Getting a dog advice

[crappyday2018]

I've been desperate to buy a dog for a long time now and hope to get one next year. I'm already trying to do as much research as possible so I'm prepared.
My working hours would mean I would be home by 3.30 (Mon-Wed), home by 6pm on a Thurs and my oldest would be home by 2.30pm on a Friday.
I intend to get a dog walker to come in around lunchtime every day (even on my short days).
Do you think getting a walker to do a 30 minute walk at lunchtime will be enough if I take it out in the morning and then straight after work too?
I'm looking to get a Labradoodle.

Honestly, I know what it feels like to really, really want a dog. I held off for years. I now only work 2 days a week and on the days I’m at work I’m lucky enough to have parents around who have the puppy for me. Our natural routine and lifestyle fit so well with a dog now and even then we’ve still had To make some small adjustments.
I just wouldn’t get a dog and work full time. It just doesn’t seem fair on the dog.

I'll have to give it more thought. I may have to consider a slightly older dog rather than a puppy so at least I will know its temperament and work care around that.
Thank you all for your advice.

I’m a cleaner. You would be horrified if u know how long some of these dogs are left for during the day. In tiny rooms as well.

And all the people have the same complaint. They are a really hyper dog so they are hard to look after.... seriously. Well left on their own and bored all day they are going to be.

One even chews the wall!!!!

Not much of a life for a dog left on its own most of the day. I let them out before I go to make sure they have a wee. And then okay with them. This is time I don’t get paid for just can’t see them stuck like this.

All it’s takes if you u get a get a dog with problems like separation anxiety and ur stuck.

Play with them. Not okay.

@Dontgiveamonkeys1350 I wasn't intending leaving the dog alone all day though! If you read my original post. I wouldn't do that. I'm looking at different options around my hours and it would always include either day care or a dog walker.

I say this often. Have back up plans. What would you do if the dog is one of those that hates being left alone and is destructive and vocal. What would you do if the dog doesn't get on with other dogs and cannot go to daycare or be walked with other dogs which would limit dog walkers times and availability.

I had one plan before I got my dog but had to quickly come up with different ones as we had to work around him and work even though my work is flexible.

I waited over 20 years for my dog and thought I had considered most things. I love him so much and he has enriched my life but I really don't know if we would have done it now we know what hassle it has been when he has been ill or injured and that's on top of simply finding backup for when my daycare lady goes on holiday.

@BiteyShark yes I need to consider all those things. I would imagine if you're unlucky enough to have a dog that can't be left alone or go to daycare would be a problem for anyone, not just me.
I also need to consider how much I can afford to spend on walkers/daycare too so I'll be looking into all those costs.

Dog walking in groups here is from £10, average £12. Solo walks up to £20 for the hour. Some won't walk uncastrated adult dogs in groups.

Daycare £18-£24.

Depending on hours some offer half day care which is obviously cheaper.

I pay £20 a day for daycare in one place and £30 for a shorter day in another. It was difficult finding somewhere that would take DDog as a puppy. Older dog would avoid that issue as would presumably already be done.

My puppy is almost 6 months old and would really not tolerate being left that long.
As it is, she is left 3.5 hours twice a week, and that’s with a dog walker coming in halfway through, and I feel guilty that she’s left alone for that long!
If I need to go anywhere for more than a couple of hours on any other day then she does a half day at daycare for £10.
She’s crated overnight, but I don’t like to crate her for 3.5 hours in the daytime after being crated all night, so she goes in the utility room.
Even then she’s prone to chewing a section of wall and door if she feels like she’s been left too long after a couple of hours.
We have a doggy camera which is a godsend so I can check her when we are out.
Also she has 3 x 30 minutes walks a day. More on a weekend.

Although, our old dog was left for 4 or 5 hours a few times a week once he was older and was absolutely fine.
He would just go upstairs and sleep on our bed.

My dog used to go to daycare 5 days a week and I was £300 a month.

The other thing you have to think about op is who is keeping your dog company when you go shopping, go to the cinema, fancy a day out that's not suitable for dogs etc? Its not just the periods you are out at work. Dogs are a terrific tie 365 days of the year. Whatever you are planning on any given day you have to factor in your dogs needs. Personally I don't think your work schedule is compatible with a puppy at all. It might be with an older dog, but just because a dog is older is no guarantee it won't suffer from separation anxiety and destroy your house in your absence. I also don't agree with crating dogs for long (over a hour) periods in the owners absence, to stop them chewing or soiling.
Dog walkers can be expensive, but that is only part of it. I have had over £350 in vet bills this month for routine spaying and vaccinations for example. I know I am raining on your parade to a certain extent, but the reality of owning a dog is that it is a large and ongoing commitment for possibly 15 years.

@longearedbat thank you. Obviously I had already factored in the basics of having the committment of a dog. Its more around the midweeks schedule I was looking for advice on.
I'm not keen on getting a rescue dog, I've heard too many horror stories. I will look at all options before making any decisions.

I don’t know what kind of research you have done but the labradoodle is not a breed. It’s a cross breed mongrel that is bizarrely fashionable, and for which you will pay through the nose. Given the high price of the puppies, cross breeding attracts a lot of puppy farmers so you are very likely to get caught out by an irresponsible breeder.

If you look at current threads on MN you will see a couple of active one with posters who leave dogs at home while they work and have massive problems as a result. It is a familiar and sad story. Dogs are social creatures and need companionship. Puppies in particular don’t just need walks at set times, they need someone there almost all the time. The puppy may wreck your house while you are at work and be soundly asleep by the time the dog walker turns up. Leaving a young puppy can trigger separation anxiety problems which are extremely difficult and cause issues for life.

Please rethink the entire plan. An adult dog would be more suitable for your set up. Think about low energy breeds and speak to a breed specific rescue who can match you up with the right breed.

Rescues don’t all have horror stories.
But a puppy can’t manage being left for nearly that long. The ideal is no more than four hours a day for a settled adult dog.
I agree. A labradoodle isn’t a breed. You won’t find a reputable breeder. Many end up in rescue as people don’t know what they are taking on.

I know a labradoodle isn't a breed so sorry if I said that at some point. The type of dog isn't necessarily the issue and i've not even decided exactly on the type of dog yet.
Getting a rescue dog is out of the question though. I'm sure many are fine but I have children so not taking the risk.

Honestly you would be taking a far greater risk getting a puppy than an older dog that had been in foster. And rescues have puppies too.
You need to start by considering what you can offer. What grooming and training and walking can you commit to each day? What if you get a dog that can’t be left?

Wanting a reliable dog because you have children is completely understandable but reliable dogs are bred and made. You need a responsible breeder of an even tempered breed and then you need to spend the time socializing and training the dog.

The breeder should know the breed and be clear about what they are trying to breed. The parents should have impeccable temperaments as family pets and have all health screens relevant to the breed. The breeder should bring up the puppies in a home similar to yours.

You need to socialize carefully from the time you pick up the puppy at 8-9 weeks until the socialization window closes at 14weeks. You need to do puppy classes and training classes, and keep up the training through the difficult teenage period. Most dogs don’t settle into their character until 2 years old and these first two years of life are crucial for the habits the dog develops for later on. Keep in mind that one of the common reasons dogs end up in rescue is because the early years are quite demanding and it is easy to mess things up.

Unless you can do all this you should get an adult rescue. A responsible rescue will only rehome with DCs if the dog’s history is known and the dog has been assessed around children.

And all puppies bite. They’re only cute so you forgive the bastards.

Although a good breeder can eliminate some of the risk. My girl’s mum and dad were wonderful gentle but confident souls well-socialised to the breeder’s daily visiting grandkids as were the breeder’s other two dogs. And starting with a good breeder and going home with a good puppy socialisation plan and training plan will help to guide your pup towards being the dog you hope for. But ultimately, as Wolfie says, you can’t know for certain how a puppy’s personality will turn out but a good rescue will know if a dog is suitable for a home with kids. However, it sounds like your kids are big anyway if your son would be home alone and care for the dog on Friday afternoons?

You don't have enough time for the dog with your current routine.

Realistically you won't do that morning walk in reality. You will be too busy getting out of the house in the morning.

I have a labradoodle. He needs to be with people all day. I work from home every day and he even follows me into the kitchen when I make a cup of tea then follows me back to the study / office. Don't leave him alone.

fPlease don't get a dog until you can look after it properly.

Sorry- was responding to Wolfie’s previous but one post!

@Bythebeach thanks. I suppose my thinking was that if a puppy grows up in a certain environment e.g. children around and some time alone, then they will be more likely to adapt to this as the norm.
Some dogs don't like being left alone because they're just not used to it.

I will look into the rescue option but I'm still not sure about that.