Is a dog right for us / are we right for a dog?
Discussion
Hi all
Me and Mrs SS are considering a puppy. We have our own 3 bed semi-detached house with a medium sized garden.
I work 9-5 Monday-Friday, and Mrs SS works a variety of early (7am -3pm), Late (12midday - 8pm) and Night (8pm -8am) shifts, so the maximum any pup would be on its own would be around 6 hours during the week. This is my main concern; not sure whether it is fair to have any animal alone for this length of time with the only the run of two average rooms? Especially in the early years.
We are fully committed to training, looking after and being there for a dog for it's entire life, but have never had a pet before. We are happy with the exercise commitment - can certainly do up to one hour a day - and I realise there are certain things we won't be able to do any more (like just taking of for the odd weekend whenever it suits, unless it's dog-friendly).
So, first up - do all you pet owners out there think it's practical for us to have a pooch in our situation?
And, if so, any recommendation on breeds? I posted a thread a few months ago about Beagles, but we've since discounted that due to the sheer amount of training that seems to be needed and us being newbies. Our current favourites are miniature schnauzers, cocker spaniels and cockerdores if that helps.
Any advice welcomed.
TL;DR - we want a puppy, but it'll be on its own for 6 hours on some days. Should we get one?
Me and Mrs SS are considering a puppy. We have our own 3 bed semi-detached house with a medium sized garden.
I work 9-5 Monday-Friday, and Mrs SS works a variety of early (7am -3pm), Late (12midday - 8pm) and Night (8pm -8am) shifts, so the maximum any pup would be on its own would be around 6 hours during the week. This is my main concern; not sure whether it is fair to have any animal alone for this length of time with the only the run of two average rooms? Especially in the early years.
We are fully committed to training, looking after and being there for a dog for it's entire life, but have never had a pet before. We are happy with the exercise commitment - can certainly do up to one hour a day - and I realise there are certain things we won't be able to do any more (like just taking of for the odd weekend whenever it suits, unless it's dog-friendly).
So, first up - do all you pet owners out there think it's practical for us to have a pooch in our situation?
And, if so, any recommendation on breeds? I posted a thread a few months ago about Beagles, but we've since discounted that due to the sheer amount of training that seems to be needed and us being newbies. Our current favourites are miniature schnauzers, cocker spaniels and cockerdores if that helps.
Any advice welcomed.
TL;DR - we want a puppy, but it'll be on its own for 6 hours on some days. Should we get one?
It's simple, you just use a dog walker for the days when it will be left for more than, say, four hours. It costs me only £8 for them to take my dog out for a 45-minute walk and they're flexible on dates as long as you give reasonable notice.
The dogs are actually out for more than 45 minutes as the walker has to collect and deliver 4/5 pups so depending on location etc a dog may be out of the house for up to 1.5 hours.
Also have a think about getting a rescue dog, it may make your life a lot easier regarding training etc and is just a great thing to do.
The dogs are actually out for more than 45 minutes as the walker has to collect and deliver 4/5 pups so depending on location etc a dog may be out of the house for up to 1.5 hours.
Also have a think about getting a rescue dog, it may make your life a lot easier regarding training etc and is just a great thing to do.
Jasandjules said:
A dog from a pound which is alone 22 hours a day and has minimal play/exercise is better off being alone for six hours a day. An older dog even more so.
Do you have time to train and exercise and feed it (ideally a raw diet?).
Yes, more than happy to give time training, feeding and being there for it wherever we can. Do you have time to train and exercise and feed it (ideally a raw diet?).
Rouleur said:
It's simple, you just use a dog walker for the days when it will be left for more than, say, four hours.
Something I hadn't considered and cheaper than I thought. I'll look at the availability where we are.Not all dogs are the same. Some breeds are relatively passive and confident and so leaving them even when young should not be a problem. Others need to be active and need company or they become ainxious or bored and thats when they start eating the furniture ( literaly).
We had a King Charles cavalier who dropped into the first group but we now have a Pom /Jack Russel cross who is a very bright dog but will get anixious if left alone for too long. She was a rescue dog, and we know she had a tough early life which goes some way to explaining her ainxiety but the breed micx plays a part as well.
It might be an idea to talk to the local vet as they will be able to guide you on the right breed and also give you advice on how young and how long you should leave a dog.
Oh, and on walking the dog the Pomerussel needs three walks a day and would happlily live in the park. Her daughter, who is half King Charles, refuses to do more than two walks and will occasionally sit in the middle of the park watching us exercise her mother.
Hope that helps
We had a King Charles cavalier who dropped into the first group but we now have a Pom /Jack Russel cross who is a very bright dog but will get anixious if left alone for too long. She was a rescue dog, and we know she had a tough early life which goes some way to explaining her ainxiety but the breed micx plays a part as well.
It might be an idea to talk to the local vet as they will be able to guide you on the right breed and also give you advice on how young and how long you should leave a dog.
Oh, and on walking the dog the Pomerussel needs three walks a day and would happlily live in the park. Her daughter, who is half King Charles, refuses to do more than two walks and will occasionally sit in the middle of the park watching us exercise her mother.
Hope that helps
Edited by OldandGrumpy on Thursday 20th March 13:23
In your situation I would also avoid a puppy, unless you're prepared to take a lot of time off work in the early days to spend time addressing things like separation anxiety, house training (unless you want to come back to puppy crap all over the house), chewing of furniture/belongings etc.
Please consider an older rescue dog - you may still have some of the above issues but you may not (my first dog was perfect - no separation anxiety, picked up house training in a matter of hours, no chewing). My second rescue dog had all 3 issues but we managed to get him out of the habits fairly quickly. A puppy is like a baby - a lot of hard work!
Please consider an older rescue dog - you may still have some of the above issues but you may not (my first dog was perfect - no separation anxiety, picked up house training in a matter of hours, no chewing). My second rescue dog had all 3 issues but we managed to get him out of the habits fairly quickly. A puppy is like a baby - a lot of hard work!
Thanks all, really valid points.
I'm quite prepared to consider a rescue dog. Mrs SS needs some convincing - she's currently of the impression that having a pup will mean we can bring it up and influence its behaviour and personality from the start.
If we do end up with a puppy I'm under no illusion how hard the first few months / year or so might be. I've read plenty of forums and we have a couple of friends who've been through it too. If we end up with any kind of dog, we just ant to make sure we're ready for whatever commitment is required.
As things stand I think I'll going to work on the other half and try to visit some rescue homes over the next couple of months.
I'm quite prepared to consider a rescue dog. Mrs SS needs some convincing - she's currently of the impression that having a pup will mean we can bring it up and influence its behaviour and personality from the start.
If we do end up with a puppy I'm under no illusion how hard the first few months / year or so might be. I've read plenty of forums and we have a couple of friends who've been through it too. If we end up with any kind of dog, we just ant to make sure we're ready for whatever commitment is required.
As things stand I think I'll going to work on the other half and try to visit some rescue homes over the next couple of months.
ShortShift811 said:
I'm quite prepared to consider a rescue dog. Mrs SS needs some convincing - she's currently of the impression that having a pup will mean we can bring it up and influence its behaviour and personality from the start.
You can do that anyway, as a rule dogs are very trainable. Just get a rescue from a place where the people involved know what they're doing!First reply was a bit rapid (I was eating lunch)
Mrs Bakerstreet and I both work full time. There is nothing we can do about that.
I didn't want to go down the rescue route as you might know anything about the dog's history at all.
I went on the net and researched low energy breeds and came up with Greyhounds and British Bulldogs plus a few others which I can't remember. I think Basset Hounds were on the list.
I liked BBDs, but Mrs BakerStreet really doesn't and also they are expensive to buy. You can get rescues, but they are all usually very old.
I can't remember what we said about the basset hound...
Retired racing greyhounds are a known entity. IE, you know where they come from and what they have been bred to do. There is also huge amounts of choice out there for a specific breed.
Of course there are downsides to greyhounds:
They are big (The males can weigh in at 35Kg plus)
Bred with a high chase instinct (Some/Alot can never be let off the lead)
Delicate (they have very thin skin and like to be warm and indoors)
You need a 6ft fence
When we searched through various rescue sites, we found loads of Staffies, which I was fine with, but Mrs BakerStreet doesn't like staffies either.
We thought we had found 'our' dog but various things meant we missed out, so we are off to a kennel on Sunday to choose another one. We have a window of opportunity to take some time off work to help it settle in.
If you both work and you have the spare cash a dog walker is £10 an hour, so that's £50 a week on top of £15pm on insurance and food/vet bills.
People who own dogs and work seem to divide opinion as far as I can see....
One thing I do know, is that we will not have a puppy. That is a big no no.
Mrs Bakerstreet and I both work full time. There is nothing we can do about that.
I didn't want to go down the rescue route as you might know anything about the dog's history at all.
I went on the net and researched low energy breeds and came up with Greyhounds and British Bulldogs plus a few others which I can't remember. I think Basset Hounds were on the list.
I liked BBDs, but Mrs BakerStreet really doesn't and also they are expensive to buy. You can get rescues, but they are all usually very old.
I can't remember what we said about the basset hound...
Retired racing greyhounds are a known entity. IE, you know where they come from and what they have been bred to do. There is also huge amounts of choice out there for a specific breed.
Of course there are downsides to greyhounds:
They are big (The males can weigh in at 35Kg plus)
Bred with a high chase instinct (Some/Alot can never be let off the lead)
Delicate (they have very thin skin and like to be warm and indoors)
You need a 6ft fence
When we searched through various rescue sites, we found loads of Staffies, which I was fine with, but Mrs BakerStreet doesn't like staffies either.
We thought we had found 'our' dog but various things meant we missed out, so we are off to a kennel on Sunday to choose another one. We have a window of opportunity to take some time off work to help it settle in.
If you both work and you have the spare cash a dog walker is £10 an hour, so that's £50 a week on top of £15pm on insurance and food/vet bills.
People who own dogs and work seem to divide opinion as far as I can see....
One thing I do know, is that we will not have a puppy. That is a big no no.
Have only skimmed the OP, so apologies if I am duplicating stuff but here's my take:
I appreciate the 'lure of the puppy' is strong. You sound like you're committed to training (etc) time and dog food/kit cost - but DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE the commitment of a new puppy (or of any dog) - the time and effort to train etc.
It's good you've been honest about the amount of time you'll not be around in the week during the day.
I'd plead with you to NOT get a puppy. Plenty of folk get them and they're crated all day and it works out ok. But many end up a little 'bobbins' - and to be that's not fair and avoidable.
The Rescue route is certainly one I'd consider. ALL my 4 dogs were rescues. You'd be much better (imo) with an older, well assessed dog, who is used to time alone (and maybe trained in other ways too) etc. Such dogs do exist in rescues up and down the country. They just take time to find.
"Rescue" does not definitely = "nightmare".
In the same way that;
"Pedigree £X,000 pup" does not definitely = "perfect".
I have previously done volounteer work for a Greyhound and Lurcher rescue - (inevitably one of our dogs is a lurcher...) - if you want (generally) placid, easy to look after, low maintenance dogs...could be a goer. Might have to be careful if you have cats with some of them
(we've had up to 7 cats since having our Lurcher and she's been great with them).
Of my 4, 3 are oldies....and I am regretting 'those' days when they pass on. But my next dog will also be a rescue and very probably not a puppy.
SPEND TIME LOOKING. If definitely going pedigree pup....research breeders....but IMO a good one, wouldn't (given your time restrictions) give you one.
Good luck!
And DO NOT get a puppy HPR (hunt, point, retrieve) breed. I.e think Vizsa, Weimy, German Pointer etc.
I appreciate the 'lure of the puppy' is strong. You sound like you're committed to training (etc) time and dog food/kit cost - but DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE the commitment of a new puppy (or of any dog) - the time and effort to train etc.
It's good you've been honest about the amount of time you'll not be around in the week during the day.
I'd plead with you to NOT get a puppy. Plenty of folk get them and they're crated all day and it works out ok. But many end up a little 'bobbins' - and to be that's not fair and avoidable.
The Rescue route is certainly one I'd consider. ALL my 4 dogs were rescues. You'd be much better (imo) with an older, well assessed dog, who is used to time alone (and maybe trained in other ways too) etc. Such dogs do exist in rescues up and down the country. They just take time to find.
"Rescue" does not definitely = "nightmare".
In the same way that;
"Pedigree £X,000 pup" does not definitely = "perfect".
I have previously done volounteer work for a Greyhound and Lurcher rescue - (inevitably one of our dogs is a lurcher...) - if you want (generally) placid, easy to look after, low maintenance dogs...could be a goer. Might have to be careful if you have cats with some of them
(we've had up to 7 cats since having our Lurcher and she's been great with them).
Of my 4, 3 are oldies....and I am regretting 'those' days when they pass on. But my next dog will also be a rescue and very probably not a puppy.
SPEND TIME LOOKING. If definitely going pedigree pup....research breeders....but IMO a good one, wouldn't (given your time restrictions) give you one.
Good luck!
And DO NOT get a puppy HPR (hunt, point, retrieve) breed. I.e think Vizsa, Weimy, German Pointer etc.
Some even more in-depth replies there. Again, thanks.
I've spoken to our local vet this afternoon who intimated the same as many of you guys, i.e. a puppy wouldn't be impossible, but very difficult to begin with and possibly not fair in the long run.
So, we are off to our first rescue centre for a chat with them on Sunday. Just need to resist the temptation of caving in there and then!
Joking aside, we'll be asking lots of questions and making sure anyone we speak with is fully aware of our position. Neither of us wants to bring a pooch into our lives until we're 100% ready for it. It's taken a year of on / off consideration to get to this point, so we won't be rushing in.
I've spoken to our local vet this afternoon who intimated the same as many of you guys, i.e. a puppy wouldn't be impossible, but very difficult to begin with and possibly not fair in the long run.
So, we are off to our first rescue centre for a chat with them on Sunday. Just need to resist the temptation of caving in there and then!
Joking aside, we'll be asking lots of questions and making sure anyone we speak with is fully aware of our position. Neither of us wants to bring a pooch into our lives until we're 100% ready for it. It's taken a year of on / off consideration to get to this point, so we won't be rushing in.
Great stuff! My current dog is 12 this year and was my first 'whole life' dog from a pup. Before that I always had rescue dogs and they are very fulfilling to keep. Before we had kids, I used to take the 'troublesome' dogs for a week/weekend in the country. Even the most difficult of dogs given space and attention are happy dogs (and yes there were several I would no way have around my kids). We had a pup to grow with the family, but will return to rescue dogs in the future.
The fact you're even asking about hours left alone etc, makes you a more conscientious than many owners. As others have said, 6 hours looking forward to a smile, fuss and a walk is infinitely better than most of the day in a dogs home.
If you go to a place where they brings dogs to meet you (rather than window shop), try not to fall for the first one - although that's often difficult.
Good luck - and pics of course.
The fact you're even asking about hours left alone etc, makes you a more conscientious than many owners. As others have said, 6 hours looking forward to a smile, fuss and a walk is infinitely better than most of the day in a dogs home.
If you go to a place where they brings dogs to meet you (rather than window shop), try not to fall for the first one - although that's often difficult.
Good luck - and pics of course.
ShortShift811 said:
Some even more in-depth replies there. Again, thanks.
I've spoken to our local vet this afternoon who intimated the same as many of you guys, i.e. a puppy wouldn't be impossible, but very difficult to begin with and possibly not fair in the long run.
So, we are off to our first rescue centre for a chat with them on Sunday. Just need to resist the temptation of caving in there and then!
Joking aside, we'll be asking lots of questions and making sure anyone we speak with is fully aware of our position. Neither of us wants to bring a pooch into our lives until we're 100% ready for it. It's taken a year of on / off consideration to get to this point, so we won't be rushing in.
A word of warning. Be prepared to take some flack when you tell some rescue places that you work. When we visited one kennel, their attitude changed completely and not for the better. They told us to go to somewhere nearer. It was a bit odd as the place they told us to go was actually further away! I've spoken to our local vet this afternoon who intimated the same as many of you guys, i.e. a puppy wouldn't be impossible, but very difficult to begin with and possibly not fair in the long run.
So, we are off to our first rescue centre for a chat with them on Sunday. Just need to resist the temptation of caving in there and then!
Joking aside, we'll be asking lots of questions and making sure anyone we speak with is fully aware of our position. Neither of us wants to bring a pooch into our lives until we're 100% ready for it. It's taken a year of on / off consideration to get to this point, so we won't be rushing in.
Saying that, I know several families who have perfectly happy dogs that sleep all day whilst their owners go out to earn a crust and pay for their Pigs Ears!
If we are successful with our dog adoption, then we'll obviously post up our experience on here
I wish the OP the best of luck with their search
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