About Dogs again - questions, questions

[handlemecarefully]

I want one, I want one, I want one! Had one as a child and lover her to bits.

A few questions:

*Is it fair to leave a dog on their own from 07.05 to 17.00 Monday to Wednesday (whilst at work)?
*If you are going to do this should you get two so that they can keep each other company?
*If yes its okay to leave them, when leaving a dog like this, should they be left indoors or outdoors. I don't like the idea of 'imprisoning' the dog indoors and would like him / her to have run of garden. But would they get too cold in bitter weather?
*which breed of dogs have the best reputation with small children
*which breed of dogs are the least like to escape (jump hedges, tunnel under hedges etc). I live on a busy road and don't want dog to escape and get run over by articulated lorry

• would I be taking on too much with a 16 month old and another baby due next April?

Thanks if you can help

Suedonim,

I've only got one neighbour (who breeds small dogs!), on my other side we have a cabbage field! So whilst a fair point, we don't have many people to potentially disturb....

I shall put out feelers around and about re anyone would be interested in helping out Monday - Wednesday (if we go ahead).

Forestfly - chatting up other dogwalkers sounds good. After all with 2 under two and a dog, I may as well throw an extra marital affair into the melting pot too!

My Dh (and the kids) would love to get a dog but I am refusing - as it would be ME who would be the main carer! My DH commutes into London daily leaving 5am getting home 7.30pm (ish!) so would be no use

I have 3 children, work part-time and do voluntary work in the school on my days off - so am rarely in the house during the week. Plus I have 2 cats and 2 rabbits - and they are plenty of work in themselves and I don't think my cats would be too impressed if I moved a dog in!

I really don't think it's fair to have a dog if it will be left alone during the house - and I would hate to think of the mess upon returning home.

Like the above poster, my neighbour had a dog which was left alone from 8am right through to 7pm and the b**dy thing drove me potty as it barked all day long. I was at the point of reporting them to the RSPCA but felt a bit mean. My other neighbour didn't feel so mean as he did report them

hmc have you had a dog before? Do you realise how much work is involved when they are puppies? You have to spend time socialising and training them if they are going to be good family pets.

hmc- what about a small dog and a dog flap so that the dog can have the run of the garden when you are out if toilet is needed. Worked for me. (thats if you are determined to have one anyway of course )

countessdracula

Yes I have - but only as a child (when undoubtedly my mum took on the lionshare of responsibility for training it)....

Miggy,

What sort of small dog do you have - and is he / she an 'escapologist'/ barker/ etc?

How often do you leave him or her?

HMC, I have a jack russell and she is left whilst I am at work. However, I have a large cat flap and she goes in/out of the garden at will. I got a kitten couple of weeks before and believe it or not they love each other to bits. Cat also showed dog how to use catflap. I don't think it's cruel to leave her whilst she can go out. But I don't think you should leave an animal inside all day and not expect it to shit/pee.

It was prechildren with a Cavalier king charles spaniel. Now with children, people are around most of the day. But then I was working and if I couldnt get home at lunchtime I knew dog would be ok. Actually saved her life because we had a kitchen fire (from solid fuel aga) and I had gone to shops, came back and kitchen was full of smoke etc and her wicker basket burned to a placemat but dog was found in the garden. No not a barker or an escaper.

I have two dogs and I have to hoover every day sometimes twice and you never seem to get all the hairs up - am I the only one?

anyway hmc they are hard work, I have two small kids also. I am a sahm and am in most the day pop out for the occassional hour or 2 and still get complaints off the neighbours. I will be glad when we move somewhere different because this bunch of snobs drive me mad

do think about it carefully.

Fairysnuff, Hmc; if you don't have neighbours, the nuisance factor won't apply.

Lol at the e/m affair scenario - "Their eyes met over a full-to-the-brim dog poop bag...."

I think you should worry less about the neighbours complaining and more about the poor dog being left for so long that it barks and cries.

If you have a happy dog it doesn't do that.

Sorry that last bit came out wrong. I mean all dogs will bark and cry sometimes but usually only if left regularly for long periods of time and they then fear being left.

cd my dogs are happy - the neighbours moan about them playing up the garden mostly not when I leave them. It is some senile old bag who lives 2 doors down who complains about everyones dogs not just mine.

anyway I only leave them for 2 hours at the most - not all day

fio2 I wasn't trying to imply that your dogs are unhappy!!! Just trying to say that you shouldn't have a dog and leave it all day, which I know you don't.

That's why I added that extra bit. sorry

sorry cd I was just trying to explain my situation. I understand not everyone likes dogs and a dog barking for long peiods is an annoyance but some people up here really take the p**s. I mean mine run up the garden and play yap at one another occassionally and we get loads of tut-tuts.

fio2, I think your dogs are yapping about all your hoovering...!

lol most probably!

my dog only barks at magpies,she absolutely hates them,mind you so does dh being a sunderland supporter

Our puppy has been here 3 weeks. She has chewed through the telephone wire- amongst other things- despite never being left alone. As I type I can hear her upstairs jumping so I'll have to dash up & rescue the children in a mo. She is in biting mode... she's a puppy, that's what they do!

I haven't had an unbroken night in 3 weeks because she wakes for a wee every 2- 4 hours & I have to get up & take her outside.

My kids are all teens & get fed up with the dog. I wouldn't do this with 2 babies.

HMC maybe you should wait for a little while at least.

We will hopefully be getting a dog next year. Both DH and I have had dogs in the past and with twin ds' turning 2 at Christmas they are old enough for me to handle everything. We are sticking with a larger dog as that is what we are used to and we can train. I am quite ready to be the main dogsbody (har har) so get to choose

There are a lot of valid points being made about the responsibility. Maybe a smaller pet would be easier for you. DH's uncle has built his own special kennel for his GSD, a wooden shed with all creature comforts, a run surrounded by a high wire fence. As the dog is only in there occassionally it works for them. Buzz sometimes wants to go there for some peace and quiet!

Does someone have a dog you can borrow for a weekend or so? We used to babysit our friends boxer, until he moved up to Elgin, so we already have part of a routine in place.

Thanks all,

I've slept on it overnight and decided to leave it a couple of years until the kids are past young baby and toddlerdom and thus are not completely dependent upon me...

I've got 3 gerbils but it just aint the same

HMC _ I have a house rabbit and he is WONDERFUL! Ds loves him and the rabbit follows ds about everywhere. Its very funny. No probs leaving a rabbit all day as long as they get out for a run every evening (watch the wires though!). They are MUCH cheaper, and MUCH easier to cope with. And very sweet.

HMC, Sorry for sounding so critical yesterday, its something that is close to my heart, anyone who owns or wants to own dogs should read up on the implications, so I thought I would send you some information which might be of interest, I hope it helps and put things in a true prospective for you, good luck..

All dogs, no matter the breed or type, need time and attention. If you?re thinking about getting a dog, it?s essential that you?re prepared to walk in all weathers, groom and care for the dog, as well as pay for veterinary treatment, food and care when you go on holiday. Every dog - of any size or shape - needs socialisation and training to become a valued family member. If you are considering getting a dog, make sure you meet several adults of the breed, so that you can gauge what you will need to provide for the rest of its life.

There are literally hundreds of breeds of dog - as well as countless crossbreeds and mongrels. However, there is no such thing as a 'perfect' dog. Breed specific behaviour is greatly influenced by environmental factors - where the puppy is born, what the parents were like and how much socialisation it has had prior to being collected by its new owners. This makes meeting the mother, and the father too if possible, absolutely essential. Puppies need to be born and raised in a domestic environment - they need to have been exposed to all the kinds of things which they will have to cope with later on - this includes other dogs, other animals, lots of adults and children!

This means that where you buy a puppy is crucial. No matter how tempted you are, NEVER buy a puppy from a pet shop or dealer. If you can?t meet the puppies? mother, or the breeder has several different breeds of puppy available, be suspicious - the pups may well have come from a puppy farm.
Sadly, many pedigree dogs suffer from hereditary health problems, such as hip dysplasia, eye problems and heart murmurs. A reputable breeder will be honest about this and will have only bred from parents that have been tested.

have a look at this