I do love my dog but i am uneasy with the quality of care i am providing for her. She was a manic purchase and i was not prepared for how demanding caring for her would be. It's not so bad in the Spring, Summer and Fall, but i really don't like taking her out in the Winter when i'm depressed and the weather is so awful [Ontario here]. Most days we're only out twice. Some days only once. She can go potty on the balcony so she's comfortable but the women in my building are always on my case to take her out more as they're out three times a day with their dogs, religiously.

I've started the process to give her away twice now. I even had people in to meet her but they wanted to bring their daughter by the next day to meet her and by then i had changed my mind.

It's hard for me to tell if i just have normal parental anxiety and guilt. I don't mind the other aspects of caring for her -- i even brush her teeth. It's just the endless effing walking her that i don't like.

I so wish i'd gotten a cat. Sometimes i think i should see if there's someone who would trade their cat for my dog... I might ask my neighbor. I just feel it would be such a monstrous thing to give my dog away -- i know she would suffer as she's really attached to me.

What do you think?