DH and I have always wanted to adopt a dog or puppy but I am conflicted because he works M-F 9-6 and I work M,T,TH, F in office and Wed from home. For those that work FT and have a dog or puppy, how does it work? I am home by 5pm on the days I work. I guess I feel guilty about getting a dog and then having it be alone all day? I don't think we could afford to have a dog walker or anything come.
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@NovBaby1112: I dont WOH any more - but we were dog parents when we both WOH. Our dog was 100% fine with us gone 7-5 and never needed to be kenneled, etc. He has had a TON of health problems that would've been really tough to manage without flexible jobs, or now, me SAH. I absolutely would not get a puppy if you can't get home during the day though - they'd go bonkers with a small bladder and too much energy! Adopt a youngish, mature dog
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Is there any way one of you could come home at lunch to visit the dog? It may be important while he/she is a puppy.
We bring our dog to work with us everyday.
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@NovBaby1112: I would consider adopting a dog that is already potty trained. It's very hard to potty train a dog that is crated all day long - for 9+ hours a day!!
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Now our nanny deals with the dog during the workday BUT when I was single (and working FT) I did have a little dog at home. I would feel really guilty about that until those few days I was home sick and I saw that all she did was sleep all day anyway! Just try to adopt a dog with a medium-low energy level/need for exercise and you should be OK. That dog will be LUCKY to have a family even if you are not around 100% of the time.
PS I think a puppy would be problematic in your situ.
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Our dogs get walked 3 times a day: 7am, 7pm, and before we go to bed. They have no problems holding their pee/poo. But they are small dogs that are not high energy. We got them with that in mind since we knew we wouldn't be able to walk them daily.
In the beginning when they're being house trained you might wanna take some time off and be at home.. But after that period, if its not a high energy dog you should be just fine!
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My advice is get a small dog. They need less exercise and are less destructive when they don't get a lot of exercise. At least that's my experience. We have a pug - he's 6 now but we've had him since 8 weeks. I also felt guilty about leaving him alone all day, so instead of just a crate, we did a crate inside of a 4'x4' pen, and we put a pee pad in the pen with him. From 8 weeks he didn't poop in the house, and he always peed on his pad. I know not all dogs react like mine, but for us WOH was not an issue. Now that he's a grown-up, he has free reign of the house and sleeps on the couch all day with no accidents.
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Dog walkers aren't very expensive, prolly $10/day (we pay $15 but liv in NYC). But if you don't get a puppy, most dogs are fine at home during the day if you take them out in the am and pm. You should do it, dogs are the best! (Especially if they're rescues
)
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We have two dogs (8 year old golden retriever and 7 year old german shepherd mix) + we both work full-time and it works perfectly fine. Prior to reaching the age of about 5, they would occasionally wreak havoc in the house if we had to work late (my golden still counter surfs, but she does that even when we are home), but these days we are lucky if they are awake when we get home. I think it helps having two, though, because they play with each other TONS.
I ultimately agree with PP -- assuming you are going to adopt, you are saving the dog from a life most likely in a cage (depending on if it was fostered, of course). Regardless of how much you work, having a family and that stability is worlds better for the dog.
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When you take that puppy home, hopefully it's a 3 day weekend or you guys should take a day or two to really focus on training & starting a routine. If you are going to adopt puppy, no matter the size, you will need to hire a dog walker or take it to daycare. If you adopt a well behaved older dog, then maybe it's okay to leave not go to daycare or get walks as much as a young energetic puppy. I definitely had to dish out the $ for daycare when my dog was young, even tho I lived @ home at the time and someone was usually home, just getting walks wasn't enough to let off her energy!
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@scg00387, @mediagirl, @mamimami: thanks! yea, it sounds like getting a potty trained dog, not puppy, is the way to go.
@pui: unfortunately we work in the city and it takes 45 minutes by public transit to get home, so that wouldn't be possible. that is AWESOME you get to bring your dog to work!
@mrs. wagon: we would def be able to walk them 3x a day too, glad to know its doable!! what kind of dogs are not high energy?
@Shutterbug: I guess I am just partial to larger dogs, but maybe a smaller one would be best given our situation? I just love love labs/guldens/Shepard mixes...
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We have two dogs and we both WOH 8-5.
Exercise is really important so give him/her a walk at least once a day (2 is much better).
We take them to doggie daycare once a week (Wednesday) to burn off their energy. It is awesome - they get attention, socialization, and are zonked out the rest of the night and next day.
If you don't do daycare, I would really recommend taking them to a dog park regularly especially if you have a small dog to socialize them. -
@Trailmix: @BakerBee: we are definitely going to adopt. Going to look this weekend actually
I guess I am just nervous and feel badly about leaving it at home, but hearing stories of how it works def helps!@Trailmix: oh wow! i thought they were way more than that, good to know!
@snowjewelz: thanks! I think I am leaning more towards a dog now instead of a puppy. seems like it might be a bit easier on both the dog and us...
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@NovBaby1112: So funny - I have two of the dogs you listed! I like to think my bigger dogs have bigger bladders, ha. They can make it from 7 AM to 5 PM very easily. If we have to work later than that we usually call my Dad to come help out.
Prior to moving last year, we did the dog park every other day or every day. It helps a lot with burning off energy. Our shephard can go for 30 minutes and be passed out for the whole next day - she's got greyhound in her so most of the time is spent chasing other dogs and trying to get them to chase her.
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@NovBaby1112: As cute as puppies are, I will not adopt a dog under 1 year next go-around. I was so stressed out & cried a lot training it lol. BUT, with adopting an older dog, if they were not trained previously or had bad behavior ingrained in them, it can take double the work to re-train. So I know people that rather get puppies so they can train the way they want. Either way, good luck and you won't regret it! Getting a dog is one of the best things I have done! I can't imagine life without my canine best friend
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I have a 1 year old lab/blue heeler mix, and I work 8-5, but I go home everyday on lunch still to let him out. I'm sure he would be fine, but he gets really really bored still, and sometimes gets into stuff around the house. Normally nothing too bad, he just does it to bug us I think hahahaha.
I always give him a Kong in the afternoon filled with kibble, and sealed shut with peanut butter. I also take him to the dog park everyday! He's a VERY high energy dog though that needs tons of exercise.
I would totally recommend researching the breed/type of dog before you get it though. You wouldn't believe how many people don't do any research, and then once they have the dog, they find out that the breed is very high-maintenance, or requires too much attention. For instance, if you would get a Husky, they NEED to be exercised very regularly, and hard! If you don't have all that much time for a dog, that probably wouldn't be the breed to get!
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A small dog, imho needs just as much exercise!
I think you can make it work it you are really dedicated to exercising the dog before and after work. My dog can go 8 hours without an accident. We just time it out (feed and water an hour before we take her out and take her out after drinking a lot of water...)
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I wouldn't get a puppy, and I wouldn't get a dog that is very energetic. I got a 4 year old corgi when I was in law school and he was(is) awesome. He was already over his puppy phase--- no accidents, no chewing, no hyper-ness. And he's pretty lazy. I work at home so he goes out 3 times/day (8am, 4pm, 12pm) but days when I work out of the house he can easily go 10 hrs without going out. I do spend some time playing with him each day though, esp if I was gone all day. And he gets walked every afternoon when it is nice out.
I think you can definitely get one with this schedule IF you really want it, but you need to really think about the specific dog you get and you have to want it badly enough to make the dog a priority. If you are going to resent having to rush home after work and not go run errands-- don't get a dog.
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@MrsBrewer: thanks for all the info! yea, i think i def need to do some research on breeds. i have always grown up around labs and golden retrievers so i am just drawn to them, but i def want to find the right dog for our family and life.
thank you everyone! it's such a big decision so just want to make sure i know what i am getting myself into! we love, love dogs so I am glad to hear that it can be done with working parents. the good thing is i get to work from home 1x a week as well.
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@NovBaby1112: No problem! The dog we have right now, is the first dog I've ever had and it was SO eye-opening!!
I love him to death though! My only word of advice would be if you get a puppy, make sure you leash train him right away! Our 85 lb lab right now is HORRIBLE on a leash and pulls sooo much! It would have been so much easier to leash train when he was a puppy....That's my own fault! -
I agree with PP about getting an older dog. We adopted our beagle/boston terrier when she was 8 months and she was fully house broken. She does better when she's with my parents dog so when DH and I are both working long hours I'll take her to my parents house for the day. She's also been to doggie day care and that is great for burning off energy -- she is always pooped the next day. She still gets into trouble if left alone too long or if there is someone in the yard (e.g. gardeners, contractors, etc) -- the other day she tore out all the stuffing in her bed. If we know we're running late we ask a neighbor to taker her out for a pee break. She also really enjoys her box (but hates if you call it a kennel) -- it's like a little cozy cave for her and she just snoozes all day or chews on a bone/kong. As PP said, Kongs with peanut butter are great to keep them busy for a bit.
My parents have an English lab and he is the mellowest dog ever. You probably won't find one of those at the shelter though.
You may want to look into getting two dogs eventually -- ours really likes having a buddy around to play with.
So glad you are adopting and good luck!
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We've had two puppies when we both worked full time. They were always fine and we didn't crate them while we were gone. Of course accidents did happen and we expected that. You could block the puppy off in the kitchen or bathroom for easy cleanup. We had tile so it wasn't an issue. They both eventually learned to hold it while we were at work all day.
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@NovBaby1112: nothing better than an old retriever!
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@Mae: corgis are awesome!
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I agree with PP to adopt an older dog that is already house broken. I would also suggest getting some of the dog treat puzzles. My parent's dogs can get pretty destructive if they aren't walked regularly to wear them out., so my mom puts treats in the puzzles to keep them busy.
ETA - There are large dogs that are relatively low energy (like Great Danes), you just need to make sure you research your breeds and adopt from a reputable agency. A good person at the adoption agency should be able to tell you about the specific personality of the dog you are interested in and/or make recommendations based on your lifestyle and the personalities of the dogs available for adoption.
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Retired greyhound- world's biggest couch potatoes until you take them outside!
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@lemondrop: my friend had one of these and she slept more than any dog I've ever seen!
I second what others have said about getting an older dog whose breed is known for being mellow. You can look to rescues that deal with specific breeds, if that interests you. They are usually very dedicated to placing dogs in the perfect homes and do a careful evaluation of the dog.
It's important to remember that it's not just a dog's need for exercise, but how much the dog feels a need to be with her people. I have a GSD with strong "pack drive," meaning she really feels a need to be close to us. To leave her at home without interaction for most of the day would be tough not only for her exercise/bathroom break needs, but b/c she's not getting to be with her people.
Good luck in your search! I hope to always have a dog--they are such good companions. Let us know how it goes.
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Just wanted to give an update to everyone who was so helpful!
We have been looking on pet finder non stop as well as local shelters, and have been researching breeds. We def want some sort of lab or golden retriever mix.
We found some dogs that we really like on petfinder, and I am wondering what these ages would be like and which one would be best fit for us? We do have family and friends near by that are able to come over during the day, and I looked into dog walking and we can afford that a few times per week as well.
5/6 months
8 months
1.5 yearsThoughts??
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@NovBaby1112: I'd do 1.5 years. I think it's really tough to expect a puppy to behave around a toddler (and vice versa). They just have so much energy! In my experience. 1.5 is when dogs start to settle down - and you'll get a good idea of their personality as an adult dog.
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@NovBaby1112: Are they all trained?
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@scg00387: thanks!
@LuLu Mom: yes, all are house trained and crate trained
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how exciting! we got our pugs when they were about 1.5 years and 3 years old, respectively. we were both WOH and didn't feel up to training a puppy. we did hire a dog walker for the first couple of years, but then we stopped and put a potty pad out for them in the guest bathroom (they used to hold it all day but lately they've been using the potty pad).
i feel like puppy-hood usually lasts until about 1.5 years. i tend to think that the younger a dog is, the more needy, but of course it depends on the individual dog and its temperament. do you have a gut instinct about any of them? do their listings give any more info about temperament?
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@NovBaby1112: I would go 1.5, I think that would be best with children! over their puppy stage & will be able to "play nice."
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@edelweiss: that makes sense...It's hard because I like a lot of them based on their listings, and a lot of the dogs/puppies on petfinder and actually located in the south, and they transport them up north when they are adopted- so we can't actually meet them. but we can talk to their foster families to learn more about them so that helps! all of them say they are good with children and are so sweet, which is what we are looking for
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Very exciting! So happy to hear that you are looking into rescues.
We have a golden/lab mix and we got him when he was 8 months old. He was potty trained and knew a few commands that he would follow when he was calm, but he got so excited when new people came over. He still gets wildly wound up with visitors. We took him to dog obedience classes (with our other 7 year old pooch) and it helped.
I think the 8 month or 1.5 years would work well for you. I would lean towards the older dog, but it really just depends on their personalities.
Good luck!
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When I'm WOH (on mat leave right now), DH leaves the house at 4:30am to go to work and let's the dog get in bed with me. I get up around 6am and feed him and take him out and then put him in his crate before I leave at 7:45am to go to work. DH gets home averagely at 3:30 or 4 and let's him out. I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving him in his crate any longer than that. That's about 8 hours. Mon-Thurs. DH is off Fri-Sun and I'm off on the weekends.
We adopted our dog when he was 1 1/2. He was already house trained. I did a little obedience training with him and we crate trained him. I'm glad we didn't get a puppy!
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these are the ones i am really leaning towards, they are all so cute...it's so hard! i wish we could take them all!
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/28344824/
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@NovBaby1112: We rescued a 12 week old puppy in 2010. he's a lab mix and just an awesome dog in general. We crate trained him from the beginning and we had awesome results. to this day he's never gone #2 in the house. When he was little he would pee in his crate and we would just wash his bedding every night. Were out of the house 9-10 hours. I will say our hardest phase with him was when he was about 7-8 months old. He was almost full size but had the mind of a teenager, always testing us and his limits. we started leaving him out of the crate at about 1 1/2 years old and he's destroyed a few things but nothing major. It was more our fault for not cleaning up after ourselves. Now at 3 years he's a model citizen and sleeps most days at night he gets walked, plays in our yard and on weekends has puppy playdates with my BIL's dog.
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@NovBaby1112: just going from pictures, my vote is for Buddy! He looks like he has a happy go lucky attitude.
I would want to know more about how they assessed him. I know the SPCA has a formal assessment process, so I'd ask a lot of questions from an independent rescue group to make sure he's been through a similar process. When they say "great with kids," how do they know that? For all ages? Here's an example of things tested at a humane society: http://www.sdhumane.org/site/PageServer?pagename=adp_BehaviorAssessments
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@Happygal: thanks for the advice, I will definitely look into seeing how they are assessed- I never thought of that!
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