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Original poster

we have had the offer of a dog!

14 replies

luminarphrases · 09/02/2008 17:46

for six months at least. sil and family are moving because of a work contract and have asked us to have their dog. i would be delighted to but am worried because sil is sahm but i work three days a week 10-4. is this too long to be away for a dog, esp for a dog thats not used to it? she is fantastically tempered dog and great with dd who is sometimes a little bit rough in her affections.

if we didn't take her, she'd have to go in kennels and i wouldn't like that, but if it's for the best and we could perhaps go visit her

OP posts:
smartiejake · 09/02/2008 19:07

It is rather a long time to leave a dog.

She might not stay a fantastically well tempered dog if she is left for so long on a regular basis. Have you any dog loving friends or neighbours who could let the dog out and take it for a short walk or play with it for 20 mins in the middle of the day? If it's only 3 times a week someone might be prepared to help. I have a fantastic neighbour who does this for my dog twice a week.
Another possibility is to find a dog walking service (perhaps your sil could contribute to this as it will be loads cheaper than putting a dog into kennels for months on end.)

clur79 · 09/02/2008 19:12

It depends on the dog. My dog was happy to be left for about 6 hours max, but he is an old dog who just wants to sleep all day anyway. I am now a SAHM and he still insists in sleeping all day anyway!

I would second finding out if your neighbours could help, a short break outside is all a dog would need during this time.

itsahardknocklife · 09/02/2008 19:17

I would imagine the dog would be ok if you took it for a walk before you went to work, but I appreciate that is not always possible. Smartiejake's idea of a dog walker while you are at work is a good one.

kaa0901 · 14/02/2008 22:37

our dogs manage fine for 8hrs at home. they have a long walk and breakfast in the morning, they then sleep (i know this cos if i dont shut the bedroom door, our youngest sleeps in the middle of our bed in the sun ), when dh gets home they are let into the garden and then get another walk after tea.

having said that they are only left two days a week. i also always leave the radio on for them so there is background noise. they dont bark or destroy anything and dont seem to suffering because of it.

CountryGirl2007 · 14/02/2008 22:45

3 days a week isn't much, you could take her out for a walk before you left for work and a nice long walk when you come home. maybe you could install a dogflap so she could go outside to go to the toilet when she wanted to? another thing you could do is adopt a second dog to keep her company and/or employ a dog walker to take her out in the middle of the day, about 1pm.

WiiMii · 14/02/2008 22:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sammy3 · 15/02/2008 18:08

My brother's dog is happy to be left for 8 hours 4 days a week. She has a long & a short walk every day and is content to stay home alone because she's used to it. You might have to get the dog used to it gradually, but I agree with WiiMii; it's preferable to being left in a kennel.

Original poster
luminarphrases · 15/02/2008 18:50

she's a lab, and either 4/5. we are definitely having her, you are right about it not being the Totally Perfect thing but better than kennels. now we're looking into dog walkers (unfortuntately don't know any neighbours). i'm just a bit worried about it being a culture shock for the dog, what with our house being half the size, with a garden to match

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magHOOVERlia74 · 15/02/2008 18:53

The size of the house and garden doesn't matther that much as long as she gets good walks on a daily basis. She will probably be quite happy to laze around if she has plenty of excerise before and after you are at work

Labs are great and friendly and loving and pretty easy going, you will love it

Does your sil leave her if she goes out for the day?

WiiMii · 15/02/2008 21:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
luminarphrases · 15/02/2008 21:44

yes wiimii, that's the next problem isn't it! this could well be a trial run for a dog of our own, it's the perfect opportunity.

think it would be a good idea for her to have two walks, instead of her traditional one, if it means she's settled in the day. and will have to remember to leave radio on in the day and some chewy bits and pieces

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magHOOVERlia74 · 16/02/2008 08:52

I would agree 2 walks would be better if possible, We do 1 walk on week days but 2 at the weekend and mine are more settled at the weekend

kaa0901 · 16/02/2008 09:55

there is a dog toy called a kong that u stuff with food & keeps a dog entertained whilst ur out. havong said that mine r content lying in the having peace whilst ds is out

Original poster
luminarphrases · 20/02/2008 19:49

the dog is arriving saturday!
we are all so excited. have dog-proofed the front room and got some bits and pieces in. still looking for a dog walker at present, but dh is going to pop home in lunchtime and run him around which is good

yay!

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