Does anyone have a dog? Question about leaving dogs alone

[Watchingthesunset]

We would very much like to get a family dog. We have given it a lot of thought and the only obstacle seems to be that dh and I both work outside the home.

Dh works full time and I work part time 3 days a week. So the dog would have to be left at home from 8-3.30 3 times a week which is when ds gets home from school. There would be someone home by 3.30 for the foreseeable as we've a teenager and a pre teen.

We could potentially set the dog up in the conservatory with a bed and some toys and a dog flap to go in and out the garden throughout the day.

Everything I'm reading online says dogs shouldn't be left alone but I'm thinking in reality there must be lots of people who work and have a dog.

As do many other people and guess what? Their dogs are happy too!

You know nothing about my dog's life. He's happy being at home - if he wasn't content, he'd be destructive, pacing up and down etc but he isn't. When we are home, he's happily wagging his tail, playing with us etc. Such signs of a poor dog, clearly 😊

@NotYourHolidayDick there's a huge difference between getting a dog knowing you have to leave if all day, and having your circumstances change

I hope things get easier for you.

Omg your poor dogs. This makes me angry. It's not ok.

Erm you have two dogs, so they are company for each other, I don't see the issue with that. I think it's when a dog is on its own it's more of a potential problem. But some dogs are very happy on their own...you always get an occasional loan wolf. So much depends on the dog.

Oh you know for a fact all these dogs that are left alone for 8 hours plus are all happy do you?

Of course he wags his tail when you come home! He’s finally got some company after being alone all day. Give over with your ridiculous smiley faces. Dogs can be unhappy without being destructive.

You can carry on defending it but unless in extenuating circumstances where lifestyles may have changed, it’s not fair on any dog to leave them in a house alone for 8 hours plus in the day time.

I don’t think charity dog centres allow people who work all day to have a dog, that’s obviously for a good reason

My dogs (dachshunds) would be absolutely fine for that amount of time, although we got two for company.

And you know for a fact that they're not happy?

My 😊😊😊😊😊 are at your ridiculous suggestions that you know more about my dog than me.

Yawn 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

@Delatron you can argue and have the last word all you want, but theres no right or wrong answer here. People do what works for them and if you don't agree that's on you. Just the same as I don't agree with some peoples parenting but I don't think I'm superior/better than anyone else. Focus on your dog and I'll focus on mine because at the end of the day we don't know each other's circumstances do we 👍🏼

Exactly.

It’s not ok. Poor dogs. What is wrong with people? Why are you getting dogs if you are then leaving them alone for 7 hours!

This ‘they are fine because they sleep
all the time’. It’s such bollocks.

Somebody with sense. 😊😊😊

I did honestly wonder about that, would it work with two as company for each other. What if they didn't get on?

Really love the idea of two whippets.

Sadly I can't see it working unless we found an older dog that was content with being alone. I hoped we could wing it as it's only 3 days and obviously there'd be times when we'd be off work. I'm off and home a fair bit throughout the year.

Ah yes somebody else who thinks it’s fine to leave a dog all day. So you must be right! And look there’s now three smug smiley faces…

@OddsocksinmyDocs the attachment dog parenting is real!! I thought it only existed on insta 😄

You have your opinions, I have mine. I don't agree with you, you don't agree with me.

😊😊😊😊 and here's 4 smiley faces for you.

Hmm ok there’s quite a lot of people who don’t agree with leaving a dog all day.

You can disagree that it’s right that I spend a lot of time with my dog and take him for lots of long walks. That’s ok. I’ll take that.

@shadowchancesassy Precisely!! 🤣 it's unbelievable!

@Delatron

And I don't want to horrify you even more but he eats ASDA DOG FOOD and guess what? He bloody loves it!

😊😊😊😊😊 (5 just for you!)

Here’s some more rope…

You’re coming across really well. Keep going..

There's absolutely no way you should feel guilty- you have two dogs! That's totally fine, they're not alone.

Don't get one, it's so cruel and selfish. Like most dog owners, even worse now the ones that take them shopping and everywhere so they aren't inconvenienced. A dog is an animal, it deserves lots of space to run around and not be by itself most of the time.

It does seem that dog ownership has changed. I grew up with large breeds, admittedly my mum was a sahm but there'd be many days we'd be out for the whole day shopping or visiting relatives and I never recall any issues with the dogs.

Plenty of friends and relatives worked full time and had dogs and simply left the back door open for the dog.

Not saying it's ideal or that we are going to do that but I think lots of people do.

@Delatron 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

Dogs are members of the family; they are social pack animals just like us. I waited 17 years to get my dog because I wasn’t in the ideal position to get one and dogs are worth that sacrifice once you can actually get one. I’ve since been studying dog behaviour for the last 2.5 years.

Dogs will very often cope ‘in the moment’ with situations which are upsetting or stressful or even traumatic for them only for it to show up later when they suffer psychologically with all sorts of issues ranging from separation anxiety to destructive behaviour to actually genuinely ‘shutting down’ and appearing subdued or sleeping the whole time.

For that length of time you need to factor in the cost of a dog walker to come in and take the dog(s) out at lunchtime. If you need a more independent animal, a cat could be a good alternative. X

What about two miniature dachshunds?