Getting a puppy and working offshore?

[scottS3]

Hi folks.

I have always wanted a dog but for various reasons in the past I've never been able to have one. I am now a home owner and can afford to feed/pay vets bills etc now so that side of things isnt a concern. However, I work on a 3 weeks on/off rotation so when im away I would have to get relatives to look after the dog or send it to kennels. When Im at home I will have plenty of time to exercise and attend to a dog so no worries there. Can you guys that are experienced with dogs tell me if this is a fair way of keeping a dog or would it have a bad effect on the dog?

I would like a Ridgeback if that makes any difference.

[bexVN]

Good family care would be fine, as long as they would be happy to take on a Ridgeback (lovely breed but need good handlers) Find a good pet hotel that you could use on occasions when family can't help but you don't want to need to use them too often.

[Jasandjules]

Sorry but I don't think (unless the family live in your house) that you can have a dog. It is too much disruption.

[bexVN]

Jasandjules said:

Sorry but I don't think (unless the family live in your house) that you can have a dog. It is too much disruption.

I see it work regularly but and it is a BIG but you do need to make sure the family are completely on board and will also provide consistent training. A dog can adjust well to this set up but it needs to be done well, if that isn't likely don't do it.

[Jasandjules]

bexVN said:

I see it work regularly but and it is a BIG but you do need to make sure the family are completely on board and will also provide consistent training. A dog can adjust well to this set up but it needs to be done well, if that isn't likely don't do it.

I may have misunderstood. I took the OP to be that he lives alone and the family would be like a parent or something i.e. the dog would be shipped to someone else's place for three weeks (or a kennel) then back to him for when he is home.

[scottS3]

Thanks for the replies folks. Jasandjules is right, I live alone and the dog would need to go to someone else's house or kennels whilst I was offshore. I had a feeling that the answer would be not to do it due the effects on the dog and what not, but thought I'd ask before I went any further.

[bexVN]

Yes that's true and I don't think needing a kennels would be good. I'm assuming parents are very local, if not then that is definitely a problem (though again I've known a distance set up to work well, if a bit unusual!)

[KFC]

scottS3 said:

Hi folks.

I have always wanted a dog but for various reasons in the past I've never been able to have one. I am now a home owner and can afford to feed/pay vets bills etc now so that side of things isnt a concern. However, I work on a 3 weeks on/off rotation so when im away I would have to get relatives to look after the dog or send it to kennels. When Im at home I will have plenty of time to exercise and attend to a dog so no worries there. Can you guys that are experienced with dogs tell me if this is a fair way of keeping a dog or would it have a bad effect on the dog?

I would like a Ridgeback if that makes any difference.

Spending half of its life stuck in kennels is unfair and not a good way to treat a dog. Its a world of difference to it living in a relatives home while you're away... so really you should first make sure 100% of what they are willing/able to do. I could see someone else agreeing but then getting sick of it after a few rotations...

Also if you do go with this, its unfair to get a puppy. Both on the puppy itself, and the relatives forced to deal with all the hassle it brings. Get yourself an older dog from a rescue centre. You can't realistically ask someone else to watch a dog for you for weeks at a time when its not even toilet trained yet. With a puppy you're potentially leaving loads of issues open... can't sleep through the night, chewing stuff, etc etc. A well chosen rescue dog would be a million times better fit for any weird living conditions like you're going to have.

You might have a nightmare of a time getting a rescue place to actually give you a dog though.... so if you're 100% certain it will work for you you might want to skip the part about working 3 weeks on/off

[scottS3]

Thanks again for the replies. I would say I just have to accept that owning a dog under these circumstances isn't going to work.

[bexVN]

You did the right thing to seek advice, never nice to hear the want you don't want to though! In time there will be a chance for you to have a dog in your life, I'm sure.

[scottS3]

Cheers, yes I'd rather not have a dog if I can't look after and treat it properly.

[KFC]

scottS3 said:

Cheers, yes I'd rather not have a dog if I can't look after and treat it properly.

If everyone was as sensible as you, I'd be out of a job

You could perhaps consider short term fosters ? Many animal homes need people to take a dog for a week here and there.

[ali_kat]

KFC said:

If everyone was as sensible as you, I'd be out of a job

You could perhaps consider short term fosters ? Many animal homes need people to take a dog for a week here and there.

That is a great idea!

[scottS3]

KFC said:

If everyone was as sensible as you, I'd be out of a job

You could perhaps consider short term fosters ? Many animal homes need people to take a dog for a week here and there.

Now that could be a plan! I will have a google and see if theres anything like that in my area.

[Ilikebeaver]

As long as you have family who are dog lovers and happy to share a dog then go for it.

The only downside I can see is that when you come home the family won't want to give the dog back for 3 weeks.

I have a vizsla, but when I am at work he spends the day with my parents and their dog.
I will eventually be bringing him to work with me but it's worked well for the past year and now mum has told me that she doesnt want me to take him to work as she would miss him too much and she already misses him at the weekend

[bexVN]

Is your Mum local to you? It sounds like the OP family is not so local

[Farlig]

scottS3 said:

Cheers, yes I'd rather not have a dog if I can't look after and treat it properly.

Scott - you need to get yourself a dog loving bidey-in that can look after muttley when you´re offshore...
Or if you´re too young to think about that sort of settling down then I would say it´s really best best to wait for the dog´s sake... I worked offshore for many years (still do but more project based so only a few weeks here & there) and it took me moving into the office before wifey would even consider letting me have a dog... She was not really a dog person, though now that´s changed & we have 2 !!