should my mum get a dog?

[batsintheroof]

Hello all fellow dog lovers

My mum would really love a little doggie, and we all grew up with yorkshire terriers. My mum was heartbroken when the last one died. She's always worked fulltime, but previously me and sibs were at school so the little doggie was never alone for too long.

My mum has a dogflap and a medium sized very secure garden which has been tested thoroughly by my brother's mad terrier cross. So, if she got a non-barker the doggie would be able to go outside during the day whenever it wanted. There's no issues with dog snatching as we live in a cul de sac and the garden is surrounded by houses on all sides with high fencing and is not overlooked due to all the houses being bungalows. My mum's also got cats who are used to dogs, even if they wont ever be best friends! My mum spends (almost literally) all her time off at home, she never really goes out and would love a little companion.

My question is, should my mum go for it and get a doggie? It would be an adult rescue dog. I would be around fulltime to settle it in for a few months. However, would it's life be a sad one, given my mum works full-time and is it best to leave it? Are two doggies better, ? and would this solve the problem

TIA

its not it's!!! arrgghhh :)

Obviously it's not ideal to leave a dog for that length of time, dog flap or otherwise. They are social creatures. Could she hire a dog walker?

sadly no ellangirl, she wouldn't consider this as she's uncomfortable with strangers having unsupervised access to her house.

I wouldn't want a dog that would be left alone that long, I'm afraid, unless I had a dog walker. I did have a dog when I worked 4 days per week, but I worked shortish hours and had a dog walker who adored my dog, and would walk him with his 'best friend' (his dog) for well over an hour in hte middle of the day - then I would walk him again in the evening.
Even two doggies.....really don't think I would, sorry...
Might your Mum have a neighbour she trusts, who could come in and spend some time with two small doggies every day??

ou say if she gets a non barker it will be able to go out in the garden using the flap while she is away at work. what if she gets a 'barker'? will she keep it cooped up alone in the house all day? or will she just rehome it and try again for a 'non-barker'?

have to say though, i agree with others. barker or not, garden access or not. i wouldn't be happy spending 8 hours a day alone.

I only said non-barker because i know some breeds are non-barkers generally, i.e. greyhounds, lurcher types. I thought that a good rescue would know this sort of information, especially if the dog had been in a foster home?

Of course she wouldn't rehome it The non-barker bit was just in case it would annoy the neighbours but no-one uses their gardens during the day round here and there are no other dogs, so probs wouldn't be a problem

Anyway, i think i agree with you all. It probably isn't a good idea and tis a shame.

dogs barking does permeate through walls you know. if the dog is barking in the garden, the neighbours would still hear it in their houses. either way, a barking dog isn't exactly a relaxed dog is it. so neighbours or no neighbours you wouldn't want your dog to be barking in the garden all day.

NO I meant that dogs normally bark because there are other people around, at least in MY experience. If there's nothing to bark at the dog is less likely to.

Anyway, not that it matters, given i stated above that i agreed with the above posters

or they bark out of boredom.

I know it's a hard conclusion to come to bats, but I think you're right. A rescue prob wouldn't rehome to your mum anyway. She might have to wait til retirement!