Husher

Raksha

mrcol1000 wrote: »

I disagree. Its very selfish to get a dog when you know your going to be out at work all day. Its different if you pay someone or have someone who can go in and walk the dogs to break up their day. Its also different if you have to leave the dog all day as a one off and can't find anyone to look in. However I really don't understand people who work all day and decide to get a dog. Its very selfish and unfair on the dog. Also your be suprised the number of people who recieve complaints about their dogs barking all day and are unaware.
Anyone who is suffering from this problem really should keep a diary and get in touch with their local council for assitance.
If your dog is the nusiance I really think its unfair to punish your dog for barking with these "behavioural tools" because its bored and lonely.

I didn't say you could do it without having to make plans. The original post said that because both the poster and their OH worked F/T they couldn't have a dog. Full stop.

As it happens, my OH works shifts, so the dogs are never actually 'left' for more than 5 hours and that's only twice a week. But I have previously kept dogs (plural) when working FT and they simply sleep when there isn't anyone around - I know, I've recorded them. They sleep a lot of the time when we are around anyway.

Agree 100% though with the posters who say it's not advisable for a young dog.

ali-t

mrcol1000 wrote: »

I disagree. Its very selfish to get a dog when you know your going to be out at work all day.... However I really don't understand people who work all day and decide to get a dog. Its very selfish and unfair on the dog. .

So the dog owning population of the UK would consist of unemployed people, pensioners and lottery winners? I don't agree with you.

I know that my dogs sleep most of the day when I am out as anyone coming to the house (dog walker, myself and family) always state that the dogs are sleeping when they go in. The quality of time spent with pets is more important than spending lots of time in the house but not necessarily quality time with your pets - IMO.

Fire_Fox

ali-t wrote: »

So the dog owning population of the UK would consist of unemployed people, pensioners and lottery winners? I don't agree with you.

And people who work part time, single income families, anyone who works from home regularly, those who work near enough to come home for lunch, people who work split shifts, couple where one is on nights and the other on days ....

ali-t wrote: »

I know that my dogs sleep most of the day when I am out as anyone coming to the house (dog walker, myself and family) always state that the dogs are sleeping when they go in. The quality of time spent with pets is more important than spending lots of time in the house but not necessarily quality time with your pets - IMO.

Most rescues disagree with you and would not rehome to a household where a dog will be left alone all day on a regular basis. Bizarrely you actually edited out the part that referred to your situation! Mrcol1000 qualified that "Its different if you pay someone or have someone who can go in and walk the dogs to break up their day."

Raksha

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Most rescues disagree with you and would not rehome to a household where a dog will be left alone all day on a regular basis. Bizarrely you actually edited out the part that referred to your situation! Mrcol1000 qualified that "Its different if you pay someone or have someone who can go in and walk the dogs to break up their day."

Most rescues are the recipients of the dogs who can't cope with that sort of lifestyle and have had owners who have failed to modify their lives to take into account of the dog. They, like others on this board, make blanket statements.

ali-t

Fire Fox, I edited it out as my comment was only to show that if I go home or others go into the house the dogs are always sleeping. They would be asleep regardless of whether anyone went in the house or not.

As it happens I do have a dog walker and I sometimes go home for lunch (went most days when my youngest was a pup) but not everyone does and there are still happy well adjusted dogs out there.

mrcol1000

ali-t wrote: »

As it happens I do have a dog walker and I sometimes go home for lunch (went most days when my youngest was a pup) but not everyone does and there are still happy well adjusted dogs out there.

Are there really? As I have a file with loads of cases of complaints about dogs barking and nearly all of them are people who work all day.

If the dog on its own sleeps all day its out of bordeom because its lonely. Its not because it enjoys it sleep and would prefer to be alone all day and catch up on its sleep. Dogs can't talk so its very easy to justify our actions by commenting on their actions. Just because your dog doesn't annoy your neighbours doesn't mean its happy.

Fire_Fox

ali-t wrote: »

Fire Fox, I edited it out as my comment was only to show that if I go home or others go into the house the dogs are always sleeping. They would be asleep regardless of whether anyone went in the house or not.

As it happens I do have a dog walker and I sometimes go home for lunch (went most days when my youngest was a pup) but not everyone does and there are still happy well adjusted dogs out there.

Your dog is asleep because there is nothing to physically or mentally stimulate him, does he sleep for the entirety of a working day on the weekend? The problem is someone who works full time has no way of knowing in advance whether their chosen dog will end up happy and well adjusted or with behavioural problems. In the majority of cases the decision is selfish, is it not based on the best interests of the dog.

suki1964

Just love the way that on this board, (according to some) you have to be clairvoyant before you even consider getting a dog cos woe betide you if your circumstances change and the perfect lifestyle ( as laid down by so many do gooders here) that you thought you had changes

Now my Father has Alzheimers, my mother is now in hospital with a stroke, Im the carer for both, I also have arthritis to the extent I can barely move myself some days.
My dog sleeps a lot

I guess Im one of those dreadful owners who really shouldnt get a dog


Oh... and seeing as Im the only one in this house who has a job I also work a 30 hour week

WhiteDog

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Most rescues disagree with you and would not rehome to a household where a dog will be left alone all day on a regular basis. [/I]"

Most rescues in this country reject at least half of people who apply to them because of the reasons you stated and at the same time put down at least half of dogs they have "because no one wants them". I worked for a well known and very reputable "rescue" so I know unfortunately from my personal experience.

Dogs, especially older ones, are very good sleepers and those who are well looked after, mentally and physically stimulated by owners can happily sleep many hours when owners are at work.

Coming back to the rescues: as a person who always have had and always will have only rescued dogs I am very sorry to say that animal charities in the UK are not reliable sources of dog-related information (in general because a small minority is actually quite good). IMHO a dog will be happier living with a FT working owner than being dead. But I suppose many of you will not agree with me anyway as for some bizarre reason English people seem to care hell lot about working hours and having a garden as if they were the main conditions to even consider having a dog.
I know gardens haven't been mentioned here yet but this actually IS the main condition if you wish to adopt a dog from a rescue. I live in London and so called gardens here are just a laugh. it's not a place for exercise, merely for lying in the sun in the summer. My dog doesn't even toilet in the garden, she is too clean for that, so I walk her anyway the same amount of times as I used to when we lived in a tower block. (Yes, I am one of these evil people who got a dog while living on the 8th floor of a tower block).

suki1964

WhiteDog wrote: »

Most rescues in this country reject at least half of people who apply to them because of the reasons you stated and at the same time put down at least half of dogs they have "because no one wants them". I worked for a well known and very reputable "rescue" so I know unfortunately from my personal experience.

Dogs, especially older ones, are very good sleepers and those who are well looked after, mentally and physically stimulated by owners can happily sleep many hours when owners are at work.

Coming back to the rescues: as a person who always have had and always will have only rescued dogs I am very sorry to say that animal charities in the UK are not reliable sources of dog-related information (in general because a small minority is actually quite good). IMHO a dog will be happier living with a FT working owner than being dead. But I suppose many of you will not agree with me anyway as for some bizarre reason English people seem to care hell lot about working hours and having a garden as if they were the main conditions to even consider having a dog.
I know gardens haven't been mentioned here yet but this actually IS the main condition if you wish to adopt a dog from a rescue. I live in London and so called gardens here are just a laugh. it's not a place for exercise, merely for lying in the sun in the summer. My dog doesn't even toilet in the garden, she is too clean for that, so I walk her anyway the same amount of times as I used to when we lived in a tower block. (Yes, I am one of these evil people who got a dog while living on the 8th floor of a tower block).

You admit to getting a dog whilst living in a tower block? :eek::eek:
On this forum?:eek::eek::eek::eek:


Not sure whether to shake your hand or phone for the men in the white coats:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: