To want a dog?

[Mrsjones17]

I’ve wanted a dog for as long as I can remember. I grew up with a lab and loved him like part of the family. I was defeated when he died and we had 13 wonderful years with him. Now I’ve got my own house a decent 3 bed with a good garden etc. I really would like to have another dog. My DH is relatively suppprtive of the idea but is worried about the dog being on his own on the day. I do agree with him and worried about this myself. We have to leave the house at 7am in the morning and get back about 5pm. I would have a dog walker to take him out in the day. I am a teacher so have lots of holidays and we are an active couple. Always out and about and I think a dog would really suit our lifestyle. It’s just in the day when we’re at work. Every two weeks DH works nights so is at home in the day but I still worry that it’s not fair on the dog to be left. Surely other people have dogs and work? AIBU is it not fair to have one? For what it’s worth we are looking at a boarder terrier.

My mum and dad have a lab, dad recently retired but before then he'd walk the dog early before work, a good couple of miles, then again about five when he got home, in summertime dad would ride his bike a good ten miles or so and dog would run alongside (woods, fields etc not roads) , dog was on his own from about nine thirty when mum went to work until five when dad got home. He was fine ndn had a key and always says of he was barking etc he'd go in and see him/walk him (retired) but never had to. So with a dog walker mid day too the dog should be fine as long as it isn't an anxious type.

Mum and dad are also very active like UK breaks etc so the dog gets lots of attention at weekends and in holidays. He's getting older now and can't always keep up with recently retired dad who wants to go out walking or cycling all the time!

i think, like mine, you would need someone to at least pick it up around 10am and take the dog for a half day with maybe a 4pm drop off so that it wasn't alone all day. Just getting someone in to walk it would mean it was asleep alone all night then alone 9 hours during the day. kind of a pointless life just for the couple of hours each evening it would get with you.

3pm not 4 sorry.

I'd look into daycare, ddog goes twice a week and loves it (I'm at home the rest of the week). In fact he loves it so much that we're going to keep sending him despite the fact that DH will now be at home the days I'm out. The only issue is you might still have to pay in your school holidays, our daycare is super flexible though so might be OK.

I do think it's doable, especially with your holidays and your DH working some nights but I'm not sure a walk would be enough during a full day.

FASH84 your parents left their labrador for 7.5 hours a day every day!? I'd never leave mine for more than 4 hours and even then I feel guilty!
Op, your situation sounds doable with the help of a dog walker. Go for it, they are such wonderful creatures! Maybe try to get the dog during the holidays so you have plenty of time to train it?

You'd manage. We have a dog and both work full time (and I travel loads with work) and it's fine. We've a dog walker who comes in at lunch time to walk her, and we do before and after work. Our dog is absolutely fine with this and at weekends you can tell she's exhausted having to deal with us all day

My only comment would be that our dog is pretty lazy and (as you probably know having had a lab) they are more energetic and intelligent than a lot of other dogs, so may require more time/attention? Would it be a lab you'd be getting or are you talking "dog" in general?

Ether way I'm sure you'll be fine. Dogs adapt. As long as it's loved, fed, watered and walked it'll be happy.

Border terriers need a lot of exercise. I’d say it’s the wrong breed for people who aren’t there half the time. I don’t think anyone working full time should have that situation for their dog. Mine are never left more than 4 hours due to dh’s shifts/lovely neighbour who takes them into her house.

I wouldn’t recommend a puppy unless you can time it for the start of the summer holidays ans some decent day care.

Doggy daycare often isn't much more expensive than dog walkers. Mine goes to daycare when I am working in the office and loves it. He gets company and gets to play with his four legged friends.

Don’t get a puppy - it’s not fair to leave a pup alone so much
Try for a rescue dog that’s a bit older and that’s used to a quiet house so it will be comfortable on its own for extended periods.

Pro dog walker here. We look after several teacher's dogs. Ideally the pup arrives around the beginning of the long summer holiday so you can really put some time in. With puppies, we will come in as many times as needed in the early months, and gradually work the pup into the group walks.

One of ours is a Labrador who started this system nearly thirteen years ago, she's still going strong although getting a bit creaky. She's always been calm and quiet when collected (in fact usually asleep under the piano!) as she gets a good run with her owner first thing. We collect her about 11 and she gets another hour's walk. I understand she's usually fast asleep under her piano when owner gets home. She's got a perfectly lovely dogbed in the kitchen but no, under the piano on the carpet is where she likes to be!

You would definitely need to arrange some kind of dog care or dog walker. My dog used to come to work with me. It really isn’t fair to leave it alone all day, sure there are plenty of people that do it but it doesn’t mean it’s right. They’re pretty social animals and enjoy company. My dog has separation anxiety and would cry and pace if left alone for a more than a couple of hours. 7-5 is a really long time.

We have a dog and both work full time but dog goes to doggy daycare and never left for more than 4 hours at a time. Some other friends 'dog share' so look after each others dogs as much as possible to reduce time alone. Obviously doggy daycare does add up though so something to consider.

They are very sociable animals and really need company, it's easy to get behavioural problems if they're lonely or not stimulated enough.

I agree - look into doggy daycare it's often only a few £ more expensive than a walker. As a pp said just a walker will mean dog being asleep all night and alone for a large part of the day. Some dogs will be fine; others won't cope and can become destructive.

I'm a teacher like you. I got our dog just before the start of the summer holidays. DH took a week off then I was off for 6 weeks so was a good time to get the dog trained and ready to be left but my God going back in September was so hard (for me, dog was fine!)

My dog spends a large part of the day with my MIL so he's not on his own too long.

@toolonglurking, three days a week as dad had a work from home day and mum has a day off mid week, both around at weekends. As I say the plan was for ndn to see to him on those days but he mainly slept and got lots of exercise morning and evening.

as I listen to the echoing barking which sometimes goes on for four hours - no. daycare every day or no dog.

borrow my doggy is good, although often canine psychos due to people who didnt think.

OP it's not just about the walking or toilet breaks.

Dogs are social creatures.

To keep them in solitary confinement to use them as toys for your own pleasure when you have the time is fucking cruel

RSPCA recommends no more than 4 hours alone. 7-5 is 10.
Even with an hour dog walker that's 9 hours alone a day. My dog wouldn't cope at all.
Daycare could work but they wouldn't take a pup. May even want them to be neutered!
And its Border not boarder terrier!

I think you could definitely have a happy dog, but I urge you to reconsider the breed. Boarder Terriers need a massive amount of exercise, and any breed which does can become problem dogs when they don't get it. They have a huge supply of energy, and when it is not used they often turn to destructive behaviours to deal with their anxiety. There are many other wonderful breeds that would be better for your current lifestyle.

Sorry, Border, not Boarder!

I would probably avoid Border's (quite energetic), and other working types. How about a retired greyhound? They are generally quite happy to snooze during the day, a walk with the dog walker and then out with you in the evening (or morning) should be plenty of exercise for them.

A proper rescue should be able to assess your lifestyle and match you up with a suitable dog (breed and personality wise).

Get two - they keep each other company :)

(Says she with seven!!)

If I was in your position I would pay for doggy daycare, where I live (North West) it is £12 a day and they pick up and drop off plus you'll only be paying it 9 months of the year so it's not too bad. The dog will be entertained and socialised all day then rather than sitting at home alone.

Don't get two at the same time!!!! If they're from the same litter they'll bond with each other not you, and if they're not they'll squabble. I have encountered both these situations more than once, with the siblings in all three cases they were quite simply untrained and untrainable, and in two cases quite nasty, snappy and territorial, and with the same age un-related dogs it ended both times with one having to be rehomed.

Doggy daycare would be your friend. As the owner of a 6 month old puppy I'd second the opinion that this would absolutely not work for a pup. Daycare won't take them round by us until they are vaccinated and neutered. Something that can't happen until they are > 6months old at least. Our puppy can be left alone for a couple of hours but it took us weeks to get him used to being alone very gradually. A rescue might work for you with good daycare.