[beachykeen]

We are unfortunately a victim of the current economy and have to move out of our house into a condo.

My dilemma is that I have 2 year old twins and two dogs that I'm going to have to walk during the day. I don't have to go far, but our condo is on the 2nd floor. If any of you have this kind of predicament, how do you work out walking the dogs with having kids to watch?

[mommytoEli]

oooo....that's a good one. hope someone has some ideas for you!

[BosMom]

How about a double stroller and attaching the leashes to it (or your wrist)?

Or...

How about a trip to the local dog park where the dogs can run?

Or...

Save all the walks for nighttime when you have someone there to watch the kids.

Or...

Hire a animal loving kid in the neighborhood. There are also services for this (probably more expensive), but in my experience there are always kids around who don't HAVE dogs, but would love one... and a corresponding parent who is grateful for your generosity.

This is ALL temporary. By the time the twins are 3 they'll want to go with you for the walks.

[dutchmum]

How are you doing it now?

Our solution is that we walk our dog before our son (22 months) wakes up in the morning (We are lucky parents we have a son that does not wake before 8am). In the afternoon our son walks the dog with me helping (so in this case the dog only gets a short walk but enough to do his business). We are on a quiet road car wise but a very busy road with bicycles . Lots of schoolkids on bikes. So i will hold part of the leash (retractable).

Then at night when my DH comes home the dog gets a bigger walk. And right before we go to bed another.

You have 2 kids and 2 dogs. Are the dogs easy in walking or do they pull? If they are easy you can give the leashes to the kids (with you holding part of the leash)
Or are they still taking a nap? Can you walk them then taking the monitor with you (if it reaches that far?)

Hope it will work out for you.

[MamaS]

Feed the dogs in early evening when Husband is home. One of you walk them after feeding. Walk again just before bedtime. Walk in morning before husband leaves. Do NOT FREE FEED during the day.
If possible, while kids are napping, take a baby monitor and take the dogs (one at a time) on a flexi-leash so you can stand at the door and let them "out".
PS If they are small dogs, you might train them to a potti-pad.

[beachykeen]

Originally Posted by dutchmum

How are you doing it now?

We have a house right now, so it's not an issue, I just let them out the back door. We have to move in the next couple of months or so.

I appreciate the suggestions. The dogs don't really eat during the day. I've been trying to think about how we would have been doing it if I was working, because it really wouldn't be any different from that.

It's just tough because one of my dogs is a little pain in the butt when he decides he wants something, especially going out. He'll sit there and stare and bark until I do something.

[NJRach]

If your dog is not too large, just get a very long leash or heavy rope, then stand in the doorway and let him out in the yard. We do this often - when our guy was little, when it's raining or cold out, and very late at night. The dog goes out, stretches his legs and gets some air. If he's taking his time, I just tie the leash to the door handle and reel him back in a bit later.

If you have a Lab or other strong dog, I would not recommemd this. We have a little 15 lb dog, who isn't strong enough to loosen the leash.

Good luck.

Rachael

[beachykeen]

Our dogs are small, but one, we're on the 2nd floor and two, they have to go across the parking lot so unfortunately that won't work. Good suggestion though and one I would use if I could.

[emsmom52806]

I have the same dilemma. My husband is working out of state and I went to visit him with our 2 kids, 2 1/2 and 1 1/2. I took our basset hound (left the other 2 with family). What a pain. His legs were too short for the steep (and open) stairs so I had to carry him up and down--46 lbs--not light. I had to walk him across the parking lot too. Had to lock the kids in the house or the oldest would come out the door, ugh! To go anywhere, I brought dog along, so had to carry him first (or second) and then carry the youngest and hang on to the oldest. I had the travel crib so could put her in there, but the older was the problem. I guess a monitor, no free feeding, etc. It was exhausting. I told my husband if I joined him it would be a big issue--could he put in for a ground level unit? I think you'll come up with a system. Hopefully your stairs are closed and your dogs have longer legs or are tiny.

[NJRach]

This might work, but you will have to take the kids out of the house. Bring the kids down, put them in the car, let them play like they're "driving," get the dogs, walk the dogs, bring the dogs back to the house, then let the kids out of the car and herd them back to the house.

How's that solution? Oh, if it's really hot or cold out, this won't work.

I've used my car as a playpen when I have to do things outside.

Rachael

[Ana01]

I have 2 small dogs and 1 toddler. When I want to take the dogs out with us -- lately, I've just let them run out in the backyard (The Dog Whisperer would probably "shh" me) -- is that I hook the leash on the handle of the stroller. And it works for us.

[RGirl]

I do have a yard, but I also walk the dog twice a day.

My daughter will be two in January. For quite a few months now, all three of us (my daughter, myself, and our dog) go out in the morning together. We just walk down the block and back - my daughter just goes with us.

In the evening, we take a longer walk around our little neighborhood. (And on the weekend, we try to go for at least one really long walk - about an hour.) For these walks, my daughter rides in the stroller.

I don't have a stair issue, so that definitely makes it easier. I also only have one dog, but he is over 120 pounds and a puppy, so not exactly easy to manage. My daughter has been going on walks with us since she was 6 months old, and we all enjoy them!

[keirasmom]

Wish I had a good solution. I don't know what I would do. I think that asking a neighbor to either sit a few minutes with your kids or take the dogs out for you is a good idea. If they don't really need exercise and just need to pee,are they small enough to train to go on paper or those pee pads? If you have a balcony maybe you could train them to use the pads or paper out there.

I wouldn't use the car as a playpen though. It's too dangerous. My cousins were playing in their parked car when they were little and knocked it out of gear and rolled through their garage door. Luckily no one was hurt. More recently, a little boy was killed in my town when his friends were playing in another parked car and somehow managed to put it in gear. Unfortunately the boy who died was outside the car when it rolled backwards. Two little boys also suffocated in a trunk of a car that they hid in while playing hide and seek a few years ago in Philadelphia. IMHO it's never a good idea to let your kids think it is ok to play in, on, or near a car!

[beachykeen]

Originally Posted by NJRach

This might work, but you will have to take the kids out of the house. Bring the kids down, put them in the car, let them play like they're "driving," get the dogs, walk the dogs, bring the dogs back to the house, then let the kids out of the car and herd them back to the house.

That would be an idea, except that we only have one car right now. It sucks, I'm stuck at home 24/7 and have been for the past 6 months.

[beachykeen]

Originally Posted by keirasmom

I wouldn't use the car as a playpen though. It's too dangerous. My cousins were playing in their parked car when they were little and knocked it out of gear and rolled through their garage door. Luckily no one was hurt. More recently, a little boy was killed in my town when his friends were playing in another parked car and somehow managed to put it in gear. Unfortunately the boy who died was outside the car when it rolled backwards. Two little boys also suffocated in a trunk of a car that they hid in while playing hide and seek a few years ago in Philadelphia. IMHO it's never a good idea to let your kids think it is ok to play in, on, or near a car!

That is scary and so sad.

We do have two video monitors so I'm thinking about setting them up so I can see while I'm out instead of using them for their cribs, we really don't have to see them anymore while they're sleeping, I don't think. I'm not entirely sure the signal will reach across the parking lot, but we'll see. I know it reaches across the street here, so it's possible.

I appreciate all the suggestions, they are definitely helping me come closer to figuring it out.