Dog re-homing + working full time

chris85

I am sure many people do this but we both work 9-5 jobs at the moment and have been interested in adopting a dog for a while but we have just bought our first house and we now have the space for one.

However do many people do it while working 9-5 and if so what is best approach.

I do a bit of running so hoping to find a dog I can take out with me but nothing very big either. Was thinking perhaps a beagle or boxer for this.

Any thoughts?

stevire

Have you considered fostering? It's often for a short term, and you would have the option to adopt if things are working out for both you and the dog. You would need to explain to the Rescue that you won't be around 9-5 but often a home can still be better than a kennel environment. They would be able to recommend a suitable dog that doesn't suffer from separation anxiety and possibly house-trained.

If you are thinking of a pup, I think you need to go home at lunch times for a feed, walk and toilet break for your puppy. As the puppy gets older it would be worth considering dog walkers and doggy day care to keep your dog occupied. Otherwise they will entertain themselves with your furniture and potentially pick up bad habits!

VonVix

Both dogs you mentioned are pretty busy breeds, not really the kinds to just laze about for a few hours from my experience, are you looking to get a puppy or adult dog? I'd be inclined to suggest an adult sighthound/lurcher to you or even a Whippet if you want one with shorter legs! They are some of the most affectionate dogs I have ever met, very low maintenance, quite lazy (you do get the odd hyperactive one, but I've come across more sleepy/chilled lurchers than nutty lurchers), they are happy to have their exercise and then be unconscious for a few hours. A lot of people think they're very high energy and need tons and tons of exercise, but this couldn't be farther from the truth.

If you were to schedule out your dog's day, what would it look like from the moment you wake up to the moment you go to bed?

Doggie daycare is an option, and also a dog walker to visit your home while you're at work to break up your dogs day.

chris85

stevire wrote: »

Have you considered fostering? It's often for a short term, and you would have the option to adopt if things are working out for both you and the dog. You would need to explain to the Rescue that you won't be around 9-5 but often a home can still be better than a kennel environment. They would be able to recommend a suitable dog that doesn't suffer from separation anxiety and possibly house-trained.

If you are thinking of a pup, I think you need to go home at lunch times for a feed, walk and toilet break for your puppy. As the puppy gets older it would be worth considering dog walkers and doggy day care to keep your dog occupied. Otherwise they will entertain themselves with your furniture and potentially pick up bad habits!

Thanks for the info. Fostering is definitely an option and perhaps this is best to find out if we can work it.

We were not thinking of a pup for this reason as would need more attention. We had planned on something a few years older. We had planned on keeping the dog occupied with a dog walker and some family who may be interested in talking the dog for a walk an afternoon or two during the week. I generally go for a run when I get home and perfect opportunity to take out a dog for some exercise.

OldNotWIse

Have you thought about getting two for company?

I think a lot of people wouldn't agree but I think it is possible to have both owners working and still have a happy dog. We are lucky that the parents provide doggy day care while we work, and love having her, but there are times when they are away for long periods and we have to muddle through. We make sure she's brought out early and for long enough that she does all her business, and I will try to play with her to make sure she is tired and will go back to bed and snooze until at least lunch time (well for some).

Evening walkies are then an inevitability also, and we "compensate" for our absence at weekends by spending as much time together as possible and having big adventurous walks.

Doggie daycare is an option but it's quite expensive I believe.

I'd echo other poster who mentioned having to come home to break the day for a pup, maybe an older toilet trained dog would be better. A lot of re-homing organisations turn people away if they both work, and I think its a shame as there are so many dogs needing homes and re-homing is such a great thing to do

screamer

Id be careful TBH my sister rehomed a lovely dog a lab or retriever cross fully grown and there was someone in and out every day. Max she would have been alone about 4 hours. The dog had separation anxiety which the rescue never told my sister and she got so bad that she literally chewed the back door off the house. She had to sleep inside at night. She got exercise, toys, everything but nothing worked and my sister had to return her to the rescue. I love dogs don't get me wrong but if i were getting one id get a pup and rear it myself.

OldNotWIse

screamer wrote: »

Id be careful TBH my sister rehomed a lovely dog a lab or retriever cross fully grown and there was someone in and out every day. Max she would have been alone about 4 hours. The dog had separation anxiety which the rescue never told my sister and she got so bad that she literally chewed the back door off the house. She had to sleep inside at night. She got exercise, toys, everything but nothing worked and my sister had to return her to the rescue. I love dogs don't get me wrong but if i were getting one id get a pup and rear it myself.

But not all adult dogs are like that, and a reputable and responsible organization should flag any behavioral issues that will need to be addressed. It makes me sad that so many people want pups only, when adult dogs have so much to give, and have sometimes walked a very difficult path

chris85

OldNotWIse wrote: »

But not all adult dogs are like that, and a reputable and responsible organization should flag any behavioral issues that will need to be addressed. It makes me sad that so many people want pups only, when adult dogs have so much to give, and have sometimes walked a very difficult path

Yes I think we would be suited more towards an adult dog. A pup I don't think would be as great for a number of hours on its own during the day but an adult dog more suited to it.

screamer

OldNotWIse wrote: »

But not all adult dogs are like that, and a reputable and responsible organization should flag any behavioral issues that will need to be addressed. It makes me sad that so many people want pups only, when adult dogs have so much to give, and have sometimes walked a very difficult path

And I was shocked by this very well known rescue and when my sister had to take the dog back they treated her so badly and very begrudgingly took the dog back after about 2 weeks and many phone calls. Then tried to blame my sister for all the dogs issues which were obviously there when she took on the dog in the first place. I'd prefer a pup that you can raise yourself yes they are work for about a year but better that than an older dog who will be work forever.

OldNotWIse

screamer wrote: »

And I was shocked by this very well known rescue and when my sister had to take the dog back they treated her so badly and very begrudgingly took the dog back after about 2 weeks and many phone calls. Then tried to blame my sister for all the dogs issues which were obviously there when she took on the dog in the first place. I'd prefer a pup that you can raise yourself yes they are work for about a year but better that than an older dog who will be work forever.

I agree that's unacceptable, and has happened to me in the past too. We rescued a beagle as it was due to be PTS and it turned out he had sever epilepsy. We found out when we came home from a Christmas party to find him having a seizure on the floor. Of course I would have taken him anyway, but it would have been nice to be prepared!

I'll always bat for the older dog though. They're not all "work forever" - mine certainly isn't. I wouldn't have her any other way.

aonb

A puppy can develop separation anxiety too!

Choc Chip

screamer wrote: »

Id be careful TBH my sister rehomed a lovely dog a lab or retriever cross fully grown and there was someone in and out every day. Max she would have been alone about 4 hours. The dog had separation anxiety which the rescue never told my sister and she got so bad that she literally chewed the back door off the house. She had to sleep inside at night. She got exercise, toys, everything but nothing worked and my sister had to return her to the rescue. I love dogs don't get me wrong but if i were getting one id get a pup and rear it myself.

You can find a thread by me on here, freaking out because my perfect (though anxious) rescue dog started showing seperation anxiety after a couple of weeks with us. I believe the rescue that my dog never showed this kind of behaviour in her foster home with lots of other dogs but it developed when she came to us and (i) her life was uprooted again, then (ii) she got the opportunity to bond strongly with someone. It's not always the rescue's fault - lots of dogs can be different in their own home than in a rescue situation.

I'm a big advocate of older rescue dogs though - ours is great on the lead, house trained, chilled, happy to relax most of the day and doesn't bark or chew. An older dog might have some baggage and the rescue can't tell you how to prepare for every eventuality, but I got great advice on here and if you're prepared to put the time in I think there's a lot to be said for taking on an older dog.

Tranceypoo

screamer wrote:

And I was shocked by this very well known rescue and when my sister had to take the dog back they treated her so badly and very begrudgingly took the dog back after about 2 weeks and many phone calls. Then tried to blame my sister for all the dogs issues which were obviously there when she took on the dog in the first place. I'd prefer a pup that you can raise yourself yes they are work for about a year but better that than an older dog who will be work forever.

To be honest, I don't think 2 weeks was anywhere near long enough for the dog to settle in and get over the separation anxiety, my first rescue took a good few months to get over it (the other never really has but she's fine on the whole!), besides the OP has gamily that can pop in and can arrange a dog walker. I'm thinking maybe a greyhound or lurcher?!

Tranceypoo

And ps neither rescues told me about the sep anx because neither dog displayed it in rescue or foster homes!

Cherry Blossom

I wouldn't recommend a beagle to someone who works full time OP. They are bred as pack dogs and are incredibly social. If left alone for an extended period of time they may dig or howl which would make you unpopular with your neighbours.

OldNotWIse

Tranceypoo wrote: »

To be honest, I don't think 2 weeks was anywhere near long enough for the dog to settle in and get over the separation anxiety, my first rescue took a good few months to get over it (the other never really has but she's fine on the whole!), besides the OP has gamily that can pop in and can arrange a dog walker. I'm thinking maybe a greyhound or lurcher?!

Greyhounds are great dogs, and aren't they known affectionately as 45 mph couch potatoes?

http://45mphcouchpotato.com/

And a greyhound rescue is so rewarding We rescued one a few years back and spent a few months building her up before giving her to a lady in Dublin who specialises in re-homing them with her UK contacts. She called us a few months after to say she'd kept her as all the kids had fallen in love with her

OldNotWIse

adrenalinjunkie wrote: »

I wouldn't recommend a beagle to someone who works full time OP. They are bred as pack dogs and are incredibly social. If left alone for an extended period of time they may dig or howl which would make you unpopular with your neighbours.

Second this. We had one (albeit he had epilepsy ) who was wired to the moon. 4/5 hour walks weren't even enough to tire him out. He needed constant stimulation and attention and fretted when he was left alone.

Inexile

Greyhounds are great dogs and are usually happy to chill out after a their walk. However, the need to be indoor dogs so may not work if you are working all day as you will need someone to pop in to let them out for at least one toilet break during the day.