Getting a puppy while working

scrabble1498

Hi guys, we're thinking of getting a dachshund but both of us work all day. We would get a dog walker so the dog would get a walk mid day (plus in the mornings and evenings) but is this really fair on the dog? I've read mixed reviews and would like to know your opinion!

s15r330

Totally unfair on the dog. Dogs are social animals, you're going to be gone all day and asleep at night so the dog will be lucky to get a few hours a day with you. A dog walker is no substitute.

deadlybuzzman

It's definitely not a good situation for a young dog. It'd have alot of energy and would demand alot of time and attention.
A low energy older dog might be fine with that kind of set up though. Obviously it'd depend on the individual dog

mooseknunkle

If theres a doggie daycare near you then go for it,i work shifts so some weeks my dog goes to one and he loves it.

Latatian

Consider an older/senior dog who is already used to this kind of setup and isn't insecure or high energy. A puppy wouldn't be suitable. But older dogs may be asleep 12-14 hours a day anyway, and resting quietly for another two. Try getting it from a rescue where they have an interest in accurately evaluating your fitness for each other.


Plus the older dogs are more likely to be housetrained, and you'll be giving a home to an animal that might otherwise be overlooked by those who want puppies/young dogs. Lots of good old dogs end up being rehomed when an owner- for example- goes into a nursing home or gets sick. They might be used to spending long periods of time quietly anyway when the owner was out, or was sick and couldn't walk them etc.

But it will be vitally important to choose the right dog for your situation since lots of dogs might not be able to cope. Avoid any dog that has a hint of insecurity about being left alone.

DBB

How long is "all day" op?

peasant

Do not get a puppy in this situation.
Not only would it not be fair to the pup, you'd be doing yourselves a great disservice too.

Puppies don't just need food, walkies and toilet training ...they need so much more.
They are like little sponges that soak up everything that happens in their environment, how things are (supposed) to be done, how what works, what is positive and what isn't.
They need constant guidance to make sense of it all and to become a dog that is a pleasure to have around. With nobody there to guide it most of the time your puppy will most likely (if not certainly) turn into the doggy equivalent of a sociopath.

Getting a puppy without being able to be there for it is the perfect recipe for a future "problem dog".

If you absolutely have to have a dog get an older one that is used to long times spent on its own (and that doesn't have issues).
A rescue might be able to help with the choosing.

bikedude

We have a dog and work full time, I believe she is a happy health dog. So it's possible, but is a commitment if all goes well a 20+years one!

Getting a older dog will help we adopted ours she was 6+ months, read about the breed and read again, look for a few breeds that will fit your life style, how much exercise, attention, grooming, play time they need. Find a few breeds that suits what you usually do and it will make the dog life better and yours as well. Chose carefull based on their behaviour and needs before the looks.

It's a commitment, you will need to get home after work, pints after work or dinner out will be less frequent, holidays will need more planning, walks are a must rain or shine, cold or warm weather. It's great to have a dog in a warm summer day, but they will still be there in the dark cold raining winter and you will need to go for the walk the same way.

Make sure to do the basic training, as it will be more enjoyable to have the dog and easier.

If you are renting, think twice as is almost impossible to find a place that accepts dogs for a decent cost, but is possible to find, again it's a commitment for the life of the dog.

Be prepared to have issues, barking, separation anxiety and that you will need to deal with it for the good of the dog.

Life is better with a dog, a waggy tail will brighten any **** day, getting home and getting the party, is absolutely awesome, and they are just overall great to be around.

Ms Doubtfire1

get a greyhound or lurcher..they don't mind sleeping all day, are very clean and believe you me..they need less exercise than a dachshound (a hunting dog remember).Greys/lurchers exercise in burst of flying about, and will happily nap for hours after a 30 minute walk...:-).AND they are the biggest clowns ever and so so gentle.

LCD

Maybe get an older rescue dog? Our dog is in the same situation, he gets a 20min walk in the morning, goes outside about 7:30am & when I get home he gets back in, is about 4:30/5. Gets his longer evening walk about 6ish.

Sometimes I feel guilty that he is alone all day, but the he shares a fence with the neighbors dog & they never interact at all. Our dog is very much a loner.

Ms Doubtfire1

uhm...you leave your doggie outside unsupervised during the day?You never worried about all the dogtheft going on?

LCD

Ms Doubtfire1 wrote: »

uhm...you leave your doggie outside unsupervised during the day?You never worried about all the dogtheft going on?

I didn't until now. Dog theft, WTF??? He is in our back garden which is secure (except for the one time I forgot to close the back gate, he got out & sat at the front door until I arrived home)

Ms Doubtfire1

dogs are being stolen a lot, especially round the time of certain fairs coming up (Ballinasloe being the worsted), anything that will bring a few quid will be nicked if location found and chance is there...just be careful..

http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/pet-detectives-meet-the-new-network-helping-to-find-lost-dogs-1.2460347

Ragnar Lothbrok

bikedude wrote: »

We have a dog and work full time, I believe she is a happy health dog.

Are you sure though?

My next door neighbours would probably say the same about their dog, as they give him plenty of attention and walks when they are there. BUT, every day they go to work and leave the house before 9, put the dog out the back and the poor dog cries and whines for at least the next half hour (it may even be longer as I leave for work myself around 9.30).

LCD

What is the solution? In an ideal world none of us would work & would have all the time we want to spend with our dogs. I have a friend working in a Dublin creche who sees 6 month old babies been dropped off at 7am & collected after 6pm. Surely this isn't an ideal situation either?

A dog being alone for 8-10 hours a day is not ideal at all, but unfortunately for many people who want to have a dog this is the reality. Now maybe people in these situations shouldn't be getting dogs. Then what would happen all these family pets? Is their enough people in the "ideal" situation to look after them all or would they end up in shelters or maybe even worse?

Unfortunately I have more questions than answers.

Ms Doubtfire1

Those are questions I ask myself as well LCD. But I know that my boy is happy and healthy, and I work 40 hours a week. Where I live no dogwalkers or careres are available. I am close enough to drive home at lunch. No, it's not ideal. But it's much much better than dogs dying in the pound..and, as most animals, dogs are creatures of habit. Once used to a routine, they live in it happy. My boy now gets all flustered if I'm on a day off lol

sillysmiles

As another person who has a dog and works full time, does anyone else find that if you take a Monday off the dog is almost waiting for you to leave so he can get a decent kip?

Ms Doubtfire1

sillysmiles wrote: »

As another person who has a dog and works full time, does anyone else find that if you take a Monday off the dog is almost waiting for you to leave so he can get a decent kip?

or the goodbye treats before you head off lol.:D

Gerry T

Op we got a pup, cockapoo, hes with us 4 weeks now. House bound as he's just finished getting his shots but he's out the back for 20min stints for toilet training and a run
Now, this is the part I didn't know, pups are a full time job, the cockapoo is small and needs to be brought out nearly every hr to see if he will wee, by 8pm he's settling but we bring him out at 10pm, 12pm, 3am and 6am or there's a good chance he sh1ts himself and that's a right mess at 3am!!
I'm sure with time it will get much easier but for now it's full on. Luckily I have 2 in secondary so the dog is always with someone and I work 2 to 3 days a week at home. I would advise a 2yr old that's house trained in your situation.

Uncle_moe

Same situation here and everyone said it wasn't fair on the dog. 3 days a week the house is empty as we're at work and we have a dog walker come in the other days and have had no problems at all.
I thought toilet training would be a nightmare but it wasn't at all. He uses the doggie door now if he needs to go. He can also run out in the garden if he likes but he tends to sleep a fair bit.
He gets walked twice a day, sometimes 3 when the dogwalker comes in because we take him out twice more, once in the evening and then later at night.
It is a fair bit of work but worth it and I don't think it does a dog any harm to have time by themselves.

s15r330

I have to laugh at people saying it does the dog no harm to be alone, very convenient that it suits all of you also. Dogs are pack animals, they don't like being alone.
But it makes you all feel better to think the dog is grand when you're off at work all day.
It is unfair on the dog. The only way it makes sense is if there are 2 dogs, they are company for each other.

We take ours to work, but we own the business, have a good landlord, and it's a suitable environment for a dog.

Probably not an option for you, but if it was - the dog loves it and so does everybody working here.

frillyleaf

I wouldn't get a puppy in those circumstances. I find dogs can be quite time consuming and they are a huge responsibility that I'm not prepared to commit to just yet , they can't come and go the way cats do and are a huge commitment in terms of walking and planning nights away, holidays etc.

I would recommend fostering or minding someone's dog for a few weeks to give you an idea of the commitment however you need. factor in that puppies are a lot more work as they need to be trained to socialised, house trained and general behaviour such as not chewing things they shouldn't etc. I've seen people getting pups and leaving them alone all day and its not fair on them. They also seem to be badly behaved, barking and destructive due to boredom.

After this If you still set on getting a dog you could possibly adopt two dogs that are comparable from a shelter so they are not isolated and on their own for long periods during the day. A family friend did this and works full time but the dogs seem quite happy out the back when they are not in because they have each other for company.

You will need to factor veterinary bills also as they should get vaccines, check up and neutered or spayed. Some of these costs perhaps all will be covered if you adopt from a shelter.

muddypaws

s15r330 wrote: »

I have to laugh at people saying it does the dog no harm to be alone, very convenient that it suits all of you also. Dogs are pack animals, they don't like being alone.
But it makes you all feel better to think the dog is grand when you're off at work all day.
It is unfair on the dog. The only way it makes sense is if there are 2 dogs, they are company for each other.

Scientific research and thinking has now concluded that dogs aren't pack animals. Most of them are social animals, so they get on with other dogs and humans, hence our successful relationship with them, but they don't naturally live in a pack like wolves do.

LCD

s15r330 wrote: »

I have to laugh at people saying it does the dog no harm to be alone, very convenient that it suits all of you also. Dogs are pack animals, they don't like being alone.
But it makes you all feel better to think the dog is grand when you're off at work all day.
It is unfair on the dog. The only way it makes sense is if there are 2 dogs, they are company for each other.

I beg to differ. My dog would hate to have to share anything with another dog. He is a complete loner and if was human would be labelled an odd ball.

cocker5

I work full time now and when we first got our cocker - and if i could do it all over again i wouldn't have done it to him... the first 18 months were EXTREMELY stressfull for him not to mention the damage / destruction he caused etc.. If you have doggie day care local then possibly it could work but not for a puppy maybe an older dog

lawred2

scrabble1498 wrote: »

Hi guys, we're thinking of getting a dachshund but both of us work all day. We would get a dog walker so the dog would get a walk mid day (plus in the mornings and evenings) but is this really fair on the dog? I've read mixed reviews and would like to know your opinion!

No. It's not fair. I think you know that already hence asking the question.

But you definitely won't be alone in the world in ignoring that.

Uncle_moe

I fully understand what people are saying about dogs liking company but they can also withstand a few hours by themselves. If you can afford it, dogwalkers are a great way to get them out during the day. There is also doggie day care as people have said.
Growing up in the country we had a dog who spent most of the time by himself by choice. he had the freedom to roam around the neighbourhood but spend most time in the garden chewing a bone or sleeping.
I also agree that they love company but you can find the right balance even when working. I have to say though that I have spent most of my holidays at home with the dog this year as he's still young and wanted him to have as much company as possible so there are a lot of sacrifices you have to make.

Choc Chip

I think you're way more likely to find an older dog that is happy to be left on its own (plus it's more likely to be past the destructive stage).

We have a foster pup staying just now (circa 1 yr). I generally work from home but had to go away for a couple of days. She was walked, let out in the middle of the day, and had my dogs for company. Despite this, in the 2 days I was away she managed to chew her way through shoes, a jacket and a clothes peg. And learned to reach the kitchen counter from a standing jump (admittedly, I have a grudging admiration for the kitchen counter leap - she's only 30cm tall).

I've no idea how people raise puppies with full-time jobs. Not saying it's impossible, but I don't think I could do it.

P.S. The kitchen counter leap is spectacular - she jumps at the sink, gets her paws in and then pulls up the rest of her body... There are probably tons of cat owners who think this is nothing!

Ms Doubtfire1

I've just seen this...would drive my fool crazy!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udlzRaB-pKg

Choc Chip

Ms Doubtfire1 wrote: »

I've just seen this...would drive my fool crazy!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udlzRaB-pKg

Our destructive pup would have this gone in one afternoon. When she goes to her forever home I'd totally think about for our dogs though. They'd love it!

jam_mac_jam

While dogs might be OK on their own for the day (some dogs). Puppies are different, they need more attention. You would be much better off getting an older dog if you are doing this but it is not really ideal if you are both working full time.