Swamp Beast Posted January 30, 2011 Report Share Posted January 30, 2011 Have been pondering getting a pup for an age but Im unsure............. have a large run, former chicken pen. Was going to get a kennel built with a link to run. Unfortunately im at work Mon-Fri 7.30am-6pm. The wife works 3 days so could tend to dog when shes not working. Ive got my heart set on getting a pup for family dog and for rough shooting but Im unsure whether leaving it for 11 hours a day (3 days a week) is fair. As mentioned theres a big run and I was going to put in a plumbed trough but as I live 45 mins from work I cant pop home at lunch time etc to see the dog. Im sure theres plenty of dogs in the same situation but whats the problems a dog can have as a result of being left for long periods? Would appreciate your thoughts- is it unkind or am i being too soft?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted January 30, 2011 Report Share Posted January 30, 2011 (edited) All the advice is dont leave a pup on its own, I do however know plenty of people who do/have done, do you ahve a relative or neighbour that can puppy sit for few hours while wife is at work? Or consider getting an older dog that is used to being outside (working dogs normally are) Random place to ask a question about a dog mind! Edited January 30, 2011 by HDAV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shropshire_Lad Posted January 30, 2011 Report Share Posted January 30, 2011 Hi, not ideal but my shooting partner worked before his retirement 4 on 4 off 12 hour shifts. He has/had the best dogs I have ever seen. Mine is pampered like a Queen, say no more! atvb Paul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ireland's Finest! Posted January 30, 2011 Report Share Posted January 30, 2011 (edited) My dogs are kenelled 24/7 bar (obvioulsy) when I'm out shooting! They are great dogs, hunt very well and generally seem very happy.. However regards a pup it might be hard for him to bond with you if he doesnt see you that often, you'd need to spend a fair bit of time with him when you first get him after that he should be happy been kenelled for that period of time. Edited January 30, 2011 by Ireland's Finest! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted January 31, 2011 Report Share Posted January 31, 2011 on the days your both working Id get a dog walker to come halfway through the day to get it out for an hours walk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Kelly Posted January 31, 2011 Report Share Posted January 31, 2011 Couldn't you take the dog to work with you and leave him in the car, not in the hot summer days obviously, but for a good part of the year. You could then go out and see it for a few minutes whenever you get a break. Probably help with the bonding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted January 31, 2011 Report Share Posted January 31, 2011 The main issues are up to about 6 months and if you have just the one dog, My current one went up to my mums when she was a pup during the day and then gradually got left for longer and longer. After a year she was easy had a good hours walk in the morning before work then left and she has been no trouble. Now if anyone is about she sleeps most of the time in the day and just ignores them so it can be done. A lot easier with two but it is possible especially when its not every day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swamp Beast Posted January 31, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2011 The main issues are up to about 6 months and if you have just the one dog, My current one went up to my mums when she was a pup during the day and then gradually got left for longer and longer. After a year she was easy had a good hours walk in the morning before work then left and she has been no trouble. Now if anyone is about she sleeps most of the time in the day and just ignores them so it can be done. A lot easier with two but it is possible especially when its not every day. thanks for the replies guys! I`ll work on my parents! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted January 31, 2011 Report Share Posted January 31, 2011 thanks for the replies guys! I`ll work on my parents! It can be done, its not ideal but its not impossible. Best if the dog can get out roughly half way through the day even just for 5 minutes. As said the young pup stage is the most difficult, perhaps consider a dog at 6 - 7 months old? Quite a few breeders/trainers will run two or three pups on from a litter to this age before deciding which one to keep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris o Posted February 2, 2011 Report Share Posted February 2, 2011 it can be done mate. mine is housed outside all the time. aslong as they have a good warm safe draft free place to sleep and stretch there legs it is fine. me dad and grandad used to breed and even when they had the litter the bitch and pups were outside and left to there own till the pups were old enough to get up and wander about. they obviosly had human contact to get them used to being handelled but they were the best workers i have ever seen. but the bonding prosses is the biggest part. if you dont bond with it at a young age it is hard for the dog cope with you telling it what to do and retrieving problems will occur. as wgd has said as your first dog go for something that is a couple of month old. hope this helps to some extent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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