Getting a dog advice

[crappyday2018]

I've been desperate to buy a dog for a long time now and hope to get one next year. I'm already trying to do as much research as possible so I'm prepared.
My working hours would mean I would be home by 3.30 (Mon-Wed), home by 6pm on a Thurs and my oldest would be home by 2.30pm on a Friday.
I intend to get a dog walker to come in around lunchtime every day (even on my short days).
Do you think getting a walker to do a 30 minute walk at lunchtime will be enough if I take it out in the morning and then straight after work too?
I'm looking to get a Labradoodle.

[Poochnewbie]

Do you leave later on your long days?
I’m no expert but my little cocker wouldn’t like being left that long with only a 30 minute walk. I’ve just arranged an informal agreement with a dog walker if I have to leave her for 4 hours.
I’m guessing if you get a puppy, you’ll use a crate? I use a crate but wouldn’t leave her in it for any longer than a couple of hours at a time. Initially puppies chew and eat everything and can be really hurt if left to roam in a house.
I’m new to this whole thing but from your first post, I’m not sure your working hours are suited to a dog. You might be able to add extra information that I’ve missed though.

[BiteyShark]

I have a 2.5 year old cocker and he doesn't really cope for longer than 3 hours. He goes to daycare and runs about with his pals for at least 1 hour off lead. 30 minutes off lead just wouldn't cut it and 30 mins on lead would be considered a very boring walk.

[crappyday2018]

Sorry, a bit more detail:
Mon-Wed:
0730 walk for 30-45 mins
0830 leave for work
1130/12 dog walker
3.30 return home

Thurs:
0730 walk for an hour
0830 leave for work
1130/12 dog walker
5.30pm return home

Fri:
0730 walk for 30-45 mins
0830 leave for work
1130/12 dog walker
son returns home at 2.30

I would use a crate to begin with but then let the dog stay in the kitchen with an open crate once its trained.

I have some colleagues who do this and seems to work well but I'm new to dogs so need to be sure. I've researched breeds and looks like Labradoodles might be a bit better at being alone for a few hours.

[crappyday2018]

Also do you not think cockers are a totally different type of dog though? I have a friend who has one and he is quite hyper and needs way more exercise than some other breeds of my friends.

[Namechangeforthiscancershit]

I think labradoodles are quite hyper actually!

I'd be thinking is there a back up for when the dog walker goes on holiday/is sick/whatever, and how reliable is your son

[BiteyShark]

Labradors are high energy breeds from what I have read. Poodles are also very intelligent and my run in with them shows they are more intelligent than cockers and this need more mental stimulation.

I know people with cockers that leave them alone all day. Mine wouldn't cope with that and would be vocal.

All dogs are different.

[AlpacaLypse]

Thursday in particular is too long.

How long will you be able to take in pupternity leave? Having a new pup is the same level of intensity as a new baby! And the longer you can be around most of the day the better the outcome.

[Hazlenutpie]

I think you can't leave a dog as much as that.

[crappyday2018]

I guess all breeds can be hyper. I'm lucky I can work from home on occasion so i would make sure if the dog walker is away this is covered. No way would I leave a dog all day in the house without a walk/break.
I'm already nervous about being at work at all but I know loads of people who do it with daycare/dog walkers.
I don't want to be a selfish dog owner though!

[Floralnomad]

I don’t know why you think a Labrador x poodle will be better at being left , that is purely down to the individual however poodles are quite needy . Poodles and labradors are also both high energy breeds so any cross will likely be the same and a 30 minute walk and several hours shut in a crate is simply not acceptable . If you are planning on getting a puppy your plan is a recipe for ending up with a dysfunctional dog - sorry .

[BiteyShark]

Posted too quickly with typos

Some dogs will tolerate hours left alone but others wont. It is actually doesn't really matter what other dogs tolerate but just showing that some dogs won't even when they are out of the puppy period.

You need to think how you would adapt if your dog is one of them that is vocal ( do you have neighbours? ) or destructive and chews cupboards, walls etc.

[crappyday2018]

@AlpacaLypse yes I know. I might have to look at a daycare option instead for that day.

As for pupternity leave, I would try to get at least 3 weeks off at the start and then might enlist the help of my mum for a week or 2 after that.

From what I read, its best to get the dog used to being in the house alone gradually. I can only imagine a dog that is used to having company won't like being on its own.

I know I will get mixed opinions but I would have thought if only people who don't work had dogs, there wouldn't be many dog owners around! I'd just like to find the most responsible way to do it.

[BiteyShark]

I work full time so

[crappyday2018]

@Floralnomad just from the research I've been doing so far. I'm not necessarily going to end up with that breed. I still have a lot to research and people who have these breeds to ask.

[crappyday2018]

@biteyshark do you use daycare all day every day? How does that work for you?

[BiteyShark]

Arghhh I hate the mm app. Posted too soon again

I work full time so I am not against getting a dog when you work. However, the reality is I couldn't do it without daycare and I am bloody lucky to have a flexible work place because when he has been injured or sick and hasn't been able to be walked at all for weeks at a time I have been able to work from home. You also need to consider what you would do in those situations as well.

[Floralnomad]

Whether a dog is happy being left has little to do with it getting used to being alone . I don’t work and my dog is rarely alone for more than an hour or two , however he is happy to be left all day with a visit from someone at lunchtime when I am out for a day / away .

[crappyday2018]

@BiteyShark as I said earlier I'm lucky I can work from home when I need to. I have 2 kids so I'm well versed in the sickness thing.
I can also adjust my hours in the holidays too allowing an extra day off.

[Bythebeach]

I think this sort of routine is poor for a young dog but may be fine for an older dog. We got our puppy at 8 weeks, she’s riding two and wonderful. Hasn’t chewed nor destroyed things since the first couple of months - but we give her plenty of company. I really think younger dogs can’t cope with the household being out of the house all day with just a lunchtime walk - the friends I know who have tried this have had issues with bored lonely dogs and chewing. I organised my life to be mainly at home the first year taking evening or weekend shifts so my DH and kids were home if I wasn’t and we now have an au pair who isn’t out out of the house for longer than one stretch of 4 hours per daytime. If no au pair, I would pay half or full day doggy daycare for a young dog/puppy. They are social creatures and being along 8.30-3.30 with a 30 min walk would be sad for a pup.

[BiteyShark]

I work some days from home but some from the office. On my office days I do daycare.

It doesn't cost much more than a group walk and is much better for him and me. On those days he is still left for a few hours but he tolerates that fine because he gets enough physical and mental stimulation at daycare.

Maybe when he is an 'old' dog I will drop to dog walkers but I can't see that happening for many years.

[BiteyShark]

The key to getting a dog and working is be prepared to outsource care. If you have a dog that is a chilled out one then you can think yourself lucky and just have a dog walker.

However, as long as you have the money and availability of daycare then if your dog is sociable (some aren't) then you can use that if they aren't a chilled out dog.

You just have to look at some of the threads on here to see how different each dog is and some really are destructive and vocal on their own.

[Costacoffeeplease]

Just because people work full time and have dogs, doesn’t mean it’s a good idea

I don’t think your plan is feasible, you’re going to get an 8-12 week pup, stay with it for 3 weeks, then maybe have your mum for the next two weeks (with it full time?) then go straight to the plan above with a 12-16 week old pup. WTF?

It’s not about whether you want a dog, it’s whether it would be good for the dog to be your dog, and I’d say no, it isn’t

And a labradoodle isn’t a breed and would more than likely be coming from a puppy farm or backyard breeder

[Bythebeach]

PS - that doesn’t mean we don’t leave her but it took until she was about 6 months building up to leaving her for 3 hours and now she can manage 4-5 hours but she is a high energy young lab who loves people more than anything and so I would feel cruel doing 4 hours alone-1hr walk-4hours alone and have seen miserable consequences from those I know who tried that.

[HampshireMum1]

I've got a poodle cross and he really couldn't cope with the hours you've mentioned. My parents also have a different poodle cross and he definitely could. It's not just the breed that needs to be taken into consideration but also personality and temperament and you just don't know this until you're living with the dog.

We waited to get a dog until we knew I would be at home with the dog for the most part of the day. And we do have to plan around him, so if I know I'm going to be out for an extended period he'll get a long walk in the morning so that he's sleepier when I'm out.

I really understand the urge to get a dog but it's such a huge responsibility and really hard work sometimes. If I knew I wasn't going to be around during the day I would definitely look for breeds that can cope with this more easily than others.

[thistimeofyear]

crappyday it sounds like you have thought this through a lot and although I do agree it is not a good idea to leave a young dog (or any dog) alone for too long at least you are giving them exercise 3 times a day. I never had a very young puppy (had a rescue/stray who I had to housetrain at 1yr old). I think when they are very young they are not supposed to have too much exercise - but I'm sure someone else on here will know that.