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.

@Multiplemum5 thank you. I understand concern around a young pup. Yet, I work with a guy who has a german pointer. He got it from a pup and they spent the first 4 weeks around but he was crated a lot to get him used to it. He was then left gradually and they both work full time.
They have a dog walker who goes in every day and their dog doesn't bark or chew or appear to have any separation issues. So, people do it successfully.

@Floralnomad yes I've just read that! I'm not sure about that breed anyway.

Just because people do it, doesn’t make it right - how many times does this have to be said? I’m not sure you’re reading all the posts, maybe just the ones that agree with you?

Just because a few pups do seem to cope with being left alone regularly for a long time doesn't mean yours will. I would suspect the majority of young pups won't cope well and this will end up with fouling in the house, chewing, destruction, barking or howling. If that happens what is the back-up plan? Do you have the budget for doggy daycare, for example, or will the pup be another one ending up in rescue?

People don't say these things to be mean, but because they know of so many people who give up their young dogs because of these sort of problems.

Hmm; 'crated a lot to get him used to it'. Shutting a dog in a crate doesn't 'get it used to it'.
I don't know when the fashion started for shutting dogs in a cage, often for long periods, while you are otherwise engaged, but I personally think it is abhorrent.
I remember Victoria Stillwell (the dog trainer) shutting a dog owner in a small bare room for four hours to see how he felt, with no tv, radio etc.He was bored, unhappy and lonely. It was an interesting illustration of the pitfalls of indiscriminate crating.

@Costacoffeeplease and you are clearly not reading my replies otherwise you would see I AM taking on board people's opinions. And just to repeat, they are just opinions.
I haven't rushed off and bought a dog yet have I?

My MiL’s puppy isn’t left for longer than an hour and a half at the moment, he has just turned 6 months... there is no way we could have a dog and I work until 3.30pm every day during term time.

@longearedbat his crate is left open though - he chooses to go in it and sleep. I don't agree with locking in crates for long periods - not sure why you made that assumption I intended doing that.

crated a lot to get him used to it , this is where my issue is , if people want a caged animal then get a hamster or a gerbil , dogs are not supposed to live in cages .

I am reading your replies or I wouldn’t be able to comment, and you’re still talking about this guy you work with and how ‘successful’ he is

X post but I’m referring to your friend.

Not sure what your point is? I'm simply saying that I;m talking to lots of different people who do different things with their dogs. This is what he chose to do with his dog and, according to him, his dog is very settled in the house. He has a doggy cam to check on him. He doesn't bark, act agitated of chew things. Maybe he's internally unhappy though.....

No crappyday, I am not making any assumptions about your dog keeping, but when someone says they are crating a dog it usually means the door is shut, otherwise it is just a (covered) dog bed.

@longearedbat sorry I wasn't referring to you. As far as I know, the crate was closed at first to get him accustomed to it but now its always left open in the kitchen so he has free rein of the kitchen and chooses to sleep in the crate. I'm only going by the bits of info he gave me and I've not said this is what I intend to do.
I'm merely asking for advice/opinions and I don't mind that people don't agree with me. Any constructive criticism is well received. Angry and judgemental posts on the other hand will be ignored.

Crappyday - I used a crate when my pup was small, but more for her safety when I was cooking/had the front door open etc. It was put away before she was a year old and if we go out she is quite happy shut safely in the kitchen with a bed by the radiator and the radio on. I did get it out recently though, after she was spayed to keep her quiet for a couple of days.
I/we have had dogs for nearly 40 years. During that time we obviously worked, so I am certainly not in the 'working people can't have dogs' camp. But, it is a terrific tie, I can't emphasise this enough. Last minute dinner invites, a surprise weekend away; these will become things of the past. Fortunately, we have had dogs for so long we can't remember what spontaneity is!

@longearedbat thank you. I can assure you I understand comittment as I have 2 children so you don't get more tied down than that.
I don't go on holidays or away that often and I have the kids most of the time so my social life is limited anyway. I do have plenty friends and parents who would help out if I did have to go away though.

I know people leave puppies for long periods in crates, like the example you gave.

But that wouldn’t make it right. I think it’s would be cruel to leave a puppy that long- even if they appeared to be coping ok in a crate for long periods. It’s not a case of ‘getting them used to it’. It’s a crap life for a young dog to be in a cage that long, and it my opinion, selfish on the owners part.

We have dogs and have always worked full time. They get a good walk/ run every morning and until I worked from home they had an hour with a dog walker at lunch. We also have a dog flap and a large garden and they are absolutely fine, happy dogs. I think it helps that I have 3 so they always have company. Pick your dog carefully. A bored energetic dog is a destructive dog. I have a giant breed now and he is great but I’d either go smaller or for a placid dog. Unfortunately you will not know whether the dog you pick is happy being on its own until you get it but if you are prepared to put in place care then you will be fine.

The purpose of a labradoodle - It is a seeing eye dog for people with allergies.

You are doing the right thing gathering lots of opinions and doing your research.

I am sure that you will make a great dog owner.

No it isn’t.
A cross breed isn’t a known entity. You could end up with a more lab coat or a poodle one. No dog is hypoallergenic. Many people are allergic to the dander.

Hi OP

You are certainly planning ahead and doing lots of research - you sound very considered 👍👍👍

We are first time dog owners and our Labrador was 1 last weekend. OMG, we love him and can’t remember life without him but I think for I really to work, they need to BECOME a big part of your life, not just fit in to your life.

He is such a kind, gentle natured dog.
Hardly barks at all (a consideration of you are leaving for a period of time).
Has two good walks a day then did sleep mostly (or humps his blanket - a LOT!) but is now getting more bored over time.

Puppy stage: ouchey ouchey rippy teeth until about 7 months. House - training - super-easy.

Leaving for short times: ok. Me & DH work from home 2 weekdays each and cleaner comes in on 5th day plus DH walks beforehand so he is only on his own for max of 2 - 3 hours infrequently but has been left for 6+ when we got stuck on motorway one time and wasn’t fazed by that at all (we have camera in house).

Like other poster said, he does want company when we are in so follows from room to room consistently and whines if we are upstairs during day and he’s not (he’s not allowed) except for bedtime when he goes into his crate from around 10.00pm and starts whining about 5.30am.

We do get him out at 5.30am as we don’t mind - he doesn’t want a wee, he just wants a friend as he goes back to sleep on you on sofa for a couple of hours if possible.

Our kids are 15 and 18... always wanted a dog a and totally love him but they are not good at taking for walks and continuing the training in the right way. He is also super-strong so daughter couldn’t walk him even if she wanted to.

What I will say is his personality is still developing. We had 1:1 training in addition as he was nervous & jumpy for a long time.. he’s not now, but he’s getting more bored more frequently so I’m constantly coming up with new toys & game to interest him.

We aren’t going aboard this year - (big change for us) we are doing a U.K. holiday with him so we don’t have to leave him.

I think your planning and work patterns sound fine as long as you’re prepared to prioritise.

Do think about the early starts all being on you though.. my DH does most or I’d be like a zombie.

The purpose of the labradoodle was to be a hypoallergenic dog for the blind, but that breeding project was abandoned as unsuccessful.

Well no. Dogs can’t be hypoallergenic.

It’s a forum, I am not going to write an essay! Of course there are no hypoallergenic dogs but it is shorthand for dogs whose coat is less likely to trigger allergies and it is what Wally Conron intended to breed. Samples from the original litter were sent to the intended new owner to check her husband was not allergic to them (only one was Ok). He only bred 31 labradoodles and deeply regrets the resulting designer breed mess.

And a poodle alone wouldn’t have been a better bet than random breedings? At least we know who to blame for the huge numbers churned out by puppy farmers.