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The doghouse

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Original poster

Puppies and working

18 replies

Eatingcheeseontoast · 20/03/2017 15:17

Hi

My DH isn't working at the moment but is looking to work full time again, I work full time but can get home at lunchtime.

So we were wondering if now would be a good time to get a puppy as DH will be at home. The thing is we aren't sure when he's going to get another job...and we'd then have to start with dog walkers or paying someone to come in morning and afternoon.

Has anyone experience of puppies and working full time?

I suspect I'm going to get a lot of 'don't do it' but would be interested in positive ideas of how to manage if we did do it.

OP posts:
SavoyCabbage · 20/03/2017 15:24

I don't know about puppies as our dog was grown up when we got her.

Our RSPCA centre told us that we shouldn't leave her for more than four hours. Someone I used to work with years ago went home at lunchtime to walk her job and I quite envied her as it meant she always got away from the office.

Hoppinggreen · 20/03/2017 15:32

I work partly from home and I don't leave my 15 month do dog for any longer than 4 hours. If it's going to be any longer he goes to daycare ( which isn't much more expensive than a dog walker taking him out for an hour)
However, this has been built up gradually and when we got him I was between contracts so he wasn't left for any longer than 1 hour or so until he was around 5 months old.

Original poster
Eatingcheeseontoast · 20/03/2017 15:37

That's really helpful thank you. I was thinking that at about 6 months he/she could be left for about 4 hours.

OP posts:
CMOTDibbler · 20/03/2017 15:44

Puppies need a LOT of interaction, stimulation and training - don't underestimate quite how much it takes to help them grow up into good dogs. You need to think about when you would fit in the walks and training
At most, an under 1 year old dog shouldn't be left for more than 4 hours in any one day on a regular basis. So that would mean day boarding (and not everywhere takes puppies). And depending on the dog, their energy levels, and behaviour, you'll probably need to buy in at least one dogwalker a day past age 1.

Bluebell9 · 20/03/2017 15:51

We got a pup in January. My DP works shifts and we took leave so that for the first 6 weeks, one of us was always at home. DP only works 3 day shifts in 9 days. If his day shifts are during the week when I'm at work too, the puppy goes to daycare (£14 a day) or my parents pick him up and walk him then he goes to their house for a few hours.
We gradually increased the amount of time he is left and he seems pretty happy with his life.

user1489226029 · 20/03/2017 15:56

I can't help but think everything has gone mad with dog ownership!!!! Of course taking into account different breeds but start as you mean to go on, gradual build up of being left, walk in the morning and evening. Doggy daycare crazy!!!! I get having a dog walker if on certain days you can't do it. I can't help but think if we all shunned having a dog because both work full time then a huge amount of people would miss out on the pleasure dogs bring to your life. Go for it.!!!

Original poster
Eatingcheeseontoast · 20/03/2017 16:00

user that's why I'm asking for tips of how to manage. My ex-neighbour had someone who used to come in when her dog was a pup after the first couple of months - but thinking back I can't imagine she took all that first time off work so I might ask her how she managed.

I thought we might not pick it up till it was 12 weeks which the breeder offers as an option.

Does all rather depend on DH and his job hunting...

OP posts:
user1489226029 · 20/03/2017 16:07

I personally would get the pup at eight weeks then you can start straight away with your lives and routines. You will manage. In my experience a dog who is well loved, fed, walked and safe is a happy dog.

Catgotyourbrain · 20/03/2017 16:25

Depends on the dog breed and particular dog too...

Original poster
Eatingcheeseontoast · 20/03/2017 16:29

Looking at a cockapoo.

OP posts:
Branleuse · 20/03/2017 16:32

probably better to get an older dog or older puppy if youre not going to be there that much, or maybe even a cat if youre both going to be working full time, or youre going to be coming back to shit and piss every day and a very lonely dog

ProfessionalPirate · 20/03/2017 16:45

Would your DH be prepared to delay taking a job until pup is house trained and old enough to be left? bear in mind any reputable breeder will have a waiting list. Or have you already found one?

I really wouldn't recommend getting pup at 12 weeks, by then you will have missed the window of opportunity for socialisation and acclimatisation, which may lead to behavioural problems (you might want to read up about this)

Catgotyourbrain · 20/03/2017 16:50

They're quite energetic...

BiteyShark · 20/03/2017 17:12

I got my puppy at 8 weeks and spent around 1 month at home settling him in and getting him used to being left for longer and longer periods. I work from home and also have to go into the office so my puppy goes to doggy day care. This works great but check what age doggie day care will take puppies as some had a minimum age of 4 months and a lot of dog walkers advertised day care but then did not want to do it as they had enough dogs on their books. Also factor in costs as day care even for the partial week adds up.

Hoppinggreen · 20/03/2017 17:55

I would like to add that although I felt I COULD leave my puppy for 4 hours a day once he was around 6 months it wasn't something that happened regularly- maybe once a week

CornflakeHomunculus · 20/03/2017 18:11

If you're leaving a puppy with the breeder until twelve weeks you need to be absolutely sure they're doing the appropriate socialisation with the puppy. Do they offer to keep puppies until twelve weeks as standard or is this something you've asked if they'll do? I'd be much more concerned if they'd be keeping back more than one puppy as it's a lot of work to get them socialised and used to being apart from each other to minimise upset when they go off to their new homes.

Have a look at the Puppy Plan, particularly the sections covering weeks eight to twelve. I'd also recommend reading this guide to socialisation from the Dog Training Advice and Support FB group. If you're on FB it's well worth joining and they have an excellent set of resources for new puppy owners.

The downside of relying on services like dog walkers or daycare (and even people you know popping in for you) for a puppy is the potential lack of consistency in training which can mean things like house training end up taking much longer.

MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 20/03/2017 21:36

Don't forget that to establish toilet training you will need to be on hand to let the puppy out every twenty minutes or so, every day. It could take weeks.

Mamabear12 · 23/03/2017 20:50

If you can get home for lunch to let the dog out, that is perfectly fine! I assume one of you can take responsibility to take the dog for a walk in the morning? The other can do the evening? and then obviously again at night before bed. And also, crate training makes it a lot easier.

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