Dear Fellow GSD Folks:
I'm wrestling with a decision that I do not know where else to turn for advice, so here I am . . . I'd appreciate any thoughts you have on this since you all likely love your dog as much as I do and will be able to appreciate my dilemma.
I currently live in Montana, which I believe is about as perfect of a climate as you can have for a GSD, most of the year it's cool to cold, and in the summers, even if sometimes hot, the nights usually cool down making it very comfortable for my dog. My dog's a GSD (as you might have guessed), he's 10 years old and in good health, on thyroid med, but otherwise he's doing well. He's starting to slow down a bit, doesn't need the chasing of the ball as much and is content with shorter walks/hikes and enjoys his rest on the bed. So, all is good here in Montana and he's living out his life hiking, having lots of space outside, head out of the car window in the Montana cool night breeze, and other than a bit of summer heat sometimes, loves the temps and climate.
Here's the problem: I met someone a year ago who had to take a job in Missouri (it's very difficult for that person to find a job in her field and the person basically had to take the job in Missouri to get experience). I have a lot more work experience and could probably move anywhere in the country and get a good job, so it makes the most sense for me to move to Missouri than it does for my partner to stay in Montana. If it were just the two of us, I'd most likely move down there to see how things go even though I myself prefer Montana. I'd tolerate Missouri to be with her, no problem. The question though is my GSD and the guilt I experience with the thought of moving down there even though I know Montana climate, space and lifestyle is better for him. I visited Missouri and though he does okay, clearly he's a lot hotter down there, breathes harder on walks/hikes due to Missouri's humid climate (I visited in summer). I keep walks and hikes VERY short and watch him very carefully to know when he's had enough. Even walks in the morning or at night can be humid and hot for him. But the thing about him is that he's very much an inside dog, he spends most of his time inside, enjoys playing inside and resting on the bed. So being outside isn't that much of a concern, but it's enough to make me seriously question whether I can move from Montana to Missouri if it's not in HIS best interests just because it may be in mine (and ours, myself and my partner). I feel so guilty asking him to tolerate humid temps just so I can move, so I'm leaning toward not moving which would likely mean costing the relationship (which I'd say right now is the most significant relationship I've had in the past 15 years, it's THAT special that I'm considering the move in the first place, otherwise no way would I move even for myself to Missouri). Missouri is 1500 miles from where I am in Montana. I'd like to move and invest in building a stronger relationship that could be for life, but not if it means my GSD will be in a worse place for him.
As many of you probably do, you put your GSD first when it comes to most things, and I do as well, even as a sacrifice to yourself. Yet at the same time I'm trying to be rational and make sure I'm not being over-protective of him (as he's overprotective of me, boy I wonder where I learned that from?). So I don't know what the answer is, if I move, I'm making myself and someone else very happy, but the moment I see him in humid temps and not as comfortable as he would be in Montana none of it seems worthwhile and I just want to stay in Montana for HIS benefit alone. You all probably love your GSD as much as I do mine, what would you do? Good parents do what's best for their kids and my dog is my kid, even if it means costing relationships. My gut tells me I have to do what's best for him and not move. But am I being overprotective and making too much of the Missouri humidity? He's 10, I want him to live out the rest of his life in comfort, so I'd say clearly Montana is the better place for him and my conscience won't let me move to Missouri. But could humidity actually be better for his joints? It's very dry in Montana. Also, the relationship with my partner is very strong and continues to grow. She's not giving me an "ultimatum" or anything, nor would I ever accept one from anyone. It's not like that at all. It's just that I know that if I don't move, it could be very difficult making things work and I'm trying to do the right thing for us, but not at the expense of doing what's best for my GSD. As a dog person, I'm in the camp of "No way am I moving my GSD to Missouri, period," but I'm wondering if I'm being a bit too extreme and overprotective. Most of my lifestyle decisions revolve around my GSD (kind of car to buy, hours I work, type of exercise I do outdoors, etc.,) so this move would actually be one of the first lifestyle choices I'd be making that could conflict with his preference. Otherwise, most of my other decisions are made kind of with the mentality of "What's best for him?"
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.
I'm wrestling with a decision that I do not know where else to turn for advice, so here I am . . . I'd appreciate any thoughts you have on this since you all likely love your dog as much as I do and will be able to appreciate my dilemma.
I currently live in Montana, which I believe is about as perfect of a climate as you can have for a GSD, most of the year it's cool to cold, and in the summers, even if sometimes hot, the nights usually cool down making it very comfortable for my dog. My dog's a GSD (as you might have guessed), he's 10 years old and in good health, on thyroid med, but otherwise he's doing well. He's starting to slow down a bit, doesn't need the chasing of the ball as much and is content with shorter walks/hikes and enjoys his rest on the bed. So, all is good here in Montana and he's living out his life hiking, having lots of space outside, head out of the car window in the Montana cool night breeze, and other than a bit of summer heat sometimes, loves the temps and climate.
Here's the problem: I met someone a year ago who had to take a job in Missouri (it's very difficult for that person to find a job in her field and the person basically had to take the job in Missouri to get experience). I have a lot more work experience and could probably move anywhere in the country and get a good job, so it makes the most sense for me to move to Missouri than it does for my partner to stay in Montana. If it were just the two of us, I'd most likely move down there to see how things go even though I myself prefer Montana. I'd tolerate Missouri to be with her, no problem. The question though is my GSD and the guilt I experience with the thought of moving down there even though I know Montana climate, space and lifestyle is better for him. I visited Missouri and though he does okay, clearly he's a lot hotter down there, breathes harder on walks/hikes due to Missouri's humid climate (I visited in summer). I keep walks and hikes VERY short and watch him very carefully to know when he's had enough. Even walks in the morning or at night can be humid and hot for him. But the thing about him is that he's very much an inside dog, he spends most of his time inside, enjoys playing inside and resting on the bed. So being outside isn't that much of a concern, but it's enough to make me seriously question whether I can move from Montana to Missouri if it's not in HIS best interests just because it may be in mine (and ours, myself and my partner). I feel so guilty asking him to tolerate humid temps just so I can move, so I'm leaning toward not moving which would likely mean costing the relationship (which I'd say right now is the most significant relationship I've had in the past 15 years, it's THAT special that I'm considering the move in the first place, otherwise no way would I move even for myself to Missouri). Missouri is 1500 miles from where I am in Montana. I'd like to move and invest in building a stronger relationship that could be for life, but not if it means my GSD will be in a worse place for him.
As many of you probably do, you put your GSD first when it comes to most things, and I do as well, even as a sacrifice to yourself. Yet at the same time I'm trying to be rational and make sure I'm not being over-protective of him (as he's overprotective of me, boy I wonder where I learned that from?). So I don't know what the answer is, if I move, I'm making myself and someone else very happy, but the moment I see him in humid temps and not as comfortable as he would be in Montana none of it seems worthwhile and I just want to stay in Montana for HIS benefit alone. You all probably love your GSD as much as I do mine, what would you do? Good parents do what's best for their kids and my dog is my kid, even if it means costing relationships. My gut tells me I have to do what's best for him and not move. But am I being overprotective and making too much of the Missouri humidity? He's 10, I want him to live out the rest of his life in comfort, so I'd say clearly Montana is the better place for him and my conscience won't let me move to Missouri. But could humidity actually be better for his joints? It's very dry in Montana. Also, the relationship with my partner is very strong and continues to grow. She's not giving me an "ultimatum" or anything, nor would I ever accept one from anyone. It's not like that at all. It's just that I know that if I don't move, it could be very difficult making things work and I'm trying to do the right thing for us, but not at the expense of doing what's best for my GSD. As a dog person, I'm in the camp of "No way am I moving my GSD to Missouri, period," but I'm wondering if I'm being a bit too extreme and overprotective. Most of my lifestyle decisions revolve around my GSD (kind of car to buy, hours I work, type of exercise I do outdoors, etc.,) so this move would actually be one of the first lifestyle choices I'd be making that could conflict with his preference. Otherwise, most of my other decisions are made kind of with the mentality of "What's best for him?"
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.