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The doghouse

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Original poster

Young children, job and a dog. Do able?

81 replies

SnapCards · 05/06/2018 13:03

I'm considering getting a puppy.

I'm at work two days a week where the dog would be left from 8 til 5-6ish. I would pay a walker to take the dog out for an hour and then walk again after work. I'm a part-time teacher so this arrangement would be term-time only.

We have two young children Reception and Preschool age, so spend lots of time outdoors already. I also have my parents local who would be happy to do occasion dog sitting if we go out for a day and the dog can't come.

My main concern is the days I'm at work and the fact that I won't know how the dog will cope with being left until it's here. I would plan to get a dog at the beginning of the summer holidays (next year) so I would be home every day for the first 6 weeks.

Does this sound workable?

OP posts:
Bambamber · 05/06/2018 19:03

I have a 1 year old and recently got a young puppy despite working 3 days a week. For the 3 days i am at work I pay a dog walker to do one on one home visits multiple times a day so she's not left for more than 2 hours at a time and my husband also pops home at lunch. I do also work shifts so she's not too long without my husband or me. As she gets older they will start introducing one on one short walks before they start introducing her to their calmer dogs of all ages for socialising. But it costs a lot of money

Keeping a dog and young child separate all day everyday while entertaining both and feeding both and toilet training etc. Is bloody hard. Especially as the baby wants to chew the dog toys and the dog wants to chew the baby toys

UrsulaPandress · 05/06/2018 19:06

I know a dog walker who walks a dachshund puppy. She has been doing it since before it was allowed out so she would go and okay with it for half an hour but it would hide from her because it was scared. Made me sad and cross in equal measure.

There has been a proliferation of dog walkers in my area recently which only goes to encourage people to get dogs who really shouldn't.

UrsulaPandress · 05/06/2018 19:06

Play with it

tabulahrasa · 05/06/2018 19:07

“lighten up I think you will find OP is joking!”

See I was just really confused by why she’d be swithering between such different breeds... Blush

User467 · 05/06/2018 20:26

Another classic response from the doghouse.....you could almost write it.

Working two days a week and having a dog is perfectly manageable, do people really think the majority of dogs are owned by people who never leave their sides?

Puppy stage will be difficult as your working day will be too long even with one visit from a dog walker but there are ways to manage this and in the grand scheme they're only a puppy for a short time. I have two young kids, work three days a week and have had two very happy pups over the past few years. It's just another thing to factor in to your planning.

And can we please not turn this into another arguement about "reputable" breeders. It's clear there is actaully no such thing and OP sounds pretty sensible and prepared to do her homework

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 05/06/2018 20:36

There are so many inflexible views in The Doghouse it is like a parallel universe to reality at times
Only because so many of us have seen the consequences of other people’s bad choices either because we’ve taken on rescue dogs or worked with them. Both in my case. I’m not actually one of those that advocate that no one with a job must never get a dog or people with a dog must never leave the house but the set up has to be sensible and doable and the most important part of the equation is always, always the dog.

Wolfiefan · 05/06/2018 20:38

There are actually reputable breeders.
A puppy can't be left for a working day. A dog walker won't help puppy learn to toilet train or give it much socialisation. A small puppy can't go to daycare. It will be workable but only with a lot of support or if the owner is incredibly flexible.

Vallahalagonebutnotforgotten · 05/06/2018 20:43

Judahascomeintosomemoney "only because so many of us have seen the consequennces of bad choice......."

You are not alone in that but that is exactly why the advice given should be educational, realistic,non judgemental, non goady, and not antagonistic - that achieves nothing.

Positively train animals and positively educate humans win win situation.

Vallahalagonebutnotforgotten · 05/06/2018 20:46

Dog walkers do toilet train puppies ,puppy sit and puppy socialise if you choose the correct one.

Puppies can go to day care with the correct care and correct situation.

Looks at puppy in my room that is a clients as we speak - been here 12 hours today and we have had a great day. Toilet training going well and she has been socialised with a labrador, lunch at the pup and watching the collies herd sheep -she has loved it. Grin

Wolfiefan · 05/06/2018 21:10

OP says out 8-5 or even 6.
OP said paying for an hour dog walking in all that time.
That won't toilet train the dog!
Some daycare may take a pup but it's far from a given.

UrsulaPandress · 05/06/2018 22:55

Why have a dog and send it to daycare.

ImogenTubbs · 05/06/2018 23:39

OP - we were lucky enough to find a slightly older rescue puppy - he was 8mo when we got him so already house trained (but not much else, ha!). We went for a slightly older pup because even though we both work from home we knew a young puppy would be too much to handle when we didn't have time to train it properly.

It's working out brilliantly, but he would definitely get destructive if left by himself for long periods. He does a bit anyway in the afternoons and we have to alternate taking breaks to play fetch with him in the garden to keep him entertained 😁 We are a bit sad we missed the cute young puppy stage but it was definitely the right decision.

IslaBoots · 05/06/2018 23:50

Why have a dog and send it to daycare

Yes. Or even worse buy a puppy, take it from everything it knows and lock it in a cage all day while you go to work.
If puppy is lucky it will get a walk and some attention once work is done, children have been fed and sorted and owner has a spare few minutes to spare.

More often than not they find themselves in a rescue centre when they are no longer cute or don't automatically know they have to go outside to toilet.

Sad 😪

tabulahrasa · 05/06/2018 23:52

“Why have a dog and send it to daycare.”

For the rest of the week....

Wolfiefan · 06/06/2018 00:01

OP works two days a week.
Many dogs are perfectly happy at daycare.

IslaBoots · 06/06/2018 00:43

OP works two days a week.
Many dogs are perfectly happy at daycare.

Did you say upthread that dogs need to be neutured before they can attend daycare Wolfie?

You were right. They do. Day care is not an option for a puppy under 6 months then.

BiteyShark · 06/06/2018 06:02

Mine didn't need to be neutered for daycare. Mine was also toilet trained and obedience trained following the same rules at home. He also went there at 13 weeks and is still going and loves playing with his pals so gets experiences that he wouldn't get at home.

It's very frustrating when people state things as fact when it depends on what is available in the area.

BiteyShark · 06/06/2018 06:08

Oh and the large daycare near me that takes them from 4 months also has no neutering requirements either so it's not uncommon. I have noticed boarding kennels have also started advertising daycare. Again no neutering requirements although typical minimum age is 6 months.

Wallywobbles · 06/06/2018 06:54

I did it. Got 2 puppies as my Ddog was old. Really regretted it. I didn't have the time necessary to train the puppies. Result is life long disobedience.

stickyplum77 · 06/06/2018 07:02

My dog was almost 8 months before house trained.I work 14 hours a week, DP at the time was unemployed and we WORKED at it. Some dogs just don't get it for a long time.

Regarding the other comments, no. I don't think It's doable unless you want to raise an anxious, upset dog whowill cause you long term problems.And It's cruel.

An adult rescue who's used to being alone, would be an option but still needs a lot of thinking about.

Wait4nothing · 06/06/2018 07:08

We have a toy/mini poodle (she outgrew her toy status) and we have the arrangement of me working 3 days a week (teacher) and her having a long walk (with other dogs for socialisation) at lunchtime - ok we wouldn’t have had it when she was a puppy but longer term it works fine. She is knackered by the end of the walk and has the kitchen to roam.
When she was a puppy we did work slightly less hours and she went to a daycare. In old area this was a big one (with a puppy room) and they picked up and dropped of (meant we could do a half day but it be about 10-2 so she’d have a few hours on her own before and after). When we moved area there wasn’t anything commercial but a local dog walker was happy to take her to her house (she was older then so we did this alternate days with dog walks between).
So although you may need to re-think your plan - it’s not totally out the window if you put in some planning! Especially as your planning over a year in advance.
Poodle is a great breed for training. Our puppy was house trained within the week! We crate trained as a puppy - don’t use one now unless she’s ill but it was definitely worth it and I would with little ones around to give their own space.

Wolfiefan · 06/06/2018 07:47

Isla I said they may need to be.

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 06/06/2018 08:13

Why have a dog and send it to daycare

Why have a child and send it to nursery? #awomansplaceisinthehome

adaline · 06/06/2018 08:29

Why have a dog and send it to daycare.

Because dogs need to socialise and will often have a lot more fun with other dogs than they will at home.

Or are you suggesting that nobody should have a dog unless they can be home with it 24/7?

geekone · 06/06/2018 09:23

@AvocadosBeforeMortgages. Agreed, as with most things on MN, doghouse is a bit more on the militant side. If you have kids and work you can with a dog. I wouldn't advocate leaving a dog 7.30am - 6pm at home everyday but 2 days a week with a puppy walker initially twice a day and eventually a dog walk will be fine.

We have not had to do this yet but the puppy has been crated for 2-3 hours at a time he sleeps and doesn't destroy the house as he is in his crate. Once he is older we will leave him for no more than 4 hours and he will have the run of the kitchen. Our shifts mean he is rarely alone much but I ensure he is used to being crated and I put him to bed and work up the stairs once or twice a day for at least 1.5 hours.

We might be lucky we have a very chilled puppy. The initial stages were difficult though and you would need to be mostly inside for 4 weeks of your 6 week holiday which sucks.... it's like being trapped in your own home Shock. Good luck whatever choice you make. But it is doable.