Aled Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 OK, we hope to get a dog pretty soon, but my wife and i do have some concerns regarding housing. Both of us work, and the dog will be home alone (probably in a kennal) between 8.30am and 4-4.30pm 5 days a week. What do those of you with dogs do during work hours? Would having a second dog be helpful? Is it realistic to have a dog, and would it make more sense not to have a dog at the moment! Do they settle in OK? Any advice sought. Cheers Aled Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SXPhil Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 Too long I M H O Whilst our springer will be settled for a long night out i.e. 7pm to Late this is not regular Leaving any dog for that many hours is unfair Wait a while until you have free time Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Fudd Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 mine live in a pen in the garden during the day, approx 20ft by 16ft. i would advise getting a second dog for company, one of mine died a few months back and the bitch is lonely on her own, ill be getting a pup soon but waiting on the garden being done so want to wait til thats all sorted. should settle in ok, cant see any reason it wouldnt. why are you getting one anyway? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mayfly36 Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 I HAVE to agree, leaving a dog, especially a new member to your family, this amount off time by him or herself is too long. Either another dog for comfort or you need more time on your hands, UNLESS you have someone who wouldn't mind watching over it during the day. The other problem with a dog on its own. THEFT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 Some of this depends on the kind of dog and age etc. I've had pups that I've been able to drop at my mums during the day till they were a year old or so and after that weaned them onto staying at home, 2 Jack Russels loved it no problem had a cat flap and a secure garden and they weren't an issue during the day. Now got a GWP who is on her own most of the day gets a 2 mile walk in the morning and another after work and she is keen to see me but not destructive which is a sign they're bored. So yes you can do it but you have to be careful in the first year or so to make sure they don't get bored and wreck the place. Dogs do adjust to habit and if they're used to sleeping most of the day they will just carry on doing so, my terriers used to get to weekends and want to just sleep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aled Posted October 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 Cheers guys, looks like you've talked me out of it. We had no plans of getting one immeadiately, we're looking at between 2-3years before we seriously consider it. However the question entered my head as i was on the forum and i thought i'd take advice from people with experience. We had a black lab at home during my childhood, but the nature of my parents work meant he was very rarely totaly alone for more than a few hours at a stretch. Thanks for the advice. Cheers Aled Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 I would say it depends on the dog Our JRT is either 100% full on, or 100% comatose, there doesn't seem to be anything in between, and he about 6 He is happy to be left at home sleeping all day long, I know this as when I work from home, he takes himself off and won't come downstairs again until the front door opens. I should add he gets about 20-25minutes walk in the morning and anything from 30 to 90mins in the evening. So, although it isn't ideal, it isn't out of the question leaving some dogs at home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 Up until I started to work from home my springer was left in a run outside from about 8 - 5PM, he was fine with it. Every morning I used to open the back door and he would trot around to his run and curl up on his blankets. Now I am working from home he is asleep under my desk for 9 hours a day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Harry Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 Depending on what shifts I am on my dogs get left for a maximum of 7 hours a day. I have a family member who will let them out and leave them in the garden for a few hours at a time. They are quite happy being left as they just settle infront of the rayburn and go to sleep. Harry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J@mes Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 Ours was left free run of the kitchen from 7:30am until 4pm 5 days a week and she wrecked the oak table, pulled the floor up, ****** and **** everywhere and stole the timer buttons off the cooker. Now she is caged every day with a chew and a frozen kong, along with a couple of toys and she is fine. No mess, no noise, no rucking the bed up or spilling her water. It's a big cage, 5ft by 3 x 3 so she has plenty of room. suits her fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 is this the point where I can be smug Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J@mes Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 no you cant, **** off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aled Posted October 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 Ah differeing advice..what i will say is that the kennal will have a run for the dog, and that it is possible that my Dad will be able to walk the dogs during the afternoons. Also at the moment i work 2 days per week from an office in my home town so a lunch time walk is possible on some days. Still thinking about it......... Tight Lines Aled Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SXPhil Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 (edited) Can't see what the attraction is really !!! Edited October 9, 2009 by PhilSIDC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 any excuse to post photos of puppies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SXPhil Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 My Favourite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raja Clavata Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 This fella gets left in his crate 3 days a week but for no more than 3 hours at a time max as he get two visits from non-household family member and friend during that time - one of which is for at least an hour. From the research we did prior to getting him it seemed like an otherwise well adjusted dog should be able to cope with being alone for that kind of time. If he didn't get the breaks throughout those days though we'd probably have given him free-run of the utility room as a minimum. No right or wrong really - dogs are individuals and some will adjust better than others it seems ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 What came first the dog or the sofa? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raja Clavata Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 It's actually a dog bed / basket jobbie. Decided on the dog, then wife got the bed, amazing colour co-ordination! (that only a woman could achieve). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vole Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 We both work but I do shifts so tend not to have to leave her for very long. We also have a great neighbour who babysits her. I think 8 hours would make me feel pretty bad about leaving her,the 2nd dog idea is good. Best of luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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