Discussion
Hi all, I've wanted a dog all for as long as I can remember and now have my own place so hopefully it will happen soon!
My situation is I am single and work full time but locally and I could get home at lunchtime to take the dog out for a short walk etc.
Due to work I know I wont be able to be there for a puppy so was thinking of a youngish rescue around 2/3 years old.
I like bigger dogs and would prefer a GSD (I have been walking my aunts one for a few years and love them!)
The dog will get a walk before work, a visit/walk at lunchtime and another walk/all my attention in the evening.
Which breed do people think would be most suitable for me bearing in mind it being left alone for several hours at a time during the day? do most dogs just get into a routine?
My situation is I am single and work full time but locally and I could get home at lunchtime to take the dog out for a short walk etc.
Due to work I know I wont be able to be there for a puppy so was thinking of a youngish rescue around 2/3 years old.
I like bigger dogs and would prefer a GSD (I have been walking my aunts one for a few years and love them!)
The dog will get a walk before work, a visit/walk at lunchtime and another walk/all my attention in the evening.
Which breed do people think would be most suitable for me bearing in mind it being left alone for several hours at a time during the day? do most dogs just get into a routine?
CaptainMorgan said:
How long each day are we talking? Mine is left for 6ish hours some days, thats more or less the limit I'd personally want to leave a dog. When I get back or before I leave I take him for a decent long walk. There have been times I've been stuck out the house all day and had to get my aunt in to take him out and play with him for a hour or so but feel super guilty about it and try to avoid it if possible.
the dog would be left from approx 8:00 till 13:00 then again from 14:00 till 17:00moorx said:
I've had various dogs whilst working full time (with a dog walker at lunchtime) but I'd say the breed/type that has coped best with being left is greyhounds and lurchers.
There are many specialist greyhound rescues who can help you find the right dog. Sadly, as there are so many in rescue, you should not have a problem finding one that meets your requirements.
Where are you based?
Thanks for the reply, i've read elsewhere a greyhound would suit but am still keen to hear other suggestionsThere are many specialist greyhound rescues who can help you find the right dog. Sadly, as there are so many in rescue, you should not have a problem finding one that meets your requirements.
Where are you based?
KFC said:
It can be very hit and miss with UK dog rescue places - unfortunately you might find they don't want to know when you tell them you actually have a job 
It really is disgusting the amount of people like yourself I've spoken to who looked like sensible prospective owners who wanted to give a rescue a chance, and ended up hitting so much red tape and hassle that they gave up and bought a dog from Craigslist instead.
Avoiding a puppy is definitely sensible - they get bored easily and thats when destruction of furniture etc can potentially happen. They also can't hold their bladder as long as an adult dog. Its not fair on either the dog or the owner if you go too young in that sort of scenario. An older relaxed dog is better. You also really want one that has been a pet before, rather than a dog that has lived wild or in a rescue centre all its live. It'll be far more likely to be happy just curled up sleeping waiting on you coming back home.
Trying to pick a breed first then looking for a specific dog that fits is probably not the best way to go though. If (and thats a big word in dog rescue unfortunately) you can get a sensible human from the rescue place helping you, they should be able to pair you up with a suitable dog from stock. Or if they don't have one they should be able to network with the other rescue places and find you one. Its definitely a 'buyers market'... there are far more dogs than suitable homes so it should be relatively easy to match you up, its not like your circumstances are anything crazy.
If you are already walking your aunts dog regularly I'd aim for a rescue of the opposite sex. They're far more likely to get on with each other and then you could hopefully walk them both together and let them socialise. Then if you're ever struggling for time you/aunt can take turns about to walk the pair of them etc. Also its a huge plus point if you could leave your dog at your aunts if something comes up and you know you can't make it home, and vice versa. I know you're saying work situation is easy now, but it might not be that simple for the next 10 years so best to plan ahead and try and pre-empt any problems
I absolutely can't leave my female rescue dog with my neighbours female, they just hate each other. my male rescue is fine there.
I work in dog rescue/rehoming... if you have any questions feel free to ask
Thanks for your reply KFC, I did visit a local rescue place a while back and explained my situation and they seemed fine with it. I have heard some of the bigger well known centres can be funny with people who work, there was a thread on here recently on the subject. I think I will go back to the local place and see if they have anything suitable. It really is disgusting the amount of people like yourself I've spoken to who looked like sensible prospective owners who wanted to give a rescue a chance, and ended up hitting so much red tape and hassle that they gave up and bought a dog from Craigslist instead.Avoiding a puppy is definitely sensible - they get bored easily and thats when destruction of furniture etc can potentially happen. They also can't hold their bladder as long as an adult dog. Its not fair on either the dog or the owner if you go too young in that sort of scenario. An older relaxed dog is better. You also really want one that has been a pet before, rather than a dog that has lived wild or in a rescue centre all its live. It'll be far more likely to be happy just curled up sleeping waiting on you coming back home.
Trying to pick a breed first then looking for a specific dog that fits is probably not the best way to go though. If (and thats a big word in dog rescue unfortunately) you can get a sensible human from the rescue place helping you, they should be able to pair you up with a suitable dog from stock. Or if they don't have one they should be able to network with the other rescue places and find you one. Its definitely a 'buyers market'... there are far more dogs than suitable homes so it should be relatively easy to match you up, its not like your circumstances are anything crazy.
If you are already walking your aunts dog regularly I'd aim for a rescue of the opposite sex. They're far more likely to get on with each other and then you could hopefully walk them both together and let them socialise. Then if you're ever struggling for time you/aunt can take turns about to walk the pair of them etc. Also its a huge plus point if you could leave your dog at your aunts if something comes up and you know you can't make it home, and vice versa. I know you're saying work situation is easy now, but it might not be that simple for the next 10 years so best to plan ahead and try and pre-empt any problems
I absolutely can't leave my female rescue dog with my neighbours female, they just hate each other. my male rescue is fine there.I work in dog rescue/rehoming... if you have any questions feel free to ask
bakerstreet said:
I think you would be better to try and find a breed thats suited to your requirements. We did exactly that and came up with a greyhound. Reading between the lines, it sounds like you aren't really interested in a greyhound. I urge you to re-consider. Several thousand are 'disposed of' each year because they fail to make the grade on the track. They make ideal pets and quite frankly better suited to your situation than a GSD. Huge amounts of choice too.
Also, if you are late out from work at lunchtime and literally have to walk the dog and then leave again, I can tell you from personal experience, I don't think that will work.
People who own dogs and work full time is a controversial subject. Ours managed fine at home 9hrs a day. We actually had more issues when I was made redundant and I was at home all the time. I know one couple whoes husky sits at home 10 hours a day. Like our Grey, he sleeps
I think I need a Greyhounds character wrapped in a GSD body!, I just think they are such good looking dogs.Also, if you are late out from work at lunchtime and literally have to walk the dog and then leave again, I can tell you from personal experience, I don't think that will work.
People who own dogs and work full time is a controversial subject. Ours managed fine at home 9hrs a day. We actually had more issues when I was made redundant and I was at home all the time. I know one couple whoes husky sits at home 10 hours a day. Like our Grey, he sleeps
However I don't want to get a dog or breed of dog that won't be happy in its new home and will have a look at some Greyhounds but am not really sure about them atm.
I thought one of the reasons it was important to get back at lunchtime to give the dog a chance to go to the toilet?, 10 hours straight without seems a long time.
dern said:
As someone else said, greyhound or a lurcher. You can get shaggy looking lurchers that look more like the GSD look you're after I guess (kinda).
We adopted a 7 year old lurcher having known nothing about the breed. When his time comes I'd have another lurcher like a shot. Happy in the same circumstances as you (once we stopped trying to keep him in the kitchen), loves people, very affectionate... love him to bits.
Mark
Thanks Mark, that's more along the lines of the type of dog I like the look of.We adopted a 7 year old lurcher having known nothing about the breed. When his time comes I'd have another lurcher like a shot. Happy in the same circumstances as you (once we stopped trying to keep him in the kitchen), loves people, very affectionate... love him to bits.
Mark
So they basically have the same character as a greyhound then?
moorx said:
Might be worth reading this thread: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Thanks, I popped into the dogs trust tonight as its only down the road and they had Greyhounds and Lurchers on their website.I noticed most of the Lurchers needed someone around most of the day and were quite timid, I asked the girl about this and she said most of them had come from Ireland?
Hi, Yesterday I went to my local Greyhound rehoming centre and walked 3 different dogs, one of which I took home for the weekend.
She's a lovely dog apart from the constant farting, she knows to go to the toilet outside but other than that appears to have none of the normal training a pet would hopefully have had.
If I get up she gets up and she follows me everywhere so I'm not sure she would be much easier to leave while at work than another breed?
She's going back tomorrow but I can have her again next weekend and then rehome her if I want after a home check.
She's a lovely dog apart from the constant farting, she knows to go to the toilet outside but other than that appears to have none of the normal training a pet would hopefully have had.
If I get up she gets up and she follows me everywhere so I'm not sure she would be much easier to leave while at work than another breed?
She's going back tomorrow but I can have her again next weekend and then rehome her if I want after a home check.
I returned her today and have arranged to have her again next weekend.
I'm a bit worried now as I just put her racing name into google and her history shows she started her career In 2009, I was told she was five which was about my limit age wise as I want a dog that will be able to do long walks with me for a good few years to come.
What age do they start racing? she must be 8 at least?.
I did have a quick look at her tattoos but they weren't easy to read and I didn't know what they meant but I do now and will have another look using a torch when I see her again.
I'm a bit worried now as I just put her racing name into google and her history shows she started her career In 2009, I was told she was five which was about my limit age wise as I want a dog that will be able to do long walks with me for a good few years to come.
What age do they start racing? she must be 8 at least?.
I did have a quick look at her tattoos but they weren't easy to read and I didn't know what they meant but I do now and will have another look using a torch when I see her again.
she has tattoos on both ears, from what I read earlier one ear will be her birthday and the and a letter which represents which no. of the litter she was to get tattooed so for example 115E would mean November 2005 is her birthday and E means she was the fifth of her litter to get tattooed. I can't remember what the other ear was but will recheck
The confusion over the dogs age was because the rescue place has 2 websites and old one and a new one, I was looking at the wrong dog with the same name on the old website!
This is the 3rd weekend I have looked after the dog, last weekend I left her for 2 short periods and she peed on the carpet both times.
Today she has had 3 huge wees outside in only a few hours and then another one indoors despite me being there and taking her outside to go regularly.
It might sound silly but at the moment from what I can make out she's never going to be able to be left for any length of time because she wees so much so often?
This is the 3rd weekend I have looked after the dog, last weekend I left her for 2 short periods and she peed on the carpet both times.
Today she has had 3 huge wees outside in only a few hours and then another one indoors despite me being there and taking her outside to go regularly.
It might sound silly but at the moment from what I can make out she's never going to be able to be left for any length of time because she wees so much so often?
This morning the dog and I were both awake at 5:30 so I let her out and she did a big wee and poo in the garden, she clearly knows she should go outdoors.
About 8:00 we went to the park for an hour where she had anther dump and did some scent marking type weeing.
We came home and I fed her and she had a drink.
I decided to go out for a little while (45 mins) to see how she coped and when I came home there was a wet patch in the middle of the carpet.
If I were to have her straight away she would be getting left from 8 till 1 then I will come home for lunch and then left again till 5.
At the moment if she's not with me I think she panics, how do I get her out of this?.
I was hoping to tell the lady at the kennels I would have her after this weekend but the way she is atm I think she'd be better off with someone who is at home most of the day.
About 8:00 we went to the park for an hour where she had anther dump and did some scent marking type weeing.
We came home and I fed her and she had a drink.
I decided to go out for a little while (45 mins) to see how she coped and when I came home there was a wet patch in the middle of the carpet.
If I were to have her straight away she would be getting left from 8 till 1 then I will come home for lunch and then left again till 5.
At the moment if she's not with me I think she panics, how do I get her out of this?.
I was hoping to tell the lady at the kennels I would have her after this weekend but the way she is atm I think she'd be better off with someone who is at home most of the day.
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