Working parents and dogs - can it work out?

[mamhaf]

My 2 DDs are 12 and 8 and desperate for a dog. Me and DH work fulltime, so most days the house is empty between 9 and at least 4...although DH is a local newspaper photographer and able to pop into the house at lunchtime most days. We do have an enclosed garden and utility room suitable for a dog flap plus a small wooden playhouse which the kids have outgrown and could easily convert to a kennel. BUT I've spoken to breeders (we're thinking about some sort of terrier, maybe a Welsh terrier or Jack Russell), and they've all tried to put us off - "the dog will be bored, destructive, noisy - what do you do then?" I feel mean denying the kids (and myself) a pet - but are the breeders right? Has anyone got any experiences - good and bad - to share - and if we do take the plunge - any advice? Would we be better going for a rescue dog rather than a puppy? Or just forget the whole thing?

my sister and her dh have a dog and both used to work all day. my mum had to drive everyday there to take the dog for a walk and it has caused no ends of hassle for them.
When I was a child we had a springer spaniel who was left on its own all day and was very destrucitve, we had to remove everything out of its reach as everyday somehting was destroyed. In the end it resorted to taking the pictures off the wall and it became very agressive and my mum had it pts.
It is really not fair on the dog.

We have a dog and work full time. The nanny is in and out in the day and I work from home a lot now, but we had the dog before we had dd and when I didn't work from home.

We had wanted a dog for years (were on verge of becoming first couple ever to have a baby as a dog substitute!!) and then I met a single bloke who worked and had a dog, asked him what he did and he said he had a dog minder!

So we checked out the local vet and lo and behold, for a tenner a day we could drop the pup off with the dog minder on the way to work and pick her up on the way back.

We did that until we had dd, and then of course I was at home for a few months. Then we got a dogwalker who picks her up at 11 and drops her back at 2.30 - 3, so she is never on her own for long.

ps agree unfair to have dog and leave at home all day on own

Our neighbours got a puppy a couple of months ago, (labrador I think). They are out at work all day most days, but a relative pops in at least once during the day. Increasingly the dog is sounding noisy and unhappy.

Well, as someone who has had to live next door with a dog that was left from 7.30am/8.00am every morning and the owners getting home sometime between 6/7pm - I'd say don't do it, it's not fair!!

The bl**y thing barked almost constantly during these hours - not so bad in the winter when we're indoors (detached) but the summer months were horrendous.

I know the neighbours the other side (retired couple) did actually complain about them. Not sure what happened after that - but the dog's gone - not sure if they got rid of it/died whatever - all I know is it's nice and quiet

Not only it is annoying for the neighbours, but I really don't think it's fair for it to be left alone all day. My DH (and kids!) want a dog but it will be me who is tied to the house with it. DH commutes into London daily - out 14/15 hours a day.

Have to agree, it is not fair to have a dog on its own all day, they are pack animals and need lots of company.

PLease dont! our neighbour does and altho he walks it int he am it barks all day

Think the breeder's right mamhaf.

We are both out of the house 3 days a week. We have 2 dogs. Initially I was at home and started working for a few hours. They are now "home alone" for about 7 hours once or twice a week. I did have someone to walk them when it was going to be 7 hours but 1 of them got upset when the walker left! There are no problems when no-one disturbs them in the middle of the day! I think they relish their time together - having 2 cerainly means they are company for each other. I wouldn't be hapy for them to be shut in all day every day.

yes but what anout your neighbours kids playing outside?

i totally admire the seriousness with which you are approaching this subject. i am a dog lover and always have had dogs, now have a alittle girl and a labrador (had the dog before the baby) and luckly i'm at home for now. but before having the baby, i was working full-time and used to do a combination of coming home during lunch break to walk the dog or using the services of a dog walker. what you have to consider is: if you get a puppy you'd need to bring it home during your holiday so you can spend time with it and educate it the way you want. i would definetelly reccomend a dog training course as it provides lots of advice and reassurance for you. the you'd have to gradually teach the dog to stay on its own at home. as a rule, i would nevber leave a dog on his own for more than 4 hours at a time (no matter how old or well behaved). it's only fair. so, with a puppy there's a lot of training to do and more walks to consider. no matter what dog you'll get they definettly need an early morning long walk. you could also opt for a rescue dog and then you'd have some idea of their behaviour. although you might find that some of these dogs were given away because nobody spent enough time with them in the first place. whichever one you choose, it is very important you spent at least a couple of month with them at home (i.e. taking for walks , training etc). after that, you'd need to gradually get them used to spend time on their own, and then make sure you can either come home during the day to see the dog or find a good dog walker (the local vets might have some phone numbers available). needless to say to be careful who you choose as you never know what sort of people you might come accross (we went through a few until we were absolutely sure of our dog walker)and discuss the price and responsabilities etc.
sorry it's a lenghty reply but i hope you'll make a good decision and remember if you do get a dog and plan going on holidays you'll have to consider the local kennels well in advance as the good ones are always fully booked. good luck!

forgot to say having a dog in the house it's absolutely wonderful -even if ther's a lot of cleaning up involved especially when it rains. but they're lovely.
PS terriers are a very active breed of dogs and need constant stimulation and entertainment so i wouldn't think they're the best to be left home alone. as a rule, hunting dogs need a lot of exercise (i.e. spaniels, terriers, setters, labradors and so on).

actually, it comes down to how bad do you yourself want to have a dog. once you answer that, take lots of advice and make up your own mind

Oh and don't forget the weekends! When you want to go out for the day either the dog has to come or you have to get up early, give it a good walk and arrange for someone to come in if you are away all day.

There is an event called "discover dogs" each year in London. It's run by the kennel club and you can go along and meet more than 200 different breeds, along with their breeders. The idea being that you can chat to the breeders, see what the dogs are really like and make an informed choice as to the sort of dog that is right for you. Might be worth a trip?

Have to say though, I don't think it is right to get a dog if you are going to be out all day.