Dd's want a puppy, desperately but not sure this is possible as I work full time. How do people do it?

[cupcakesmakeyouhappy]

Single parent - works full time - 3 dc's want a puppy soooooooo badly.
Possible? Difficult? Can I afford it? Am I crazy?
Would appreciate some advice?

[ChoudeBruxelles]

We’ve never had a puppy as we both work. We’ve got two rescue dogs who are ok being left for about 6-7 hours but we pay a dog walker to come in during the day to break up the day.

[ILoveDolly]

I don't think its fair on you or the dog really. They don't like being alone all day, and might chew things up, plus you'll have loads of extra work. Ime children get very bored of the real care of animals and there can be all kinds of expenses.

[BossWitch]

Nope. Too much work with 3 dc and no other adult in the house. Not fair in the dog. Sorry. And I'm not a 'it's cruel to have a dog unless you are at home with them all day person (our dog happily sleeps the day away while we are at work) but you would just be making a bad decision in your circumstances to take on a pup.

[KoolKoala07]

Dh and I would love a dog but we both work full time so have held off for the last 6 years now.

[Junglefowl]

I'm sorry this is a really negative answer but I don't think it's fair on the dog unless you have someone to mind it during the hours the house is empty. A friend of mine minds a dog every day (she's paid) until its owner is home.
Could you help look after dogs in the evening and weekends ? We used to! Try Borrow my Doggy although I found real life contacts more grateful for help as often people didnt answer

[user21]

Have a look at this. It may be a compromise.

www.borrowmydoggy.com/

[SelmaAndJubjub]

Not unless there is someone who can walk it during the day. It is not fair to leave a dog - a pack animal - by itself all day.

How about the Cinnamon Trust: www.cinnamon.org.uk? Your DC can walk the dog of someone who needs help and you don't have the commitment of a dog of your own.

[Junglefowl]

Ps if you get to know a local dog as we did and help regularly it's rather like being a doting grandparent ! we loved it , it enhanced our lives and the dog's (until sadly she died)

[Bythebeach]

God, how difficult.

I don't know but my instinct says it would be nearly impossible unless you can afford to take time off work/have an au pair/ afford puppy daycare. We have had our puppy for 8 weeks. We have 3 kids, DH works away a lot. I am in the very fortunate position of being able to cut work right down due to arrival of puppy and I have averaged 1-2 shifts a week since her arrival. By all accounts we have an easy puppy - she sleeps through, we only had a few toiling accidents in the first week and now at 15 weeks, I can leave her in the kitchen for 2 hours and go out with no trouble but this has gradually built up from the 30 min school drop off. How would you manage with the early puppy days - you certainly can't leave them at home alone all day, even with a visit or two, if you work?

[ColossalKalamari]

Do you want a dog? Never mind what your kids want, it'll be you feeding, walking, paying for it, training it. It'll live for maybe 15 years so when your kids have possibly moved out you'll still have the dog.

Added to which you can't just get a puppy then go out to work full time without building up the time you leave it. Puppies are bloody hard work

[Haint]

When that puppy nips and rags them constantly and chews their favourite toys and needs a walk when you all get home but it’s dark and raining and they’ve got homework to do will they still love it?

To raise a great dog you need to train it. Constantly. Not to jump, not to bark, not to pee inside, not to steal food, not to chew, how to walk on a l lead, how to come back when called when all it wants to do is play with other dogs, how to sleep through the night, how to play without hurting you, how to be left without destroying the house and peeing everywhere.

Puppies are INCREDIBLY hard work. They need a lot of attention. Hours of attention every day. Pretty much constantly. And in my experience kids very very soon tire of the hyperactive, disobedient destructive creatures.

If you’re not at home you won’t be able to train it and it’ll soon be annoying and just another chore, one that lasts for 12 or 15 years. Day in day out

[DrinkFeckArseGirls]

There's something called Borrow My Doggy - I will try that (and maybe that cinnamon website) once DD is a little older.

[cupcakesmakeyouhappy]

Ok, thankyou for your messages. I will have a little think :)

[birchandrowan]

I was asked recently if I was interested in taking on a puppy. A woman had bought it for her five-year-old daughter who was desperate for one.
Within a day or two the child had lost interest and the woman wasn't prepared for the mess and how tying, and exhausting, the puppy was.

I have had several acquaintances over the years who beg me to bring my dog to visit them as their children love dogs. In fact after a few minutes they lose interest. They get fed up if the dog stops on a walk to have a sniff. Of course a cute puppy is appealing , but rescue centres are full of young dogs from homes that.

[Minidoghugs]

Depending on your circumstances you might be able to manage a cat?

[Wolfiefan]

You can't have a puppy if you work full time.
You should NEVER get any pet because your kids pester you. The dog could live for 15 plus years. They won't walk and train it and play with it and pick up the poo and deflea and worm it for 15 years. You will.

[cupcakesmakeyouhappy]

I was just thinking it would be good for dd who comes home from school alone as I am at work. I thought it would be company for her. She begs me every day! Just another guilty working mum.....

[RicottaPancakes]

A cat, or two, would be a better option then.

[ErrolTheDragon]

How old is the DD who is coming home alone - secondary age? If so, then she is old enough to read up on the reality of what it takes to raise a puppy and own a dog, and then if she has any sense realise for herself that it would be a really bad idea. And if she's younger, it'd be a really terrible idea - come home to puppy shit and pee and probably other forms of havoc.


I'm sorry, but it's not on.

[KoalaD]

Please don't.

My neighbours got a cockapoo puppy a few moths ago, and we've had non-stop problems with it howling and barking. Separation anxiety, and the associated destructive chewing and digging, are very real things.

[cupcakesmakeyouhappy]

Dd is seconday age and I have explained how difficult it would be. I pro ably knew it was a bad idea (reason for posting), just wanted to see if it was possible!

[RunRabbitRunRabbit]

Hamster.

[ownedbySWD]

I am a sahm and we recently adopted a puppy. By all accounts she is a very easy puppy, compared to stories I've read, but she still requires a lot of my time and attention. She's basically a toddler with the dexterity of an adult - into everything, doesn't understand a whole lot, thoroughly enjoys making messes, etc etc. Her training is coming along nicely and the DC love her but she is essentially my dog and the children dip their toes in with helping here and there. I can't see any age child being more than 10% responsible for dog care, tbh. It is a lot to take on.

[Lushmetender]

I work from home so that's when we got andog. We also had the dogs before the kids so easier to train. You have to be so careful that kids don't mix up the signals they're trying to learn. Depending on the dog it can dominate the kids. Unless you can up home or put in doggy day care, timing may not be right for your family.

[cupcakesmakeyouhappy]

Thankyou for your posts. I have decided against it, it wouldn't be fair. I thi k it would be great for my dd's but I would not have time.
Of course, I am the meanest mum in the world now!