Leaving dogs home alone...
Discussion
Okay,
So I've recently moved into my own place after living with my parents for the last 20 years (I am only 20 so this is my first place).
I've got quite a nice new apartment, but must admit, as much as it's nice to be away from my family, and as I don't have a girlfriend currently, I'm thinking about getting a dog. Well I say thinking; I'm pretty set on the idea, just need to answer this one question really as I don't want an upset dog.
Our families had golden retrievers all my life. We've had 2 at a time. In the day, they've been left in the kitchen, and my mum only worked part time and was back by 2-3pm.
I won't get anything as big, probably going to be a Japanese Spitz
I will be working full time, and won't be back until around 6ish. This is a long time to leave a dog, but other people must do it. I would be able to pop home at lunch to feed, let out, play with for 30 minutes or so.
So do people do this? Looking online, it's a mixed opinion. They most say your super cruel for leaving it alone. It will get a walk before work, and a long walk around the park each evening, plus my undivided attention. It's just this day problem bothering me.
And, would it best to get it a companion, i.e. a second dog so it doesn't get bored all day?
So I've recently moved into my own place after living with my parents for the last 20 years (I am only 20 so this is my first place).
I've got quite a nice new apartment, but must admit, as much as it's nice to be away from my family, and as I don't have a girlfriend currently, I'm thinking about getting a dog. Well I say thinking; I'm pretty set on the idea, just need to answer this one question really as I don't want an upset dog.
Our families had golden retrievers all my life. We've had 2 at a time. In the day, they've been left in the kitchen, and my mum only worked part time and was back by 2-3pm.
I won't get anything as big, probably going to be a Japanese Spitz
I will be working full time, and won't be back until around 6ish. This is a long time to leave a dog, but other people must do it. I would be able to pop home at lunch to feed, let out, play with for 30 minutes or so.
So do people do this? Looking online, it's a mixed opinion. They most say your super cruel for leaving it alone. It will get a walk before work, and a long walk around the park each evening, plus my undivided attention. It's just this day problem bothering me.
And, would it best to get it a companion, i.e. a second dog so it doesn't get bored all day?
davepoth said:
It'll depend on the dog. Some are super needy, others will likely be too busy licking their own testes to care. 
You might have trouble getting rescue dogs if there's nobody at home during the day though.
This! You might have trouble getting rescue dogs if there's nobody at home during the day though.I work from home. So the dog has company all day if he wants. Belongs he gets to run with his doggie mates in the morning. He will leave me to work. If I need to find him (I'm bored and want to play ball
) he will be either asleep on his bed or outside asleep.He like most dogs adores human attention but having spent months being locked up for 23 hours a day. He's used to a bit of alone time.
Also not especially keen to be awoken before 7. I thought I'd lose my lazy weekend mornings. Nah he likes them too!
He's not a lazy dog either just saves all his energy for walkies and when the missus gets in.
We started out with eddie the Beagle and the plan was to leave him at home and for me to go home at lunchtime and take him out. When we got him however he had kennel cough and came to work with me (sat in bed under desk). Due to this he had seperation anxiety and we never left him at home, he even preferred to sit in the car for an hour whilst we went shopping than stay at home!
We then got Levi last October and after leaving him home (except for lunchtime, and Eddie still coming to work) we got him used to the idea and eventually started leaving Eddie in the afternoon and eventually all-day (except lunch). Eddie now won't come with me in the morning!
I get about 1/2 hour at lunctime to take them out for a play/run in the local park and they have two days a week at a home-boarder. They seems perfectly fine and Eddie spends the day sleeping on his favourite chair.
We're a slightly different case as I leave about 8.15 the the OH gets home about 3.45, so with the 1/2 hour at lunch they're only left for four hours max.
We then got Levi last October and after leaving him home (except for lunchtime, and Eddie still coming to work) we got him used to the idea and eventually started leaving Eddie in the afternoon and eventually all-day (except lunch). Eddie now won't come with me in the morning!
I get about 1/2 hour at lunctime to take them out for a play/run in the local park and they have two days a week at a home-boarder. They seems perfectly fine and Eddie spends the day sleeping on his favourite chair.
We're a slightly different case as I leave about 8.15 the the OH gets home about 3.45, so with the 1/2 hour at lunch they're only left for four hours max.
Every situation and every dog will be different. I've got a Labrador, he lived outside in the garden every day from being a pup. My neighbours didn't even realise he was in the garden as he just slept in the shed all day. He's 8 now and gets left in the house, sometimes he doesn't even get out of his basket when I get in from work, unless I walk towards the cupboard with his food in that is!
Must admit I wouldn't want to leave a dog all day by itself, I would imagine it would go stir crazy.
I take Daisy for a quick 15-20 minute blast up the park at around 7:30 am and then go off to work, the wife is then gone by 8:30; as is the youngest and then the wife is back in around 12:30 until around either 14:30 or she is done for the rest of the day depending on the day of the week it is and the youngest is in by 15:30, I'm back at 18:30 ish.
Me personally; I wouldn't have a dog if it was just me as she would be by herself for 10 hours; unless I employed the services of a dog walker.
The longest that Daisy is left by herself is a Friday, this is 8:30 till around 15:30 and she is hyper when my daughter gets in from school; this is a French Bulldog, a breed which are supposedly lazy and don't need a great deal of walking, however I think she's a bit ADHD anyway!!
I take Daisy for a quick 15-20 minute blast up the park at around 7:30 am and then go off to work, the wife is then gone by 8:30; as is the youngest and then the wife is back in around 12:30 until around either 14:30 or she is done for the rest of the day depending on the day of the week it is and the youngest is in by 15:30, I'm back at 18:30 ish.
Me personally; I wouldn't have a dog if it was just me as she would be by herself for 10 hours; unless I employed the services of a dog walker.
The longest that Daisy is left by herself is a Friday, this is 8:30 till around 15:30 and she is hyper when my daughter gets in from school; this is a French Bulldog, a breed which are supposedly lazy and don't need a great deal of walking, however I think she's a bit ADHD anyway!!
Edited by HTP99 on Monday 12th May 16:52
Myself and my GF got a border terrier just before Christmas last year knowing that there would be some days where he has to get left alone for around 8 hours. Luckily my parents don't live too far away and they come let him out and take him round to play with their dogs a few afternoons a week and he's more than happy. Also have friends close by so sometimes they pick him up as well.
To be honest I agree with others that it very much depends on the dog you get and what sort of mentality they are, some are happy just to kick about all day or just sleep. Our boy will shortly be upgrading to a kennel and run for summer so see how that goes!
If you can get home at lunchtimes and also manage to fit in a couple of good walks each day I don't see a problem but bear in mind if you get a puppy it will need a lot of time and patience initially which you need to account for. I would recommend getting a rescue or mature dog if you can't make time for a puppy.
To be honest I agree with others that it very much depends on the dog you get and what sort of mentality they are, some are happy just to kick about all day or just sleep. Our boy will shortly be upgrading to a kennel and run for summer so see how that goes!
If you can get home at lunchtimes and also manage to fit in a couple of good walks each day I don't see a problem but bear in mind if you get a puppy it will need a lot of time and patience initially which you need to account for. I would recommend getting a rescue or mature dog if you can't make time for a puppy.
We have a lurcher x spainel and he is fine being left. I walk him every morning for 4 miles and then again in the evening. I leave 6.30 then my OH leaves 8. my inlaws then let him out about 12 and the OH is back at 3 so then goes in to garden which he goes to sleep under his tree. until I walk him about 7. in between he is used as a walking aid for my 2 year old and the occasional seat!
We take Lucy to a Dog day care place if she is going to be left for more than 4 hours. She absolutely loves it, and it is somewhat difficult to get her to leave! If you are around Cambridge then I cannot recommend this place enough: http://www.normansdogdaycare.co.uk/
As others have said, it depends on the breed of dog. We are doing exactly what the OP says and we are doing fine.
We have had Herbie (Retired racing Greyhound) for 6 weeks now and he had his first visit to the vet this week and they proclaimed he was fine and healthy. We find that the morning walk is fairly crucial. Without fail, he gets 40 minutes in the morning and about an hour in the evening when Mrs Bakerstreet gets home.
I have set up a GopPro when I have been out and he mooches about for a bit, then leaps onto the sofa and sleeps and thats it.
We give him a kong when we go to work and that keeps him occupied for a couple of hours too.
You will find that dog owners that work is a controversial subject amoungst the breeders and the rescue centers. Be prepared to take some flack or even be ignored completely if you say you work full time and can't come home at lunch time ect. ect.
I researched low energy breeds and British Bulldogs, Basset hounds and Greyhounds always come up as good dogs for people who work.
We know for a fact that Herbie would have been in the kennel for months if we hadn't taken him (Unpopular size and colour), so I think hes in a much better place at our house than being couped up in a kennel. Seeing dogs in kennels can be quite distressing. Some are worse than others. However, some of the people who run the kennels would rather see them there than re-homed to people who work.
As for doggy daycare and dog walkers. If you use a walker five days a week, then its basically £180+ a month. Dog daycare is even more. If you can afford that, then do it.
I know that 6 weeks isn't very long, but I'm just being honest about how we have got on.
We have had Herbie (Retired racing Greyhound) for 6 weeks now and he had his first visit to the vet this week and they proclaimed he was fine and healthy. We find that the morning walk is fairly crucial. Without fail, he gets 40 minutes in the morning and about an hour in the evening when Mrs Bakerstreet gets home.
I have set up a GopPro when I have been out and he mooches about for a bit, then leaps onto the sofa and sleeps and thats it.
We give him a kong when we go to work and that keeps him occupied for a couple of hours too.
You will find that dog owners that work is a controversial subject amoungst the breeders and the rescue centers. Be prepared to take some flack or even be ignored completely if you say you work full time and can't come home at lunch time ect. ect.
I researched low energy breeds and British Bulldogs, Basset hounds and Greyhounds always come up as good dogs for people who work.
We know for a fact that Herbie would have been in the kennel for months if we hadn't taken him (Unpopular size and colour), so I think hes in a much better place at our house than being couped up in a kennel. Seeing dogs in kennels can be quite distressing. Some are worse than others. However, some of the people who run the kennels would rather see them there than re-homed to people who work.
As for doggy daycare and dog walkers. If you use a walker five days a week, then its basically £180+ a month. Dog daycare is even more. If you can afford that, then do it.
I know that 6 weeks isn't very long, but I'm just being honest about how we have got on.
My family had greyhounds throughout my childhood and they were all left alone all day, in a kennel (with a sizeable run). They got a long walk in the morning and evening and were healthy, happy dogs. They would come into the house in the evenings and lounge about, none of them were ever hyper.
We have a retired greyhound, sleeps 23 hours a day if you let him, just needs a moderate (by dog standards) walk morning and evening.
I wouldn't get a dog knowings it's going to be left some all day, but some breeds are for more suited to 'chilling all day until something happens worth waking up for' (usually food!)...
It is a long commitment though, and you need to think about your circumstances in 4 5, 6,8 10 years time as someone else posted...
No staying out for a beers after work on whim, need yo be home without fail every day to feed, walk etc... for 8-12 or more years...
I wouldn't get a dog knowings it's going to be left some all day, but some breeds are for more suited to 'chilling all day until something happens worth waking up for' (usually food!)...
It is a long commitment though, and you need to think about your circumstances in 4 5, 6,8 10 years time as someone else posted...
No staying out for a beers after work on whim, need yo be home without fail every day to feed, walk etc... for 8-12 or more years...
HiAsAKite said:
It is a long commitment though, and you need to think about your circumstances in 4 5, 6,8 10 years time as someone else posted...
No staying out for a beers after work on whim, need yo be home without fail every day to feed, walk etc... for 8-12 or more years...
Very valid points. You do end up planning your social calender around the dog. If we do go out in the evenings, we are generally home by 11, so we can settle the hound and put him to bed. Also, both of us won't go out and stay out late like we used to. No staying out for a beers after work on whim, need yo be home without fail every day to feed, walk etc... for 8-12 or more years...
We are both in our 30s now, and we are finding that some of our friends are having children or have all ready had children, so it actually works out ok.
Even weekends during the day are very different. My wife works the odd weekend and I can no longer spend my days in the garage tinkering as its unfair to leave the hound on his own all day, so I tend to find DIY tasks round the house to complete, so he has some company and get involved. When I say get involved, I mean get in the way ad knock things over.
We are soon getting gates fitted to our driveway, so he will have the run of the garden and driveway, which will mean he can come and keep me company in the garage and help me when I'm stuck. How much use a greyhound will be removing a seized drum brake on a series land rover remains to be seen
Don't do it. You already know it's wrong. You're only considering this to satisfy your needs, not the dog/s.
I tell from the tone of your original post, the questions you've put forward, that you even feel guilty for considering it.
And that's a good thing, that you already know - as for getting a rescue dog, you could well be preventing a dog from having a fulfilled life with someone/a family who'd welcome it into their lives.
I tell from the tone of your original post, the questions you've put forward, that you even feel guilty for considering it.
And that's a good thing, that you already know - as for getting a rescue dog, you could well be preventing a dog from having a fulfilled life with someone/a family who'd welcome it into their lives.
ReaderScars said:
Don't do it. You already know it's wrong. You're only considering this to satisfy your needs, not the dog/s.
I tell from the tone of your original post, the questions you've put forward, that you even feel guilty for considering it.
And that's a good thing, that you already know - as for getting a rescue dog, you could well be preventing a dog from having a fulfilled life with someone/a family who'd welcome it into their lives.
Or you could be leaving an unloved animal for an indefinite unhappy stay in a rescue………..I tell from the tone of your original post, the questions you've put forward, that you even feel guilty for considering it.
And that's a good thing, that you already know - as for getting a rescue dog, you could well be preventing a dog from having a fulfilled life with someone/a family who'd welcome it into their lives.
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