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

moomin5

Greyhounds can work well for flat dwellers as the majority like to sleep a lot. I used to work full-time and came home for lunch and my 2 greyhounds coped with this routine fine & the RGT branch were happy to adopt to us (though some aren't) so with a dog walker it may work though i doubt a rescue would agree with leaving dog for 8-12hrs stretches. There are often greyhounds that have been returned from a home because owner's situation has changed so you may be able to find a dog that has been proven to cope with being left alone for periods and is already house trained.

I'm not sure if its as easy with shift work with a changing routine and being able to get someone to take dog out during your night shifts. Also don't forget to factor in any commuting time on top of your working hours. If your parents are local would they consider dog sitting for you, although large they are often quite easy dogs to deal with.

Ultimately you have to take a hard look at your lifestyle and if its really best to have a dog now i.e. Can you afford it? What will you do if its got dire rear and needs frequent loo trips? etc. I wanted a greyhound for about 7yrs until i was finally in right situation to adopt one, so i realise how hard the waiting is and while i love being a dog owner there's no denying it does have an impact on your life in a lot of area's and they are a bind at times, so you have to be ready to embrace it.

lostinrates

Peoplekeep telling me my grey will becomea couch potato, but no sign of it yet...shes 3 and a half. She gets by on two fast runs a day, but loves longer walks and being out on the yard with me.

I do think an ex racer would prefer the confines of a flat and a sofa than the confines of a kennel in rescue.

SadBunny

zzzLazyDaisy wrote: »

Could you share a dog?

If you ask around there might be a disabled or elderly person who is having difficulty properly look after their dog, but if you could take the dog care in shifts with that person, you might both be able to enjoy the dog?

Wonderful idea - the dog would surely love the extra attention.
Could also allay someone's distress at not being able to properly look after their pet - and their fear that it might get taken away.

elsien

As someone else said, finding a dog walker who was able to do different days each week if you have a variable shift pattern may be problematic - it means keeping a space vacant for you 7 days a week but you only using and paying for 2-3/
The lack of outside space isn't an issue as long as the dog gets lots of walks and chances to burn off energy when you take it out.
I have to say though, unless you can find a friend or relative who's committed to helping then I think you already know you're onto a loser. I do shift work, 5 days a week, no sort of pattern as to which days or how long for, and my longest shift can be 24 hours. Only manageable because of my mother who is happy to have the dog or pop down and walk her for me, otherwise I'd be completey stuffed and mutt would have had to be rehomed by now.
The problem with dog share with someone who isn't a relative is the potential conflicts over who pays what, whether there are the same rules and consistency in both homes so the dog knows where it stands. Who pays the insurance and the costs of expensive treatment if needed? Dog share with mum only works for me because she is my dog, and my responsibility as far as care, expenses and rules go, and mum sticks to that even if she'd treat her own dog differently.

CFC

You could leave a dog, the right dog, alone while you worked a standard day although it is not ideal. A lot of nonsense is often talked about not leaving them alone. Realistically, people need to work to pay the bills; the number of stay at home mums, small business owners/workf from homers and the independently wealthy are very small. You would need to ensure that your dog had prime call on all your non working time though - no going out for the day without poochie on your days off, no going down the pub with your friends....

The real problem from your shifts woudl come with the 12 hour shifts. Would your parents mind the dog for you when you were on an overnighter?

Mupette

I love the idea of voluntary dog walker, my pup would love that.

I can't get out to walk him at the mo, and got some lovely fields around me that he would love (and the cow pats) but dog walkers are quite expensive.

gettingready

Anyone who wants to have my Zara over daytime within normal warking hourse - please form an orderly quene

I am at my wits ends with her completely refusing to stay at home alone for any amount of time, will happily dog share her.....with someone who can have her Mon-Fri 8am - 6pm so she does nto drive my neighbours insane....

Sigh......

On a serious note though.... elderly dog may be happy to have a warm home, nice bed to sleep in and a human to care for him/her this way - young dog will not be happy....

But I do feel for you, really do - can not imagine life without Zara despite her driving me insane with separation anxiety barking/howling whenever I leave her alone for few sec....so I am practically house bound.....still, she is MY furry baby...

gettingready

There was a website I came across once, will try to google it - it had listing of people who were looking for/available for swaps in dog care (walks/boarding etc) for free, exchange type site.....

Not sure where in UK are you but will try to dig that website out and post here if I find it.

Having a dog walker is expensive and I doubt any would be willing to do different days/hours as they depend on their regular income and simply can not keep a slot for ocassional use or they would have to charge extra for an individual walk to take just your dog out.

When I was looking for a dog walker for Zara, actually few people have contacted me that wanted to walk her for free for exactly the reasons you say in your post - they said they loved dogs but could not have one so offered to walk Zara early morning before work or late evening - for free. I did not go for thos offers, I would need to know someone to let them take my dog out but - you are not alone with this problem.

Hope you manage to sort something out...

gettingready

Oh googled and a few came up - they must be popular long time ago only found one.. now there is more...

http://petsitterswap.com/Welcome.asp

http://www.swapadog.com/