I want to a dopt a dog from the pound good idea or not?

Question

I have a full time job m-f so would it smart to get a fairly health dog that might get sick a lot of get a healthy one that could stay home alone while i'm at work. (keep your comments to yourself about leaving a dog at home for eight hours, every one does it and the dog wont die)

Answer 1

There are lots of healthy dogs at the pound, and they need good homes. If they don't get adopted they get put down. Also, there is not the expense of buying from a breeder or pet store. And I agree with you; unless you can afford doggy day care (yes; they actually have them!), it is necessary to leave your baby home.

Answer 2

When I adopted a dog from the shelter I took a couple of them out for a walk before deciding and chose the one that responded best to a few simple commands. However, that dog didn't work out because it killed the rabbit in front of the kids so I found it a better home.

Puppies require a lot more time than adult dogs. Try to get one that is already housebroke and can hold it long enough until you get home. I'm hoping you don't plan to leave it outside all day because it might bark and annoy neighbours, plus it could either get too hot or too cold for it.

Answer 3

Most but not all of the animal shelter(pound) dogs are someone else's problem . They commonly have bad habits such as excessive barking ,destructive chewing and running away by fence or wall jumping. The chance of medical problems increases because of the public petting dogs in the shelter. The dogs are affectionate for the most part and will lick people's hands so the hands of the public petting many animals can and does spread some diseases such as kennel cough .
I would suggest trying to get a pet dog from someone trying to find a home for there pet because their circumstances no longer will allow them to keep their dog. For example people that have to move to a place that that will not accept their pet. You could be saving that animals life as well as the next stop for it may indeed be the shelter. But you will have a clear advantage over what is normally found in the shelters. You might try looking in some classified newspaper ads.

Answer 4

Of course it's a good idea. And no, it's not a good idea to have dogs if no one can take care of them for 8 hours straight.

Dogs from shelters are not all "sick" dogs. A high percentage of them are from relatively good homes and their owners just couldn't take care of them anymore.

Look at petfinder.com or a breed rescue group to find something that will fit your needs. And consider hiring a local teenager to walk your dog and take care of it while you are at work all day. Or, use doggy day care, because even though some people leave their dogs home all day doesn't make it right. There are easy solutions and they can help keep the dog happy & healthy along with give you a great welcoming commitee when you get home! : )

Answer 5

Lady I Own 11 Bulldogs Of Which,4 Live Inside,I Do Get To Come And Let Them Out At Lunch(Part Of My Contract)However Be Prepared To Replace Furnishings Till It Is House Broken,A Dog Depends On Its Owner For Everything,Its Alot Of Responsibility,Like A Child It Takes Time Love And Money To Properly Own A Pet

Answer 6

I suggest you get one from the shelter. You'll be saving a dog's life, and helping to lower the number of animals being eutanized each year due to lack of space and too many animals. I also suggest you get an older, housetrained dog. Older dogs are better if you can't be with your dog 24/7. Puppies need to be let out more often as they can't hold it as long as older dogs, and they are more hyper and energetic. If you can't be home to take them on walks or otherwise excercise them, they'll find other ways to get rid of their excess energy, which can include, but is not limited to, barking, chewing, shredding, etc. The cuteness of puppies may cause you to want to get a puppy, but their cuteness goes away, along with your grandmother's antique vase if you can't be with him/her often enough. Too many people get puppies because they're cute and end up dumping the pup at the shelter or on the streets when he/she grows up and isn't as cute anymore. What may seem cute when a dog is young, like jumping up on you, may not be so cute when they grow up and knock you down onto the ground. If the owners aren't willing to train the dog to stop, he/she'll be gone. (It's also easier to train a dog not to do something in the first place than retrain him/her after he/she's began doing it.) Try finding an older dog who was taken to the shelter because the owner was elderly and had to move to an assisted living facility that doesn't allow dogs, was moving to a place that doesn't allow dogs, or had some other circumstance where the dog was otherwise fine. Some owners do lie about why they are abandoning their dog however to feel less guilty. I personally think that's horrid, but it does happen. The lieing can go either way. Some say the dog is perfect and they're moving to a place that doesn't accept dogs, etc. to give the dog a better chance of being adopted when the dog really has behavioral problems that they either are too ignorant to face or simply won't take the time to correct them, and others say that the dog attacked them or something like that to justify their abandoning him/her when the dog hasn't done a single thing to them. Try doing some research on dog breeds to find out what type of breed and/or breed mix you should get. Look at several dogs before deciding on the one you definitely want. This way, you won't get a dog, then a couple days later, returm him/her right back to the shelter. Don't let the opinions of a few people deter you from a certain breed either. Dig deeper to find out the truth about each type of breed before crossing them off your list, so you don't wave off a breed that could've been the perfect breed you were looking for. Take your time at the shelter. Spend time looking at each one. Don't pick one just because of how cute they look or that they're about to be put to sleep the earliest. You may regret that choice later unless you're extremely lucky. I hope this helped. :) Sorry if it's a bit long.

Answer 7

Most shelters have veterinarians on staff, which pet stores definately can not say. Shelter dogs come to you with a full set of the shots appropriate for their age and already fixed. Most have been given a check-up by a vet already, many have been surrendered by families who could no longer care for them and come with a complete set of veterinary records.

I have had three shelter dogs (two of them still with us), and all have been healthy, happy, wonderful dogs.

Having said that, if you're worried about your dog being sick because you can't afford or don't have the time to take it to the vet, don't get a dog. All dogs will get sick or have an accident at some point. It doesn't matter where they've come from.

We work full time, and leave our dogs safely confined with toys that stimulate their minds. But when we get home, and before we leave for work, we are dedicated to the dogs' care and well-being. We work with and train them every day, walk them a lot, play with them in the yard and spend time just hanging out with them.

Also, don't get a puppy. Get an adult dog. Puppies need to be taken out to pee every half hour while they are initially house training because they're bladders aren't phyically capable of holding it for much longer. Even if you have to housetrain and adult dog, it's a lot easier because they have larger bladders and only need to go out every couple of hours while in training.

Also, please do some research on dog-ownership that doesn't involve asking random strangers who may or may not know what they hell they're talking about (person who said that pound dogs are trained to run away and return so the pound can make more money, I'm looking in your direction). At my local library there are literally shelves and shelves of books on dogs, dog training and dog breeds. Read them.

Answer 8

Of course adopting from the shelter is a good idea. do you know how many unwanted dogs need a good home??? As soon as you adopt the dog take it to the vet, don't skimp on treatments and always take your vets advice to keep your dog healthy. If you are concerned about it being home alone while you are at work try to find a neighbor that could come over and take the dog out or try a doggie day care.

Answer 9

13 years ago we adopted a mix puppy. It is the best dog ever. He can last up to 10 hours alone in the house. He does not drink much when we are a work. He has epilepsy. So not very healthy but very controllable with meds. Some times it is hit or miss with older dogs we tried to adopt an older dog @2yrs and he was very afraid of my husband. Abused Good Luck.

Answer 10

It would not be good to get a dog and keep it alone for 8 hours. You know with lunch hour and the commute it would actually be closer to 10 hours.

And no, not everyone does it. And the ones that do usually have a dog that acts out, misbehaves, and causes real problems, messes up the house, tears stuff up, then you end up having to take him back to the pound because you can't put up with it.