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The doghouse

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

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Original poster

Should we even be considering this? (Puppy)

18 replies

WildFlowerBees · 16/03/2022 10:29

If we had her 1 week in every 5 she would need day care from 5am until 3pm due to dh and I schedules which unfortunately we can't change.

It's seems so hard to find good dog walkers or a doggy day care.

I'm concerned about having a puppy and not having the right care in place when needed and her being left alone for too long which is something we're trying to avoid.

Im stressing about logistics and ultimately her well-being.

We have 2 cats, no guarantees they'll get along. We could put in a doggy door in place of the cat flap we have a large safe enclosed garden.

I'm on the fence.

Would you have a pup in our situation?

OP posts:

InkySquid · 16/03/2022 10:34

No, I wouldn't get a puppy in that situation.

I don't think it's feasible for a young puppy to have to go to daycare full time one week in five, can you even get daycare at 5am?

berksandbeyond · 16/03/2022 10:35

No. Why would you? Selfish to do that to a dog IMO

SherryPalmer · 16/03/2022 10:35

Can you get someone to take her full time for that week when your schedules don’t work? At other times will someone always be at home? Then maybe.

Otherwise nope, nope, nope.

Original poster

WildFlowerBees · 16/03/2022 10:39

It would be a mon-fri the rest of the time she will have someone with her.

I'm so conflicted, I don't want to be an arsehole owner who leaves their dog for hours on end it's not us at all.

OP posts:

BiteyShark · 16/03/2022 10:41

Those times will be impossible tricky with daycare. If it was more like 8/9 to 3 then you could probably find cover but 5am is too early.

Once the dog was an adult you might get away with leaving them at 5 to be picked up by daycare at 8/9am but it's the puppy/teenage phase that would make that hard to do so I would say don't do it.

Vapeyvapevape · 16/03/2022 10:42

No don't get a puppy.

Original poster

WildFlowerBees · 16/03/2022 10:46

@BiteyShark

Those times will be impossible tricky with daycare. If it was more like 8/9 to 3 then you could probably find cover but 5am is too early.

Once the dog was an adult you might get away with leaving them at 5 to be picked up by daycare at 8/9am but it's the puppy/teenage phase that would make that hard to do so I would say don't do it.

Thank you, they are very local so pick up at 7am but I think everyone is right. A puppy needs time and attention and although we would adore her it's not fair on her.

OP posts:

ABitBesotted · 16/03/2022 11:25

You've made the right choice

Original poster

WildFlowerBees · 16/03/2022 11:30

@ABitBesotted

You've made the right choice

We have although I am absolutely gutted about it, she is such a sweetheart but deserves a home with more stability. Thanks all for the very sound advice.

OP posts:

bumpytrumpy · 16/03/2022 15:18

Slightly against the grain I would say it depends on your finances. We have an excellent place that does day care and home from home boarding. My dog could go there 1 week in 5 quite happily. But it would cost ££

Mol22 · 17/03/2022 15:45

The day care we use needs us to commit to set days each week and so wouldn’t allow us to book just 1 week in 5, just something to consider.

Ours loves day care, doesn’t need to go as we’re home and very active but it’s his favourite place and I actually feel bad if there’s a week we don’t send him rather than the other way around! I say this because as long as the dog is comfortable with day care it may well be fine!

99pronouns · 17/03/2022 17:56

If you had a parent or close friend/family the puppy/dog could go to for the whole week for that 1 week in 5?

Maybebaby8 · 18/03/2022 16:36

I'm against the grain a little, we have a puppy and he does to a dog walker twice a week, and have a lovely lady stop in every day for a cuddle and lunch. Or my parents will help out as they love him. And honestly he's such a wonderfully well rounded puppy. He can be left on his own with no issues, is very well socialised etc. He's super chilled and lazy anyway.

He has us all weekend, and i do work term time. I think depending on the dog it can work. The only thing I would say is we did take a fair bit of time off work when we first got him to bond and so he wasn't alone as he was so little

familychallenge · 18/03/2022 17:47

I think there's a lot of judgment about this, but also quite a bit of luck in finding the right boarding arrangements. My dog boards two days two nights a week with a home dog boarder while I work and he loves it and my boarder is very flexible. She has a few dogs she has at odd hours because their owners work shifts- she's flexible for regulars but it doesn't have to be every week. So if you did this in the future I would look at finding small home based boarders and building relationships- I found a lot of the bigger operators were very inflexible

Luckymummytoone · 18/03/2022 17:54

If she can get picked up at 7 I’m sure she’d be fine for a couple of hours! Mine just sleeps on days I work before the dog walker collects her (if family don’t have her). 5 days is a lot but it’s not as if it’s week on week.
I only work part time (long shifts) but I find it hard some weeks to get things sorted for her as no day care around here. All puppies are different though so it hard to know 🥲 x

Luckymummytoone · 18/03/2022 17:54

Second the pp above about boarders too I use one when I work nights or consecutive long days x

Goawayangryman · 18/03/2022 18:42

I think it depends entirely on your circumstances and the dog.

Mine would actually be fine being home alone 5 till 7 and then collected at 7. Could be dropped back at 1 if I was coming back for 3. The difficult bit is the exceptions... What happens when she is Ill, in season, too young to be left alone, doesn't get on with your cats, has separation anxiety etc...

Goawayangryman · 18/03/2022 18:47

Sorry to clarify... Posted too soon.. would not have been fine before 6 months or so. And she is a large breed with excellent sleep habits, cast iron bladder and no separation anxiety. It's such pot luck. You could be making your lives really difficult I'd she is not keen/unable to be left.

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