Irish Wolfhounds, alone during working day issue.

Coriolanus

Long story short, I've already discounted a Wolfhound as a new dog. We are looking, but a Wolfhound isn't for us, for a variety of reasons.

One thing did pique my interest though and it was on the iwci website and stated something to the effect that "they;re not suitable to being left alone during the working day".

And I was just thinking that if that's the case, who in the world is able to keep them at all?

Now, I've already discounted the idea of getting one, so I'm not looking for a workaround, I'm just wondering if there's any wolfhound owners out there, and to satisfy my curiosity, how do you handle working, innoportune absenses (hospital?) and the dog?

Seems very impractical.

(we're probably going to try to rehome a dog from the pound, if anyones curious)

peasant

No dog is "suitable" for being left alone all day.
Some do get used to it (because of circumstances) but there is no such thing as a leave-me-alone-all-day dog.

Dogs are social animals and need contact. Either the contact of other dogs or that of "their" humans.

MASTER...of the bra

Get a little Jack Russell so they have each other for company. That's what I've always done.

mymo

I have a dog that suffered terribly when left alone even for a few minutes, he lick the floor and doorframe until the varnish was gone. Luckily I was home in college round the corner from home the first few months we had him and could get home every 2 or 3 hours. Then when he was 10 months and trained quite well, we got a second dog for company. It's a great solution and he's happy curled up with her on the sofa when we're out.
I now have to work 9-5 or 7pm 3 days a week and get up to walk them for 40mins at 6am, so they sleep all day, my daughter gets home at 4pm and they are often asleep.

We leave Kongs stuffed and frozen, they get their morning feed in those treat balls they roll around to get the food out, and I have nylabone chewy toys for them.
So far so good, they get a play with daughter after school, a big off lead run again in the evenings and a walk before bed.
Yes I'm knackered, but the dogs are happy:D so it can be done.

If you are going the rescue route try looking for a pair of bonded dogs, they are often ignored due to most people not wanting two dogs at once, and slightly older dogs will be more settled than young pups.
Also I'd suggest a dog walker or friend or neighbour coming in to give them a short walk mid way through day, even a few minutes would break up the day.
Many rescues won't rehome if you are working every day, all day but depends on situation, and dog involved. The dog walker may help with that too.

paultf

If you do change your mind there are some wolfhounds available for adoption here:-

http://petsireland.invisionzone.com/index.php?showtopic=78412

moving_home

peasant wrote: »

No dog is "suitable" for being left alone all day.
Some do get used to it (because of circumstances) but there is no such thing as a leave-me-alone-all-day dog.

Dogs are social animals and need contact. Either the contact of other dogs or that of "their" humans.

People have to work fact. If you work your day around the dog in so far as possible they will be fine left alone for the day. Some breeds (don't know anything about wolfhounds) but one I can think of is a bichon frise, tend to suffer from seperation anxiety and wouldn't be great for being left alone.

I walk my dog in the morning before work and again as soon as I get home in the evenings. then most of the evening is spent in contact with her (playing grooming etc) and most weekends too so. I think if you give the dog attention while you are there, and leave things such as kongs, when you are gone they will be fine. Obviously if you are working 12 hour shifts this would not be viable but for someone working reasonable hours with reasonable commute.

If I discovered this forum before I got a dog i would probably have never gotten one because there is a lot of scaremongering about leaving dogs alone during the day.

suziwalsh

moving_home wrote: »

People have to work fact.

I can not stand the way people state this arguement......YES people have to work....NO people do not have to own a dog!

It is wrong to leave a dog alone all day by themselves, fact. It is unkind and not a fair life for a social animal.

Apologies for offending anyone but there is no defense in my eyes for leaving a dog alone all day. I cannot believe any dog is content in this senario

moving_home

suziwalsh wrote: »

I can not stand the way people state this arguement......YES people have to work....NO people do not have to own a dog!

well by this theory only unemployed people would have dogs....if someone who was unemployed came on here and asked about getting a dog they would be questioned on whether they could afford it so dont know who you expect to have dogs??

It is wrong to leave a dog alone all day by themselves, fact. It is unkind and not a fair life for a social animal.

Apologies for offending anyone but there is no defense in my eyes for leaving a dog alone all day. I cannot believe any dog is content in this senario

i can see where you are coming for but i can assure you my dog is very content. i think it is all down to routine - she knows exactly what time things are happening so she is quiet content. she gets a 3k walk + swim at 8.15, 20min game of fetch at lunchtime, 5k walk in evening and 20mins of fetch before bed.
she does be waiting at the gate for us at 5.30 only cos she knows this is the time we get home. OH got home at 4.30 last week and had to wake her up in her kennel. we have decking and plants out the back and she hasn't got destructive with them at all because she knows exactly when she is getting out. if we were an hour late home from work I wouldn't put it past her to get destructive but I think routine is key. we went away for 5days in Jan and boy did we know about it for about a week afterwards so she can get bratty when she wants but she is a very contented dog as we base all our plans around her.
weekends are long walks to beach/forest park etc. when visiting parents/friends etc she comes with us

suziwalsh

No not just unemployed ppl I am afriad.....and there is a difference in having two dogs or using doggy daycare.

There are families who do have working hours that suit having a dog or work from home.

The problem is too many FULL time working families get a pup.....it causes issues and it is one of the main reasons we have such a huge over population of dogs in this country.

peasant

moving_home wrote: »

she gets a 3k walk + swim at 8.15, 20min game of fetch at lunchtime, 5k walk in evening and 20mins of fetch before bed.

That's pretty good going ...sadly though it is not the norm for dogs that get left at home during the day.

A lot of people try to combine work and dog, starting off with the best intentions only to find later on that mornings are dark, they are not morning persons at all, lunch breaks are for lunch and evenings are for shopping / socialising/ relaxing and all the attention the dog gets is a five to ten miniute "elimination break" at either end of the day

The statement still stands though ...there is no dog that nature or any breeder designed to stay alone all day ...that really is a fact.

moving_home

well if the OP is posting here they obviously care about the welfare of any animal they might get so i was trying to give constructive advice on how it can work with a good routine and giving the dog loads of attention when you are home

nameerf

paultf wrote: »

If you do change your mind there are some wolfhounds available for adoption here:-

http://petsireland.invisionzone.com/index.php?showtopic=78412

I am looking for a wolfhound

MissFlitworth

I don't own a wolfhound but I did work with someone who had one years ago and they really are very anxious dogs (granted I am basing this on the one wolfie I knew). The person I worked with got round the 'not leaving the dog' alone issue but never leaving it alone, he went to work with him, on holidays with him and if he couldn't be there with him someone nearly always was. I've never come across such a nervy dog before, they're lovely but that turned me right off ever owning one (that and wolfhound poo - god there was a lot of that)