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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

To get dog or not to get dog? That is the question.

119 replies

maskingtape · 23/12/2018 08:38

I'd love a dog. I'd love the company, it would give me more fresh air and exercise and I think it would lift my mood. I love animals.

The problem is my working hours. I'm a teacher and I'm out of the house by 6.30am and not back until 5.30 ish. Obviously I'd get a dog walker for an hour at lunchtime but couldn't afford more than that on a regular basis. Occasionally I can work from home for 1 morning to do my planning time (but I'd have to be working). My parents could occasionally take them for the day too.

I could walk the dog for half an hour before work and nearly an hour after. Weekends and holidays I'd be there.

Would this work for a dog? I would trial it with a relative's dog first to see how it goes.

OP posts:
MaidenMotherCrone · 23/12/2018 08:41

No don’t. The dog would spend most of its time alone. It would be lonely.

Get a couple of cats and go for a walk anyway.

Original poster
maskingtape · 23/12/2018 08:42

I'm not a cat person.

OP posts:
rabbitfoodadvocate · 23/12/2018 08:43

No. I know you'd love a pooch but it would be utterly unfair on it. Sorry.

LEMtheoriginal · 23/12/2018 08:45

There will be folk who say unless you devote your entire life to your dog and take it everywhere with you then you are a bad owner.

In reality what you describe is the norm and most folk dont even do the dog walker!

I think what you describe is a good set up. Are you prepated for the costs? Insurance and regular vet costs ? Additional cost of dog sitters or taking dog away with you on holiday?

Would you go for a puppy or a rescue? Please dont be tempted by overseas rescues - those poor dogs are not suitable for novice dog owners. A rescue will be house trained and may well be accustomed to being left during the day.

In short - yes get a dog but research like billyo first Grin

elQuintoConyo · 23/12/2018 08:46

No. Dogs are social, they need company. They aren't just for cuddling up with in bed on the sofa.

[I woke this morning with leg cramp as the 25kg hound was laying across them. It took a good 15 minutes for my blood to circulate back before i could get up for a wee!].

fleshmarketclose · 23/12/2018 08:47

No it would be so unfair on the dog. Dogs need human company (the reason I was up at 6 am this morning Hmm Can you try Borrow My Doggy or the Cinnamon Trust and offer your services to walk other people's dogs?

Original poster
maskingtape · 23/12/2018 08:48

LEM it was a puppy I was thinking about. If I were to decide to do it I'd get it at the start of the summer holiday so I can do 6 weeks settling them. Aware I might need dog walker more regularly when they are little. Insurance and vets bills would be ok.

Lots of thinking to do.

OP posts:
Original poster
maskingtape · 23/12/2018 08:51

Flesh, I used to do dog walking for the Cinnamon Trust and for the Dogs Trust but it's not the same as having your own.

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squee123 · 23/12/2018 08:51

11 hours alone with only an hour break for the dog is a miserable existence for a pack animal.

Greyhound rehoming charities do sometimes rehome to people that work full time because they sleep a lot and tend to be used to not always having humans around. I would therefore talk to your local greyhound rehoming place and if they say you aren't suitable than please please don't get a dog.

You would be getting the dog to meet your needs not the dog's.

If you want to get a doggy fix in other ways then contact the Cinnamon Trust to see if there is anyone near you that needs help with their dog. Also you could contact your local Guide Dog Mobility Team about becoming a volunteer boarder. You would be ideal for many owners needing a boarder as you're around in the holidays.

fleshmarketclose · 23/12/2018 08:53

You have really unrealistic expectations of what having a puppy involves. If you get a puppy at say eight to ten weeks by the end of the six weeks holiday it might well not be house trained, it might well be chewing and destroying anything in sight, it might well not be able to be left for even an hour. You really need to read the puppy support threads and get some idea of how stupid it is to get a puppy when you are working full time.

Original poster
maskingtape · 23/12/2018 08:54

Squee - doesn't everyone get a dog to suit their needs?

OP posts:
squee123 · 23/12/2018 08:54

sorry x posted re Cinnamon Trust.

If you can stretch to doggy daycare I think you would be fine btw.

chumbal · 23/12/2018 08:55

I think it would be unreasonable tbh as dogs like company.

How about volunteering for a charity like the Cinnamon Trust? You get to walk others dogs without the responsibility of ownership. Wink

squee123 · 23/12/2018 08:58

yes we get a dog to suit our needs but decent human beings don't do that at the expense of the dog's needs. I get that you want company but should a dog really be miserable alone for 11 hours a day just so you feel less lonely? I always wanted a dog but didn't get one until the circumstances where such that it wouldn't be left alone for more than 4 hours in a 24 hour period as recommended by all the major dog welfare charities. They aren't making that recommendation up for fun.

Original poster
maskingtape · 23/12/2018 08:59

The doggy day care around here doesn't open early enough. I did look into that.

I have already done dog walking for the Cinnamon Trust and Dogs Trust. It's not the same.

OP posts:
Original poster
maskingtape · 23/12/2018 09:00

Thousands of dogs must be left for more than 4 hours in a 24 hour period.

OP posts:
Original poster
maskingtape · 23/12/2018 09:02

Oh well. Looks like it may not happen then. Back to the drawing board for my shitty life.

OP posts:
Fairylea · 23/12/2018 09:03

What flesh said upthread.

It’s highly unlikely that after 6 weeks a puppy would be ready to be left like that...!

simplepimple · 23/12/2018 09:04

Would your school consider you suitable to be come a Guide Dog puppy walker? If they'd allow a dog into school and therefore increase awareness of the need for assistance dogs for those with visual impairment it might be worth some research.

It is of course hard to let the dog go when its ready for further training - a bit like letting your kids go and venture into the big world.

Rhinopotamus · 23/12/2018 09:05

How far are you from your school? My colleague goes home every lunch time to let the dog out. If you also had a dog walker in the morning, it could work. Also a good reason to go home earlier.

CherryPavlova · 23/12/2018 09:06

No unkind to the dog. Join borrow my doggy and take someone else’s dog for a walk.

FlashByReputation · 23/12/2018 09:07

I am a teacher but I'm part time. My dog goes to my dad who is retired and also has a dog, and I'm extremely lucky but I could only justify a dog if I was part time. I work from home for myself the other days so I'm with the dog. I would say it horribly unfair that it would seem that only retirees and sahp can have dogs these days but there you go. I don't have the answer but without help in the form of day care or walker it would be unfair and it can really add up financially.

Original poster
maskingtape · 23/12/2018 09:07

They don't do guide dog puppy trainers in my area of the country. I looked into that. I'm 20 minutes from school so couldn't get back in the lunch hour. 40 minute roundtrip.

OP posts:
GobblersKnob · 23/12/2018 09:12

I think you would be an excellent home for a retired greyhound or an older dog of another breed, either of which would give you company and exercise. But you are a totally unsuitable home for a puppy. I always fail to understand people's obsession with puppies. They stay that way for such a short period and it's a difficult toss up between which is worse puppyhood or dog adolescence, both are a horror. Avoid both, get an older dog.

tinstar · 23/12/2018 09:14

Thousands of dogs must be left for more than 4 hours in a 24 hour period.

That does NOT make it okay.

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