Having a dog while working full-time

[aurynne]

Hi all,

My DP and I are considering adopting a dog. However, we are soon going to be working full-time (I start in a week). I know there are lots of people owning dogs and working full-time out there, so there must be a way.

To the ones of you in the same situation, how do you do it (especially through the puppy months)? Do you leave the dog alone all day? Pay a dog-minder to check on them and give them a walk? Do you live them at dog day-care? Do you leave them with a friend during the day?

Any advice greatly appreciated!

[aurynne]

"leave them"... I should re-read before I post...

[thehillsarealive]

i think that you shouldnt get a dog if you work full time, especially during the puppy stages. Your puppy needs to be socialised, fed 3 times a day and toilet trained. how can you do that if you arent there?

That is just irresponsible and the first 3 months are crucial for getting to know your puppy and doing gentle training.

How can you do that when you are at work? The only way it might possibly work is if you work shifts and one of you would be there.

Oh and any animal shelter or breeder worth their salt wouldnt let you adopt a dog/puppy if you work full time.

[beesonmummyshead]

I have a slightly different view, which is that a home (whether empty for some of the day or not) is a much better place for a dog to be than in a cage in a rescue centre.

Agree that a puppy is a bad idea if you're planning on leaving it, but a dog aged 3 or above should be fine. I say "should" because of course many dogs from rescue centres have uncertain pasts and can be destructive. This is usually something which calms down when in a loving environment, but could wreck your home in the first few months of settling in.

I do speak from experience. I adopted my lovely dog aged 3 from a rescue centre. I worked full time. She would wee when seperated from me and howl/whine. Thankfully she did not destroy anything.

She had other behavioural problems which calmed down after a year or so.

I used to take her to work with me and leave her in the car for the morning (in the early days) - then tak her for a walk at lunch and drive her home for the remaining hours of the day. It worked for us - though I'm not recommending this as a permanent way of life.

nowadays (9 years on) I work part-time as I have a child, and my dog is happy to be left. On work days we always walk her in the morning, pay a neighbour to let her out at lunchtime and (when she was younger) walked her at night too.

Good luck. Dogs are great

[MrsL123]

We have two dogs and work full time - although we only work five minutes away so they're never left for the whole day. We leave just before 9am, are back home between 12.30 and 1.30, and then I get back home at 4 or 5 o'clock (depending what time I finish). During the day they have free access to the garden via a doggy flap, but this only works because we have a very secure garden with no access from the back, so no chance of anyone stealing them. At the moment the younger dog has to be crated for most of the day because she's recoving from an operation, so DH comes home mid morning and mid afternoon for 20 minutes to take her out for a wee. If we're going away for the whole day, they go to MILs. And they usually get an hour's walk in the morning and another hour at night.

When we got the second dog last year, I was off work for a month so was home all the time during toilet training etc, and then when I went back to work I was only doing 3 days a week (2 of which she went to MIL - other day DH was home). Now I've had to go back to full time because of finances, but the dogs are now older and are OK to be left for a few hours at a time. Plus they have each other for company, and are not locked in the house. I wouldn't leave a dog locked in the kitchen for hours at a time, especially on it's own, as it's a sure way to get destructive behaviour and a miserable dog. I know lots of people do it, but that doesn't mean it's OK. And a puppy would be out of the question - they have to be let out every few minutes to help with toilet training and need to be watched constantly, and definitely can't be left while you're at work. And the problem with doggy daycare is that the dog wouldn't know if it was coming or going, and would probably bond with the carer more than you (especially if it was a puppy).

An older dog might work, but again, not if you're going to be out of the house all day. I think it's different if you have a dog and then have to go back to work full time, of course you can't be expected to get rid of your dog, and have to find a way to make it work. But personally I wouldn't consider taking on a dog knowing I wouldn't be home all day.

[CountryGirl2007]

A pair of older dogs should be fine if you can find somebody to call in around lunchtime to let them out and also give them a short walk in the morning and a long one in the evening.

[flowerybeanbag]

I doubt you'd be allowed to get a rescue dog if there's no one at home. You couldn't leave a puppy either. When our dog was a puppy I wasn't working and had no DC to look after. I spent all day with him basically, outside every half an hour to encourage toilet training and watching him like a hawk all the time for signs that he might want to go to the toilet.

Older dog plus dogwalker/friend might work though.

[bunglecat77]

I used to work at a dog rescue charity, and their standard policy was that they wouldn't let a dog go to anyone who planned to leave the dog at home on its own for more than 4 hours on a regular basis. Could one of you work from home a few days a week maybe?

Some breeds need more company and more activity than others, too. For instance, a border collie is a working breed, and lots of them will go insane if they're not out and about for most of the day so they're best suited to people who work outdoors. Labradors don't need as much activity as collies, but they get very miserable on their own for long periods and often develop destructive habits.

That said, there are some people who manage fine. I know someone who has a dog flap for their miniature schnauzer, for example. But they all work shifts, arrange daycare or get a pet minding service or neighbour to come to their house each day and spend time with the dog. You need a service that does more than just toileting and walking.

If your dog doesn't get enough company, he's very likely to:
be slow to learn training
urinate and defecate in your home
chew anything and everything - I've known dogs that have even chewed walls
become agitated, seeking attention when you're at home
become unfit and listless
bark when you go out
try to escape from your house and garden
generally drive your neighbours nuts

All of this goes double for puppies.

Dogs make great pets, but I'd honestly suggest you get cats instead.

[iggypiggy]

Ok - I work full time and a have a dog that I have had from a puppy. it is do-able but not cheap..

With my now 3 1/2 yr old adult dog - this is his routine:

Walk with me at 7am for approx 40 mins
I leave for work at 8.30am
Dog Walker arrives at 11.30am and takes him for first walk with her - she keeps him with her until 3.30pm (approx - he is sometimes back at 4- 4.30pm depending on what else she is doing) and he gets 2 walks in that time - the rest of the time is at her house/ in her garden.
I arrive home at 5.30pm (sometimes my husband gets home earlier, but his job means he works random hours).
I take him out on a road walk/ wander at some point in the evening too.

As a puppy - the routine was differnt - I can share that with you if you like. Basically I never leave him for more than 3hrs at a time.

So it can be done, and I think my dog is v. happy.

[iggypiggy]

Incidentally - I do wish people wouldn't say you can't have a dog and work full time - you can BUT you need to have a good dog walker/ minder and you need to be able to afford to pay for that.

I also work 10 mins drive from home - so if for any reason the dog walker can't make it - I pop back and walk him/ let him out during the day - which my job allows me to do as it is so rare.

Another thing that is important is to spend alot of time with your dog when you are there - eg. i do gundog training with mine (classes at weekends and practice at home)

I do really hate it when people leaves dogs all day when they go out for work tho - I just don't think it is fair. And i know a few people that do this...

[Blondeshavemorefun]

iggy, what do you pay your dog walker/carer for the 5hrs orso that she has him every day?

[iggypiggy]

blondes well... this is an odd answer - cos technically she is only paid for 2hrs of dog walking - she just likes to keep him with her for lunch... so I pay £6 per hour - so £12 per day or £60 per week (I know you can work that out - but never mind!)

She charges only £10 for a full day of looking after a dog tho - which i have told her is silly...

[Blondeshavemorefun]

wow that is cheap

[GetOrfMoiLand]

My DP would have loved to get a dog, however as we work FT we had to say no. It simply wouldn;t have been fair to leave the dog all day (no chance of getting back home at lunchtime).

People who leave a dog all day on its own are cruel and mad.

[GypsyMoth]

my neighbour works full time....totally oblivious to the fact her dog barks all day constantly from the minute she leaves and stops the minute she returns.....and its us and the other neighbours who had to suffer this

we had to contact council in the end....and rspca....after popping note after note through her door

but its still going on

[iggypiggy]

GerOrf - you could get a dog walker

Blondes - I know - I feel a bit bad that is so cheap.. but she is also excellent, fully insured and loves the dogs (and they love her) - However if she could no longer do it, I would pay more if i had to, just to get someone as good.. I spoke to alot of local dog walkers/ get refs etc. before picking her.

[ASL]

Oh, give me a break. Own two pugs... Was home to puppy train them and home for I say 7 years of their life.

Went to work full time. And they are fine.

It is not cruel or mad to do this. they are left 8 hours a day. No dog walker with full run of the house.

And yes I have been approved my rescues even though I worked full time. And currently have another rescue dog because one of our pugs died. And yes my vet gives me glowing references because we are willing to go to great lengths taking care of our dogs.

So, with in reason if you are conscious of your dog being a pack animal you can leave them home 8 hours a day.

Meaning if you ignore the dog or no time for the dog when you come home then I say yeah, probably should not have a dog at all. They do need some attention.

But overall 16 hours a day they have to spend with you. that is 2/3 of the day.

And even when I was home, my first pug puppy was depressed after a while because he had no play mate. So we got a second pug puppy.

So whether you are home or not, it is really up to each individual dog about how well they handle being the lone dog/animal in the house or if they need a companion.

I know from expereince someone being home and working there does not always help a dog from being lonely.

Some dogs need other animal companionship, some human companionship and some dogs are fine being home alone.

Do research, be conscious of the commitment because it is like having a child. It does require attention and love.

Overall, if I was you I would stagger your work day. For istance if I got another puppy I would ask to work from 10:30-6:30 and hubby would work from 7:00-3:30.

Thus needing to fill the 5 hours inbetween with a dog walker once a day.

And you could search out a day care that you could take the puppy to tuesday and thursday instead of a dog walker for socialization.

Mind you this schedule and need does not need to be permament just until they are old enough.

And this does take money.

Or as someone mentioned adopt a 2 year old or older dog. After they have gotten past the puppy stage and only need some re-enforcing of potty training habits.

That is my two cents. But by know means do not let people make you feel guilty.

[Wileycoyote22]

It's not that black n white. No one, not rescue centres or dog experts of any type can say how a dog will be left at home all day. I ended up rescuing a very large lurcher who I was fostering. I was out 9 hours a day 5 days a week, and she would get really grumpy if I was
At home for more than 2 days cos I was interfering with her snoozing all day, she was aged 6. I then ended up with a bearded collie aged around 2 who had been starved n beaten. He got on great with my lurcher and was so relieved to have a safe home, so they were both in all day. When my lurcher was on her last legs I got a border collie from dogs trust - he had been rehomed twice before but returned due to aggression and biting children, after 3 months that stopped and he was so happy to have a safe environment too. I
Laterally put in a dog flap. I had my dogs over 14 years. My life was work and the dogs, it's imperative that people realise that your time is theirs when you're with them. My Beardie died about a year and a half ago aged around 10 from cancer, and my border collie who I got aged 10 1/2 (and could sleep for Scotland) died aged over 17 years a year ago. People often commented on how happy my dogs were and they were a joy to me. I would love to get another but I still work and no one will entertain me. And I think that's probably right and in my heart I do believe I shouldn't have a dog while working. And don't have the money for dog walkers or daycare. I got 2 cats to fill the gap but hasn't really worked, they have no idea what I'm talking about, but the dogs did 😉

[BJM111]

Hello,

Ignore people that say you shouldn't have a job if you work its rubbish....You can as long as you have the time to go in and see your pup throughout the day! Or have someone that can if you cant.

I have a little pup whos 9 weeks old i stayed with him for 4 days whilst he settled in and now leave him to go to work for 3 hours then come back at lunch play with him and give him lunch and take him to the garden. He isnt looked in a crate all day though he has a puppy pen with fresh water lots of toys and crate door open with his comfy bed blanket that he had with his mum a top with my scent on, I also leave the TV or radio on with a talking channel so he feels someone is there and its not silent. He wee's on his puppy pad..but he has been having the pad clear in the morning as hes weed a few times before i leave and then goes in the garden when im home. Hes a happy little boy and very healthy!! So working has nothing to do with having a puppy if you can come home to him/her. If you cant then i suggest you would need someone to i WOULD not by any means leave them for longer then MAX of 4 hours...But training and things can be done in the evenings...this isn't a problem. I've had dogs all my life and its never harmed them!! I would much rather leave my pup in a warm cosy playpen with everything he needs for 3 hours and earn money for him to be kept in a warm loving home and him get lots of attention when hes with us then a puppy to go to someone who could spend all day with them but still poorly treat them!! So bottom line is if you work and are only leaving your pup for MAX of 4 hours then its fine...if any longer you'll need to get someone to come in for the puppy or that does become unfair...But you can work around it if you wanted a puppy just make sure hes fed watered has your full attention when your there and you get somebody in if hes on his own for what i would say any longer then 4 hours. If people who worked didnt have dogs then most normal people wouldnt have a dog..Its rubbish there is ways round it!!

[Wiltom]

I think a home is better than a shelter. Can you get a dog walker for lunchtime? It is important if you get a puppy that you socialise it and commit a huge amount of time to it out of work.

A dog will get into a routine but making sure you are happy walking at 8pm at night in the dark and cold is something to be considered.

[DT2000]

We have a 5yr old and an 8 month old dog, I took 2 weeks off to settle the new puppy into the house. Me and DP both work full time but come home for lunch each day so dogs are only on their own for max 4-5 hours at a time. Dogs are separated when we're not here as puppy's a bit boisterous toward older dog