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Leaving a dog alone
Comments
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A mix of views - both sides of the argument which I fully expected. The reality is most people work and we are exploring ways we can have a puppy / dog and also trying to get the right breed for our situation. Thanks for the helpful responses and have noted / will explore further getting an older (perhaps rescue dog) and / or perhaps a dog walker although obviously cost comes into this.
If we cant find a sensible solution we wont get a dog so never fear....just exploring our options!0 -
I also have a dog, and work. I start earlier than OH, and hence get home earlier. Dog is on his own for approx 7.5 hours. Sometimes daughter is home from school a bit earlier. If i know we are all going to be late, i take a longer lunch break and come home to the dog for quarter of an hour or so around midday.
We set up a movement triggered camera, to check dog is ok. We discovered that he sleeps most of the day. Wanders around for 10 mins or so every so often. When we goet home he is sometimes still asleep. He then has his wakeful hours up until our bed time.
As a pup, i think he was about 24 weeks before he could reliably hold his bladder until lunchtime. When we was very young, he would wake at about 5am, desperate for the loo. Although hard work, that stage passes quickly.
From time to time, he goes to a sitter for the day. He comes home shattered and then normally sleeps through the whole evening and night.
He is a happy chap. I take him to a dog class, once per week. Consequently he is well socialised and therefore good with any other dogs that we meet on our day to day walks.0 -
A mix of views - both sides of the argument which I fully expected. The reality is most people work and we are exploring ways we can have a puppy / dog and also trying to get the right breed for our situation. Thanks for the helpful responses and have noted / will explore further getting an older (perhaps rescue dog) and / or perhaps a dog walker although obviously cost comes into this.
If we cant find a sensible solution we wont get a dog so never fear....just exploring our options!
Is there any way you and your partner can stagger your time off so rather than a block month for both of you you can start with one of you at home all the time and build more gradually to both of you being gone so much?
Personally, I think any dog that is left for more than 8 hours more than 3 times a week should have a dog walker/sitter visit. Yes, its expensive, but to my mind its as essential a cost as food or vet care.0 -
A mix of views - both sides of the argument which I fully expected. The reality is most people work and we are exploring ways we can have a puppy / dog and also trying to get the right breed for our situation. Thanks for the helpful responses and have noted / will explore further getting an older (perhaps rescue dog) and / or perhaps a dog walker although obviously cost comes into this.
If we cant find a sensible solution we wont get a dog so never fear....just exploring our options!
Thank goodness that you are one of the sensible people.
I agree completely with all of Katiehound's post and can add that good rescues, who do home visits and really care about there animals (a few are in it for the money, sadly) will not let anyone working long hours take a puppy, but may have an older dog (not necessarily old) who would love a proper home, away from kennels and wouldn't mind being left alone for longer.
A good rescue can match home and dog very well, as all homes don't suit all dogs and vice versa.0 -
Regarding a dog flap: With a small cute breed, easily picked up, there is a danger that an unsupervised dog could be stolen from your premises.0
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love_lifer wrote: »Rescue dogs all the way, there are too many unwanted animals in the world, it's morally the right thing to do IMO.
Unfair/unkind to leave a puppy or any dog alone for so long though. I have a dog walker and got a second dog so they are happy in one another's company. It's a massive commitment having a dog
Better than leaving it/them in rescue kennels or having to be pts.:(0 -
I think you can leave a dog for 9 hours a day (especially if someone pops in). I personally made the choice not to but that's because I'm not always out of work on time and can often be asked to stay late. This is why I decided cats are more appropriate for me. But people who are unrealistic will straight way say "no, it's cruel". A lot of my colleagues have dogs but they do have multiples, not dogs on their own.
I have done a Diploma in Animal Management, work with animals and have had many pets (3 dogs altogether in my lifetime), just so you know what I'm basing my thoughts on.:)Mortgage started 2015: £150,000 2016: £130,000 2017: £116,000 2018: £105,000 2019: £88,000 2020: £69,000 2021: £51,195 2023: MORTGAGE FREE!0 -
I also have a dog, and work. I start earlier than OH, and hence get home earlier. Dog is on his own for approx 7.5 hours. Sometimes daughter is home from school a bit earlier. If i know we are all going to be late, i take a longer lunch break and come home to the dog for quarter of an hour or so around midday.
We set up a movement triggered camera, to check dog is ok. We discovered that he sleeps most of the day. Wanders around for 10 mins or so every so often. When we goet home he is sometimes still asleep. He then has his wakeful hours up until our bed time.
As a pup, i think he was about 24 weeks before he could reliably hold his bladder until lunchtime. When we was very young, he would wake at about 5am, desperate for the loo. Although hard work, that stage passes quickly.
From time to time, he goes to a sitter for the day. He comes home shattered and then normally sleeps through the whole evening and night.
He is a happy chap. I take him to a dog class, once per week. Consequently he is well socialised and therefore good with any other dogs that we meet on our day to day walks.0 -
It's not just the breed of dog, it's the individual temperament. Which you won't know about with a puppy until you've got it.
My first bull terrier was so laid back she was practically comatose. She could spend all day alone and not notice. The next was was a manic attention seeking little sod. A couple of hours was her limit before she started playing uo until she was a good few years old.
If you have a puppy that develops separation anxiety it will bark and probably become destructive. What will you do then?
How will you manage your puppy and keep him safe in the teething stage when he's chewing everything in sight? You can't keep him crated for 9 hours.
I've always worked full time and had dogs with the help of family, but wouldn't ever consider a puppy if I didn't have someone who could have him during the day. There's always doggy day care. It's exoensive, but so is owning a dog.
One final thought - if a dog's been in its own all day, it wants lots of attention when you come in. Even if all you want to do is put your feet up and have something to eat. I think it's worth it, but even so there are days when I could really do without the sodding dog harrassing me to play or go out. Just something to bear in mind.All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.
Pedant alert - it's could have, not could of.0 -
Thanks for that response - lots of good advice and information. Is there any stage you think a dog would be okay in the house for the day on its own in terms of bladder control and loneliness?? Ie how long would we need dog walker / per sitter / neighbour??
Is the cost of a dog walker a big concern? Because you may need one for the entirety of your dog's life if they turn out to be one who struggles to be left that long. There's no breed that comes with any guarantees on temperament. A lot of greyhounds are pretty lazy and will lounge about all day but there are still some who'll chew your furniture and pee on your carpets if left for 9 hours.
The best bet if you want to be as sure as possible is to get a dog from a smaller rescue that uses 'foster homes' where somebody will have spent enough time with the dog to know how it copes in various situations and what its temperament is like.
I work full time and have two dogs, I got them as rescues, already bonded together from their previous home. Their bond to each other is as strong if not stronger than their bond to me and they both settle very well when left alone. I still have a dog walker though! I definitely wouldn't get a puppy unless I was fortunate to win the lottery or be able to take a full year off work for some reason! My next puppy will probably be when I retire...0
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