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Dog ownership + working

31 posts & 24 voices | Started 10 months ago by cheers_drive | Latest reply from robd

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cheers_drive - Member

Mrs CD and I have been thinking about getting a dog for a while but I didn't think it would be fair to leave dog home alone for 8 hours a day whilst we're both at work. However my new job means that I work from home 2-3 days a week so now she really wants to get one now.
I'd love too but still concerned about leaving it when I'm out all day, even if Mrs CD could pop home during the day.

Does anyone have a similar situation they can comment on?

BTW We're looking at a greyhounds / whippets / lurchers.

Posted 10 months ago #
jam bo - Member

We don't leave ours for more than 3-4 hours. I still feel a bit guilty at that.

If we are both out all day he gets dropped off at the in-laws where they have a couple of other dogs and lots of land.

Posted 10 months ago #
mrben100 - Member

We've had a new pup for the last 5 months.

I worked all day - the OH works from home but is out on site for 3no. mornings a week, but back by lunch.

I suppose it depends on how old the dog is - if older might be ok, used to work with a couple who wnet home every lunch to let the dogs out for exercise and toilet etc. then came back to work for the afternoon and they seemed happy enough.

IMHO though I wouldn't have got the dog if were going to be leaving it for 8+ hours a day. Especially as the breeds you mention are likely to need a fair amount of exercise.

Posted 10 months ago #
user-removed - Member

Drop the dog off in a field of sheep - he can amuse himself all day....

But seriously, ours doesn't often get left for more than three or four hours - the odd day he's on his own all day, the neighbour comes round and opens the door into the garden for him. Perhaps that could work for you?

Posted 10 months ago #
LHS - Member

Being left alone for 8hrs a day for consequtive days is not fair on the dog.

Ours gets left along for about 8hours usually once a week. We have a dog walker for 2 days a week and work from home the other two.

A lot depends on how often you walk the dog, type of dog etc etc.

Posted 10 months ago #
jam bo - Member

I soon know if we've left ours too long. He starts chewing stuff...

Posted 10 months ago #
mrben100 - Member

Its also to give the dog some stimulus as well as the exercise - a bored dog can be a destructive dog.

EDIT: beaten to it by jam bo.

Posted 10 months ago #
Dolcered - Member

No experience of the breeds you mention but I probably wouldn't advise a pup with your working hours, bored pups can be destructive, its not fair on one so young to be alone so much....

we got a 4 year rescue, already house trained there are plenty more bonus' to getting a rescue.

we both work full time, but only 10mins away so we get back every lunchtime, the most shes left is 4 hours. We are lucky in that the next door neighbour takes her in most afternoons.

Posted 10 months ago #
richc - Member

I have a dog, and both myself and my partner work.

This is how we manage it, I work at home one day (min), partner works at home one day (min), my father has it one day, and we have a dog walker that takes the dog out for 2.5 to 3.5 hours twice a week, and picks him up at 1230 drops him off around 1500->1600, we get home at 1730-1800.

Rule we follow is; the dog is never left alone for more that 4.5 hours.

Dog also gets 45-60 minute walk/run in the morning, and a 60-90 minute walk in the evening min.

Works ok for us, and the dog seems to be happy, and the vet always mentions he is in fantastic condition, however; in hindsight we wouldn't have got one that needed quite so much exercise (chesapeak cross, which require serious amounts of exercise) but he was a rescue and once you see one you end up with it.

Lurcher seems like a good idea, as all the ones I see the owners comment that they don't need massive amounts of exercise, just a open space to get upto speed and something to chase.

Posted 10 months ago #
marsdenman - Member

We only finally got Ted the Terrier when I set up my business just 5 mins walk from home. (MrsMM had wanted a dog like, forever... but previously, we both worked and hour or so from home and certainly did not want to leave a dog alone for 8 hours)
He gets a good walk morning and evening and I pop home for lunch and a stroll so he's only ever home alone for a MAX of 4 hrs.
If work takes me out for the day, like tomorrow, we employ a friend who is a professional dog walker -
£8 for a good 45min walk.

Posted 10 months ago #
mastiles_fanylion - Member

Do like my business partner does and take your dog to work.

You know, just for 'a few weeks' whilst it is a young pup.

Then still have the yelping little rat in the way a year later.

Posted 10 months ago #
anagallis_arvensis - Member

our lurcher gets left in the back yard for 8 hours with no problems, doesnt happen too often but it could be for 5 days at a time. Se just sleeps according to the neighbours. Wouldnt work with a young pup though. Dogs fit into rountines pretty wel.

Posted 10 months ago #
BeardedDave - Member

Firstly, excellent choice of dog breeds, assuming you are going to adopt a rescue? My girlfriend and I have a rescue lurcher and my mum has a rescue greyhound. They make excellent pets and are very affectionate and good natured. Given the right amount of exercise they're happy to spend the rest of the day sleeping! But, certainly from the experience I've had they will not cope with being left for 8 hours. Ours struggle with more than 2-3 hours on their own, they are dogs that like company. If you can't get around having to leave them for that length of time, then don't get one.

Posted 10 months ago #
dazzlingboy - Member

Done it for 8 years. Dogs go with dog walker for 5-6 hours a day from about 9am till 3/4pm. On their own for a couple of hours max (when they're knackered anyway). Both love it. No hesitation.

Posted 10 months ago #
nickf - Member

We've got 2 rescue trailhounds (foxhound/harrier/lurcher cross) who need a lot of walking, though once they've had this they're happy to snooze for 5-6 hours.

I walk them for an hour at 5am, and the last person to leave the house goes at 8am, making sure the hounds have had a chance to use the garden. They're on their own until our day-walker arrives (around 1pm), when they have another 2 hours of walking. My daughter's home from 5pm and the dogs are then put into the garden. Another walk in the evening and everyone's exhausted.

As a result they're happy & healthy, but it takes work and is expensive; dogwalking costs me £15 per day. I'd not change a thing though.

If you can't get around having to leave them for that length of time, then don't get one.

Agreed - get two!

Posted 10 months ago #
Teetosugars - Member

Both our two are left all day on their own..

Me & the Mrs both work.

I take them for a walk about 05:00 every day for about an hour, and they get another hour+ walk every night..

And, as above I don't leave until 08:00, so they are still free to go into the garden as they wish..

All they seem to do all day is sleep...

Doesn't seem to have done them any harm..

Posted 10 months ago #
mrben100 - Member

For fear of being flamed - there is a difference between a dog 'coping' all day and having a 'happy/healthy' day.

For the people who are out all day - how do you know that they sleep all day?

(playing a bit of devils advocate )

Posted 10 months ago #
Foundry - Member

We have a whippet. You need to compare it with a cat really as they sleep that much. At weekend it may on a nice day get up at around 2:00pm for a bite to eat but if it not not look to good outside it will then go back to bed to about 6:00pm eat more and then sleep the rest of the night. The wife is a teacher so is home by 3:30pm but still the dog may not get up to greet her. We have a friend who also has loads of whippets and hers are as bad she calls in for ours when the wife is out but if it is raining she struggles to get it out the door. On the plus side they have a really good nature dont drop hair. dont get covered in mud, and dont need that much exersise. If you do live in a big cat area then this could be a problem as they can not help but chase them even if it is across a busy road.

Posted 10 months ago #
cheers_drive - Member

If you do live in a big cat area then this could be a problem as they can not help but chase them even if it is across a busy road.

Luckily the zoo is the other side of town so chasing lions, tigers and other big cats shouldn't be a issue

Thanks for the advice everyone.

Posted 10 months ago #
Woody - Member

My two (black labs) are never left alone for more than 5 hours and even that has only happened a handful of times. It was one of the reasons we got two, working on the principal that they would keep each other company and be less stressed if they had to be left.

It seems to work, as even when they were pups, there was virtually no damage to house/furniture. The key is to make sure they are well walked before you go out, as they will just sleep.

However, a dog on its own, especially a young dog, will get bored very quickly, so be prepared for your house to be eaten but I would think that as long as you missus can pop home and give it a good 1/2 hour run around, it should be fine. Also bear in mind that it's not just during the week where they need to be taken care of. Have you thought about what happens if you want to go away for the weekend or even out at night if it has been alone all day?

If you can't take the dog(s) with you, it definitely restricts your activities unless you have a willing relative or friend who is happy to look after the mutt.

Posted 10 months ago #
Mulletus Maximus - Member

My Border Terrier gets a walk before I go to work and is left for 5 hours until lunch. She then has a good run around the garden and a play with me and then left for a further 3 hours in the afternoon.

We have a neighbour who has offered to pop in if needed which is also good to know.

I would never leave Dottie on her own all day though.

Posted 10 months ago #
GlitterGary - Member

Greyhounds are great pets and generally would have no bother sleeping all day.

The lazy mutts will sleep all day if you'd let them - even racing greyhounds prefer to laze than to run or be walked.

Get a rescuer, it'll be wonderful.

Posted 10 months ago #
philconsequence - Member

leave them at home, just make sure you leave lots of childs faces around the place for them to practice hunting, chewing, destroying.

Posted 10 months ago #
anagallis_arvensis - Member

For the people who are out all day - how do you know that they sleep all day?

neighbours can see into the garden, when its sunny she drags bedding out of her kennel and sleeps in the sun.
FFS they are dogs, sad thing is most rescue places wont let you take a dog if its a working family so the poor dog is left to rot in a kennel.
I will reiterate ITS A DOG TREAT IT AS SUCH and you'll be fine.

Posted 10 months ago #
richc - Member

only real downside to a dog, is the dreaded 'poo finger' that and string

Posted 10 months ago #
trailofdestruction - Member

Do it, you'll be fine. Mine live out in their luxurious outdoor shed all day, but they have access to the garden, fresh water, and a cozy bed to lie in when the weather gets cold or wet. This one is an old girl now, and quite frankly, after having a walk in the morning, is quite happy to doze all day.

Lots of retired greyhounds need a good home, and they will give you unconditional love for ever more, if you can give them a warm bed and a bowl of food.

http://www.retiredgreyhounds.co.uk/

Posted 10 months ago #
Onzadog - Member

Maybe we just got lucky with our dog but he's on his own for at least 8 hours every day. He gets walked for an hour in the morning and the same again when we get home. We don't go out on school nights because he's been on his own all day. Pretty sure he sleeps all day because he's on exactly the same spot on the bed. We also engage with him in the evenings.

I think you need to look at the quality of the time the dog gets, not just the quantity. More than happy for anyone to come and see if he's a happy dog or not.

Posted 10 months ago #
richc - Member

One of the problems with leaving the dog at home all day, is they can bark from the moment you drive away to the moment you get back driving the neighbours nuts.

Posted 10 months ago #
Sandwich - Member

Huxley comes to work where he has a ready supply of clients and delivery men to meet. He comes home and sleeps like a log after the mental stimulation. He does have the odd day "home alone" but no more than once a month.

Posted 10 months ago #
b r - Member

One day ours could be on his own from first thing (0730) to late (1900), other times we're there all day - and variations in between.

Doesn't seem to bother him - Working Cocker Spaniel too.

They get use to it.

He has a big cage (with draft-proof kennel) in the garden, but if we are only out a few hours and its not raining we'll just leave him in the garden with the conservatory door open (and latched).

Posted 10 months ago #
robd - Member

I have a retired/abandoned greyhound and a whippet who I have had from a pup. They get left to roam the house freely for 9 hrs 4 days a week. Never have any pee, poop, or chewing! Take them out in the morning for 30 mins and an hour after work. The rest of the day they sleep and occasionally bark at the sheep wandering along the road outside the house. Being a bit sad I have set up a webcam before to actually see what they do all day and they literally do sleep! Whippets/Greyhounds love a comfy bed.

Get 2 and they keep each other company.

Posted 10 months ago #