Getting a dog...

[philly169]

Me and the misses have been together for almost 7 years, living together for 6 months and getting we'd next year... I've always been brought up with dogs when I a nipper and love them to bits. We always talk about getting small dog and both really want a beagle. The only problem is that we both work all day...

We really want one but don't want to be cruel by never being around whilst we are at work. We've seen there's one available close by and fairly young so trainable and Our thoughts are that we'd leave it in the kitchen diner with a child gate during the day with toys and food/treat dispensers and bedding etc and I'd set up an ip camera to keep an eye on it during the day.

What are your experiences with leaving dogs alone during the day?

 

[Rooter]

not personally, but my neighbour has 3 dogs, 2 cockers and a dalmatian. they are at home all day, she has found a local company that come and walk them around lunchtime. she walks them in the morning pre work and after work too, they are pretty well behaved for quite hyper dogs, so they are happy i reckon. i think she leaves the radio on for them for some background noise.

I like them next door, we had an intruder in our garden a while back and the dogs heard them and went absolutely mental!

 

[stevie_r]

Not really fair on a dog to leave it without company all day IMO.

 

[virtuocity]

Not really fair on a dog to leave it without company all day IMO.

Agree completely.

Remember that getting a dog is a 15 year commitment. A dog will impact on your holiday choices. Do you have a spare 90 minutes every day for walks?

If you do get a dog, make sure you have researched pet sitters in your local area. They will come, check on your dog, walk them and then feed them.

 

[Hobbit]

We've had our Border Collie for 6 years now. She gets left for a full day very occasionally without any problems. However, we used to have several holidays and short breaks a year - not one short break since getting her, and arranging kennels etc can be a chore. Doubt we'll get another one.

 

[drawboy]

I'm with Hobbit on this, we used to please ourselves as to what and when we did things. Now everything has to be planned around the dog. She never gets left full days but if we want to go to town for a pint then she gets left, no choice. She is good though but think very carefully as they really do impact on life. You said you grew up with dogs, I did too but ultimately as a kid you are not responsible for them so only remember the good times. We used to love going to the lakes for the weekend, we do not do that now as she doesn't like other dogs so cannot be trusted in an environment like the lakes.

 

[Pin-seeker]

We have a dog and it doesn't affect our holidays as we have family members who look after him. We both work but the mrs is mobile in her work so can always call home to let him out.
Obviously some breads need more walking than others.

 

[Foxholer]

Depends on the breed/breeding imo.

Some (Spaniels?) can entertain themselves - though go nutty as a 'welcome home'! Others (our Weimeraner) can fret - and chew doors and blinds - without company. Important they have decent amount of room, for their particular needs, to exercise though - not just pace about.

Camera possibly taking technology a bit far imo. What are you going to do if you see a problem? Speaker as well? Still, if it's simple enough to do, why not.

 

[stevie_r]

We are fairly fortunate in that we have a family friend who loves our dog and is happy to board him during holidays/ short breaks. We try never to leave the dog for more than about 4 hours and then only occasionally. We have never had a problem with the dog being destructive, he was cage trained from being a pup.

It's worth remembering that dogs are not solitary creatures by nature and for some, extended periods of isolation can be extremely stressful. If you want a pet you can leave all day then get a cat, it won't give a crap if you are around or not as long as it is fed.

 

[Midnight]

At the end of the day it is down to you , however if you have a big enough garden then it is worth investing in a decent kennel and run for the dog if you are away during the day a lot. Good dog walkers from the local area would also be handy. The one thing you want to be aware of is that if you have the dog in the kennel during the day , the dog can become a target to be nicked. I know in Hampshire we always go through a patch of dogs being stolen from their kennels.

 

[upsidedown]

Two dogs , big black lab bitzer and border collie. Most they are left alone together is 7 hours max, which is pretty rare as I can plan my work days to be home early , but they do get two long walks each end of the day. Throw in a cat in the mix too
Again family members look after them when we're away

 

[Pin-seeker]

Try having 2 horses aswell

 

[palindromicbob]

The first dog we got was a Cavalier King Charles called Max. He was 2 when we got him and has a real separation anxiety. We both worked shifts at the time but HID was generally opposite me so the dog was rarely left alone for more than an hour or two. Took him about a year to calm down a little but still remains anxious. His previous owner used to leave him alone for up to 72 hours with nothing more than a family member coming in to feed him once a day so a lot of his problems with separation relate to that.

Last year we both got 9-5 jobs which meant leaving him for around 9 hours max. He coped quiet well with it and we left him plenty of chews and toys. Always left a radio or the TV on for him as well. His most unsettled period is the first hour after leaving where he stares out the window. We have a few cats that he is great with and they all stuck around together in the house so he had company of some sort.

We got a Westie in June year and now they both have company. Max is much more content when left alone now. Still unsettled for a short while but doesn't jump up at the window as much any more. The Westie was only 1 year old when we got him and he entertains himself much more easily. The 2 are great company for each other.

If you get the dog as a puppy then you can begin training it to get used to periods alone in the house and reduce his anxiety to being alone.

Just consider the costs such as kennels if you are away and then all the jabs etc and insurance is very worth while.

 

[Liverbirdie]

We got our dog 7 years ago when he was about 3-4 years old.

We also wondered about leaving him all day as we both work 9-5, but as the missus is a teacher felt that with her holidays, it would break it up more. We got a rescue dog, so also felt - he can't be any worse off than being stuck in kennels all day.

We walk him every morning, and long walks at the weekend. It also worked out better, as my retired folks come 4-5 days a week to take him out for an hour in the day anyway. I think the breed is an important one to consider, and if you go for a rescue dog, find out his previous history.

We now take our hols in the UK in the main and take him with us, I couldn't put him in kennels, as he may feel he has been put back there, so if do go abroad family look after him. We're lucky in that way.

Sadly, ours has this week been diagnosed with Lymphoma, so he's starting a 26 week course of Chemo - gutted. If we can get another year or two with him, that would be great.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

If you leave the dog alone for more than 6 hours a day on a daily basis I would say that you should reconsider.
There is a cost and time implication.
I walk my lab at least 30 miles a week and he is still 'lively' aged 6 years.
That is a big plus for me as it keeps me fit and active
Cost is approx £1k a year with food, vets, kennels and insurance.

 

[chris661]

We have three (dalmation, springer & westie) we have always left them in a pen outside during the day and have never had any problems with them. That said they have never been on their own always a had at least another one usually two for company.

Oh and only two horses try having four as well

 

[Pin-seeker]

We have three (dalmation, springer & westie) we have always left them in a pen outside during the day and have never had any problems with them. That said they have never been on their own always a had at least another one usually two for company.

Oh and only two horses try having four as well

Pahahaha nah 2 is 2 too many :thup:

 

[Captainron]

We have a Patterdale Terrier (6 month old bitch) and she is a little beauty. Crazier than a hatter on LSD though. We already have 2 boys so the 'extra' child in the house isn't that much of a shock. We really thought hard about it and only went for it because my wife works for the NHS on shifts and can walk her every other morning and in the afternoons. Wouldn't be fair on the little rat otherwise

 

[Stegsie]

It's all about the breed on this one I reckon. As mentioned, dogs are sociable animals so by their nature don't like being alone. Having said that I've spend the last few month researching breeds as I am looking for a dog now too.

Finally settled on a cocker spaniel or a lab. Getting one from a puppy would be the best bet, so you get them into a routine straight away. Crate training and popping in during lunchtime to take him for a walk would be good if you can manage that.

 

[Mark_G]

A single dog should not be left on its own for more than 4 hours (IMO), we have two springers and the longest they are left for is 3 hours, if you have a secure yard with a kennel then possibly a dog could be left longer but ideally a pair would be better in that situation. Dogs are social animals and I personally dont feel its fair to leave a dog alone all day.