• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
DogsBestLife.com logo

Dog's Best Life

The information you need to keep your dog happy, healthy, playful and loyal.

  • Top Stories
  • Blog
  • What We Do
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Dog co-parenting: Everything you need to know

Posted November 30, 2019

 
Man and woman both give a white samoyed a kiss. Dog co-parenting allows dog owners to split costs and allows the dog to be with the owner who has the most free time to give.
Dog co-parenting allows dog owners to split costs and allows the dog to be with the owner who has the most free time to give.

What is dog co-parenting? It’s a relatively new idea of literally sharing a dog with someone else who doesn’t live with you! The dog has two owners and splits time between their homes.

There are some very appealing benefits to caring for a dog in a co-parenting relationship. Apart from the fact that it makes owning a dog really fun all the time, the cost of keeping the dog can be shared, while annual vaccinations and health checks can also be split between the dog’s owners.

You might even find that one person is earning more money and is prepared to contribute more in terms of finances but is therefore unable to devote as much free time to the dog. This is where co-parenting is useful because the dog then gets the love and care from the other parent who has more time.

The options are vast, which makes co-parenting a worthwhile option to consider. 

Want to know more? Here’s some essential reading before you become a canine co-parent.

Who Owns the Dog When We Are Co-Parenting?

One of the most important things to confirm before entering into a co-parenting agreement is to establish who the legal owner of the dog will be.

You have to provide one person as the dog’s rightful owner in certain situations, such as:

Court cases involving the dog

  • Completing insurance documents, microchipping records, and license tag records

How Do We Work Out Who Pays for What When We’re Doggy Co-Parenting?

Keeping a pet is a lot like having a child; it’s not cheap, but the reward is amazing! With this in mind, it’s vital for both parties in the co-parenting agreement to be fully on board, agreed, and happy about who will be paying for what.

A common checklist of expenses looks like this:

  • Food
  • Insurance
  • License fees
  • Annual vet bills, including vaccinations, repeat drug prescriptions, claw clipping, etc.
  • Dental check-ups/treatments
  • Toys, bedding
  • Professional grooming 
  • Emergency vet bills, if your dog gets sick or injured

It’s common for people to split everything down the middle when it comes to costs, but there are other ways of organizing the money side of things. This is part of the fun of co-parenting, though, as you can always work it out on an individual basis.

How Do We Train Our Co-Parented Dog?

When dogs are living between two homes, getting the training right is paramount. Paying particular attention to the training will define whether your dog acclimatizes to the arrangements well or not. 

There are simple things that you need to adhere to when your handling and training, such as ensuring that both owners call the dog the same name and use the same kind of treats for rewards during the training.

Making sure that you both encourage the same behaviors in the home is essential, as this will prevent confusion and frustration for your dog. So, if one owner is allowing the dog on the couch, then this has to be the rule in both homes.

 Agree on the same food too. This is especially important if you have a particular breed that necessitates a certain raw dog food, or if the dog has dietary requirements for health reasons. Consistency is key.

Organizing Co-Parenting Exercise

Dogs of all shapes, sizes, and breeds require exercise. Experts advise that every dog requires between 30 and 60 minutes of exercise a day as a minimum. Decide the exercise arrangements as early as possible so that your dog doesn’t miss out at all. This can also tie in with how often they live at each home. 

Many co-parents refer to the simple use of a calendar; this way you can keep track of you’re the weeks and the exercise arrangements. If you have a smartphone, you can add it to the phone’s calendar and share it with the other co-parent so that no mistakes are made.

How Do We Acclimatize Our Co-Parented Dog?

When a dog is first introduced to co-parenting, they will need a generous amount of time to acclimatize to their new routine; it’s going to be very exciting at times!

One of the best ways to achieve reliable acclimatization is to have the dog live for two to three weeks in a single household before coming to the other home for the same period. Doing it this way is much calmer for dogs and causes less confusion. 

Unlike cats, dogs don’t get as attached to places, so it’s just a case of making them feel comfortable and at ease, which you can help by transferring their dog bed and toys with them when they switch homes.

Angie Hill is the editor of WoofDog, a website dedicated to doggy care and advice.

Who gets the dog in divorce? More prenups include pets

 
 
 
 
 

Related Posts

  • Msn cuddles with border collie. When you re-home dogs, help them adjust by incorporating old habits in their new routines.
    How changing owners affects dogs

    When you re-home dogs, help them adjust by incorporating old…

  • Adopting a dog after a breakup: Woman snuggles with dog by her laptop.
    5 reasons to adopt a dog after a breakup

    Adopting a dog after a breakup helps you by adding…

  • Bride and groom pose with dog in a tuxedo for a dog-friendly wedding.
    7 tips to plan a dog-friendly wedding

    Before planning a dog-friendly wedding, you need to consider your…

  • Make your dog part of your wedding day

    With a little planning, you can include dog in your…

Share this post:

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest Share on Email Share on Reddit

Filed Under: Dog Fun, Home Page Tagged With: Major life changes, Pet parents

« Previous Post
Next Post »

Primary Sidebar

Follow Us

Categories

  • Adoption
  • Dog Breeds
  • Dog Facts
  • Dog Fun
  • Dog Grooming
  • Dog Health
  • Dog Inspirations
  • Dog Training
  • Dog Travel
  • Holidays
  • Home Page
  • Puppies
  • Top Stories

Featured Posts

  • Tricolor Australian shepherd in front of white background. Take steps to stop dog pawing.

    Canine body language: What’s your dog saying with his paws?

  • Cute corgi puppy wrapped in a blanket. Talk with your vet about starting your dog on medication to protect him from parasites including flea and tick prevention, as well as heartworm prevention.

    Puppy training 101: 10 tips to prepare your dog for success

  • Thinking of getting a furry friend? Use the DogsBestLife.com perfect dog breed quiz to find the perfect canine companion.

    Take our dog breed quiz to discover the perfect breed for you!

Tags

Pit bullWorking dogsSeparation anxietyPoodlePuppy-proofPawPuppy kindergartenRottweilerThanksgivingPet sitterSheddingtraining tipsOutdoor activitiesSocializationPetfinder.comTwo dogsVacation dog carePet parentsTicksPotty trainingRescue dogService dogsSmall dogsYorkshire terrierVeterinarianValentine's DayPandemicPomeranianWaterOld dogs

Footer

Quick Links

  • Home
  • Top Stories
  • Blog
  • What We Do
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Recent Posts

  • Use 5 factors to choose the best veterinarian for your dog
    Research thoroughly and consider location, services, experience, cost, and staff before choosing the right vet for your dog. […]
  • Fight insomnia: 12 tips to help your dog get good sleep
    The most common cause of canine insomnia is pent-up energy. Help your dog sleep all night by ensuring it gets enough exercise. […]
  • Dog fears: 10 ways to fight separation anxiety
    Separation anxiety is one of the most common dog fears. Use our 10 steps to help your dog become more confident and overcome her fear of being left alone. […]
  • Is amoxicillin safe? What antibiotic is most effective for dogs?
    Consult your vet before giving your dog antibiotics. Know when your dog needs medication and watch for allergic reactions. […]

Get Our Newsletter

Get more news to help keep your dog healthy delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for DogsBestLife.com's monthly newsletter.

© Copyright 2023 DogsBestLife.com online magazine · All Rights Reserved · Privacy
Get Our Free Monthly Newsletter

Get more news to help keep your dog healthy delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for DogsBestLife.com's monthly newsletter.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkRead more