Should a dog be left on their own during the day

sby

Hi there, I'm looking for opinions/advise. My husband and I had decided to get a dog as we now have a house with a back garden and plenty of green areas in our estate. As my husband worked shift the dog would have company most days and wouldn't be on its own much. The problem now lies in the fact that he has a new job and will no longer be working shift work. I am torn between wanting a dog (I grew up in a house where we always had a family pet) and worrying that I am being selfish to the dog. We were going to get an older dog not a puppy and I thought that it would be better being in a house were although he/she would be on their own during the day would get loads of attention evenings and weekend and wouldn't be put to sleep, but is that just me trying to justify the situation. There is also the option of getting a puppy that would grow up used to being by themselves during the day but I have to admit I would prefer an older dog purely because we don't have kids and older dogs need homes too. I am totally confused cause I want whats best for the dog and not me. Any opinions.

leex

I am considering the same thing. I wonder if 2 dogs is the answer? Would they entertain themselves when the owner is away? Are 2 dogs double the work of 1 dog I wonder? I'm guessing possibly not.

The Bollox

the dog will get used to not having attention showered upon it all the time. my last dog would be alone at the house for hours at a time and he never showed any signs of abandonment issues or anything like that. will the dog be an indor dog or an outdoor dog?

sby

I was thinking outdoor with proper shelter so that it can run around the garden to play and be able to do its business as it needs to and not have to wait till I return.

tmalmb

Your dog will be fine and happier outside as it can entertain itself in the back garden and not with your couch, new shoes, and anything else he/she thinks will be fun to play with

Note: 2 Dogs.....remember your neighbours. While they will keep each other company (they'll also be twice the noise)

sby

I was thinking the same thing. I'm hoping to get a smallish dog, a resuced westie or the like. Are they suitable outdoor dogs.

The Bollox

an outdoor dog would be fine. my auntie got a dog a while ago and she kept it indoors but because she works horrible hours the dog got jealous/annoyed that she wasn't there all the time and started breaking things when she was out of the house. then again she spoils her dogs rotten

Alfasudcrazy

I think two dogs is the answer. I would agree with getting pups as they will grow up with the current arrangement as being the norm. Two pups don't bark as much from boredom as having one on its own.

While leaving the in the back garden is fine it must be secure as otherwise you will return to find your dog(s) gone.

echosound

I'd second the "two dogs" idea, we have an old girl, who used to just have company in the shape of our cat, and snoozed all day long curled up with the cat (however there's nearly always someone "human" in the house for company anyway with them) but since we got a pup I find the pup has given new life to our old dog and they entertain themselves all day long - to the point of ignoring us!

Two dogs are certainly not much more work than one, it's about the same really as just having one dog, as they can both be walked/fed etc at the same time, and played with at the same time, and I find that dogs playing together by themselves rarely bark (except the odd playful yip) whereas a dog on their own bored may resort to constant barking or howling if left alone for too long - a sure way to endear yourself to neighbours!

Maybe the way to go for you judging from what you said you'd prefer, would be to get an older (rescue) dog and introduce a younger pup at the same time - you get the benefits of a cute puppy plus you're giving an older dog a nice home, and a new lease of life for the older dog with the energetic puppy encouraging them to play, this is exactly what we did, our old lady was an adult pug who needed a home when we got her, and she's delighted with her new younger playmate who was a later addition to the household.

As for westies - they love being outdoors crashing about, ours does anyway just make sure your garden is secure (from both the dog getting out and people getting in if you're going for purebred dogs which can be valuable). Bear in mind westies are cute hoors and headstrong too, so be patient with training etc. If they're a young pup and you're toilet training them, I'd suggest trimming the long hair back a bit around their bum to avoid accidents sticking and stinking up the place;) if you're going to have to leave them alone for longer periods (ie you're not there to wipe poo off the long hair immediately).

And if you do have to leave the dogs all day long, don't worry as you'll find they start to get used to a routine, ie your routine - anytime we have to go off for the day all we have to do is tell the two dogs to go to bed, they trot off to bed and sleep all day til we get back home and let them back out into the garden to tear about and work off some steam.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

I used to think 2 dogs was the answer but I came across an expert (forget where) who said that that was one of the most incorrectr myths about. I have a Rough Collie who has a large run and after learning that we do come back each day, is quite happy. Get a pup when on a break from work so you can get it used to increasing periods alone and it will be fine. Plenty of love and attention when you get home, of course!

fits

So much of the advice on this thread is different to what I would give.
Here goes...

Its not ideal for a dog to be left on its own during the day. You really shouldnt get a dog if it will be on its own for more than 7 or 8 hours .. (and that is stretching it)

I wouldnt get a pup.. they're hard work in the early months. I wouldnt get a very active breed like a terrier or a collie either. Two dogs could equal twice the problems. I wouldnt leave a dog outside on its own during the day either.

So now you know what *I* wouldnt do.

Heres what I do...

I have two rescued lurchers in a tiny house with no garden. They are a very relaxed dog and ideal for indoors. Myself and OH can be out quite a lot so our neighbour takes them out for a walk in the middle of the day. Because we have no garden, they get 3 walks a day, and a pee outing before they go to bed. We've had no problems.

If I were you, I'd consider fostering an older dog from somewhere like DID (with clear conditions from rescue group) and see how you get on... If it doesnt work out, the rescue can take him back... If it does, you could probably keep the dog. If you really want a second dog, I wouldnt get it for a few months after the first (unless they're an already bonded pair). I really think a pup is a bad idea for you.

This girly is lovely. She's in very good condition too...
http://petsireland.invisionzone.com/index.php?showtopic=55738

arybvtcw0eolkf

As Fits mentioned Lurchers I'd just let to bring the threads attention to the fact that DiD.org have some lurchers in the Ashtown pound at the moment.

www.dogsindistress.org

Go to the forum, you'll need to register to view the dogs.

Nala

sby wrote:

There is also the option of getting a puppy that would grow up used to being by themselves during the day.

How would you housetrain it if you weren't there during the day?

I think at the moment you might not have enough free time for a dog, even if you left it outside, it could bark from boredom (and drive the neighbours crazy), it could dig up the garden from boredom (and maybe drive you crazy).

I think a pair of adult cats would be a better option than a dog. Cats sleep for much of the day and will keep themselves amused in a less destructive way than dogs.

sby

Thanks to all for advise it has certainly given me something to think about. I certainly won't be rushing into anything as the welfare of the dog is my first concern. Cats though are not an option as I minded a cat for a friend for 2 weeks and my husband appears to be allergic. As he has spent a lot of time with my family dog I know that he is ok with dogs.
Again thanks to all for the advise so far but please keep it coming.

Nala

Just a word on Lurchers- they are usually greyhound or whippet crossbreeds. Greyhounds and whippets have very little fat and very fine hair and therefore little in the way of insulation, so they are not suitable as outdoor dogs. Unless you were to find a long haired lurcher, lurchers may also be unsuitable for this reason.

Kudos to the OP for putting the doggy first and thinking ahead.

If more people did this rather than buy a cute puppy without thinking we wouldn't have such a problem with unwanted dogs.

Toots

I recently got a puppy, and both myself and OH work during the day (we'd be away from the house for about 7 hours at the most as he finishes earlier than me). We got a puppy as opposed to an older dog so that it could get used to our routine from day one. We felt it would be unfair to adopt a dog that was a few years old and more set in it's ways, perhaps was used to being around people all the time, and then drastically change it's whole routine.

I was off work for 6 weeks so the puppy got lots of attention and training. In fact she took to house training like a duck to water. Puppies that are well socialised and left with thier mother while they are very young will already have some element of house training as the mother teaches them not to toilet where they eat or sleep. I've been back to work now for over a month and our girl has been fine - no damage to the house at all!! We make sure she's got lots of water and toys but I think she just sleeps during the day to be honest and we take her on a good long walk when we get home.

One thing I will say, if you are considering getting a puppy DO NOT TAKE ONE ANY LESS THAN 8 WEEKS OLD!!! Some breeders will let them go at 6 weeks, but most vets will tell you that this is still too young for them to be seperated from the mother, and can have a negative effect on the dog in the long run. If you are going to buy a puppy from a breeder, make sure it is IKC registered as this will ensure that the puppy has been bred ethically (ie not from a puppy farm or from a bitch that is less than 1 year old).

Strokesfan

I have two dogs cos they are essentially pack animals I guess. We have a dog flap in the back door and they've access to the kitchen and their dogbeds as well as a big garden all day. DogFlaps are heaven-sent I think.

I work office hours so they are on their own for 8 hours a day. One used to get a little bored so I bought him a dog cube toy that you fill with dry dog treats (not ones that will melt) and he works to get the treats out of it for a good portion of the day. Also have a little blue rubber bone with a hole in it and I fill it with peanut butter for them to suck out.

Here's a similar cube:

http://www.sitstay.com/store/toys/toysd.shtml - I bought mine on ebay though.

I think there's nothing wrong with leaving dogs on their own at all for the working day.

boomerang

Toots85 wrote: »

If you are going to buy a puppy from a breeder, make sure it is IKC registered as this will ensure that the puppy has been bred ethically (ie not from a puppy farm or from a bitch that is less than 1 year old).

Unfortunately, IKC registration is no indication of how, where or why the pup has been reared. Any Tom, Dick or Harry selling pups for profit out of their shed via the small ads in their local paper can register the pups with the IKC, once the parents are already registered. It's no indication of the quality of the breeder.

sby

Sincere thanks to all for the great advise you have given me. I went up to Ashtown on Saturday to discuss it with them and my mind was made up for me by a little wirehaired terrier. He is 10 years old and spends a lot of time asleep even when I'm there so ideal to the situation. I brought him to the vet last night and he is very healthy so no reason why he shouldn't be with us for another few years. He was very subdued in his cage in the pound and on the 1st day that I brought him home (I can only guess how upsetting the whole experience must be to a dog of his age) but now he greets me every morning as if he were still a puppy and I genuinely think he is enjoying his new life. He is really well behaved and only barked for 1/2 an hour the first night I put him to bed. My neighbour has kindly agreed to check on him and bring him for walks during the day so he will not be on his own all day. My husband is at home with all day this week and I am counting the hours till I can get home to be greeted by my excited fur ball.

fits

Best of luck with Baxter ... Its amazing how much they can change after being rescued.
It sounds like he was a wise choice too. Sincerely hope it works well for you.

peasant

Good luck with Baxter ...very nice of you to select an "older gent".

Just one hint ...this is now the time where he will figure out the "house rules" and also try and stretch them to his advantage.

With all the joy of having a new friend, try to be strict when it comes to setting up the rules, don't allow him to do things now that will get him into trouble a few weeks down the line.

The firmer you are for the first few days, the more relaxed you can be later on ...and vice versa

Shoeaddict

Personally I don't think it is right to leave dogs on their own all day. My neighbour leaves for work at 7.30 every morning and arrives home at 6. Her dog barks non-stop all day from Monday to Friday. She got the dog as a puppy and he is left in the garden while she is at work. I feel so sorry for the dog as his barks get increasingly distressed throughout the day.

I feel guilty if I leave my dog on her own too long if I go out at night so imagine the guilt you would feel when it looks at your sadly when you leave for work each morning.

Sx