[Closed] Getting a Dog - Advice please.

Have a look at a few in the local dogs home.

We got an ace Lab from the RSPCA, he was 4 so we avoided all that furniture chewing stage totally. It's also a bit easier to assess the dogs temperament too so less chance of getting a hyper one.

We were in a similar position to you ie working during the day.

None of the homes had suitable dogs that could be left at home when we looked and we spent almost a year searching for a rescue dog.

We opted for a puppy (lab/springer cross) and took a week off work when it arrived.

We were out of house for 8am Mon-Fri but got up at 4:30 just to spend some time with it each morning. Play with it, get it super tired. At the time I was working 20 mins from home so for the first 6 months I nipped back every day. So very very very much poo and wee. I can't stress how much poo and wee a pup can produce.

It's not know any different so I feel she's OK during the day on her tod.

We try and walk her an hour in the morning and same on an evening now (she's 4) on work days.

Lab/springer cross is an ace dog. She'll happily sit by the fire for 24 hours and not wont to budge or spend a day running the three peaks/riding. Don't know what we'd do without her. Dogs are ace.

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Morning walks one hour minimum, same in the evening, don't forget this is day in day out in all weathers for probably the best part of fifteen years.
Our miniature Schnauzer gets left for 7 hours one day a week, i hide lots of treats around the house before i go out even then i still feel guilty leaving her.
When the alarm goes off at 5.15 in the morning the first 5 minutes are tough, but once your out its a world lots of people never see or hear.

We got our Lurcher during easter hols so we had the first two weeks at home with her after that the Mrs wasnt working much. Cant really remember the details now but from about 6 months she was left in the enclosed back yard with her kennel all day fine. A walk before and a walk after. Leaving her for very short periods of time and building it up slowly but from almost day one is key. These days she gets left for 3 days a week from about 9-5ish. She has a bigger garden these days. Neighbors can see in the garden and report she sleeps in the sun if its sunny, even if really cold, or stays in her kennel if its raining. Wouldnt leave her alone invthe house unable to pee all day.
Puppies are hard work mind!!! Although ours never chewed furniture.

Dogs are better off not being left alone for more than a few hours. It would be better if someone was at home at least half the day. I don't think it cruel to leave them depending on the breed but most dogs do like company. Alternatively get two and they keep each other company!

My girlfriend and I have recently moved into a flat, albeit with a reasonable sized communial garden. Up until the last 5 years or so, I have pretty much always had a family dog, and recently I've begun to miss this.

My question is, with us both working full time and living in a flat, is having a dog possible? Are there any breeds more comfortable with being left alone? Would be interesting to hear of anyone who's gone through a similar scenario.

Home alone all day wouldn't be great IMO. Perhaps others will tell a different story but don't think our dog would be particularly happy.

Depends on the dog breed and temperament and how you manage them. We used to have 2 older dogs but could make provision for them to access a secure garden and the house even when out. Walked day and night in every weather and miss them both terribly, the last one died best part of for years ago.

Retired grey hounds hopefully joining us in the autumn once our annual holidays are done. One of us is now part time so will make things better.

I think getting a dog to then leave it alone for more than 4 hours every week day is selfish as dogs are pack animals and really don't want to be alone ever. Wait till you are in the position to give it the time and attention it deserves.

Get the biggest one you can afford.

It's much more common over here in Oz to have a dog at home while your out and let them roam the garden. 2 big differences - weather and size of gardens.
If you have a dog that is anxious and starts barking they you will have problems with your neighbours. Some friends of mine have a dog walker for when they are working and it seems a lot more common these days.

Have a look at some of the downsides of some of the breeds, hips, cruciate injury prone etc. some of this is due to breeding for a look rather than a good dog.

Look at insurance especially if your going to be out and active with the dog, ortho stuff can be expensive.

[i]Home alone all day wouldn't be great IMO. Perhaps others will tell a different story but don't think our dog would be particularly happy. [/i]

When I worked from home our dog would sleep under my desk all day long, even with the back door open.

If you get a puppy they'll also know no different, so will get use to anything.

Now ours are lucky; get 4-5 walks per day between us and my folks who live 50m away - plus living in the country means they get to chase stuff 🙂

Looking at a rescue dog from and animal shelter. He`s a 7 month old Beagle. He would have access while I'm out to come in and out of the house to the garden and utility room.
Kids are at school close to home and could pop in at lunch and Ive got some friends that dont work who have dogs that may take hime for walks during the day.

Wife and I both work full time but we're both pretty flexible on hours, so she starts later to give the pup (Almost 2 year old springer) a good run out in the morning and I'm usually home soon after 5.. We do have a dog walker though for days one of us isn't working from home so pup will be out of the house for a couple of hours around lunch.

Wouldn't be without the dog walker to be honest. Best tenner a day ever. Really good for socialisation too as she's walked (off lead) in a group of 4.

Dogs are awesome. Pup has improved our lives in so many ways.

Jeff

personally i wouldn't take a dog on if i knew i was going to leave it during the day.
if you're dealing with the rspca i'd be exceedingly surprised if they'd let you take one if you tell them you work full time, based on anecdotal evidence. i've heard of them turning down otherwise excellent candidates who only work PT.
a beagle? no. just no.

Kids are at school close to home and could pop in at lunch and Ive got some friends that dont work who have dogs that may take hime for walks during the day.

I faced a similar dilemma, and I asked (not on this forum) for advice, I guess I was really asking for reassurance and hoped everyone would say "its fine- go work 8hrs a day and the dog will be fine" but in reality I got a pretty mixed response. We got a Spaniel who we adore, but we really got crafty in how we structure our working to allow for the dog. My Mrs works from home one day a week anyway, so this is his routine 4 days a week:-
He gets a good walk every morning whatever the weather, Dog is at home from 8:30-12:30 (he sleeps mostly in this time, whether we are home or not) I now come home for lunch, and he gets another walk and run off the lead. I now sit down and eat less at lunch so win win 🙂 I work locally and now he comes to work with me in the afternoons, easier now hes growing up a bit and not quite the same maniac as he was a few months back. He gets loads of attention and a good selection of his toys are at work with me. The compromises that my wife has made in her work, means that she has to work on for an hour or so at home when she gets back, but then I use this time straight from work, to give him a good high energy walk in the mountains locally or on the beach (North Wales) every day. I know this take your dog to work thing is a priveledge not many people are lucky to exploit, but I feel the compromises we make work for him.
Equally I think the time he has to spend on his own is a good thing, in a real world environment where he has to be alone sometimes, a dog that has no experience of being left at all ever, can be very hard work, so its a balance. I really hope you can find a way to make it work for you and the dog, thats fair and happy for you both, because having him around is great, and it feels good to have a happy dog and hopefully giving him a good life. (usually driving us nuts)

Beagles are super high energy, I'd look for something with less exercise demands. You can still have a fun dog. Less intensive dogs is not always a comprimise and it doesnt mean you dont get a funn outdoors dog My Mum has two Tibeten terriers (well strictly one pure breed tibeten, and one poodle cross) that are amazing fun, Brilliant outdoors dogs the pair of them when they get out, but they dont get bored, frustrated, unhappy and destructive if the dont burn off huge energy reserves everyday. They are just more chilled in general, but equally fun, in fact the poodle crossed one can out run and swerve any dog I have ever seen him try it with 🙂

T'husband and I both work full time - we didn't get a dog until we lived close enough to work to be able to go home at lunch. Now I can work from home a few days a week, so our loveable hound gets to see even more of me. We don't like leaving him alone more than 4 hours or so - when we go biking over Cannock Chase, we drop him off at a doggy daycare place (www.oldfarmdogboarding.co.uk). When we go to Llandegla or Glentress, we take it in turns walking and riding, and if we want to ride together, we hire a dog walker for the day.

OBLIGATORY DOG PHOTO!

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He was a rescue dog from the Dogs Trust, found as an emaciated and matted stray in Ireland. He's so sweet and friendly though, not an ounce of aggression in him (to the point where I actually wonder if he has some sort of mental disorder) and very gentle around babies. Small children love him.

In short, dogs are ace, but only take one on if you've got the time and resources for one.

Beagles need loads of exercise no?

I love this quote (how high is your fence?):

“the man with the lead in his hand and no dog in sight owns a Beagle”

Hes a beauty Mrs Toast. But a pink collar on a boy, you'll give the lad a complex 😉
Just kidding he looks a star

I have two dogs - both pretty high energy Collie x Kelpie trail dogs.

The RSPCA happily let me take one, although I am at work all day. I just showed them my set up at home and they were happy. The dogs are both left in a large run / garden during the day - whatever the weather. They have kennels available at all times for shelter and shade. I do put coats on them if the temperature is below freezing - more for my ease of mind than their welfare. They are in the house in an evening/ night, but my house is old and poorly insulated (LPG and woodstove) so they don't get a huge temp change 🙄

As above 2 x 1hr walks every day plus a late evening 20mins. Means an early start, but totally worth it, and once you are out of the house even the early walks are a pleasure (most of the time!). I do make sure that they get 4+ hours out walking / running at the weekends.

Also as above - more wee and poo than you can imagine to start with (I took an 8 month old pup who wasn't house trained - so I guess I should have expected it). I would also recommend a rescue dog (don't discount it just because you work - they do understand) and go for an older pup is possible (6 months - 1 year has always worked for me), it means they are young enough to 'mould' into your way of life and old enough to be left fairly quickly.

Do it 🙂

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