Potential new dog owner

pinkcandyflossprincess

have you considered fostering for a local pet rescue, this way you can have the joy of the dog when you are able to but if your circumstances change you can not foster then?
otherwise id consider a cat- kittens are just as much fun as pups but less reliant as they get older so you work and know your cat has a catflap etc:o

moomin5

I think its too long for a pup without getting in help, I adopted adult dogs when i worked 9-5/6 & would pop home at lunchtime. It also helped that i opted for lazy greyhounds that are happy to sleep the day away than a more active type that would be more likely to get bored. I'm actually home much more now so could of got a rescue pup this time round but opted for a 3yr old rehome instead as i like an easy life.

Caroline_a

Unfortunately it's hard trying to keep ends meet and providing an ideal home for a dog these days. I'm setting up a dog creche this September and hopefully people like the OP will find it a good way to be able to own a happy dog and work fulltime.

OP - not sure where you are, but you could always google dog creche/daycare near you?

* of course you might be near me!!:T

Fire_Fox

You should not kennel a dog outside through the winter months unless you are able to provide adequate safe heating. That could work out incredibly expensive as it would need to be professionally installed, run off electric (far more expensive than gas) and the kennel is unlikely to be well insulated. Depending on the layout of your home you might be able to install a dog flap and baby gate, but this would work better for an calm adult dog that a puppy who could well chew all sorts. Could your OH come home at lunchtime.

As a separate issue are you likely to be claiming Jobseeker's Allowance? If so you are expected to be willing to travel for an hour to get to work and after a while to accept minimum wage. That might make the costs and time commitment of a puppy out of the question. If you would consider an older dog there are several breed-specific rescues http://www.the-kennel-club.org.uk/services/public/findarescue/Default.aspx?breed=4096

Most rescues will not home a single kitten to a household that are working full time - cats are actually just as/ more intelligent than the average dog (depending on the breed) so do need plenty of stimulation and company of either their own kind or humans. A kitten should not be let out until it is neutered at six months, and even then not initially in the dark because of the risk of getting run over. You can of course cat-proof your garden and install a microchip cat flap but you may as well do that for a dog!

RedwoodBrook

Adult dogs need company too. Its not really fair to leave any dog 9-5 in my humble opinion...

Mike..Huntshaven

A rescue dog could be ideal. If it is one where the owner is too old / ill to walk it and care for it, then chances are it is already house trained.

Certain breeds need walking further and several times a day, where others are happy with a 15 minute run around a garden.

Older dogs are easy enough to adapt to a new setting too in most instances.

If you really do need to leave the dog indoors for any length of time alone, ensure it has a drink available, somewhere to lie down and leave the radio or tv on at a lowish volume, for background noise.

Good luck

CFC

MatyMoo wrote: »

Thanks for all your comments so far :T

You are already picking up on my own concerns so maybe it still isn't time for me to get a puppy or even a dog

The garden is reasonably secure and any kennel would be locked when I am not here. The alternative to a kennel is a cage in the house, it is too open plan to leave a puppy loose - also my experience with my sister's dog is that she liked the security of her cage. This is one of the reasons I thought a kennel and run would be better, I don't like the thought of any animal being kept in a small cage for more than a couple of hours.

My sister wouldn't be able to help out as she is an hour away. I do have neighbours who are here during the day and they do look after another dog occasionally for a family member but I am not sure how they would feel about a long term commitment.

My thoughts would be to get the puppy as I finish work. I would then have a month off before starting my new job and I would not then have to leave home until after 9.30 and would be back around 6 but this is still too long isn't it? Even for 4 days a week? I am up from about 6.30 so would have plenty of time before I leave to walk, play

I have waited 25 years for the opportunity to have a dog of my own, but if the timing isn't right, it isn't right. I wouldn't want any dog to suffer because of my own selfishness.

Or maybe I look for a different job!

Too long for a pup, but an adult dog, 1 year upwards, of the right nature would be fine with it.

Fire_Fox

CFC wrote: »

Too long for a pup, but an adult dog, 1 year upwards, of the right nature would be fine with it.

Depends on your definition of 'fine' - both mentally and physically there is a difference between thrive and survive. Most reputable rescues would not home a dog to full time workers, seventeen hours a day without stimulation (work plus sleep). We've moved on from the days where human beings with very low IQs (severe learning difficulties etc) were abandoned in a care home to sleep all day, let us not repeat the same mistakes with 'dumb' animals.

BTW I am not saying nobody who works full time should ever have a dog as many take up the slack with dog sitters, relatives or neighbours.

CFC

Well firefox you and I will just have to disagree. Dogs are individuals, the same as people, and most dogs but not all will simply sleep a lot of the day when they are alone, in the same way that they will sleep if you are at home but are not doing anything of interest to dogs. Some dogs are very unhappy at being left alone, and some dogs will become hyperactive when they have company. It has to be one that is fine with it. I did read that the average dog spends 18 hours asleep, although I have no idea whether it is true or not.

When I took my 'private rescue' boy on, my OH and I had opposite shifts so he was never alone for more than 4 hours. We were devastated when 6 months later my husband was promoted which meant he would work days. He nearly turned the job down because of poochie. I considered that we might have to rehome him - finances mean that dogcare is out of the question. However with the greatest of relief I discovered that he really doesn't mind. He goes out for a walk at 5:30 am, comes home, sits with us while OH has brekkie and then takes himself off with his treats to bed in his area when we are ready to leave the house. (We have to leave him baby gated upstairs as he's chewed an electric cable in the past and I am neurotic about leaving him with access to cables just in case) He's perfectly capable of making his feelings known if he's unhappy.

I dont care what reputable rescues say - they have their reasons but it doesn't necessarily mean that they are right, it just means that their policies are what they are. My own feelings are that it's become a bit of a religous mantra, the '4 hours a day', one that I was originally taken in by but I am not any more.

RedwoodBrook

CFC wrote: »

He's perfectly capable of making his feelings known if he's unhappy.

Can your dog speak then? Please ask him to teach mine...I'd love to know exactly what hurts next time she's ill. It'll save me ££££ of exploratory procedures at the vets.

Seriously though. Don't talk such utter carp. Dogs are pack animals, they like and need company and social interaction. Your poor animal puts up with being left all day because s/he has no choice.

And if your dog, or any dog, sleeps for 18 hours a day I would suggest you take them to the vets.