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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To get a dog?

28 replies

Wanderlust1984 · 26/08/2017 23:35

I fucking LOVE dogs. I live alone with 7 yo DD. I really want to home a rescue dog. Is it doable with a FT job? I could nip home some lunchtimes or work from home and/or have family closeby who could help. Is this cruel??

OP posts:
user1499786242 · 27/08/2017 20:28

Personally I find my dog very hard work. Love him to bits and he's treated very well but we won't ever get another dog once he dies!
I can't quite imagine having to work full time, look after a house, a 7 year old and a dog
But fair play if you make it work! Supermum!!!

(Dont get a terrier)

caffeinequick · 28/08/2017 21:18

Do it :) we had a dog walker come by when we were both working. I'm a sahm now so it's not a problem. My boys adore our dog and I love seeing them all grow up together.

user1494426473 · 28/08/2017 22:43

I'm sorry but no, as a general rule it's very cruel and selfish thing to do, PARTICULARLY to a rescue dog who has already been passed from pillar to post and is already going to be feeling anxious and unsettled. I'm afraid it sounds like you are only thinking about what you will get of the arrangement, not the poor dog.

I know there will be people out there who work full time and have dogs but "nipping home" really isn't good enough, at the very least you need someone who can reliably visit the dog for 1-2 hours every day (every. single. day) to walk the dog, play with him and offer him some affection and company. A quick toilet break is NOT adequate, the poor dog will constantly be living for the sound of someone coming to visit him just so he can get a little bit of attention. When people suggest this arrangement I'm afraid I always ask them to consider how they would feel being left completely alone at home for 8-10 hours per day staring at the same four walls. What would you do if you wanted to go out after work or were caught up at the office? Ask yourself can you honestly commit to taking the dog for a long walk every day and then taking it to training and socialisation classes, vet trips etc whilst working full time?

The only circumstances in which it might be acceptable to have a dog if you work full time is if you are able to work from home a few times a week, bring the dog to work with you or, in very rare circumstances, if you have two dogs to keep each other company and arrange for a dog walker to come and attend to them once or twice a day. I hasten to add dogs are VERY hard work and although they are extremely rewarding they require a lot of investment and attention and time, particularly in the first few months, so I would not suggest that getting two rescue dogs at the same time is a good idea as you are creating twice as many challenges and twice the work. I think a wonderful thing for you to do with your passion for dogs would be to volunteer at your local shelter at weekends, that way you get to experience different breeds and walk them, play with them etc without creating a situation where the dog is going to be missing out on socialisation, mental stimulation and human interaction.

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