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The doghouse

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Thinking of getting a dog - need advice

38 replies

gailpottertilsleyplatt · 13/08/2011 10:09

We have always been a cat family but our last cat sadly died a few months ago and we are thinking of getting a dog but are a bit clueless.

First off, we wouldn't buy one from a breeder because we think breeding pets is ethically wrong; some people might find that a bit pompous but at least you know where we're coming from!

DH thinks we should get a puppy because we have one DD, nearly 7, and she has only known old cats and he thinks it would be nice for her to have a young pet. Where's the best place to look for a puppy?

One thing I'm concerned about is that I will hopefully be getting a job before Christmas and this means the dog will be left at home all day, no problem with a cat but how would a dog manage? I will have very long holidays and, when we're not at work, the dog will come just about everywhere with us - will this be enough for her?

TIA

OP posts:
hephaestus · 13/08/2011 17:16

They are basically cats in dog form. Grin

QuietTiger · 13/08/2011 18:06

hephaestus - DO NOT tell me that about Whippets!! I have 9 cats and don't need to be thinking that I can get "dogs-like-cats"!! I'll end up with 5 of them!

Elibean · 13/08/2011 18:49

gailpotter, just a thought, but in our area I sometimes see ads up in Newsagent's asking for volunteer to walk a dog during the day eg for elderly person who can't get out, aimed at people who want dog-contact but don't want or ca'nt have the full on commitment of their own pooch.

I had a dog and worked (not full time, maybe 6 hours per day) but he had a daily walk around lunchtime for an hour + and a doggy companion to keep him company. I felt guilty enough as it was, would really not want to leave a dog on his own for more than 4 hours, tbh.

DogsBestFriend · 13/08/2011 20:46

I have 3 dogs, all rescued. The last to come here was a year ago. He's a German Shepherd who was handed into rescue because his owner's work hours meant that he was being left for far too long. He was bored, he was lonely and he was very, very stressed. So he barked.

And barked.

And barked.

The owner ended up having her tenancy threatened - it was the dog or the roof over her children's heads.

THATS why rescue won't rehome to people who work all day and who are unwilling or unable to take steps to ensure that their dog is adequately cared for in their absence.

Shoutymomma · 13/08/2011 21:27

Whippets rule!! Mine is the most loveable dude in the OOOOONIVERSE!

gailpottertilsleyplatt · 13/08/2011 21:27

I think I might not go back to work. And get TWO whippets Smile

OP posts:
pasqueflower · 13/08/2011 22:19

OP - we have a rescue dog (staffy cross) and we both work full-time. However, our dc are home from school by 4pm and dh works odd hours so usually the longest she is left is about 6 hours, and that is usually in our enclosed garden, where she has a kennel (heated if the weather is extremely cold).

If we're going to be out for longer, we arrange for someone to either walk her, or just give her some company. Very rarely, she has been left for longer, and she's been fine - not ideal, but it's been ok.

Dh chose our dog, and went for her because she was calm. The neighbours report she seems happy when she's outside. She will bark if a stranger approaches (which is good), but doesn't bark all day for no reason. We walk her once a day, either in the morning or after work.

I agree with the poster who said thousands of dogs are left during the day, and it's better than them being put down or in a rescue centre.

However, the dog you choose is crucial and there's no doubt it's a gamble - it's no good if it's going to wreck the house or annoy the neighbours by barking... the tale here about the German Shepherd threatening a tenancy is a case in point.

Tbh if it had been up to me, I wouldn't have had a dog as I thought our lifestyle was incompatible, but dh always had dogs as a child and was confident it would be fine, and it has been. My condition (harsh as this is), was that the dog would come on trial, and if it didn't work out, she would have to go back. Not sure I could've lived up to that though!

Bear in mind that however much your dc say they will help, the novelty will wear off and it'll be you that does the work! That means feeding, walking, cleaning up dog hair and poop from your garden - think hard about that before you cave in! How will that be when you go back to work?

The Dogs Trust or similar wouldn't have contemplated us if we'd said we would be out all day, so she came from a small animal rescue centre.

DogsBestFriend · 13/08/2011 22:37

As a rescuer I have to take issue with the argument that it's better to leave a dog home alone all day than in rescue.

Firstly, thar depends entirely on the rescue you're talking of. There are bad ones - hence the advice above in what to look for when approaching rescue and to avoid anything less - but there are heaps of good ones and believe me, we work FECKING hard to make life for those dogs a happy one. We don't just feed em, let them out for a stroll then ignore em! (Some of us help hands on and have just returned from sponsored walks... oh my aching feet and back!).

Secondly many rescues operate not from kennels but only use foster homes. Even those which run from kennels generally also foster their dogs out if they can, which helps with training and assessment, gives a clearer report on what the dog in question is like in the home/with kids/with cats/when left/in cars etc and of course frees up kennel space for the next poor unfortunate soul waiting for rescue to save his life.

gailpottertilsleyplatt · 13/08/2011 23:32

From what I'm reading whippets seem rather ... erm ... destructive!

OP posts:
MotherJack · 14/08/2011 00:10

SBT's are not for you, Gail. I say this from my stance of adoration, but don't let a rescue, stuffed to the hilt with them convince you otherwise as you are planning to work full time. Unless you actually meet one that has been thoroughly assessed to be left alone, through foster, and you end up realising what fab family dogs they are, of course.... Wink

It IS some of the owners they are attached to that scare you stiff, I'm sure, but the vast majority of us don't have our dogs as weapons. We have them as they are the most people-centric, devoted and loving dogs IME and are doing really badly, firstly against the brunt of status dog which has meant they have been stupidly overbred, subsequent bad press and supposedly stereotypical owners are common fodder. [this too will pass]

Good luck in your search. Totally agree with others that a puppy or young dog is not for you. Research your rescues well... Dogsbestfriend will be able to advise on many.

anniebear · 14/08/2011 11:51

pintaloosa, Im glad you said that, now and again we think about getting a dog/puppy, but then you read about not leaving them and I think well what about all the people who have dogs and work? or have to go out for other reasons and don't take their dog?

I don't work and am around quite a bit, but was worried about how I go out shopping hahahahah Grin

anniebear · 14/08/2011 11:57

yes I also realise that just because people leave them that it is right. Suppose it also depends on the dog :)

Ephiny · 14/08/2011 11:57

Where does this idea come from that you shouldn't have a dog if you work, or that you can never leave any dog for any length of time e.g. to go shopping? I have never seen that said on here, and genuinely curious about where so many people are hearing/reading it.

It's one thing to say you shouldn't leave a dog all day, or leave them alone for long periods on a regular basis, or that different dogs will have different needs depending on age, temperament, history etc. But that's not the same as the above!

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