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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

New puppy question!!

15 replies

Tantastic12 · 09/05/2023 21:32

We have been looking at all local rescues for months waiting for a suitable older dog who is already partially trained, okay to be around children and used be being alone at times but they are snapped up instantly. So now we have gone back to thinking of a puppy but I just don't know if it's feasible.

Do people who get young puppies either work from home or not work at all? Going by everything I'm reading online it seems that someone has to be with the pup 24/7 basically for the first so many months.

I only work 6 hour shifts and could nip in for 15 minutes as nearby. But is this doable? Would the puppy be happy on its own?

All advice welcome!

OP posts:

LunaFortuna · 09/05/2023 21:37

No, that won’t work at all. You would at least have to sort out some kind of doggy day care, no idea what age you can do that from but can’t imagine it will be straight away. Puppies are really hard work, when we had them (both from rescues) we were able to take them to work and it was our business so we could take care of them there.

Are there really none in shelters, they all seem to be bursting at the seams at the moment.

gymwars · 09/05/2023 21:39

Nope, that won't work.

ComeOnThenFanny · 09/05/2023 21:41

They literally take over your life for months. It's worth it, but by god its hard work!

muggleswick · 09/05/2023 21:41

I was in the same position so decided to put puppy plans on hold. I would have just ended up worrying all the time as I would be away for 6 hours.

You can get someone in to play for 30 mins but it was going to cost a fortune

ComeOnThenFanny · 09/05/2023 21:42

There needs to be someone at home. It just won't work otherwise.

Bovrilla · 09/05/2023 21:44

Nope. I was tea Hong and we got ours in the summer 6 weeks holiday and my husband works from home

Now I WFH too on the odd day we are both out all day he goes to a friend for the day but he didn't do this until he was a year old. He can be left 3/4 hours solo at 2 but I wouldn't have left him at all when he was tiny.

OutOfMyPocket · 09/05/2023 21:50

Have you tried Many Tears?

LunaFortuna · 09/05/2023 21:57

Also might be worth giving your details to a few rescues so if one comes in that is suitable you’ll know straight away. Plus try rescues that aren’t so local, they usually have a network of home checkers. But a rescue will also need a reasonable amount of settling in time before being left and 6 hours with just a 15 minute check is too long for a puppy or a rescue.

Honeysuckle16 · 09/05/2023 22:00

No and no responsible breeder would let you have one of their pups. The only time I let a full time working couple have a puppy from me was when they had arranged for grandparents to either be in the house or take the pup to their house - and I insisted on meeting the grandparents beforehand.

You need an adult dog that’s used to being left. I suggest you contact breed rescues for any breed you’re interested in.

Lou573 · 09/05/2023 22:20

How would you even toilet train? They need taking out every half hour at least when tiny. And they eat everything unless watched or crated, but 6 hours even with a break is too long in a crate. And you have to crate train, not just stick them in it. Sorry OP, just wouldn't work at all.

Lou573 · 09/05/2023 22:23

And in answer to your question - yes, my husband and I each work at home most the week so we make sure someone is around. On the odd day we're both out the dog goes to my mum's - max she's ever been left is 4 hours now she's 2 and that's very rarely, I prefer not to.

Original poster

Tantastic12 · 09/05/2023 22:36

Thanks for all replies. I guess we'll just have to be patient and hope the perfect dog comes along! With a rescue I could arrange for family to nip in aswell to check on it but would definitely be too much with a puppy.

Haven't heard of Many Tears, we are in N.I. Will speak to the rescues and let them know to keep us in mind

A friend told me to also look for older dogs on gumtree who's owners are moving away or too elderly to manage anymore.

OP posts:

bunnygeek · 10/05/2023 11:39

I would add that even if a rescue dog comes along that can be left, they won't be able to be left until they've settled in, which will take a few weeks. You won't be able to adopt a dog, then leave it to go to work the very next day.

RunningJo · 10/05/2023 13:04

Tantastic12 · 09/05/2023 22:36

Haven't heard of Many Tears, we are in N.I. Will speak to the rescues and let them know to keep us in mind

A friend told me to also look for older dogs on gumtree who's owners are moving away or too elderly to manage anymore.

Be careful re homing from anywhere other than a proper rescue, people are sadly not always honest when giving away their dog. A rescue will assess the dog and his/her behaviour around various things, including children.

Many Tears do have older dogs needing re homing, but a lot of them need another resident dog as they have little to no life skills and need the confidence another dog will bring them.

Might be worth researching the breed you want and contacting breeders to see if they ever re home older dogs, or could put you on a list should anyone return an older dog to them.

Either way, please do your research both into the right breed for you , but also where you get a dog from. Unfortunately there are way too many bad breeders around.

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 10/05/2023 13:24

How many days do you work OP? As even with a dog who is used to being alone, 6 hours is a long time on a regular basis. Would you be able to increase the 15 mins to half an hour to include a walk? Even so that is a lot of time alone if it's 5 days a week .

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