To be thinking about getting a dog?

[shoesaregood]

I desperately want a dog, as do the dc (they have been begging for ages, but I have been outwardly reluctant )

However, I am hesitant as the dog would be on its own for 5 hours a day, 3 days a week, would this be acceptable?

At the moment, we leave for school / work between 8:30 - 9 am, and our (very dog friendly) nanny arrives at 2. Currently she prepares lunchboxes, sorts out activities for the children when they get home etc. However, she has said that she is happy to walk the dog for an hour instead (I'll do lunches and baking etc in the evenings). The dog would have company from 2pm onwards as nanny and are children at home.

Our Nanny (who is very keen on the dog idea) has very kindly offered to spend mornings with the dog in the early puppy stage to keep it company, how long would this need to to continue, and would this sort of routine be ok for the dog?

Oh please do consider a retired greyhound! Ours is 5, and has the most beautiful temperament. He came house-trained (actually the rescue said kennel trained as he'd never been in a family home, but "got it" immediately), doesn't bark, doesn't smell, is fantastic with the three ds and is utterly calm and placid. He's happy with two short walks a day and is also happy to be left alone - he's a complete couch potato. For a donation you get a fully vaccinated, spayed or castrated pedigree dog in need of a loving home - what's not to like?

I'm so pleased these wonderful dogs are slowly gaining in popularity, honestly when we take ours out it's like going out with a new baby - so many smiles and chats with people.

A greyhound could work out well for your family. Many greys come off the track at a relatively young age, so although you are dealing with an adult dog you will have many happy years together - typically they live well into their mid teens and most rescues will have dogs that don't make the grade from as young as eighteen months with the majority coming off at around two to three. Even if you had a three year old, that's probably twelve very good years with your dog.

We have and have fostered both bitches and dogs and have never found any problem in housetraining either - most are kennel trained and pick up the basics of houstraining in a weekend. When they come off the track they are usually very good on the lead, and good at travelling. Get one from a rescue (not direct from an owner). In this way, you'll ensure the dog is vaccinated, chipped, neutered, and medically checked/healthy before adoption. Reputable rescues will have at least a basic behavioural assessment and many will have had the dog in a foster home to check how child/cat friendly they are and get them used to stairs, hoovers, glass doors etc. Rescues will also ensure that if for any reason you cannot keep the dog, it can always be returned to them (even if ten years in the future) and will be around for back up advice and support in the early days. Many also run lots of nice social events and greyhound playdates when pointies get together for fun and frolics.

we have 2 cocker spaniels they are alone 8-5 4 days a week and have an outdoor run they are fine
be sure to use KC reg breeders, as you may pay extra, but they come insured
what ever brred you choose, fund out the mean price of a pup (cockers about £600) and when searching the likes of pets4homes or epupz beware of one that are markedly cheaper

I want a greyhound!!!

Wishing, they are very addictive! We started with one, and here we are some years later, having fostered (and failed ) and adopted more, now with a pack of three. Completely agree with paws - they have lovely temperaments. One of the other nice things is watching their personality gradually unfold as they settle into their new life as a pet after a busy working life. Ours are all very different in a number of ways although indisputably typical pointies in that they all snooze a lot, fart occasionally and love their cuddles. Also typical in not needing huge quantitites of exercise, though DH goes running with one of ours.

You would be unreasonable to take on a puppy, even a rescue one, and definitely unreasonable to buy from a breeder when healthy young dogs are being killed in their hundreds each month purely for want of good homes.

However, an older dog is a different matter.

Have you considered what you will do if/when your nanny moves on? Holidays etc?

If so, why not have a word with the Retired Greyhound Trust's branch for your area - Hersham Hounds, who are superb and will match a dog to your personal circumstances and to your family and home.

London - Wimbledon (SW) Denise Dubarbier 01932 224918 www.hershamhounds.org

You're right about Greys, they are very laid back and don't need miles of walks, contrary to popular belief.

You may too like to speak to The Mayhew Dog Rescue, to Gladys at Pro Dogs Direct (she's lovely) or to the fantastic team at All Dogs Matter.

"be sure to use KC reg breeders, as you may pay extra, but they come insured
what ever brred you choose, fund out the mean price of a pup (cockers about £600) and when searching the likes of pets4homes or epupz beware of one that are markedly cheaper"

JESUS CHRIST!

A KC registered breeder is not a sign of a reputable or responsible breeder - this is a common misconception. A hell of a lot of backyard breeders and even puppy farmers sell KC reg pups.

And do not touch epupz or Pets4Homes. A good breeder will NEVER advertise their pups as they will have a list of homes LONG before the pups are born and will not breed their bitch unless they have one. Both these websites are crawling with backyard breeders and puppy farmers - and both KNOW that they are yet still advertise them.

I'm a rescuer and campaigner and have a fair bit of knowledge of backstreet breeders and puppy farmers, as has ScuttleButter. If you really, really must buy a puppy PLEASE pm midori1999 on here, who is one of that rare breed, a responsible dog breeder - she'll also confirm what I;m saying and will advise you in how to go about sourcing a pup from a *reputable& breeder.

However I hope you don't and will instead give a home to a rescue dog. :)

V what some people think is reputable is defferent to others
the person i used for mine packed in his job and made dogs his living, yes they are not family reared, but the dogs are all checked against inherited ailments, and he after has had a successful show carrier he has moved on to judging and has judged all over the world including best of show at crufts, he is always willing to offer assistance at the end of the phone. he ensures any small breeders using his stud dogs sell their pups at the going rate.

Addictive is the right word Scuttlebutter. I've caught DH quite a few times looking up more doggy details!

Can I just reiterate one great point already made about our rescue grey - if for ANY reason we can no longer keep him, he MUST be returned to the rescue. This can happen for all sorts of reasons, owner death or illness or an issue with a dog, but is clearly designed to ensure the welfare of the dogs concerned. I don't know what the policy of other rescues is, but I know a friend of mine had terrible problems with a terrier puppy and the breeder absolutely absolved herself of any responsibility for the dog, which was heartbreaking.

Jessica, no reputable breeder will ever be able to make a living out of breeding dogs. Anyone who does is over-breeding.

And I repeat, Epupz and Pets4Homes KNOWINGLY carry advertisements for puppy farmers and should be avoided at all costs.

I'll ask midori1999 to give you the facts on the rest of the argument as she will speak from the POV of a breeder, I'm a rescuer and will be accused of bias.

I'll just leave you with

pawsnclaws, absolutely, and I would urge anyone who goes to a rescue to avoid those which don't contract to take the dog back at any stage of his life.

Five hours 3 days a week sounds fine to me. Can you take a week off while puppy is settling in? We got ours in the summer hols so she had 6 wks with us around. What does your partner think about the idea? Will he do his share?
What breed are you considering?

vallhala
he also does the extras like grooming, boarding etc
plus stud fees
work it out!!!!!!
what i was trying to point out using the mentioned websites needs care, but amongst the dodgy adverts are lots of good small breeders providing a good service to dog owners

Look, Jessica, I have worked it out. I've worked it out over a number of years as a rescuer, thanks to a combination of a great deal of research and a huge amount of very distressing experience.

I wasn't referring to grooming or boarding, I was referring to breeding, as I think I made clear in my post.

At the risk of sounding rude, someone who tells posters to be sure to opt for a KC reg pup as if it's some sort of holy grail, who persists in advocating the use of websites who knowingly carry adverts for puppy farmers and, come to that, advocates the buying of a breeders pup full stop hardly inspires me with any confidence.

If an older dog is not used to being left, and obviously dogs from shelters are used to company, then that can be a problem. Accept that with a puppy you may be woken up for upto a couple of weeks, so will be tired. Most people cause their own problems by not training their dogs, pick a breed that is less 'needy', as some are better than others. If a dog is well exercised in the morning then they can be left in the day. Think about how your lifestyle may change as the children get older and how the dog will fit in with this. If your children are at home during the holidays then that will work better.

Just to add to what Val has said...

Sadly, KC registration is NOT some sort of mark of quality in any way, neither is a breeder being KC Accredited. Those are part of the absolute, bare minimum standards to look for in a breeder, amongst other things. Puppy farmers are responsible for around 90% of KC registrations, which when you also consider Back Yard breeders (those with little knowledge breeding from pet dogs) and the fact that responsible breeder will only breed once every several years unless there are exceptional circumstances, once per year at absolute most (although that is too often IMO) doesn't leave that many KC registrations from responsible breeders.

There are tens of thousands of dogs being put to sleep every single day, so anyone breeding should have an extremely good reason for doing so and also be prepapred to be responsible for the puppies they breed for their entire lives so as to try not to add to the rescue situation.

If you want a family dog, then the dog should be reared within a home or have daily access to a home and a lot of human company. A lot os very important socialisation happens within a litter and as someone very experienced who took on a rescue pup that hadn't had that, the difference in general socialisation and ease of toilet training is astounding!

Anyone looking for a puppy should go via the breed club. They will know which breeders are reputable and which aren't and if they aren't, they won't have anything to do with them. Be prepared to ask lots of questions and be asked even more, even personal questions about your home situation (whether you own or rent, married, how long you've been in a relationship, planned children etc) and financial situation. Ask how many litters the person breeds, which stud dogs they use and why (own the stud dog or nearby are dreadful answers!) whether they are keeping a pup themselves (they should be), how pups will be socialised, (will they have left the premises or been in a car before you get them) wormed, if they'll be vaccinated etc. What age they'll leave the breeder and why, whether Mum is allowed unlimited access to her pups etc. What health tests are done and what the results are and ask to see proof. What diet the litter will be reared on and why. Is it good quality? Will the pup be toulet traine dor partially toilet trained when you get it, will it have had any other training? Will the breeder be on hand 24/7 after you've taken the pup home for advice? Will the pups have been vet checked before you get them, do they suggest you take the pup to your own vet soon after you take it home for a check up and if something is wrong what will they do?

There are 1001 things to know to make sure you get a pup from a decent breeder. If you do not then you risk the pup being or becoming ill, having hereditary or congenital problems, having temprement problems or behaviour problems. If you don't buy from a decent breeder then you are encouraging the breeding of all those dogs that end up in rescue and put to sleep, because the vast majority of them are from irresponsible breeders and puppy farmers.

Of course, there are also puppies in rescue centres often, so a breeder isn't the only option, even for purebreeds.

Just to also add to the OP. I think you'd seriously struggle with a puppy in your circumstances and an older puppy or older rescue dog is almost certainly a better option for you. I wouldn't personally (as a breeder) home a pup to someone in your situation.

I haven't read through all the posts so apologies if I'm repeating what's said already.
We have an absolutley gorgeous spaniel. He was 6 months when we got him so was already house trained and we didn't need/use a crate. He is NO trouble at all. He is on his own some days from 8.30 until 3.30pm and he's absolutley fine. I get up early in the mornings to give him a good walk before work in our local park so he gets all his toileting needs out of his system!!
Go for it - you sound like you'd be a great dog owner.
One thing to consider is who will mind the dog when you are away? We have a friend with a golden lab and we mind each other's dogs when we're away.

We got our dog from the Dogs Trust. If you have one of their rehoming centres near you, have a word with them, because they are real experts in matching dogs to people.

They act as sort of 'advocates' for the dog, to make sure its new owners suit its needs.

Sounds like you are a right bunch of dog-lovers, and they'll be able to find you a lovely dog. Also, they give you lots of advice about settling your dog in, and lots of support. Your nanny sounds as if she loves and understands dogs, too.

ps: my sister (five small DCs) says her rescue greyhound was the best dog she ever owned. Everyone I know with a greyhound is totally head over heels in love with them.

Leaving a dog for 5 hours a day is NOT a problem, leaving one for 10 hours a day would be.

We've had our dog for 4 years now and I leave at 9.am and am back at 2pm every day. He gets a long walk before I leave and a long walk about 4pm.

I leave him chewy toys, a bone, a treat and plenty of water.

He is fine. He sleeps most of the time I'm gone and apparently sits on the kitchen window seat watching birds sometimes. (neighbours tell me)

Working full time would be an issue, but part-time I feel is totally manageable.

we had a springer spaniel rescue dog 6 months ago, she had just turned 1 when we had her and although she hadn't been horribly mistreated, she hadn't been treated correctly. She has been a god send to us; I take her out for a walk in the morning then she is alone during school terms from 7.30am - 1pm when I run home during my lunch break to give her a quick fuss and play in the garden then my eldest takes her out when he gets in from school about 3.45. (in fact when we are off school she is shattered as she is so used to spending the entire morning on the settee fast asleep!)

She has brought so much joy to our home that I can't imagine life without her. She has taught my youngest who has learning difficulties so much already in this short amount of time!

The five hours is nothing, but please, please think about a rescue dog first; if your dp really wants a puppy, then there are many out there that need a good home from the many rescue centres, you might just have to wait a while.

The one thing I would want to point out though is research carefully the bread that would fit with your home, your children and your circumstances as each type of dog is very different. For example springer spaniels are 'nuts' and need a lot of attention but they are a fantastic family dog whereas other breeds may be less patient with younger childern

Is it just me who thinks that 5hrs is a long time to leave a dog?

Not sure if it´s correct, but have heard that here (germany), you can be prosecuted for leaving a dog for more than 4hrs.

I thought the nanny was going to look after the dog for that 5 hours, at least to start with? It is far too long to leave a puppy, and about the maximum even for a well-settled adult dog, I would only leave mine for 3-4 hours at the most.

I missed that about the nanny

But I still think that 5hrs is a long time even for an older dog.

They like company, don´t they?

Battersea will provide all sorts of advice to you and help to match you to a well suited dog (as would other groups obviously).
They will normally come and visit your home, meet all your family and get you to come in and meet potential candidates.
Dog walkers are a great way to provide relief to a bored dog. My Boxer somehow knows when it's Monday (his dog walker day) and waits by the front gate from the crack of dawn! Loves it!!