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Keeping a dog at home if you work all day
Martin Blank
Posts: 1,689 Forum Member
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Is it possible to keep a dog as a pet if you work all day (8 hours)?
I want one. I don't want to be cruel though. If you do it currently, what do you do to stop it going crazy / getting upset / chewing through the furniture...etc?
I want one. I don't want to be cruel though. If you do it currently, what do you do to stop it going crazy / getting upset / chewing through the furniture...etc?
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Dont do it. Its cruel to leave a dog on its own for 8 hours a day. Get a goldfish.
Yes it is perfectly fine to have a dog(s) and work long hours but consider firstly if you can afford a dog walker/dog daycare and back up plans if the dog walker cannot come etc.
The dog walk must be a trustworthy one that you have looked into and know will be exercising your dog and not pretending to but taking your cash anyway
The daycare is a good idea as your dog will be mixing with others and learning a lot
If you cannot afford this every single day then maybe look into a family member/friend having the dog for certain days while you are out if possible???? A retired family member may be only to happy!
Also take into account are you going to feel motivated enough to get up early and walk the dog before work- take it to its destination I.e daycare and still walk it when you get home for a considerable length??? Dogs arent easy! Just many people have them and don't care for them properly.
Consider what you want from a dog overall. Some breeds need less exercise for example a greyhound may be suited to two sprints in a secure area twice daily for 20 minutes and then be happy to laze about wheres a JRT may need up to 3 hours exercise or more to just feel settled indoors. So breed is important as well.
Sorry to disagree, but it is cruel. Dogs need company, you shouldn't get one if you're out at work eight hours a day, end of .
I wouldn't do it my self and it would be cruel for some dogs.
We have 2 dogs they wouldn't agree it's cruel they well cared for and Loved when we are there
A puppy should NOT be left on its own!!! Would you leave a baby on its own?
Agree 100%.
if you leave a puppy home alone for that amount of times you are going to have a heck of a lot of trouble getting it to understand outside is where to toilet not indoors where it spends all day alone- Puppies have very small bladders and cannot hold it like adults dogs may do- The pup will also need feeding at regular intervals for some time and need you there to train it in order to develop into a healthy, well adjusted dog.
It doesn't matter if the dog is a small ("lap") dog or large dog it is still going to drive itself bonkers left alone all those hours every day in my view.
Also I would not advise leaving a dog outside in the garden unless you have considered every aspect- Dogs get stolen a lot. Neighbours complain a lot if the dog is fed up and barking/crying and rightly so. There will have to be a cost spent on an insulated /comfortable kennel to keep the dog away from the cold/rain etc.
As I said don't be put off by everyone saying 'don't do it' if you think you have a lot to offer a dog then consider everything and if you still think you can provide it with what it needs then good luck
Just to add, yes greyhounds are probably the most lazy breed you can get (ironically). Still wouldn't leave them alone all day, however I've been in a situation where I've had to physically push them out of their beds to go outside. Even then they have a run around for a few mins, then bark they want to come in. I think I was a greyhound in a previous life
Sometimes I really wish there was a "like" button on DS
The only problem is, no reputable greyhound rescue charity would let you adopt a dog unless you could prove it was only being left for a maximum of 4 hours at a time and I think a puppy is out of the question as it will either be very destructive or miserable, or possibly both.
Anyway... I'm looking for a breed that's very child-friendly, low-maintenance, lazy (
Any ideas?
To say it's cruel to leave a dog alone in a warm dry room with food and water for 8 hours is really stretching the meaning of the word, it's undesirable and unavoidable , but cruel ? no, get some perspective for heaven's sake..
I have worked full time (shift work) for over 20 years and have had two dogs all that time (not the same ones!). For a while when I was married and my ex worked some of the time at home, they were not left alone for more than 4 hours.
After my divorce there was no alternative - would you rather I had them rehomed (fat chance) or put down?
I am up with them for an hour before work and in the evenings, we walk miles in all weathers. I come home to no chewing or destruction and anyone who knows my dogs - including the vet, say how happy and well behaved they are. Most recently after an older one died, the one left behind was pining - I made the decision to get a puppy. A puppy because if they know their routine from day 1 there is no stress.
A friend came round once during the day to let her out for a wee and there was no mess inside the house (when out) from getting her. She is lively but even so, only chewed a tiny bit when teething (all dogs chew when teething). We live near the country so weekends we go out for 3-4 hours at a time and they get a lot of exercise. I know people who are at home all day and NEVER take their dogs out!
When I am on leave from work, what do the dogs do when they have been walked and fed? They sleep!
Dogs sleep at least half of every day, even puppies.
It may not be ideal but I know my dogs are happy and so am I.
For those who insist it is cruel, you seem to want to deny doggy company to anyone who works - that is cruel to both human and dog in my opinion.
And in my case, my man is moving in this year and he works from home, so they will not be 'on their own' - I bet he tells me that they sleep all day!
I don't know about breeds as such, we just have general moggies. But spayed females are more likely to stay close to home than a male.
Thanks. I was originally considering a Persian, as they tend to be quite lazy, but the constant grooming put me off.
Yeah. A dog
No breed would guarantee you a Loyola cat, some are more people friendly than others, but that's about it. Personally I'd get a moggie kitten, that's what I did (2 actually), they grew up with the kids, and they all play well together and they sleep with my son. One does go walkabout regularly, but always comes back (we are rural so he goes mousing I think).
She got a good walk in the morning, slept most of the day and then in the evenings we went for another walk (or two in Summer) and training/agility/group walks.
It's more frowned upon nowaday but IMO there are worse lifestlyes for some dogs.