I’m looking for a dog soon can anyone help me?

[dailywaffler]

I’m looking for a dog. I’d like a big dog that’s loyal has emotions and is cuddly. We’ve never owned a dog before, we’d like a dog that’s okay being alone for around 6 hours without having separation anxiety or depression etc i don’t want to upset the dog.

We’ve considered a German Shepard and a husky. We’ve realised a husky won’t enjoy alone time at all. German Shepard’s can be quite volitle which worries me. Labs are adorable but a little smelly as my partner has one and I often sense the smell.

I do also like the look of Nova Scotia duck golly retrievers they’re stunning. But again it needs to be a dog okay with being alone while we work.

Can anyone help? I don’t want my house destroyed while I’m gone to work or my garden with huge holes because it’s feeling alone. Any help?

6 hours is a very long time to leave a dog . can you send it to doggy day care or get a dog Walker .

@islaviolent

6 hours is a very long time to leave a dog . can you send it to doggy day care or get a dog Walker .

Doggy day care probably

No dog is going to be okay being left for 6 hours for a long time. Even longer if you're planning a puppy.

Some greyhounds are alright with being home alone with someone letting them out / brief walk at lunch. Some.

6 hrs alone time - presumably Mday to fri ...that’s a nope.

Think about your dog and it’s life not what you want to fit into your already busy life.

An old well settled dog might do that occasionally but a new dog / puppy every day. It’s a recipient for sadness all round and probably a destructive dog.

Look at your daycare options. Factor those into the cost my dog is nearly 2 and for the 2.5 days I work goes to daycare. We could probably cut it to 2 now as on the 1/2 day , due to family changes there is someone at home working and he’d snooze and generally not bother them .... but he loves his daycare.

research your breeds. Meet some dogs ( borrow my doggy ? ). A husky isn’t really a 1st ever dog I think and even labs are challenging with their scavenging etc. I imagine a toller has a strong prey drive - how would you cope with that.

Do you live with your partner do you have children. Labs don't particularly smell, all animals will have their own smell. Why do you want a dog.

My sister rehomed a dog she ADORED because her relationship broke down and she couldn't be home enough and felt cruel. A dogs world revolves around its people.

Dogs are pack animals, even if they resign themselves to being left along all day they will still not be happy. Puppies particularly need a lot of attention, they need to be taken out frequently to toilet train etc and need a lot of training and socialisation. GS's and Huskies are not dogs for novices IMO. GS's can be excellent if trained very well - or a crazy nightmare. Huskies are extremely high energy. Labs are great pets and generally very laid back but the one we look after sheds hair everywhere all year round - have yo considered that? All dogs smell especially if they get wet outside and then come in a warm house - the dog will get wet as it will need walking whatever the weather, if you don't like wet dog smell best not to get one. Please don't ever get a dog based just on how it looks, there's so much more you really need to consider.

If they're going to go to doggy day care that's fine - but it's £20 - £30 pounds per day, you will need to buy food, they will need to be up to date with all vaccinations and you will need to have pet insurance or be prepared for potential very high vet fees - even if you have insurance you may well have to pay the first £100 every time they go to the vets. Having a dog and looking after it properly is not cheap.

There is an awful lot to consider before committing to a dog for the next 10 - 15 years.

@Tal45

Dogs are pack animals, even if they resign themselves to being left along all day they will still not be happy. Puppies particularly need a lot of attention, they need to be taken out frequently to toilet train etc and need a lot of training and socialisation. GS's and Huskies are not dogs for novices IMO. GS's can be excellent if trained very well - or a crazy nightmare. Huskies are extremely high energy. Labs are great pets and generally very laid back but the one we look after sheds hair everywhere all year round - have yo considered that? All dogs smell especially if they get wet outside and then come in a warm house - the dog will get wet as it will need walking whatever the weather, if you don't like wet dog smell best not to get one. Please don't ever get a dog based just on how it looks, there's so much more you really need to consider.

If they're going to go to doggy day care that's fine - but it's £20 - £30 pounds per day, you will need to buy food, they will need to be up to date with all vaccinations and you will need to have pet insurance or be prepared for potential very high vet fees - even if you have insurance you may well have to pay the first £100 every time they go to the vets. Having a dog and looking after it properly is not cheap.

There is an awful lot to consider before committing to a dog for the next 10 - 15 years.

Thank you

Unless you can afford to buy in daily care, your circumstances are not set up for dog ownership. Very few adult dogs would be happy being left to their own devices for six hours without a break in the day, and many would struggle with that.

A dog walker will set you back £10 per hour, so around £200 per month. Daycare is around £500 per month for full-time care Monday-Friday.

If you can't afford that, please don't get a dog, let alone a breed like a husky or German Shepherd.

Please do some research if you are even considering a Husky.
Then don't even consider one!!.

@cupsofcoffee

Unless you can afford to buy in daily care, your circumstances are not set up for dog ownership. Very few adult dogs would be happy being left to their own devices for six hours without a break in the day, and many would struggle with that.

A dog walker will set you back £10 per hour, so around £200 per month. Daycare is around £500 per month for full-time care Monday-Friday.

If you can't afford that, please don't get a dog, let alone a breed like a husky or German Shepherd.

Walkers I can do but probably not daycare.

Walkers I can do but probably not daycare.

Then I would recommend going for an older, settled rescue dog.

Young puppies would not cope with what you're proposing at all. They need toilet breaks every 30 minutes. They need to be supervised so they don't chew your house to bits. They need teaching how to be alone so they don't cry, howl and make themselves sick with stress.

I'm a dog walker myself and every single person who has come to me wanting daily walks for a puppy has ended up going down the daycare route. Expecting a young dog (and by young, I mean probably less than 3 years old) to be okay on their own for six hours just isn't realistic in the slightest.

Just reading your post, I can tell you now, a husky is not the right dog for you, far far from it

This sounds perfect for your requirements OP

What you need is a cat

You know you don’t get those things handed to you when you get a dog? you have to teach them and build a wonderful and trusting relationship with them while making sure they have a full and enriching life. Please don’t get a dog.

Nova Scotia duck tollers are intelligent, very high energy dogs who need a lot of exercise and attention since they can be destructive if not exercised enough or if left alone for long periods.

Where are you looking for breed recommendations? I'm not convinced you are at the right place in life for a puppy (any puppy) as they really should not be left much when young and it can take a large amount of time to build up to 3-4 hours. But aside from that, you have named 3 breeds which are very obviously unsuitable (because high energy levels and need for company)

Any dog can be volatile btw - I do agree that some breeds have it as a stronger trait, but the crux of the matter is how much socialisation and training the owner does.

Puppies aren't an impossible challenge, but the early weeks/months can be demanding, you don't get a calm reliable dog until they are two-ish (later for some breeds)

I don’t want to pile on but I echo what the others are saying.
Some friends of mine for a German Shepard and honestly they need stimulation all the time. 2 x 1 hour FULL on walk.
I have a chihuahua and he’s low energy but he gets bored after 4 hours.

@Username7521

I don’t want to pile on but I echo what the others are saying. Some friends of mine for a German Shepard and honestly they need stimulation all the time. 2 x 1 hour FULL on walk. I have a chihuahua and he’s low energy but he gets bored after 4 hours.

My parents are hoping to retire soon so only when I get the ok from them I'll consider it. So don't worry it's not a quick decision at all

*Labs are adorable but a little smelly as my partner has one and I often sense the smell.
*
I don't get this bit, do you not live together, so who is we want a dog? All dogs have a smell. A lab needs a lot of training, and is a strong dog, but much more sensible family choice than a husky or German Shepard both of which are highly powerful and can in the wrong hands be aggressive. But I would go for something smaller, really research, not on looks. Don't get a working strain, they aren't meant to be pets. I really think about the initial training time, how will you do the puppy weeks when they need someone there all the time?

Greyhounds are massive and low energy and surprisingly affectionate. Don’t get a gsd or a husky or anything of that type. They need a job to do and if they are alone for 6 hours their job will be turning your furniture into the component parts. They also need lots of stimulation in the form of walks and training which you would have to cram into the remaining 18 hours.

Although breeds have traits, individual dog temperaments can be incredibly different. How will you adapt to your specific dog's needs? Can you be adaptable with work patterns/children etc. Or will it be rehomed? Getting a dog is a massive commitment.

@Shadedog

Greyhounds are massive and low energy and surprisingly affectionate. Don’t get a gsd or a husky or anything of that type. They need a job to do and if they are alone for 6 hours their job will be turning your furniture into the component parts. They also need lots of stimulation in the form of walks and training which you would have to cram into the remaining 18 hours.

Thank you that super helpful

@Tempusfudgeit

Although breeds have traits, individual dog temperaments can be incredibly different. How will you adapt to your specific dog's needs? Can you be adaptable with work patterns/children etc. Or will it be rehomed? Getting a dog is a massive commitment.

What breed would you reccomend. I'm a teacher so I'm not that flexible time wise. I'd happily use a doggy day care or trusted Walker though to keep it occupied. I'd just love some companionship and I've wanted a dog for years

As a pp said, what you need is a cat. Your situation is complete unsuitable for a dog