Should I get a dog?
Discussion
Pretty sure I know the answer really, but maybe someone can put me right.
I'd like a dog for companionship and walking as well as the usual reasons.
I live alone and away from the house from 07.15 - 17.30 week days. I'm assuming any dog would suffer being on its own for so long.
As a kid we always had pets; dogs, cats, rabbits plus a dozen ducks, hens, bantams, a couple of geese and even a goat at one time. Even in a busy family home with people coming and going all day Murphy, and later Pepper, would go mental when anyone returned even if they'd been left alone for an hour or two, let alone all day.
Would I be selfish and cruel to subject a dog to ten hours a day on its own?
I'd like a dog for companionship and walking as well as the usual reasons.
I live alone and away from the house from 07.15 - 17.30 week days. I'm assuming any dog would suffer being on its own for so long.
As a kid we always had pets; dogs, cats, rabbits plus a dozen ducks, hens, bantams, a couple of geese and even a goat at one time. Even in a busy family home with people coming and going all day Murphy, and later Pepper, would go mental when anyone returned even if they'd been left alone for an hour or two, let alone all day.
Would I be selfish and cruel to subject a dog to ten hours a day on its own?
As you have written I would say an emphatic NO.
However, there are many people who work around your situation by having others to let their dogs out during the day. This can be family, neighbour, or a paid for service.
Have you thought about doggy day care? This is becoming more popular.
Both of the above may be suitable with an older dog, but not a puppy.
Remember that dogs are pack animals, so will want to be with you most of the time.
Good luck
However, there are many people who work around your situation by having others to let their dogs out during the day. This can be family, neighbour, or a paid for service.
Have you thought about doggy day care? This is becoming more popular.
Both of the above may be suitable with an older dog, but not a puppy.
Remember that dogs are pack animals, so will want to be with you most of the time.
Good luck
Leaving a dog at home for that length of time every day is not a good idea. As said, they are a pack animal, and suffer anxiety when not with the pack leader (you).
At least you are being responsible by doing a bit of research first. Far too many people out there are self centered and wouldnt care less, they just want the dog available to them when it suits.
At least you are being responsible by doing a bit of research first. Far too many people out there are self centered and wouldnt care less, they just want the dog available to them when it suits.
t if you're there or not.garythesign said:
As you have written I would say an emphatic NO.
However, there are many people who work around your situation by having others to let their dogs out during the day. This can be family, neighbour, or a paid for service.
Have you thought about doggy day care? This is becoming more popular.
Both of the above may be suitable with an older dog, but not a puppy.
Remember that dogs are pack animals, so will want to be with you most of the time.
Good luck
I agree with this completely. Not fair on the dog to be left for so long unless you can get someone to come round and walk it or if you are able to take to work?However, there are many people who work around your situation by having others to let their dogs out during the day. This can be family, neighbour, or a paid for service.
Have you thought about doggy day care? This is becoming more popular.
Both of the above may be suitable with an older dog, but not a puppy.
Remember that dogs are pack animals, so will want to be with you most of the time.
Good luck
As others have said, yes, that's too long to leave a dog on its own. The recommendation is generally no more than 4 hours at a time, but that would still be too long for some dogs, and definitely for puppies.
I have always worked full time, and have had dogs - but I've always had more than one, so that they are company for each other, and I had arrangements in place for two visits a day, including a dog walker. They were also adult/older dogs, and they were greyhounds/lurchers, who tend to be more lazy.
I still work full time now, but my OH works from home.
I have always worked full time, and have had dogs - but I've always had more than one, so that they are company for each other, and I had arrangements in place for two visits a day, including a dog walker. They were also adult/older dogs, and they were greyhounds/lurchers, who tend to be more lazy.
I still work full time now, but my OH works from home.
LordGrover said:
Thanks all, confirming what I knew already.
A shame. C'est la vie.
This is why I wouldn't have a dog A shame. C'est la vie.
Maybe think about https://www.borrowmydoggy.com/
+1 to what the others have said.
Also, any dog, either a puppy or a rescue really needs a couple of weeks or more 1:1 bonding time.
I have wanted a dog pretty much all my life but living alone, only felt I would be able to look after one when I decided to retire early.
Probably one of the best things I have done in hindsight.
However I have no idea how people manage to do much else when there is a demanding hound to be fed, watered, walked, taken to the vet, cleaned up after and generally fussed!
Also, any dog, either a puppy or a rescue really needs a couple of weeks or more 1:1 bonding time.
I have wanted a dog pretty much all my life but living alone, only felt I would be able to look after one when I decided to retire early.
Probably one of the best things I have done in hindsight.
However I have no idea how people manage to do much else when there is a demanding hound to be fed, watered, walked, taken to the vet, cleaned up after and generally fussed!
Should you get a dog?
Almost certainly no.
As a petrol-head you ought to know that pets, and supplying/distributing their food, is a huge burden on environmentally unhelpful emissions.
I haven't done the science, nor the maths, but I'm pretty confident in saying that i reckon that instead of banning the sale of petrol and diesel cars, the entire nation could drive V8s if we'd all just ditch our addiction to owning cats and dogs...
Almost certainly no.
As a petrol-head you ought to know that pets, and supplying/distributing their food, is a huge burden on environmentally unhelpful emissions.
I haven't done the science, nor the maths, but I'm pretty confident in saying that i reckon that instead of banning the sale of petrol and diesel cars, the entire nation could drive V8s if we'd all just ditch our addiction to owning cats and dogs...
Boosted LS1 said:
Yes, I think so. It's a pack creature. Could you walk somebody else's dog?
I've been walking the ex-girlfriends' sister's dog (no need to read anything into that) for 3 years now. Once a week. The dog is pretty similar to me - adventurous, fit and pretty dumb, so we get into some excellent scrapes on mountains and fell.ctdctd said:
However I have no idea how people manage to do much else when there is a demanding hound to be fed, watered, walked, taken to the vet, cleaned up after and generally fussed!
They are a huge commitment. We originally got our dog as my wife wanted one and she was going to walk him, pick up his poop etc etc. Within a couple of days I was doing every walk, vet visit, poop pick etc etc. Luckily I expected as much, so it isn't really a great hardship. I get up earlier than her anyway, so we can be back from a walk before she has even stirred. Also, the gentle exercise helps the arthritis in my knees, so that's another benefit. It always amazes me though, that even though I do everything for him, he still goes to my wife for a cuddle and follows her round the house. I reckon I am just his unpaid helper !
There is another benefit to having a dog that I have found. You need to check which pubs are dog friendly, so random visits to out of the way pubs are often needed for research purposes
Personally, I would look towards a cat unless you can get the dog looked after during the day. Obviously, a cat is a pretty crap replacement for a dog though.
We recently took on a rescue dog but we very rarely leave her. I'm lucky in that she can come to work with me most mornings and then the Mrs is home in the afternoons. She comes everywhere with me unless we are specifically going somewhere that does not allow dogs. She is very well behaved for the most part but can get separation anxiety if I am not about at times which usually involves the bin and lots of mess.
We recently took on a rescue dog but we very rarely leave her. I'm lucky in that she can come to work with me most mornings and then the Mrs is home in the afternoons. She comes everywhere with me unless we are specifically going somewhere that does not allow dogs. She is very well behaved for the most part but can get separation anxiety if I am not about at times which usually involves the bin and lots of mess.
I waited for near on 20 years until I could
If full time they are a huge drain time Andes not fair as you rightly assumed.
There are a couple of charities for walking oaps dogs who can no longer walk them
This is one. There is a map with requests you may be near by
http://www.cinnamon.org.uk/volunteers/
If full time they are a huge drain time Andes not fair as you rightly assumed.
There are a couple of charities for walking oaps dogs who can no longer walk them
This is one. There is a map with requests you may be near by
http://www.cinnamon.org.uk/volunteers/
Pesty said:
I waited for near on 20 years until I could
If full time they are a huge drain time Andes not fair as you rightly assumed.
There are a couple of charities for walking oaps dogs who can no longer walk them
This is one.
http://www.cinnamon.org.uk/volunteers/
I just read that as a charity for walking oapsIf full time they are a huge drain time Andes not fair as you rightly assumed.
There are a couple of charities for walking oaps dogs who can no longer walk them
This is one.
http://www.cinnamon.org.uk/volunteers/
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