Discussion
We recently moved into our first house, with a small garden.
My wife wants to get a dog, I'm not sure. I think its cruel to leave it alone 4 days a week, and it will ruin my new RX8 (or is there a transporter to keep it in when off to the park?)
She is thinking of a whippet puppy, please advise PHers. Could be the best/worse desicion I make (or have I already made it being married??
Go for it, dogs are great and would not swop mine for anything, I even have £100 run around to take the dog out in so not to ruin my other interior.
Just get a real dog and not one of those little yappy things.
Edited to say, some times my dog comes to the office, some times he stays at home, on guard!! he loves it.
>> Edited by opieoilman on Tuesday 22 February 11:52
Just get a real dog and not one of those little yappy things.
Edited to say, some times my dog comes to the office, some times he stays at home, on guard!! he loves it.
>> Edited by opieoilman on Tuesday 22 February 11:52
Whippets are the best dogs in the world - affectionate, don't smell at all if fed correctly, shed next to nothing, and able to outrun any other dog you care to mention and expertly kill rabbits/hares/small deer.
But to think of leaving one alone for four days means you ought not be considering any dog. I'll have the RSPCA onto you.
But to think of leaving one alone for four days means you ought not be considering any dog. I'll have the RSPCA onto you.
I agree. We have a Jack Russel, I am at home working a lot of the time, so its ok, but they definitly need lots of attention. Leaving a dog for 8+ hours at home is not fair on it. If your circumstances change, you should definitly consider one, I cant imagine how quiet and boring the house would be without ours!
Keep it coming guys.
Now how many people that said its cruel to leave it actually have dogs, and are there any people that have dogs and leave them 4 days a week?
I wanna get lotsa view to show the missus so she can see its not just me if we decide against it. Could be fun though- WOOF
Thanks again,
Craig
Note:
You will have dog hair on everything for 10 years. Clothes, carpets, sofas, beds, cars, etc etc.
You will have damage to the house - not a lot, but various things will get chewed/broken/spilt, especially while a puppy. And be sicked on variously.
Cost is another perpetual factor - food, bedding, kennels, vets, collar/lead.
Time. A dog - especially a whippet - will need walked, probably two 1-hour walks a day. Every day. All weathers.
Oh - they do have big brown eyes.
You will have dog hair on everything for 10 years. Clothes, carpets, sofas, beds, cars, etc etc.
You will have damage to the house - not a lot, but various things will get chewed/broken/spilt, especially while a puppy. And be sicked on variously.
Cost is another perpetual factor - food, bedding, kennels, vets, collar/lead.
Time. A dog - especially a whippet - will need walked, probably two 1-hour walks a day. Every day. All weathers.
Oh - they do have big brown eyes.
If you really want to open the floodgates I suggest you post your question on www.k9community.co.uk, try one of the pedigree whippet forums.
you really need to think long term
also think about holidays / times when you want to get away for a weekend / planning on having kids in the near future. You really need to consider all this and a lot more.
And in answer to your Q Yes i have a medium sized working cocker spaniel, had him for 6 years now and wouldnt change him for the world. But there are times................
I wouldnt leave him alone for more than 3 or 4 hours at a time & yes, it is cruel leaving a dog alone for days on end. They all need entertaining/exercise and love whichever breed you go for.
....................and remember. They dont remain puppies forever, no matter how cute they look like!
also think about holidays / times when you want to get away for a weekend / planning on having kids in the near future. You really need to consider all this and a lot more.
And in answer to your Q Yes i have a medium sized working cocker spaniel, had him for 6 years now and wouldnt change him for the world. But there are times................
I wouldnt leave him alone for more than 3 or 4 hours at a time & yes, it is cruel leaving a dog alone for days on end. They all need entertaining/exercise and love whichever breed you go for.
....................and remember. They dont remain puppies forever, no matter how cute they look like!
goode262 said:We have a Labrador and there's no way we'd leave him for that long! The longest he's ever on his own is for about 4 hours on Friday mornings. Dogs need company and rely totally on humans for everything (feeding, walks, play etc). Leaving him for days at a time is not fair.
Now how many people that said its cruel to leave it actually have dogs, and are there any people that have dogs and leave them 4 days a week?
Our dog gets left alone everyday in the week - as have all of our dogs. Never been a problem - they have been alone from an early age, get lots of walks and have a big garden to plod around in - with plenty of stimulation. When we are home during the day the dog is always asleep anyway!
My dad does sometimes come in and take her for a walk with his dog during the day - but thats not clockwork regular.
Its obviously not fair to change a dog's situation suddenly (go from being there 24/7 to only in the evening etc).
Probably depends on the dog - but not all are totally lost without 24/7 human company, IMO!
My dad does sometimes come in and take her for a walk with his dog during the day - but thats not clockwork regular.
Its obviously not fair to change a dog's situation suddenly (go from being there 24/7 to only in the evening etc).
Probably depends on the dog - but not all are totally lost without 24/7 human company, IMO!
I think it very much depends on the dog.
I have had three and been very lucky that the dogs have been quite content left alone at times, one of the dogs we would let out in to the garden in the morning and he had his own outside kennel, with heater! water and some food and he would still be patroling his teritory when I got back from work, having a good size garden helped for this.
The dog I have at the moment is a 14 year old Welsh Springer Spaniel and is more then happy left alone for a days work, does not seem to phase him in the slightest, I do break up his week and take him to the office twice a week or so.
Others I know leave their dog for half an hour and the house is trashed.
Cheers
Guy.
I have had three and been very lucky that the dogs have been quite content left alone at times, one of the dogs we would let out in to the garden in the morning and he had his own outside kennel, with heater! water and some food and he would still be patroling his teritory when I got back from work, having a good size garden helped for this.
The dog I have at the moment is a 14 year old Welsh Springer Spaniel and is more then happy left alone for a days work, does not seem to phase him in the slightest, I do break up his week and take him to the office twice a week or so.
Others I know leave their dog for half an hour and the house is trashed.
Cheers
Guy.
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