Owning a dog and being out at work?

[Animagus]

Originally Posted by floridasgirl

Is your dd actually allowed out of school at lunch? I know none of the schools round here allow pupils off site during the day.

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Now you come to mention it, I’m not 100% sure that is allowed. Think I’ll send an email to clarify this.

[Animagus]

Originally Posted by princessgem

I need to add we didn’t have him from a puppy we rehomed him at about 10 months old so he was already toilet trained.

Also we have family close by so if we were ever stuck MIL or my mum would help!

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Our current thinking is to get a slightly older dog. As gorgeous as a puppy would be, we would be unlikely to manage the toilet needs. Both DH and I are teachers, so we will have the summer hols, but would still need a dog who is a bit older I think.

[mickey house]

Some good points made already. Even if your daughter is allowed out at lunch time I wouldn't rely on her quick dash home even in the pouring rain, and missing out on lunchtime with her school mates isn't good for her.

As mnetioned a puppy requires lots of attention just like a baby (that's what they essentially are), and they have been taken away from their mother and brothers and sisters to be left at home 3 days a week with just someone popping in, really isn't what I would recommend at all.

I would never leave a puppy alone for more than 3-4 hours at a time, and I would gradually work up to that time by leaving them for an hour or so and building up to 3 to 4 hours over time (perhaps a couple of months).

All puppies need the attention mentioned above, but some breeds struggle more being left alone than others, and that applies to adult dogs.

Factor in the cost of having someone visit the house twice a day 3 times a week, and at about £15 a visit, that's around £90 a week plus the other costs of keeping a puppy/dog.

It might be a better option to find someone local that will look after your dog for the 3 days you are at work.

Edit: I've just seen that you might consider an older dog, and I would add that has some advantages, but often dogs that need rehoming require a considerable amount of time and patience for them to settle into a new home, so it's not all plain sailing if they are older.

[EllieP]

I have to echo what others have said. We got 2 cocker spaniels last June after my daughters nagging for a long time. We sat down beforehand and explained how much of a responsibility it is owning a pet, they were to share the walking and looking after. Daughters are 13 and 14, and agreed that they would help. It was all good for the first couple of months, then the novelty factor wore off. We have to practically tell them they are coming on walks a couple of times a week. I definitely would not rely on them to look after them. I work 2.5 days a week and they are on their own for a max of 4 hrs. I had a dog growing up and wanted them to experience a pet but have learnt that we couldn’t rely on the girls to stick to their promises. It is hard work at the beginning and we did it towards the end of school summer term so we had the summer holidays with them when we were training them.

[Animagus]

Originally Posted by Lisa123wm

I wouldn’t rely on your daughter too much tbh. It took years for my kids and hubby to convince me to get a dog, but the kids don’t really look after him.
I’m home all day, if I worked we wouldn’t have even considered getting a dog. I knew it would end up with me doing almost everything, but I am happy with that. I have trained him (he’s always attended classes since he was a puppy) and I walk him etc (hubby too when he’s at home).
We have a 4 hour rule that we stick too. If we are all out, then he’s never left alone for more than 4 hours. Dogs are social animals and as well as needing the toilet and walks, they need company.

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I appreciate your honest comments. I would hate to leave a dog who might become distressed as that defeats the purpose of having one in the first place.
I am under no illusion that the bulk of the care would fall to me. It happened with the dog I had as a kid. We all pestered my mum until she gave in and it was mum who mostly looked after her.
We have a lot to think about.

[Animagus]

Thanks everybody. I knew I’d get honest advice and opinions on here.
We have a lot to think about and would only do this if it was right for the dog.
We have considered other animals in the past such as guinea pigs or gerbils but I’m really not keen on anything from the rodent family.
All animals need and deserve proper care and attention. It may well be that, ultimately, we just can’t make a pet work.
Thanks again for sharing your experiences

[Leia Organa]

We adopted a greyhound and they are a great breed as they like to sleep a lot of the day. We have a dog walker who comes to take him for a solo walk.

Some breeds are not good at being left in alone so it is really worth doing your research.

[sammykitten]

Originally Posted by soooexcited!

I think the biggest bit of advice my friend gave me when I got ours is don't rely on the kids to always help out. What happens when they want to go out all day can you get home? The longest I like to leave our dog is 4 hours but I know my DD leaves him longer If I don't ring and chase her up.
Both my children made lots of promises to walk Bill I can't remember the last time they did.

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this is exactly why we've never had a dog. My DD and OH have both in the past mentioned wanting to get one, but I know them, and I know it would be me who would be left to look after a dog, train it, make sure it got enough exercise etc. Nope, not happening, as I work.

[sammykitten]

Originally Posted by Animagus

Thanks everybody. I knew I’d get honest advice and opinions on here.
We have a lot to think about and would only do this if it was right for the dog.
We have considered other animals in the past such as guinea pigs or gerbils but I’m really not keen on anything from the rodent family.
All animals need and deserve proper care and attention. It may well be that, ultimately, we just can’t make a pet work.
Thanks again for sharing your experiences

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We have had a bunny, guinea pigs and hamsters (we have cats now). I would have guinea pigs again in a heartbeat, such sociable and vocal wee beasties (and much much easier for the whole family to take care of ).

[lovesdisney]

I work 3 long days a week and hubby 5 days a week. We have 2 dogs a beagle and a Labrador that are used to being left... we have done this since they were both pups... the youngest dog is only 2 ( Labrador) the beagle is 7. Both had to get used to being left alone as we worked, we didn’t have the Luxury of someone popping in at lunch time...
we crate trained and this also helped with training the dog to be clean as they don’t want to mess where they sleep. I feed my dogs when we get up... let them do their business outside then often be out to work, the dogs get used to your lifestyle... I’m happy to leave my dogs 7/8hrs one still in a crate the other not...
on my days off we go for long walks and on work days they get shorter walks in the evening... they can adapt to your life...
my daughter is y7 so now is only out the house from 8.30-3 so they aren’t left alone longer than this now...
I think they have adjusted to being lazy dogs as they spend a lot of time asleep... both seem happy and behave, don’t destroy or have any anxiety issues