Dog v Job: how do you manage?
Discussion
My wife and I work long hours and the dogs can be left for a long time but this is probably only once a week and Xmas time (Xmas time I get someone to stay for the week).
If they've been left for a long time (6 hours), I return to no damage, no mess and actually both dogs sat on their chair looking at me thinking 'oh it's you, I was hoping it was mum'.
I understand what people are saying about being constantly left on their own but even when I spend a full day at home, all they do apart from the w a l k is sleep. The only difference between being there and not is they sleep on the lawn or patio rather than inside.
If they've been left for a long time (6 hours), I return to no damage, no mess and actually both dogs sat on their chair looking at me thinking 'oh it's you, I was hoping it was mum'.
I understand what people are saying about being constantly left on their own but even when I spend a full day at home, all they do apart from the w a l k is sleep. The only difference between being there and not is they sleep on the lawn or patio rather than inside.
sleep envy said:
Karyn said:
50 hours a week on my own, with nothing to do but sleep and eat? No thanks!
I'd love that opportunity!OP, P&M makes good points.
I adore our two, and am always more than willing to see that they have everything they need, but by god they're a pain in the arse sometimes.
Occasionally, I wake up at half 5 and crave being able to roll over and go back to sleep. However, the dogs need walking before work!
I remember when I only had half an hour for lunch... they just don't appreciate the effort you make, do they?!
falkster said:
I understand what people are saying about being constantly left on their own but even when I spend a full day at home, all they do apart from the w a l k is sleep. The only difference between being there and not is they sleep on the lawn or patio rather than inside.
I remember seeing an episode of "It's me or the dog" (there's a thread in the lounge where the OP could do with watching that!), and a dog had been kept in the house its whole life. "Owner" was there too, 24/7 effectively (aside from nipping out for her DSS and fags), but the dog was so damaged mentally that it spent most of its day walking round in tiny, tiny circles, following its nose to one side, on the carpet in front of her chair. It had gone quite loopy, and that was *with* "company".
TimCrighton said:
Take it to the office! I have my two in the office 2-3 days a week. They are brilliant and everyone in the office loves them, no matter how terrible a day you are having the dogs love you!!
As I mentioned above, pets at the office would be totes inappropes. Which is a shame, as screaming f
king babies still seem to sneak past reception every friday 
In the past all of my jobs and studying have been scheduled around the dogs; I worked when other members of the family would be at home so the dogs weren't alone all day, when I was studying all day I always went home at lunchtime to the dogs etc.
Depending on the age of the dog you'd like you do have some options. If you went for an older dog (there's loads of them needing good homes) then touchwood they would be happier to sleep more and exercise less than a younger dog. A lunchtime dog walker could work, but I think for the amount of hours you're out the house if you had a younger dog then doggy daycare would be fairer on them. It is an expense you need to be sure you can budget for though, because a bored dog usually turns into a naughty dog!
Is there any chance you could take a dog to work with you? Alternatively, do you have any dog friendly neighbours? I know someone who looks after their neighbours dog all day which is helpful.
GetCarter said:
As mentioned: Rule one: You don't buy a dog and leave it alone all day.
So very much this!I work from home so our two dogs have company all the time. I do have a friend who got a dog recently and leaves it in his house for the majority of the day all alone. The wonders why it's destroyed his sofa etc.
My dogs get out to the garden for a run at 7:30am and will be happy to sleep until 12 when they get a walk and a run about. I make sure I take themn out again for a quick play at about 3pm and then again at 5pm. They'll get an evening walk too and another play in the garden later.
At the very least get a dog walker who can take it out for a good walk at lunchtime. If you can keep the dog tired it'll welcome the sleep while you were out.
If I must go out, i try not to leave the dogs for more than 4 hours alone.
If I didn't work from home, I don't know what we'd do.
Going against the grain of the common opinion here, but our mutt often gets left for 10 hours a day on weekdays. He has a walk in the morning and one in the evening and he's happy as a sandboy.
Diuring the day he kips. I know this because some days I work from home and during the day, he kips.
I completely agree that if you know you're leaving a dog all day you shoudln't get a puppy, theres no point in breeding a dog to have a less than perfect life. However if we hadn't rescued ours I'm confident he'd be dead, and to me he seems pretty happy being alive.
He's a rescue Staff cross and there are so many in homes its untrue.
Diuring the day he kips. I know this because some days I work from home and during the day, he kips.
I completely agree that if you know you're leaving a dog all day you shoudln't get a puppy, theres no point in breeding a dog to have a less than perfect life. However if we hadn't rescued ours I'm confident he'd be dead, and to me he seems pretty happy being alive.
He's a rescue Staff cross and there are so many in homes its untrue.
Paddy_N_Murphy said:
I can and have sometime left him for 8 hours, but know I have to make it up to him before and after with exercise, stimulation and interaction.
Impossible to set out knowing it would be the norm.
This ^^ Miss Impossible to set out knowing it would be the norm.
boy and I sometimes leave our gang for a day but they have a run outside rather than being crated or locked in the house. This is far from the norm though and happens in exceptional circmstances. They are fine with it though and have a large walk before and after. No way I'd want to leave them like this everyday though. Great Pretender said:
would be totes inappropes.
We have a field chocolate labrador (and I make that distinction purposely!) and Monday, Tuesday, Thursday she'd be by herself from 8.30am until 3.30pm. She has no problems with it, despite her breeding likening her more to a Spanial than any concept of a Labrador I ever had before owning her.
But as mentioned above, there's a catchup needed. If she's been by herself all day, she needs a fair bit of playtime. Not much of a problem as there are three of us at home at the moment, and I take her out running with me.
Paddy_N_Murphy said:
parakitaMol. said:
I would love to take my dog to work!
sometimes it's not good
Great Pretender said:
TimCrighton said:
Take it to the office! I have my two in the office 2-3 days a week. They are brilliant and everyone in the office loves them, no matter how terrible a day you are having the dogs love you!!
As I mentioned above, pets at the office would be totes inappropes. Which is a shame, as screaming fking babies still seem to sneak past reception every friday Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff