, in a group setting, nervous dogs in particular like to copy what they see stronger dogs doing.» However, Andres does believe that the main responsibility should lie with one person, even when dog sharing. «Every dog needs a primary carer to train with.»

Well, dangnabbit! Shouldn’t have run off to an expert, after all. I’d hoped she’d crush any hope there was for dog sharing. Alas, woe is me. With that, I’m doomed to live the next few years with the latent fear that a dog will, ultimately, move in with us. And may even end up enjoying my undivided attention.