Getting a dog

[Titch85]

We've got a family Springer Spaniel who is 14, but he lives with my parents.

Ever since I moved out I've wanted to get a dog of my own. I live in a rented house so will have to get permission from the landlord, but I don't think that'll be an issue. The thing I am worried about is that OH and I both work full time, so it would be on its own for most of the day. We'd walk it before and after work, and at the beginning I could prob go home during the day to let it out and give it some company, I couldn't do that forever though. Am I being unrealistic or unfair?

Also, I'd love to get a puppy so that it's with us from the start and we know how it's been treated, where it's come from etc. I am a bit wary about rehoming an older dog, especially if we have a baby. But an older dog is more likely to be house trained?

Any input or advice gratefully received!

 

[cosmicgirl]

Personally, I wouldn't if both you and oh work FT. I don't think it's fair on the dog. Dogs are sociable pack animals and don't enjoy long periods alone.
Sorry x

 

[Linny1989]

I've just got a 10 week old.puppy and.coming back in the day ain't enough. U have to watch them for wees all day. X

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[SeonaidMac]

I totally agree its not fair at all to the dog if you work full time... we have 5 dogs but hubby works from home otherwise we wouldn't have any.... they are social creatures and being left alone for long periods especially puppies is no good your house would be trashed xx

 

[Emily0505]

I definetly would strongly advise against getting a puppy. They need so much time, attention, socialisation and training and shouldn't be left alone for than a couple of hours max.

I have 2 dogs of my own and work full time, in an animal rescue centre as it happens. Have you considered a rescue dog? In regards to being left all day, as long as you get one that is used to and quite happy to be left then it shouldn't be an issue. You could get a dog walker to come in during the day and see to the dog. Obviously different rescue centres will have different policies in regards to which homes they place dogs into but it may well be worth looking into.

XX

 

[Linny1989]

Yea my oh works.n I'm at home full time. We have a 4 year old dog and a pup. Lot of time needs.to go in to them. I have to take my pup put every half.hour ish in the garden to get her toilet trained x

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[tambo1976]

I wouldn't get a dog either unless someone was there for company in the day. They are such social animals it is kinda cruel to leave them alone for long periods at a time. Even worse for a puppy, there is simply no way you can leave it alone, it is similar to having a baby in many respects and they take time, patience and lots of love which sadly you can't offer when at work xxx

 

[beckyboo1]

I definately think its unfair- would you like to be in a house on your own for 7 hours a day with no company

To me if you're going to own a dog you need to be at home to look after it, not out at work

I too miss having a family dog but wouldn't dream if getting one while I couldn't be at home for it. To me it's cruel

 

[PeaPod]

We have a 3 and half year old spaniel who we got as a puppy. I took 2 weeks off work to toilet train him and when i went back to work my friend visited twice each day to let him out for a wee (payed her £15 a week to do this mon-fri). We crate trained him so he only ever had a few accidents in the early days and me or OH walked him in the morning before work and then again as soon as we got in. We did this for the first year then my OH would pop home at lunch time when he could. We now have a very happy, well trained dog who loves cuddles in the evenings and is brilliant with out 15week old son. During the time that we both worked full time we spent a lot of time with him in the evening and at weekends and took him everywhere and anywhere. Luckily for us all i got made redundant whilst pregnant so have been on mat leave since july and i certainly find that although he likes having me home more he does find it harder to settle so he often gets grumpy. I think basically what im saying is that it is possible to have a puppy if you can take the time off early to train them and have a support network, like dog walker or sitter.

 

[redbear]

i have a springer pup (9month now) but Im at home and take him to my mums so he can play with his mum sister and there other springer. he gets full access to the garden all day (they have the conservatory as a dog room with the door open.) and he gets taken up the fields with the others a couple times a day. i wouldn't want him on his own all day he would chew up everything including the skirting board if he was bored. he did this when my oh took him to work with him because his mum was on heat. Xx

 

[Mum2betash]

What about 2 puppies for each others company?? Xx

 

[Linny1989]

Double work. Lol x

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[redbear]

There just as bad together tbh, i looked in the conservatory yesterday and my mum and dads pup (his sister) was pulling up the lino and chewed/ ripped it all to bits! She had the other dogs to play with too!

I know i wouldnt want to leave him in my living room or kitchen because he would damage everything atm he has a cage to sleep in at night. He is fine if we are in the room with him he will sit and snuggle and be a little darling but as soon as we leave him there is piss on the floor and he has damaged something. (he doesn't pee in his cage he waits to be walked and if we are in the room he doesn't wee only when he is alone with free run even if its for 15 minutes!) x

 

[SeonaidMac]

Having 2 puppies together is serious hard work... we have 2 that are 1.5 mths apart its hard as you don't know who peed or chewed what... training 2 is hard... I wouldn't recommend it xx

 

[k8_005]

i would def go to a shelter where they have assessed the dogs nature with children and other animals and you will know its health status, id go for an older dog who wont need as much excersise and is already personality known and house trained, i would also say unless you can garentee dog isnt alone for more than 4-6 hours a day then dont do it at all, a freind has a good system where she has her parents who are retired have the dog while they are at work and they pick up on way home dog isnt lonely and its the best of both worlds, i also think with a baby on the way new pet additions will likely be far too much hard and extra work i would wait till baby is older and toddling then think about getting an older rescue dog. x

 

[Fuzzy]

Me and OH got a dog - but he's FT whilst I'm PT. I wouldn't recommend whilst both FT, it's not fair on the dog/ puppy xx

 

[Beauandhamish]

We have got 2 dogs, got them both from puppy's. I work pt and oh works ft and it was hard work! We crate trained both the dogs as when they were puppy's didn't want to leave then in the house as they tend to chew everything! On my days at work I had to pop home twice a day to let the puppy out. Now they are older dogs they have a Kemble and run outside so are fine to leave all day. If you got a puppy I would say that you would have to get someone to come and let it out at least twice a day xx

 

[Beauandhamish]

Kennel not Kemble haha x

 

[iWitch]

Rescue a dog chuck. If you can provide it with a loving home, food and pay for vet bills then that's all they want. Think carefully re the dog you get (afterall collies/spaniels will need a lot of exercise/attention to stop them from getting bored. Be prepared that if they get bored they might chew! The only thing I would say is if you make a commitment then honour it. Far too many people get a pet and give up for some reason or another and it's not fair on the dog xx

 

[russellmuscle]

I wanted a dog but at the time me and oh worked ft. We wouldn't be able to train it, walk it lots or play with it.

We got a cat instead they'r much more independent, mine r house cats and r fine whilst we work. I work pt, on mat right now but even wen we worked ft the cat was fine. I only got the second when I went pt..

If anything the cats sleep all day, they wouldn't miss me if I was gone xxxx