Dog v Job: how do you manage?
Discussion
Honestly. It's simple. If you work and there is nobody home all day, get a cat and a cat flap, not a dog. Dogs are energetic pack animals that HATE it when they are left alone (however much some of you say they are happy to sleep all day). They may well be happy on your evening walk - there's a surprise. They were NOT happy for the 8 - or 10 - or 12 hours when you were at work.
Read every well researched and intelligent book on the subject, and they'll agree.
Don't buy a dog and leave it alone all day. End of.
ETA Of course, if you get a rescue dog that is used to being alone during the day, better to get said dog and have it stay in the same way than to have it put down, as most rescue dogs are. They want to be free and active but can shrink to sheltered. They are mighty adaptable creatures who will provide great dollops of love. Unlike cats, who just treat you like servants!! (I've owned many cats BTW)
Read every well researched and intelligent book on the subject, and they'll agree.
Don't buy a dog and leave it alone all day. End of.
ETA Of course, if you get a rescue dog that is used to being alone during the day, better to get said dog and have it stay in the same way than to have it put down, as most rescue dogs are. They want to be free and active but can shrink to sheltered. They are mighty adaptable creatures who will provide great dollops of love. Unlike cats, who just treat you like servants!! (I've owned many cats BTW)
Edited by GetCarter on Thursday 23 August 15:03
GetCarter said:
Read every well researched and intelligent book on the subject, and they'll agree.
Don't buy a dog and leave it alone all day. End of.
Precisely.Don't buy a dog and leave it alone all day. End of.
Don't totally agree with the rescue dog perspective, I actually feel if they've been badly treated already and never had a devoted owner and stable home then they are incredibly deserving of being a full member of the family. Food, love, warmth, respect, social and healthcare needs met. Just like any family member.
We're on hols in Devon at the moment, the dogs too, fab dog-friendly cottage, walking distance to a year round dog-friendly beach, all the shops in Salcombe are dog-friendly and so are all the bars and most restaurants. You only have to adapt a little, not change your whole life.... just like having kids.
Karyn said:
I agree wholeheartedly with this.
We're currently trying to decide how/where/when to go on holiday, first time since getting our youngest.
OH wants to leave them in a kennel somewhere.
My (probably slightly irrational) fears about trusting other people with our dogs aside, I just don't want to go off and enjoy myself and leave them in a kennel somewhere... I don't see why they can't come on holiday with us!
"It's not a bleedin' holiday if we take the dogs, is it."
parakitaMol. said:
We're on hols in Devon at the moment, the dogs too, fab dog-friendly cottage, walking distance to a year round dog-friendly beach, all the shops in Salcombe are dog-friendly and so are all the bars and most restaurants.
Sounds brilliant! We're torn between Devon/South Coast and Sh-cort-land, with a quick call-in on the Lakes as we go up...
Tacagni, do you run a kennel-type effort, or dog-sit?
GetCarter said:
I've just emailed the other half with this link.Subject line: I'm in love.
Fingers crossed... I assume this is your neck of the woods, given that the website is yours?! Spectacular photography. And views!
Edit:
size13 said:
Thanks for the link... screw the dogs, we're going to Torridon! 
(I jest... they'll come with
)One of my neighbours has couple of dogs and goes out to work leaving them in the garden for hours on end. Apart from it not being fair on the dogs,they keep on barking which is annoying the hell out of all the locals. She now has a noise abatement notice against her and is more than likely going to end up in court.
If your not going to be around, why have dog?
If your not going to be around, why have dog?
Our dog is at home during the day by herself. The way my wife and I work is quite good though as the dog is only alone for around 6 hours per day for 4 days a week and has always had this since we first got her.
She also has full run of the house and a flap for access to our fully enclosed garden.
We make sure she always has toys and plenty of food and has the radio on all day too.
She gets walks every morning and evening and I don't think this is in any way mean to her.
She also has full run of the house and a flap for access to our fully enclosed garden.
We make sure she always has toys and plenty of food and has the radio on all day too.
She gets walks every morning and evening and I don't think this is in any way mean to her.
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