full time worker wanting dog

bunnydrumming

Thanks for all you responses so far.

I have been around a couple of rescue homes as i am prepared to take on an older dog, so its just a case of wait and see as I am not looking to take on any dog for 6 months or so.

I do know how much work is involved with dogs - however its all worth it with the love and company you get back.

It is something i am thinking about long and hard - and is why i have had a hamster for 2 years as i knew my house at that time would not suit a dog.

I wil continue to ponder......

thanks

Penny_Watcher

tine wrote: »

Unless it's my dog... I have to physically push and pull her to get her out if it's raining - even into the garden for her wee is a battle! Water from a hose is fine... but that stuff from the clouds? NOOOOOO *sigh* I feel dead cruel sometimes when I am dragging her along the road (and I mean dragging!) because she HATES getting wet paws and water on her face... you've never seen quite such a pathetic dog in your life... *sigh*

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

We have most of that with Fat Bob the Ginger Pup, but once she's outside she's fine. She doen't like the rain or the hose, but LOVES water to swim in. She'll run and throw herself in the river

She is scared of the dark though so we have to go with her into the garden when she goes for a wee last thing at night and first thing in the morning in winter.

As to the OP, I quite often see a dog walker on her rounds when I'm out with my gang. She takes her guys out for a couple of hours in the afternoon. Her customers are mainly people who work full-time. It seems to work well for them. The dogs are out in a group of about 4. They all appear to be very well adjusted and get on well together. I have no idea of costs, but perhaps it could be an option if you could afford it. The dog walker said the dogs are usually very tired after the walk and sleep until the owners get home.

Bennifred

Whist I can understand the desire for a pet dog, speaking as the neighbour of someone who works full-time and has two dogs who bark/howl all day long:eek: :mad: , I would say please think very carefully! This particular neighbour really couldn't care less about the nuisance and distress caused to the animals or her neighbours and gets very aggressive when approached about the problem (no matter how nicely:rolleyes: ). So, PLEASE, be careful.

Justie

Bennifred wrote: »

Whist I can understand the desire for a pet dog, speaking as the neighbour of someone who works full-time and has two dogs who bark/howl all day long:eek: :mad: , I would say please think very carefully! This particular neighbour really couldn't care less about the nuisance and distress caused to the animals or her neighbours and gets very aggressive when approached about the problem (no matter how nicely:rolleyes: ). So, PLEASE, be careful.

that's a very uncaring owner on all counts - dogs shouldn't be that stressed when their owners are out and it's cruel to do nothing to get them to settle. It does take effort and training but is possible. You can report dog noise to your local environmental health who deal with noise issues...




and I have a wussy dog too who hates the rain and hose but will happily jump in any rank puddle going and loves the sea! He gives me such a dirty look if I've got him out of his nice warm bed to throw him out in the garden for a wee and it's tipping it down :rotfl:

hollydays

hAVENT READ THE WHOLE THREAD,AND NOT MUCH OF AN AUTHORITY ON DOGS,BUT HAVE YOU READ UP ON THE BREED,OR ENQUIRED OF A BREEDER.oUR dOG FOR EXAMPLE,THRIVES ON HUMAN COMPANY-WOULD BE VERY UNHAPPY IF LEFT.OOPs sorry capitals.
Different breeds have different requirements-they are not all alike. Get a book out of the library.

catkins

tine wrote: »

Unless it's my dog... I have to physically push and pull her to get her out if it's raining - even into the garden for her wee is a battle! Water from a hose is fine... but that stuff from the clouds? NOOOOOO *sigh* I feel dead cruel sometimes when I am dragging her along the road (and I mean dragging!) because she HATES getting wet paws and water on her face... you've never seen quite such a pathetic dog in your life... *sigh*

I have a friend whose Lurcher hates the rain too. I wish my dog did!!! He loves the rain so much he often asks to go in the garden when it is raining just so he can stand in it!! He is long haired so when he gets wet it can take me 2 hours to dry him and then he still has to be brushed! I would not be without him though

bunnydrumming

hollydays wrote: »

hAVENT READ THE WHOLE THREAD,AND NOT MUCH OF AN AUTHORITY ON DOGS,BUT HAVE YOU READ UP ON THE BREED,OR ENQUIRED OF A BREEDER.oUR dOG FOR EXAMPLE,THRIVES ON HUMAN COMPANY-WOULD BE VERY UNHAPPY IF LEFT.OOPs sorry capitals.
Different breeds have different requirements-they are not all alike. Get a book out of the library.

Thanks for the advice but of course I have read up on lots of breeds of dogs and looked at exercise needs, space requirements, sociability etc! Asking for opinions should show you I am thinking this through carefully!

I have put off having a dog for 20 years of so, because of job commitments and also because I used to be out in the evenings with work, sport, socialising etc but my job and lifestyle has changed and even though i work full time i am home mearly every evening so a dog would be exercised every day.

I am merely trying to think through my options

littlemissbugging

If you decide to get a dog and decide a dog walker/pet sitter is the way to go I can help you find a registered sitter if you like! I'm a pet sitter and have access to teh register

Nobody should leave a dog all day...no matter what age they are, it's really not a good plan!

Maria
-x-

ailuro2

I'd love a dog having grown up with them also, but working full time I have resigned myself to waiting another twenty years until I retire before I can have one.
I would not get over the guilt of going out and leaving a dog all day, unlike cats I feel dogs need human companionship- they are pack animals, after all.

If you love dogs then perhaps volunteer at a local sheltered housing complex- I'll bet there are lots of dogs who would love a long walk but their owners aren't fit to do it any more.

Justie

it may also be worth seeing if there is a guide dogs training centre near you - one of my friends live near the dogs for the disabled training centre and they're always looking for local boarding houses where their dogs in training can go in the evenings and at weekend - they basically deliver the dog to you and pick it up again. You don't get the same dog all the time as they don't want it bonding with you but they try not to keep them in kennels as they don't want them institutionalised. You're not responsible for their training or any of that you're literally just the place they board at.