To think it’s fine to get a dog if you both work full time?

[chatterbug22]

As above, not about our situation but about a friend. I thought it would be interesting to see what people think.

They’ve wanted a dog for ages- one is a shift worker with several days off per week and the other works a very flexible 9-5 with half the week at home. Friend is upset as they’ve been told repeatedly that a dog is a massive tie and will prevent them from going on holiday / going away. She has worked out that there is only one day every couple of weeks that they wouldn’t be at home, and her dad lives just down the road and would be happy to pop in on the dog and give it a walk on these days. AIBU to think people just find an excuse to warn people off doing things these days? I don’t see an issue in their situation, pets bring massive joy!

No, owning a dog is a major responsibility. What happens if her Dad is unwell?

What if the dog has separation anxiety?

Is local doggy day care a possibility instead of the leaving the poor thing on its own half the time?

@GreenFingersWouldBeHandy there would be two days in any month that they would both be out the house simultaneously, and as far as I’m aware one of her close friends is a dog sitter so I think they would explore that option too. I was just more interested to see what people think.

We have a dog they a huge tie. If the dad calls in thats ok. I do part T now just wasnt fair the dog at home.

Working from home I think is fine. Its when you're out all day that I think is cruel. You sleep 8 hours a day. Working for say 9. The dog is spending 19 out-of 24 hours alone and cannot even go out to pee.

Well what they have been told is right. A dog will be a massive tie and hugely affect holidays and what they can do outside of work. I don't have an opinion. Some people in their circs will go to huge trouble to give the dog a happy and suitable life and some will not. Wanting a dog for years is not a good enough argument for getting one IMO. Have they had dogs before? Do they know what they are taking on?

'2 people working full time' is often the short hand for "no one is in the home for 8 hours every single day". In that scenario without day time care for the dog it is cruel.

Someone is always at home during the day even though we both work, and we have helpful relatives nearby - no one would blink an eye at that.

i think their situation, if they stick to it, is perfectly fine to have a dog. On the days neither will be in the house all day, probably better to book doggy day care (that’s what I did and it also socialises the dog massively, which is super important).

yes of course having a dog makes life a bit more complex when trying to have a social life/go on holiday, but the majority of people become so super attached and in love with their dogs, that they are absolutely fine with having to miss the odd social event (or even holidays if their boarding arrangements fail)

It’s fine.
This is our set up. I work shifts and DP goes to office once a week.

We even have a side hustle and look after a couple of dogs for a local dog boarding agency.

Its a rare occasion we are both out and on those days we don’t have boarders in and neighbour lets the dog out. We swap favours with friends in regards to dog care when we go on holiday. Everyone is happy and the dogs give us a huge amount of pleasure.

A dog is a huge tie. I have one and so no holidays for me. There's a lot of planning and expense in making sure dog doesn't spend the day alone. She is lovely but a massive commitment. I think everyone in the house needs to be onboard with the idea of getting a dog otherwise it is not fair.

Why can't they dog walk to help others out?

I would love a dog but we both work full time and there is no way. My DP and DSis live close by and share the dogs between them.

It's not fair to expect a dog to sit at home all day, they are individual social creatures with personalities and needs.

That's fine. She has thought through how to ensure someone is there for dog to walk him/her. They may be working FT but one is wfh and the other on shift patterns with dad round the corner to help and a back up friend who is dog sitter! Your friend has more cover than most people!!

My friend works FT and got dog pre covid - got up early to walk him, went home at lunchtimes to walk him, DCs were home 3.30pm and walk him then and they walk him again long walk in evenings. Her mother walks him if she is in training all day,

I'm jealous as she's lost so much weight! And DDog is now her favourite child 🐕🤣

It's sweet but like talking to a mum with a pfb! It's years of hearing about everything he does!!

She takes him with her on most U.K. holidays they have and has a friend at work who stays at hers to dog sit when she goes away.

It can be done but only by recognising DDogs needs

Our neighbours work full time (very stressful jobs too where they're having to go on trips away etc). They manage absolutely fine. They get up early and walk the dog before breakfast, and then walk the dog after their dinner at night. They've also got a fantastic woman who comes a couple of times a week if they're especially busy during the day to take it on a long walk.

The dog used to have awful seperation anxiety (you'd hear it whining in the daytime) but now it's absolutely fine.

My best friend and her partner work shifts and they have a dog - it's absolutely fine and on the very rare occassion they can't walk the dog for whatever reason, a friend of family member will pop in to let the dog out.

I personally wouldn't get a dog as I've got enough to think about with working and kids, but if they've got the space etc I see no issue really

It's completely fine.

We both work full time (well, me sligthly less), but I work from home. Once in a while I am away with work or need to go into the office and we just have a dog walker come in for our dog. She's completely fine.

I would get a low key breed in these circumstances though. You don't want one that needs hours of exercise a day, or is known to be destructive if left alone if you know that will happen on occassion.

If they're willing to pay for doggy daycare/dog walker on a regular basis, fine.

If they're planning on just leaving the dog alone for a large proportion of its life, not fine, and not fair.

There's a difference between being out of the house all day and what you've just described. We both work from home and occasionally need to go on site visits. We just manage it so someone is in the house or worst comes to worst our friend can come round if it's a whole day. Then if they're not available we have a local dog care we can send him to which is where he goes if we are away for long weekends. For holidays he stays with the in laws (but we're careful not to take the piss) and we will watch their dogs when they're away. So yes it can be done you just need to be organised.

Can she not get 2 dogs?
That would be slightly better I think, to give each other company when no one's home.

Dont rely on professional doggy care, all the local kennels and dog sitters here are full to bursting, and it seems to be all over the country.

It's definitely doable, but it's the getting to that stage that needs considering. Our dog is 8 months old and we are only just getting to a point where we dont have to constantly watch her, and we can leave her for a good 2 hours (only ever after a long walk) etc. It's all doable, but still a huge commitment and a lot of work but if they want a dog that passionately then they will find it rewarding and be fine with putting in the hard work.

It's perfectly fine as long as you plan in advance! We both work full time, but the dog goes to day care a couple of days, to my mum and dad's a couple of days and with me to work at other times as my environment allows this.

Personally we don't leave him unattended barely ever (aside from an hour here and there for a supermarket run etc) but that's just us - and we have holidays together rather than boarding but again, totally personal choice.

He's very happy, social and no signs of anxiety at all.

I think some people don't realise the cost of responsible pet ownership, and it can well be the full time working people than can afford to care for their animals properly. Between daycare, insurance, good food and all the other fun bits, he probably costs us around £500.00 per month - paid for by working full time.

My DH works shifts, I do two days in the office, three days at home (even before the pandemic), one of which is always DH's day off. So there's a max of one day a week where she might be on her own for four hours. We have a dog walker booked in on that day to keep our slot, so even if my DH isn't working, she comes and takes her out.

What you have described is perfectly fine.

Tell your friend to tell those commenting to butt out.
Everyone is an armchair expert these days and are too quick to offer their unwanted opinions

It's a good point - they'll need to consider how they manage the puppy stage where the puppy needs supervision almost constantly. Shifts is well and good, but presumably there is sleep involved etc.

But there are definitely more and less high maintenance breeds (and individual dogs). Advise your friends to choose wisely. Our dog is 9 months old, and she's been fine to leave to 6 hours at a time for a couple of months already (she sleeps, no signs of distress, no accidents). We worked hard on seperation anxiety from the beginning though and she's VERY chilled out .

No

I have to be honest and say I wfh full time and even then find having a dog a bit of a tie. Up early every morning to make sure he has a decent walk before logging in, spend most of my lunch break walking him then as soon as I finish for the day we’re out for another walk. I do live in a flat though which means we’re out more than most. I think having my dog adds an extra couple of hours ‘work’ into my day.

I'd say it depends on a wide range of factors. The small dog rescue charity I support is full to bursting and regularly has dogs that people have given up because it was too much work and/or expense for them, or the dog wasn't perfectly behaved when they were out and chewed things in the house or needed the toilet and had to go indoors, etc.

They need to know that it's expensive, takes a lot of time to train a dog (and it never ends, to be honest) and that this is a living being who - if not given the time, love and care to settle - might be damaged by its experiences if they end up relinquishing it.