full time worker wanting dog

Kimberley

I'm in the process of taking on a rescue dog at my local centre, i was told that because i will be working part time and away from home up to 4 hours per day that they will only rehome a dog over the age of 2 to me, this is because older dogs cope better being left then younger ones. Saying that no rescue home will let you have a dog if you work full time, it's a very long time for the dog to be left, even if you say you have a dog walker/sitter, they may refuse you because there is no guarentee that you will have a dog walker full time. Also people do lie about their working status, but rescue homes now have excellent ways to get around this.

Maybe a retired greyhound?

JCR

I too was in exactly the same position as you, living alone and working full time. I had grown up with a dog and my sister had always had one too as an adult, I thought I would be able to cope no problem - but unfortunately it was far harder than I imagined. Chewing things, barking and the guilt that I felt leaving him. I got up early rain or shine, dark or light to walk him before work, employed a dog walker and walked him again at night, but it still didn't stop the guilt. My life came to standstill as I could no longer accept invitations to go out straight from work, or in fact feel that I could go out at all as I felt that any time when I was not working should be spent with him. Things have eased off now as I have moved in with my sister and nephew and her dog, so there are more people around for him and he has the company of another dog. However, I don't think I would do it again, even though the company and love they give you is enormous.

Hoopylass

Just to add my tuppence worth, Ive got a dog walker and she charges £4 per hour and she is fab with my dog.
I work shifts and feel horribly guilty but my pooch knows the routine and he snuggles up in my bed when im not there lol.

pollyanna24

I can only put in my experience, rather than what you should or shouldn't do.

We have a six month old Staffordshire Bull Terrier. When we bought her, my bf thought he would be able to take her to work with him most of the time, otherwise we wouldn't have bought her. However, due to company mergers, he now can't and she is left at home all day.

We have a few lodgers, one of them doesn't work, but we can't rely on him being there to look after her as she's our dog and our responsibility, and another makes it his mission to have his lunch at home if he finds out she's going to be left all day (very nice of him, I must say).

So sometimes she is alone all day by herself, but she does okay (please don't shoot me for saying that). Even when she was a puppy, there was one occasion when she was left in a pen for almost 8 hours (and yes we felt terribly guilty about it), but when I got home she had broken out to go loo on the floor because they don't like pooing near their bed. But she was very happy to see me, and seemed okay.

Dogs do get used to a routine and ours likes hers. Wake her up at the weekend when she thinks you should be at work, and it takes her a while to realise that you are sticking around. She gets masses of attention in the evenings and weekends and she has never chewed anything in our house. At first, she had the pen, then she had the run of the kitchen, now she has the entire downstairs.

She gets one walk around the block in the morning, taken to the woods when we get home and again round the block before bed.

I would just say the same as above, each dog is different, we socialised ours like mad, and she is one the best trained six month old dogs I know!!

foreign_correspondent

I would advise you to go for an older dog not a pup. They are usually moe sensible, housetrained etc, and are more likely to be happy dozing by a radiator whilst you are out!

We had our little mongrel dog since she was aged about 5 or 6 and she lived for nine years after that. She was quite happy to be left to her own devices with a comfy basket in a warm spot, and didnt need hours of walking, though she was still playful and did enjoy her little trots round the estate!

She was a rescued dog (rescued by me after a friends neighbour moved out and abandoned her!) She was fantastically happy to be around people again and was really no great trouble - we did have a few problems at first, mainly with hiding food all the time - even lifting the corners of fitted carpets and cunningly hiding a bonio underneath - she thought we wouldnt notice the odd bumps obviously! However, this was understandable as she had been starved before and was anxious not to let it happen again.

Sadly she has now died, (peacefully in her sleep - she popped off without any hassle, just like she did everything else, bless her!) - I miss her very much and will be in the market for a new (rescue) dog very soon - hope I can find another with such a good temperament!

If you do decide to get a dog, good luck and all the best _ I have known many older dogs who are good at being left alone so long as they get often enough access to the garden for a wee, and plently of fuss in the evenings and weekends!

Just try to choose a lazy one who will see the opportunity for lots of dozes as a distinct benefit rather than getting bored!!

affordmylife

As you say you have researched breeds - have you considered a beagle? We have one from a puppy who is now two. When we got him I was not working at all so thought he would be a great companion for me and he is. However after a year due to financial reasons I began to work five days a week 9 to 3pm. Due to my deep love for him and wanting him to have a happy life I walk him before spend my lunchhour with him (plus walking) and get the kids to walk him at 4 ish. He then goes out again after tea bout 6pm. At the weekends we have big walks to the park etc. When I am home with him he sleeps the whole time anyway - lazy dog. As I have a lovely husband and teenage children obviously our situation is much different to yours so if either or both of us go out for an evening one of the kids will sit with him for us - how sad are we!.

As long as you are prepared for 3 walks a day and lots of love Id say go for it. The advise about having time off work to settle in is spot on too. If you could get your new pet at the begining of two weeks annual leave it would be a good settling in period.

Good luck let us know what you decide.