Outsourcing is Okay

We can’t do it all. That’s a fact of life that can be difficult to come to terms with. The environment we live in these days makes us think that we have to take full responsibility and do the best, all the time, no matter what.

There are so many aspects of our lives where we are trying to turn up in our full capacity. As parents, employees, spouses, friends - and one role that people really invest themselves into is of course, as pet guardians and dog owners. So not only are we trying to make ourselves available in those places, we then have to think about taking care of our own well being otherwise it really goes downhill!

But there are only so many hours in the day, and it is really important to learn how to look around in our networks to lighten the load for ourselves.

Why is there guilt when it comes to asking for help? Why do people feel bad admitting that they need some extra support? 

I’m in a situation where I don’t have children, and I’m lucky to have flexible work hours, and even in my daily routine trying to make sure I get the dog exercised twice daily can be difficult.  Of all the delegating we can look into regarding what we do in a day, asking for help with our dogs is probably one of the easiest ones we can organise. 

Here’s the thing. People LOVE dogs and are willing to help. There are so many niches of people who are able to assist with walking, training, care, and attention. If you want to go down a professional avenue, there are great opportunities. Your dog could go on pack walk adventures - a fun day out exploring and getting their doggy desires fulfilled. Pet sitters can come in so you can go on that much needed holiday. Trainers who work full time are available to help with the foundations of the skills your dog needs - all of these things take time which is a precious resource!

You don’t even necessarily need to go down a paid route, either. You can ask your family and friends to come take the dog for the afternoon, or even try linking up with someone on your Facebook community pages. University students living away from home might want some canine time, or an older person who is looking for some company during the day may just be the perfect fit for your dog while you’re at work. There are even people with their own dogs who work from home who could offer a doggie play date in the afternoon!

It is important to research those who you are asking for help. Don’t just go in blind. Have a few meet and greets first to see if your dog feels comfortable with the person (and that you feel comfortable with them too!). Check out reviews, recommendations, and make sure you do some background research. All in all though, the process of getting help with your dog is rather smooth and extremely beneficial. It takes a community to raise a child (or a dog in this case).

Owning a dog should not feel like a burden, and shouldn’t make you feel like you’re on the cusp of burn out just getting their needs met on top of your own. It’s important to understand that it’s okay to utilise your network and give yourself a breather every once and while.

You are not a bad dog owner when you outsource support, in fact, you are doing your dog a favour by making sure they are looked after. You can’t pour from an empty cup, and if you find the right people, you’ll realise you’re also helping someone else fill their cup by giving them some canine-time!

Authored by Sarah Endres
Dog Trainer and Behaviour Advisor
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