If you work...

[TinyMystery]

How do you ensure your dog is well cared for?

We would love a dog somewhere in the future but I would imagine that I will continue to need to work 2-3 days per week. DH would likely to be able to organise being at home for at least part of one of those days but we would still need to cover 1-2 days. Is it doable with a dog walker and/or doggy daycare?

I feel like it would be easier if we were able to adopt an older dog rather than a puppy but will a rescue even consider you if you work?

I know lots of people who use doggy daycare and If it's only 1-2 days per week I don't see a problem

My friends doggy daycare actually costs more than my DC childminder though!

My dog loves daycare! He meets all sorts of other dogs, runs around all day and then snoozes (and farts) most of the evening.

He is a baby though. I know lots of older dogs are ok with a dog walker to break the day up for an hour or so.

My schnauzer goes to doggy day care 3 days a week. I pay £20 a day and she absolutely loves it! I work a longish day (8-5) so just having a dog walker wouldn’t be enough.

These days my dog comes into work with me, but when we first had him (different job) he went to daycare 2-3 times a week and loved it.

It’s manageable, but you need to think carefully about the breed of dog, age, energy levels etc. Some breeds cope better than others with time alone and some need more exercise than others.

You need to take plenty of time to do your research and if you’re considering rescue you should chat to them honestly about your likely circumstances and ensure you don’t take on a dog with any separation issues.

Mine goes to daycare. Expensive but worth every penny.

We’d like an active dog really as we are always running/swimming/cycling so it’s going to be a case of finding a breed that can balance energy with restful periods.

I’ve got my heart set on a schnauzer, wheaten terrier, Irish terrier or Welsh terrier but I need to do a lot more investigating.

I have irish terriers, they are awesome dogs but not for everyone. Mine are very happy in daycare a couple of days a week. They are active when I am active and rest when I work (they regularly come to the office and act as the therapy dog for a day).
But these can be tricky dogs and they take a lot of work as puppies to prevent them from developing behaviour problems (dog aggression is not unheard of). I did the usual classes when mine was a puppy and it soon became apparent that she needed to continue with classes. She is 2 now and we still go to classes once or twice a week - agility mainly. If we don’t she finds her own amusement and that can be, erm, interesting! She is mainly great with other dogs but she does have some significant frenemies and full on enemies.

Daycare is a great thing but be prepared for the following:

• lots will not not take dogs under six months of age.
• lots insist that male dogs are neutered - not a problem for older dogs but it's recommended that you wait until the dog is fully mature which often isn't until 18 months-2 years of age.
• not all dogs suit a daycare environment. Some become anxious, destructive and/or upset.
• if you have a dog that doesn't like other dogs, daycare may not be the answer for them.
• consider what you'll do if your dog is unwell or injured and cannot go to daycare for a while - are you able to take time off or find someone to sit with them?

We used daycare for ours for a year (as we both worked) and eventually we had to give up and my in-laws now look after him. He was stressed at the daycare environment (too many other dogs for his liking) and became destructive. He's now the only dog at my in-laws house and has settled well - he gets plenty of walks and company and comes home exhausted!