to think that we shouldn't be getting a dog just now?

[HarrySnotter]

First post. !

DH and I have been debating about getting a dog for the last 3 years or so. I always had dogs as a child (he did too as a young adult) and would absolutely love to have one as our family pet. We have two children 9 and 7.

My worry is that the dog would be on it's own for too long during the day. That is absolutely my only concern but it's really putting me off. I work from 8 til 1 every day and I work very close to home so taking into consideration dropping the children at school and getting home (2 mins, literally) I would be out of the house for just over 5 hours a day every day. (I work term time also if that's relevant)

I just worry that it's too long. Obviously the dog would be walked early in the morning and as soon as I get home and again at night but I still worry that it's too long. DH says I am being completely unreasonable and that it would be fine and that I am looking for excuses not to have one. This is absolutely not true, I would really love a dog but I want the dog to be happy and comfortable, not miserable and lonely.

He has found a rescue dog that is exactly what we would be looking for and now I feel in such a position it's totally getting me stressed. She's a beautiful dog, perfect for us in every way apart from this worry I have.

Now I know this is not a major problem compared to many things I see on here but I do think getting a dog is a big decision and I want to do the right thing. Any advice would be much appreciated.

[EuroShagmore]

Labs won't bark if left (in my experience). They will just glue themselves to the front door like a draught excluder!

[Varya]

Have always had rescue dogs and they adjust to new owners at varying rates but labs in particular are usually good and not too highly strung. We had a dog walker who was ideal and never left the dogs for too long at a time.

[Christelle2207]

Really does depend on the dog but for many I would have thought ok. We are out 8-6 (albeit not every day) which is a big fat no unless we can get someone else in at lunchtime.

[moisturiser]

KFC I was going to say the same, 8 hours would be awful for most dogs.

I say that as someone who lives next door to a family who leave their collie for 8 hours a day. It barks, it whines. I feel so sorry for it. I'm quite sure they come home each day too thinking it's been fine.

OP fingers crossed they say that particular dog could cope for being left for that long, I'm sure in every other way you could give it a great home.

[KentuckyFriedChildren]

Well she isn't alone all the time as such- dh is in bed for most of that though as he works nights, so though there is often someone in the house, she isn't getting outside or seeing anyone as the bedroom door is shut. I just count that as alone as there is nobody actually with her iyswim. She definitely isn't barking or dh would wake up and she doesn't destroy the house. Saying that she is very placid and gets v long walks twice a day. Me leaving the house is unavoidable as it's usually for hospital appointments. We live rurally so when she does go out we run the legs off her and she is happy and sleeps for a fair chunk of the day. I know this wouldn't work with many dogs though as we have had others who needed you to be around all the time, and luckily then I wasn't ill so I was around a lot more. I agree with the kong idea, though our dog has managed to chew through an extreme before, but she is a power chewer.

[HarrySnotter]

Well to update. We have reserved her and we are being checked out next week! She is the most beautiful dog ever and I have gone from being unsure to being desperate to have her. I think it was the eyes and now I'm totally in love with her. The rescue centre say that she is used to children and was often left for 7 hours + previously so perhaps it'll be a little easier for her now if we're lucky enough to get her. Very nervous and excited now!

[Wheresmycaffeinedrip]

:o good luck!!!!

[countrykitten]

Oh Harry that is such wonderful news! Good luck with the homecheck - she sounds so lovely!

[countrykitten]

KFC - at 'power chewer'!

[Lovethesea]

Fantastic news, she sounds a perfect match for you. I think most dogs will be fine with 5 hours if they get tons of attention and love the rest of the time. Your house will be quiet and warm and safe and totally non stressful unlike kennels.

We got a cat as our kids are small and I am trying to increase work hours as they age so don't know what pattern we'll have in a year or two. He's great because he thinks sleeping 17 hours a day is a minimum and has a 2 and 4 year old to entertain him for a number of hours a day, fields behind to hunt and snack in and our kingsize bed for his dreams. Hope we can get a dog one day though, they are fantastic. Enjoy!

[ElsieMc]

We have a lab and she settles well when left. I think that labs in particular adapt well to a routine. For example, ours will sleep a lot in the morning then be raring to go around lunchtime. Everyone remarks that she is a very happy, contented dog.

A rescue dog is different of course as she will have to adapt to changes in routine, but given the breed I have no doubt this will not take too long. Good luck.

[Happiestinwellybobs]

Exciting news. our lab goes to doggie daycare 3 days a week as we are out from 8-5.30. The other day I'm at home with him, and the 1 day he is home by himself, he sleeps all day, having been worn out at daycare.

The fact that you have thought all this through shows what a good owner you will be. Good luck :)

[KentuckyFriedChildren]

countrykitten it was how the vet described her. She has an incredible jaw (staffie) and can get through pretty much anything. We don't buy toys for her anymore as once she hit about 6 months she was able to eat (and I mean literally eat) even the toughest. I've been recommended one of those stag antlers so I'm gonna see if that works, since at least that isn't plastic and she is supposed to ingest it :o She has a penchant for eating blankets too, and ate part of her bed- she now sleeps on the floor under the coffee table as we won't give her anything textile based again. She was t-rexing stringy poos for a week the last time, the daft sod. She won't eat anything else though, just nicks the kids' soft toys and sort of cuddles and licks them. She's a real sweetie

[TheFunPolice]

KFC stag antlers are brilliant! Apart from being left in places designed to trip me up.

[tropicalfish]

I dont understand why you would want a dog. Why would anyone want to tie themselves down with the responsibility.
Arent there going to be days where you want to go out for the whole day.
What about a dog's barking. Doesnt that put you off. What about your neighbours enjoyment of their garden, do you think its fair to put a barking and territorially aggressive dog in your garden, doesnt that impact other people.

[Illgetmegoat]

Tropicalfish - are you having an issue with your neighbours and their dogs?
Your response seems frothingly specific.

Good luck OP - she sounds lovely, I hope your checks go well.

[CoolaSchmoola]

tropicalfish - lots of sweeping statements there! Sheesh!

None of my dogs have ever been territorially aggressive of my garden because they are trained - but even if they were as it is my garden (back not front) how on earth would them being territorial over it affect anyone else? To be affected the person in question would have to be IN my garden, without me (dogs trained so wouldn't make a peep if I was there) - and then I'd want the dogs to be territorial as there is no reason for anyone to be in my back garden without my knowledge.

None of my dogs are allowed to bark outside - the slightest noise and they are hoiked in. End of story. Consequently they don't bark in the garden.

In fact the only times they bark are at the doorbell and the window cleaner. Being as both signal someone is on my property then again, I want to know.

As for why anyone would want to tie themselves down with the responsibility of a dog.... Well you could say the same about kids....

It sounds like you are coming at this from a very skewed standpoint, I'm guessing your neighbours have dogs who do all the things you describe. In pretty much every case of dogs causing an issue it's down to the owners not training them or meeting their needs, so to rail about all dogs when you've probably come in contact with useless owners is unfair.

Good luck OP - hope everything works out!

[Empress77]

Tropical Fish I have the opposite view! - I cant understand how people can not want a dog! They are amazing! My poor dog put up with me being grumpy all day yesterday and yet still loves me soo much. He sees his job in life is to be my protector and yesterday chased off a fox from outside my front door with no fear (despite being very elderly & arthritic and smaller than the fox). Id hate to be without him. :)

[countrykitten]

I cannot imagine our home without dogs. They are the best.

[HarrySnotter]

tropicalfish I'm guessing you don't like dogs?

I did mention in a previous post that we have no close neighbours and as for tying us down, this is something we have obviously considered. We holiday in this country anyway so the dog would come with us too and if we were to be out for a day when we can't take her, MIL has already offered to have her on the odd occasion. To me, they are part of your family really.

[NaturalBlondeYeahRight]

I work pretty much the same hours as you and our dog is fine. She goes out for quick walk in the morning and still snoozing when I get home (I have a very lazy dog)

[tropicalfish]

Hi all,
yes you are all right, my neighbour has a dog which barks non stop when it is outside. It follows me and hurls itself against the fence when I do gardening or walk through my side gate. It has a nasty bark. It is part beagle and beagles have very loud aggressive barks and also track people the other side of fences.
It is a real problem in our area, everyone around here puts there dog in the garden at 6pm just as the last warm sunshine disappears from the garden so there is almost always a dog barking all of the time and sometimes more than one. Surely even dog lovers can understand what that feels like.
Essentially I am a quiet fish

[CoolaSchmoola]

You don't have problem dogs living near you Tropicalfish - you have ignorant, selfish neighbours who haven't bothered to train their dogs!

The vast majority of dogs are emminently trainable, even Beagles who don't have to bark or track people. My dog is a sight hound, a Bedouin hunting breed designed to chase, catch and kill anything that moves. But she doesn't - because I trained her not to.

Beagles are hard work, and it sounds like your neighbours can't be arsed to put the time in.

[countrykitten]

Agreed. It is your stupid and uncaring neighbours who are the problem - don't blame the dogs.