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Post by eirewhisper on Dec 7, 2010 19:52:46 GMT
To those who have dogs and work - how do you manage your dogs when you're at work? Does someone go check them during the day or do you leave them with someone? Reason I ask is I'd really love a dog but alway put off getting one as both OH & I work full time and we always felt it'd be unfair to leave a dog all day. Some folk who have dogs have said it'd be ok though, I'm really not sure
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Post by Elaine on Dec 7, 2010 22:15:38 GMT
Hey hun, dont know what id do if I couldnt get home at lunch times to see to them. They are walked for a good hour at least at around 5am till hubby goes to work they stay inside till I go to work when they go out in the run from 9 till 1 then in house all afternoon till I get home just after 5 then have another wee blast up the field for 20 mins or so (longer depending on when Im riding and when Andy gets home). You could look at a dog walker who could go in at lunch time and walk dog, however if its gonna be kept in house alone all day from a pup Id imagine it would be difficult to properly house train it, alternatively if you would keep it outside you have no idea if its going to howl the village down all day in which case you'd have complaints. Its obviously do-able as so many people do it but its not really ideal unless you can get a dog walker/sitter the likes of Safe Paws www.safepaws.co.uk/No idea what youre thinking of but if its not a pup then perhaps a more mature, already housetrained, or used to being in a kennel would help but if keeping outside I dont think Id like to have just one as having the 2 they keep each other occupied and cuddle up when its cold etc, difficult to rehome from a rescue if youre not home at some point during the day unless arrangements in place with walker These are just some things off the top of my head :-) Youve been thinking about it for agessss so I think if you can then you should :-) A doggy would have a fab life with you E x
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Post by alanatabz on Dec 8, 2010 7:17:03 GMT
need to think long and hard about what's best for the dog. Lots of people would love a dog, but in reality...they are not in a position to act in dog's best interests. In a lot of cases, kids nag parents to get a dog. They will promise to walk it etc etc, but after a while novelty wears off, or dog is aggressive to other dogs and it becomes a handful!
Dogs tie you down, and if left for long periods can become frustrated and start destroying things. The option then is a pen outside, but either way how would you cope with howling / barking dogs...more importantly how would your neighbors feel?
Dogs also cost lots of money (we have two Golden retrievers) and fortunately, the way our family work is there's normally somebody at home, and if not lucky to have in-laws who can "pet site" when we are not around / holidays. Considers when people visit, you are always on edge about a dog that jumps up, or if there are kids around as animals can be unpredicatable or even jelous.
So think hard, how you would cope with walking dog in all weathers, cleaning up mess on streets and garden, accidents in the house (yes dogs get upset tummys too) vet / keeping costs, what you do for holidays nights out. are you prepared to give up your life for next 15 years?
Sorry for sounding harsh, but need to see the reality side before making a commitment
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Post by eirewhisper on Dec 8, 2010 13:16:11 GMT
Thanks for the replies ;D This is the part that has made us think twice in the past: if left for long periods can become frustrated and start destroying things. The option then is a pen outside, but either way how would you cope with howling / barking dogs...more importantly how would your neighbors feel? Theres a house at the back of our's whose dog is left outside & howls/barks all day& night constantly, poor thing I know my cats couldnt care either way if someone was home but know dogs really pine tbh I think it's still a no for us unfortunately-the money/mess/commitment part doesnt bother us - i'll look into the walker/petsitter daytime arrangement and make a call on that basis (got the chance of a pedigree Shiba Inu male pup)
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Post by jmk on Dec 8, 2010 14:02:38 GMT
I am in the same predicament Eirewhisper I lost be beloved dog in February after 12 years and have been thinking recently how I would love another one. I am lucky that I would only have to leave it alone one day every 6 weeks the way my shifts work. (it would only be on its own a morning that day). However, doing night shift I sleep through the day so I'm not sure how fair it will be..... I did think about an older dog but having Dylan as a rescue dog I know how complicated they can be in the beginning. And they do tie you down. I couldn't/wouldn't put him in kennels so had to move my Gran in every time we went on holiday. Still undecided does anyone know of anything that might fit in to my lifestyle? Plenty exercise, beach right on my doorstep but would be happy to sleep quietly for a few hours 2 days a week. I have looked at sspca sites and there only seems to be staffies near me, which I don't really want.
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Post by smithfield on Dec 8, 2010 14:33:24 GMT
A Border Terrier or a BT cross!
Monty occasionally stays at home all day- if I do go home at lunchtime to take him out he seems more put out than being left!!
Mostly he comes to work and stays in his cage in the car- cars are parked against building of office so always close at hand- when he was a pup I toilet trained him by letting him out at tea breaks and lunch and that suited him fine- although within 2 weeks he was happy sleeping until lunchtime. As time went on he began to tell me that unless he was getting a long walk at lunch then he would also rather just sleep!!
He gets out at the stables, is brilliant around the horses- rides out with me- and loves it adn will go for miles but is equally happy by Monday to stay at home and rest!! He also pleads to be left at home if I have a long weekend- by the Tuesday he is rather tired as clearly I have disturbed his routine!!
He is a small dog, and very biddable- and work colleagues and my parents etc are always happy to have him for holidays so he has never been in kennels yet- he totally fits in with whatever I do though. He can be defensive when first meeting a new dog but soon wants to play and has a great memory for friends and once been pals he never seems to forget!
I contacted BT rescue but they advised I would be far better to get a pup and bring it up as they tend to be very easy (he is my first dog and I'd say he made it easy for me!) to bring up- whereas the rescues they get in tend to have quite big problems- as often if they are nice dogs they get homes through word of mouth- therefore much more time would need to be dedicated.
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Post by jmk on Dec 8, 2010 14:46:52 GMT
Thanks Smithfield, I am off to google them I have had a springer cross and heinz 57 in my time so had thought to go down the spaniel/retriever route again but will go see what your guy is like. He sounds adorable ;D
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Post by Elaine on Dec 8, 2010 17:53:20 GMT
My boss's BT bitch had pups a few weeks ago :-) Near Dunblane if youre interested, mummy is small and the happiest loveliest wee dog ever shes only 3yo and spent a day on our office and she just toddled around going up and sitting beside everyone alternatively to get pats lol!
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Post by eirewhisper on Dec 8, 2010 19:11:17 GMT
My boss's BT bitch had pups a few weeks ago :-) Near Dunblane if youre interested, mummy is small and the happiest loveliest wee dog ever shes only 3yo and spent a day on our office and she just toddled around going up and sitting beside everyone alternatively to get pats lol! Awww! So cute
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Post by jackief on Dec 12, 2010 22:42:58 GMT
I have 2 german shepherds and luckily OH works shifts or I can work from home but i feel really guilty if they have to be left for longer than usual. The older german shepherd seems to have a bladder the size of a football she can wait 12 hours before going out for a pee - especially if it is raining and she does not want to go out
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Post by celticcob on May 23, 2013 23:50:51 GMT
Don't have a dog if you have to leave it at home. Our late viszla could be left up to 8 hours a day but it didn't mean she was happy. She had horrendous separation anxiety and would worry herself silly. Better getting a cat or small pet if you are not at home all day
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Post by sparkler on May 30, 2013 6:08:24 GMT
We have 5 dogs - they all live outside happily in kennels if a dog is howling in a kennel - it has the wrong owner, a kennel should be a place of comfort and a safe haven for a dog - not a punishment but so many idiots get a dog then chuck it in a kennel with no regard to proper training then wonder why the poor dog has issues. :-( I have a friend with 3 dogs, she works full time and dogs live in the house but when she goes to work they go into their kennel - they have access to everything they need and are happy and comfortable, she has a friend who walks them 3 ftimes a week and CCTV so she watches them on her phone if they are in the run There are lots of good dog walkers who could come in and walk your dog and you may even have a doggy day care near you :-) There are lots of options for you to have a dog - too many people choose the wrong breed for their lifestyle but I know you would pick the right dog ;D agree with Elaine if you can you should and a dog would have a brilliant home with you. There are lots of people who are at home all day but dont take their dogs out regularly, it doesnt follow just because people are at home they fulfil their dogs needs! I have a BT x Fell terrier who looks like a Fell but has the BT temperament - as Smithfield said they are the most biddable even tempered little dogs - and highly adaptable to any situation, I put this down to them having huge brains for a small dog!
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Post by boo on May 30, 2013 12:06:37 GMT
im a dog walker and have a mix of some that are left in the house or in kennels or some are left loose in their garden all seem happy and I walk them during the day normally about lunchtime (davie is doing them all today as im off to get my back crunched lol) check with your local vet if you do go down the route of a dog walker as most of them will advertise in there
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Post by puddledub on May 30, 2013 13:35:41 GMT
I love it when old threads are brought back up eirewhisper, did you decide to get a dog, and if so what did you get and how are you getting on?
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Post by eirewhisper on May 31, 2013 10:03:34 GMT
We never did get the Shiba puppy - decided it wouldn't be fair on a dog due to the hours we were at work and my parents are too elderly to dog sit during the day Maybe when we retire.....!! x
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