Getting a Dog

I know it has been discussed here before - but I would like to get a little dog, despite the fact that I will be out at work all day.

What I was thinking of was getting two small dogs and they could be company for each other during the day and then in the house evenings and weekends.

I know a lot of the rescue centres want people who are there all day, but I wonder would it make a difference if there was company/walkies in the evenings for the two dogs. I would also prefer to take the dogs from a Rescue Centre than "buy" a purebreed.

Has anyone else got a dog/dogs that work full time and how do the dogs adjust? Any comments much appreciated.

Have had dogs all my life, so well aware of the responsibilites (and sometimes restrictions) that come along with them, but think it is worth it.

I got 2 puppies a couple of months ago and they are left together most of the day. They are as happy as larry, they play games, chase each other around and cuddle up together when they want to sleep. Most of the time they are in the garden where they have warm shelter, water, toys etc. They come indoors at night and for their training lessons. It's working out fine as they enjoy each others company. The only "downside" (not really) is that you get double the greeting when they see you - mine are still at the hyper jumping stage. It would be unfair to leave 1 dog alone all day, but with 2 dogs I think it's fine. Realistically most dogs these days are on their own for large parts of the day. Good luck!

Unfortunatly, we don't live in a world where people can stay at home all day to mind the house and the animals or pets we have.

I have a terrier, and I work everyday from 12 noon - 12 midnight. My partner works from 8am - 6pm.

So my dog sleeps inside at night, and is let out in the morning for a run when my boyfriend gets up at 7am. He then goes back to sleep for a couple of hours until I get up, around 9.30am/10am. I leave the house just after 11am so he is put outside in our back garden that is completly enclosed.

He has a large kennel filled with toys and blankets, enough food and water for the day, and is on his own until 6pm when my boyfriend comes home. He's then inside until morning again apart from being let out for the toilet, playing and walks.

He may be alone but he really enjoys his own company. If you give them enough toys and distractions, between playing with themselves and running about, snoozing and exploring, they would be alright.

Probably if I had my way again, I would have introduced another puppy at the same time for some company. But my dog seems very happy with his situation, and I think as long as you give them enough things to bide their time, they will be ok.

Smashbox said:

He may be alone but he really enjoys his own company.

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How do you know he enjoys his own company? Dogs are pack animals and crave company, canine or human. My neighbours dog is left alone in the garden all day and howls most of the time - it's very distressing to hear. When they had 2 dogs he never cried. Would you consider getting a second dog for company?

My friend recently got a dog from the shelter and they were asking how much they would be around, it is a given you will be walking them in the evenings (personally I wouldn't say you are employing dog walkers as it may give them the impression you wouldn't be bothered doing it yourself) but my friend works flexi and gets off work at 4pm so they were happy enough with that. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to get a dog from shelters because of their concerns but it is understandable given a lot of the dogs previous experiences.

sorry misunderstood your post I see you meant company and walks rather than a company walking the dog !

I'd definatly go for two dogs, it's more work as you'll know but they will be company for each other. We have one dog, a beautifully behaved collie that we can leave comfortably for up to six hours now and again. We then added a boxer (found him through AAM as it happens) and while he can't be left for very long, we found they are great company for each other, with or without humans around.

I wouldn't want to leave my two alone for a full working day but only because the boxer has to be contained and we feel it would be unfair. If he was allowed to roam the house I think the two of them would be just fine.

Good luck.

hello, I am the proud owner of a beautiful 5 month old puppy. My husband works from home however from time to time he has to be away with work. When he is travelling, I leave the puppy indoors with access to a side passage if he needs to do his business (but he rarely does, he holds it until he gets to the garden most of the time). He has food, water and toys too with him. I leave the house at 9am and my mother visits him at 12.30pm until 1.30pm to let him out and to have a chat with him. I am home then at 5.30pm and we have a chat, cuddles and we go for a long walk. Then we spend the evening by the fire. I am totally devoted to my puppy. I hate the thought of him being alone. I like to think if I were a dog it is me I would chose to live with. My situation is not perfect when my husband is travelling but with life the way it is for all of us, we are so busy etc. I couldnt imagine not having a dog and cant see why I shouldnt. There are so many of them uncared in the world and I think the love and attention they get when you are with them makes up for the absences. Good luck MandaC.

I live on my own, work shift and the dspca refused me a dog. They're quite strict about not having the dog left on its own..

Rois said:

How do you know he enjoys his own company? Dogs are pack animals and crave company, canine or human.

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Totally agree with this, myself and himself would love a dog but we both are gone from 8am-5pm (at the earliest) mon-fri, we both feel it would be unfair for a dog to be left alone that long and that regularly. If one person worked part time or we had different hours maybe, but dogs being dogs they ARE pack animals and IMO it would not be right.

Whilst I agree that dogs are indeed pack animals and would prefer company, I do not think that just because for some part of the day they will be on their own this is not a valid enough reason not to have a dog around the home. When you consider the alternatives that are open to the dogs in pounds all over the country surely a good home is better than no home. I'm sure there are AAM's out there who will know of some dogs that are kept in deplorable conditions up and down the country that are often mistreated, abused and neglected. I would have no hesitation in recommending someone to have a dog as long as they have enough of a garden/back yard to run around in and are not annoying any neighbours during the day.

I'd recommend 2 dogs. Dogs crave company.

My 2 play with each other constantly and are great company for each other when we are at work. They come in during the evening and sleep outside at night in their dog home. They're like 2 peas in a pod and often share their inside bed with each other even though they each have their own.

A dog left alone all day would probably go a bit mad.

To be honest, looking after 2 dogs isn't twice the work of looking after one.

Niallers said:

I'd recommend 2 dogs. Dogs crave company.

My 2 play with each other constantly and are great company for each other when we are at work. They come in during the evening and sleep outside at night in their dog home. They're like 2 peas in a pod and often share their inside bed with each other even though they each have their own.

A dog left alone all day would probably go a bit mad.

To be honest, looking after 2 dogs isn't twice the work of looking after one.

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Except there's twice the dog crap to be picked up!! I got a dog in the end, and my girlfriend has a dog, and the 2 dogs now live with me one week and her the next! Just didnt seem fair for them to have to spend the day on their own when they could be together..

Went down to DSPCA yesterday afternoon to have an informal chat with them. They were not too keen on someone taking a dog/dogs that would not be there all day.

Anyway, the girl said I could write myself down for a home visit and take it from there with them.

I do understand the concerns, but as other people have said, there are so many dogs being pts and left alone all day everyday in tiny dog runs, then perhaps it is not the worst thing for me to offer 2 dogs a home, albeit they only have their own company during office hours.

Am in the process of changing jobs, so will wait till I settle and then review situation.

i'd have to say that I'd love to have a dog, but am not in a viable position to because of work. I'm fortunate that 2 days a week I work from home, so only 3 days are 'away', but I still consider this to be too much for me to get a pet.
5 neighbours in my immediate area are, like me, commuters but they have decided to get dogs, and if pains me that the dogs just spend the day barking and barking and barking. As yet I've never seen any of them being taken for a walk, so wonder why people got them! One poor little westie just runs around after his tail for ages most days.
I personally think unless you can commit to being there for a good portion of the day (at least some of the daylight hours), having a dog shouldn't be considered.

Rois said:

How do you know he enjoys his own company? Dogs are pack animals and crave company, canine or human. My neighbours dog is left alone in the garden all day and howls most of the time - it's very distressing to hear. When they had 2 dogs he never cried. Would you consider getting a second dog for company?

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I know this because my parents live next door and there doesnt be a sound out of him. When their two dogs come round, he gets distressed and doesnt like it, and so I KNOW that my dog enjoys being alone more so than being with others.

He was raised alone, he's 2 now and thats how I will be keeping it. As an owner, you know what your animal does and doesnt like.

Smashbox said:

I know this because my parents live next door and there doesnt be a sound out of him. When their two dogs come round, he gets distressed and doesnt like it, and so I KNOW that my dog enjoys being alone more so than being with others.

He was raised alone, he's 2 now and thats how I will be keeping it. As an owner, you know what your animal does and doesnt like.

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Just because he is afraid of 2 other particular dogs doesnt mean he enjoys his own company. Dogs ARE pack animals by nature and if a dog has been raised without social interaction with other dogs he becomes anti social (just like a human) and doesnt know how to behave with other dogs. Anti social humans/animals dont necessarily enjoy their own company, it is simply preferable to distress because they dont know how to socialise. The distress could well indicate that the dog is unbalanced as a result of being raised alone.

> have to say that I'd love to have a dog, but am not in a viable position to because of work. I'm fortunate that 2 days a week I work from home, so only 3 days are 'away', but I still consider this to be too much for me to get a pet.

That's exactly our situation. For those 3 days, we have a walker come in and take the dog out with other dogs for 1-1.5 hours. On all days, she gets a 45 minute off lead walk in the morning and another walk in the evening. She lives indoors with us and is never alone really for more than 4 hours.
She appears to be perfectly happy and I certainly think her life is pretty good. She is a rescue dog.

hotlips said:

That's exactly our situation. For those 3 days, we have a walker come in and take the dog out with other dogs for 1-1.5 hours. On all days, she gets a 45 minute off lead walk in the morning and another walk in the evening. She lives indoors with us and is never alone really for more than 4 hours.
She appears to be perfectly happy and I certainly think her life is pretty good. She is a rescue dog.

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Thats a fantastic idea, especially that the walker takes her out with other dogs so she gets socialisation as well.

If you dont mind me asking, whats the ballpark cost of the dog walker and how many dogs are walked at once?

Hi there,

Myself and my boyfriend have a little westie. We got her when she was 6 weeks old and she is now a year and a half. I love the dog so much!

We both work but my boyfriend gets a lot of study leave and I work flexi so its not too bad. They are fabulous company but a huuuuge commitment. I never ever stay late in work or go out straight from work as I am concerned about getting home to the dog as I know she has been on her own all day. On the nights my boyfriend is in college I don't go out, I spend quality time with my dog. I know this might sound insane but I would feel so guilty leaving her all the time. I tried to bring her out places with me, ie. different places to walk her or over to my parents but she gets dreadful car sick I considered getting a second dog as company for my westie and had my brothers friend bring his lovely little dog over to the house. Well my dog went insane and when I went to pet the other dog she went to attack it (I have never ever witnessed this before, it was truly shocking) so getting a second dog went out the window. Just to ad, she is not unsociable, she has been walked with other dogs and there is never a problem and she is great around kids. I think it was the fact of another dog in her home and getting attention from me. The poor dog was in a heap for the whole day after that episode. Obviously it would be different if you got two dogs together. If you go away alot make sure you have someone reliable to mind your dog as I think alot of kennels can be horrible places and very stressful for the animals. I have been really fortunate to find a small kennels near my house that really looks after the dog but had a terrible experience in the one I used before this one. I absolutely can't imagine life without my dog as she is just the funniest, cutest, cheeky little thing but to be honest had I really been prepared for the emotional rollercoaster I have been through since getting the dog (she was really sick twice...had serious behavioural problems and we are now paying a fortune to have her trained...I am tied to the house 3 evenings a week due to the guilt I feel when I leave her....there is alot more I won't go into) then I probably would have thought a lot longer and harder about getting the dog. But I could never ever be parted from her now that I have her.