can you own a dog if you work?

Question

My family would like to get a dog. We understand all the resposibilities that go with it. But we do work and would be gone 6-8 hours a day. From all I read and applications I have seen, it seems you must not work to have a dog. Are the only people who own dogs not working? wouldnt it be better to be with a family then in a shelter environment? We would give the dog all the attention it needs except during work hours? Any thoughts?I know about doggie daycare and walkers, etc. Thanks

Answer 1

We have two dogs and work. Sometimes it can be a little rough going, and we've definately had to take a day off here or there for pet issues (sick pet, new pet coming home who needs adjustment time). But, everyone I know currently who has a dog works. I mean, who doesn't work anymore? Must be nice!

There are certain things you need to look into if you know you're going to be gone during the days:

-Crate training or confinement. Contrary to being cruel (which a lot of people automatically think) most dogs love being crated as it simulates their natural way of living, which is in a den. Crating keeps your dog from getting into trouble while you're out, and keeps him from getting into things that may be harmful for him. If a dog isn't crated, I still recommend confinement in one heavily dog-proofed room. A dog given free roam of the house unsupervised is asking for trouble.

-Age and breed of dog. Activity level does not depend on the size of the breed, but temperment. Some small dogs gogogo for 23 hours a day, some large dogs sleep for 23 hours a day (proud owner of hounds, can attest to this!). Research all the breeds heavily, even if you are planning on getting a mixed breed dog from a shelter (yes! please give a homeless dog a wonderful new home!). Knowing a little about the two (or more) breeds the dog is mixed with can still help you decide which dog would be best for you. And unless you can take several weeks off from work at first, don't get a puppy. Puppies require being let out to relieve themselves many more times a day than adult dogs because their bodies just can't hold it any longer. The adolescent stage in dogs (between 9 months and 18 months depending on breed) can also be very troublesome. You want a dog who is old enough that their personality is well established and they can be easily housetrained.

-Training. Training your dog is not just for obedience, though that is nice, but for mental stimulation. Just like going to school tires humans out even though you're just sitting there, learning new things helps a dog exercise his mind and will burn energy. When you learn how to train your dog, you can do a little training session every morning (in addition to the morning walk) before you leave for work to help him burn energy. Either read a LOT of books on training (at least 5 to get a good idea of the various methods out there, because it can be confusing at first), or enroll in a class.

-Appropriate toys. Toys for your dog should ideally stimulate his mind and burn off his chewing/playing energy at the same time. There are a lot of toys out now that are referred to as "puzzle toys". These toys require your dog to do some work in order to get a food reward out of them. Confining your dog in his crate or in his room with a couple of well-stuffed puzzle toys will create a situation in which he has to work and play to get his reward, and then he will sleep a little after working so hard.

Even-tempered dogs can sleep an unbelivable amount of hours in a day. What you want to create is a situation in which your dog naturally will want to sleep for most of the time you're out, rather than freaking out all day and then sleeping when you get home, which is sort of pointless. Training and walking before you leave, crating or confining with toys that tire him out while you're gone, and then more training and walking when you return should create a recipe for a happy dog.

But remember, dogs are living creatures and they don't always go by the recipe. It takes a creative mind and a lot of fine-tuning and troubleshooting to find the best way to keep your dog safe and happy while you're away from home. Good luck!

Answer 2

I have a dog, live in an apartment, have a large dog and work full time.

The key to it is:

1. Are you willing to put in the time to walk and take care of the dog?

I walk my dog in the morning, right after work I take her to the dog park for at least an hour then walk her again at night. She has her buddies and best friends, has had a lot of exposure walking and is very friendly. Why? Because I put the time in to take care of her - that's the key.

2. Will the whole family take part in it? or will it all end up falling onto one person?

If the whole family takes part in taking care of and training the dog, it shouldn't be a problem. You may need a dog walker/day care while the dog is young, if you're getting a puppy, just because they can't hold themselves for that long, unless you have a yard, in which case you need to review training books and other info to 'puppy'proof the place.

I think if the whole family takes part in the responsibility of owning a dog it will do the following:

a) Bring the family together, creates family times going for family walks, family time at the dog parks, etc.

b) The dog will be well adjusted having the opportunity to see lots, get lots of attention, love and training; the dog will become an extension of the family.

c) Whole bunches of love flowing all around!

I wish you lots of luck in finding the perfect best buddy for your family. I agree, having a dog in a family, is exactly where they belong - and 6 hours, is ok, so long as you put the time in where the dog needs it most.

Take care and God bless!

Answer 3

If your dog is housebroken and doesn't tear things up it'll be fine for 8-10 hours. Just be sure to love it up real good upon returning home, take it out for a lengthy walk (or in the yard playing with you). Remember, they are even more social than humans, so be sure to give the extra attention after you get home. Also, leave a television playing softly when you leave. There's tons of debate over whether or not dogs watch tv, but there's no doubt that human voices are soothing to them. Don't crate train no matter who tells you it's great. It's not great. As someone who has trained dozens and owned many dogs I can tell you, when I go to the dog park I can point out the dogs that live in crates. They tend to have both emotional and physical problems and what a crummy life, to live in a little box. 8-10 hours at home though is fine.

Hope this helps!

Daniel Blasco
iPowerGRFX Website Designers
http://www.ipowergrfx.com
Public Adjusters
http://www.publicadjuster.com

Answer 4

Don't listen to scorpius59. Sorry but I believe you can have a dog and work. Only thing is it will be difficult to have a PUPPY and work. That's what I'm having to try and figure out how to do before I get my puppy. If you can take lunch and drive home that's a big plus. With my old job I could have done this but now I'm an hour to an hour and a half away sometimes depending on the job-site. Hope you can work it out. Being owned by a dog is the most wonderful thing in the world! :)

Answer 5

Dog, like people, want attention and love. They get lonely and bored when left alone for long periods of time. I'm sure a lot depends on the type of dog you get as well, because dogs' temperments vary and some may do better than others when left alone. Also, are you intending to get an outdoor dog or an indoor dog?

A suggestion, maybe get two dogs? (Kind of expensive I know, but they can keep each other occupied.)

Answer 6

it seems you've done all your homework on this...BRAVO! its rare to meet someone who takes dog ownership seriously.
having the doggie daycare and walkers as a plan in your ownership sounds reasonable to me, so your "future pet" will be a happy dog. 6-8 hours is roughly the same amount of time school kids are in school on the weekdays, so i don't think its too much. as long as each family member plays a role in taking care of the dog. this way each family member bonds with the dog, and the dog gets attention galore!!


EDITED:
scorpius59
you need to chill! not every dog behaves that way! its sad that you've never had a FAMILY pet. i feel sorry for any dog that gets within 2 miles of you.
i have 4 dogs, all well behaved IN MY HOUSE. they are all potty trained. not one of them has chewed on anything in my house. my summer sandals are by the front door on the floor, they NEVER touch them. perhaps you should pull your head out of your butt and realize that the only reason a dog behaves badly is because they have idiots for owners that wont have them properly trained! you have no experience with a house pet, so you should be the LAST person to give advise about one!

Answer 7

You can work and have a dog. It will be ok for 6 or 8 hours, or even longer, alone. If it's an inside dog, just make sure to potty train it. If it's an outside dog, make sure your back yard is secure and it cannot get out and run away. It's just silly to think you can't leave a dog alone.

Answer 8

Most rescues will not adopt a dog out, if the person is gone for a certain amount of time. It'll also depend on the age of the dog. Puppies need a lot of attention, so they prefer someone home most of the time. Older dogs are usually less active, therefore aren't bothered with the idea of someone working long hours.
Of course, it also depends on the overall energy level and risk of anxiety leading to destruction of personal property.
If you are unable to adopt, you should check craigslist.org and petfinder.com classifieds to see if there is anyone that is in need of re-homing their dog.

Answer 9

We all work at my house and we have three dogs.
The house is people free for only about 4 hours a day because we work different shifts.
I agree that pets are better off with homes than in shelters. We got all our dogs from the local animal shelter (the pound).
When we looked at pure breed rescues they were just stupid about what they expected you to be able to do. I have to work to afford the dog food!
Good luck.

Answer 10

You can work and own a dog. I reccomend crate training if it is going to be an inside pet. Not much good can come from a dog with free roam of a house for 6-8hrs a day.

Answer 11

I work and i have a dog. Just i spent time with her but i left for work while she was still young so shes got use to staying out back and shes fine. And i do think its better to have a family so u all can give him/her the attention he/she needs.