Can we have a dog?
Discussion
I'm not sure we can. I have grown up with dogs. Retrievers infact and since i moved out a year ago i feel a bit lost without a dog.
Walking before and after work isn't a problem. We have a nature reserve a quater of a mile away.
But i leave at 6 30am and the wife at half 7. I return home at half 4. Is 9 hours too long.
I have two cats at home aswell.
Thanks
Walking before and after work isn't a problem. We have a nature reserve a quater of a mile away.
But i leave at 6 30am and the wife at half 7. I return home at half 4. Is 9 hours too long.
I have two cats at home aswell.
Thanks
sc0tt said:
I'm not sure we can. I have grown up with dogs. Retrievers infact and since i moved out a year ago i feel a bit lost without a dog.
Walking before and after work isn't a problem. We have a nature reserve a quater of a mile away.
But i leave at 6 30am and the wife at half 7. I return home at half 4. Is 9 hours too long.
I have two cats at home aswell.
Thanks
You're thinking 9 hours is too long, so you'll feel guilty about leaving it. That's not a good dog owning experience. Walking before and after work isn't a problem. We have a nature reserve a quater of a mile away.
But i leave at 6 30am and the wife at half 7. I return home at half 4. Is 9 hours too long.
I have two cats at home aswell.
Thanks
Changedmyname said:
King Herald said:
There's a whole thread on this recently: 'How to mix job and pet' or something similar.
Basically I'd hate to leave a dog alone for a whole day.
Kinda hard at our house as we have five of 'em.
Five, its hard enough with one.Basically I'd hate to leave a dog alone for a whole day.
Kinda hard at our house as we have five of 'em.
Jasandjules said:
To me yes, sorry to say. In part however, how much exercise can you give a dog i.e. an hour before work?
I'd rather honesty than a crap life for a dog. We have a lovely country park approx half a mile from mu house and another normal playing field around 400m away so stetching its legs isn't too much of a problem 
Your biggest problme may be that you will need quite a lot of time to train a puppy- as in quite a lot of time at home for 3-4 weeks (ideally 3-4 months)
Both my wife and i leave the house at 8 and we get back at 6 BUT we have a dog walker in for an hour during the middle of day, and 2 days a week our neighbour is paid to look after him all day long. He has a nice life!
Our next door neighbour has a lab who has been left at home for 7-8 hours since being a puppy and it seems a perfectly normally bonkers lab!
Both my wife and i leave the house at 8 and we get back at 6 BUT we have a dog walker in for an hour during the middle of day, and 2 days a week our neighbour is paid to look after him all day long. He has a nice life!
Our next door neighbour has a lab who has been left at home for 7-8 hours since being a puppy and it seems a perfectly normally bonkers lab!
sc0tt said:
Is 9 hours too long for a retriever?
I'm afraid 9 hours is too long for any dog, but it does seem a shame that you're willing and able to offer a home to a dog when there's thousands needing rescue but work is a stumbling block. Would you consider doggy day care? Or employing a pet sitter to pop in to walk the dog at midday?The dog groomer I used to work at charged £10 per day for day care in a home environment. Dog walking prices do vary but I'd expect to pay between £10-£15 for an hour slot.
If these aren't viable for you then maybe consider volunteering some time to work at a local rescue, it's so rewarding and makes a huge difference to the dogs lives.
sc0tt said:
I'd rather honesty than a crap life for a dog. We have a lovely country park approx half a mile from mu house and another normal playing field around 400m away so stetching its legs isn't too much of a problem
Ok,Then let's say the dog gets an hour a day walking either before or after work (ideally an hour before and 30 mins after). But is then left in the house for 9 hours. Now, is that better or worse than being left in a kennel most of the day as it would be in a rescue center?
Frixturbo said:
A lot of people work full time and still have a dog....
Your biggest problem is training and getting to know your dog, some dogs are better then others at being left alone....
Maybe a older dog would suit you better then a puppy...?
My sister has a boxer that, from a puppy, has been used to full days alone. It has a cage in a small utility room it stays in when the house is empty. Cage is maybe 4 feet square.Your biggest problem is training and getting to know your dog, some dogs are better then others at being left alone....
Maybe a older dog would suit you better then a puppy...?
It's what it is used to and it appears to be a perfectly normal boxer - ie 100% daft.
I would not ask the same of an older dog.
ctdctd said:
My sister has a boxer that, from a puppy, has been used to full days alone. It has a cage in a small utility room it stays in when the house is empty. Cage is maybe 4 feet square.
It's what it is used to and it appears to be a perfectly normal boxer - ie 100% daft.
I would not ask the same of an older dog.
There is a huge Rottweiler in a garden a couple of streets away from our place. The cage is the same size as yours, but I have never seen the dog out of the cage, not once. It's what it is used to and it appears to be a perfectly normal boxer - ie 100% daft.
I would not ask the same of an older dog.
I used to walk our dogs down that street morning and evening, and from 5:30 am to 10:00pm, the Rotty was always inside the cage. He used to go crazy when we walked past, run round and round, and try to ram his head between the bars under the roof thing. Poor bugger.
ali_kat said:
No
To be honest, the stupidity of the questions you are asking here makes me wonder it you are fit to look after a hamster, let alone a dog
Rude and totally unnecessary.To be honest, the stupidity of the questions you are asking here makes me wonder it you are fit to look after a hamster, let alone a dog
OP qualified at the start he didn't think it was a goer. He also later stated he wants a good life for the animal and accepts it may not be possible given his circumstances.
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