Sigh, I already know the answer to this...

heatherw_01

It wouldn't be at all fair on the dog.

picklepick

what do you mean by shift work? how long are you out of the house for a day?

Person_one

picklepick wrote: »

what do you mean by shift work? how long are you out of the house for a day?

8 hours on day shifts, 12 hours on night shifts. I do get more days off than 9-5ers though.

Person_one

MaximumImpact wrote: »

I know it's not the same but have you thought about a different kind of animal? Perhaps a cat or even a house rabbit???

I have dogs and cats amongst other things and although it isn't the same as a dog, cats are great little friends and quite frankly, they don't give a monkeys about being left all day..in fact...as long as the heatings on and the foods down...well, they'll lay in the same spot til you get home......

We're contemplating a house rabbit at the moment but not sure how it will fit into the mad house.......

Sadly, I'm allergic to cats and would probably be affected by a rabbit if it lived indoors full time. I'm ok with curly coated and some short haired breeds of dog, and my rats!

picklepick

Person_one wrote: »

8 hours on day shifts, 12 hours on night shifts. I do get more days off than 9-5ers though.

Would you be able to afford a dogwalker?

Troythecat

my neighbours both work long days and have a dog walking company that picks their dog up once a day and takes for a good walk.
The dog (a rhodesian ridgeback) has adapted well and is happy and contented.

lostinrates

What I woud do for a dog walking companion who wanted to love and spoil my dogs! Any friends with dogs you can ''borrow''?

Person_one

picklepick wrote: »

Would you be able to afford a dogwalker?

Not 5 days a week, but maybe 2 or 3.

lostinrates wrote: »

What I woud do for a dog walking companion who wanted to love and spoil my dogs! Any friends with dogs you can ''borrow''?

Sadly not, I walk my parents dog as I said, but my friends aren't really dog people.

I was looking at a few greyhound sites, apparently they adapt well to flat living and cope better than most to being left alone. Anyone have any experience with them?

Jacks_xxx

I think you need to work out what the dogs schedule will need to be, and then see if you can mesh it with yours.

How many days are you off?

How many days will you need a dog walker a month?

How many days a month can you afford?

When you're on nights will you still need a dog walker those weeks or can you walk the dog when you get home and when you get up?

Will the dog have a good life basically? That's got to be the primary concern.

I used to dogsit for a friend. She would drop the dog round at 7am and pick her up again at 7pm. The doggie would accompany me on my daily routine with young children of school runs, play group runs and park. It wasn't absolutely ideal but better than being shut up alone for 13 hours a day.

MadDogWoman_2

Hi Person

I have a rescue greyhound, they are absolutely wonderful dogs, she was approximately 4 when we adopted her. Don't require much exercise but I would still be reluctant to leave her for that amount of time.