I want a dog, but I work too many hours? How can I get one?

Question

I probably exaggerated. I work the standard Mon-Fri 8-4.

Answer 1

can you afford a dog sitter? If so you can have a dog walker come and take the pooch in the morning, lunch and around tea time. Then at least the pooch will have some company through the day. I'd like a dog too...good luck

Answer 2

With so many thousands of innocent, loving dogs needing homes it would be hard for me to suggest you forget about getting a dog. Lots of people work the hours you do and are able to give their dogs a good home. If you are willing to truly love a dog and make a commitment to care for the dog for it's entire lifetime, then I would definitely suggest you adopt a dog - an ADULT dog from a shelter - not a puppy.

I have done your hours myself with a dog at home. I would get up early enough to make sure I could take my dog for a nice, fun walk before I left and also give the dog a nice meal. Make sure the dog is left with plenty of fresh, cold water to last until you get home. Don't expect the dog to hold it's No.1 or it's No. 2 until you get home - this would be unreasonable! My dog is trained to go on papers (really she trained herself). This way I don't have to worry about my carpet or floors. Unless you can hire a walker I would go this route.

A noted pet expert on the radio has suggested that you hide dog treats around the house before you leave so the dog has something to look forward to after you go. If you're gone all day you would also want to be very diligent about always supplying the dog with new toys and rotating them often - this helps beat boredom. Leave a radio on a talk station or leave the TV on so the dog hears voices.

As soon as I recovered from my day when I got home I would take the dog for another really fun walk and/or some playtime with you. If you'll let the dog sleep with you on your bed this will also help the dog to understand it has a real, permanent home and is loved - even though you have to be gone in the day. A dog knows if it's truly loved.

Here's my best idea: get 2 dogs! It simply doesn't cost that much to keep 2, it really doesn't. This way they have one another to play with and be with all day. This will really solve the loneliness and boredom problem and it's what I have done myself.

I commend you for being thoughtful about such a big decision. If you are willing to make the lifetime commitment to providing a loving home, and understand that a dog is not a toy for your own amusement - but rather a sensitive, feeling and living being just as you are - then you can make the right decision. Good luck!

Answer 3

Dogs need a lot of attention and if left unattended for long periods of time will develop behavior problems. If you are looking for a companion may be a cat. Some people are definite dog or cat people. Although I enjoy dogs, they require more than I can give, I learned the hard way. We adopted 3 different dogs at different times and unfortunately had to return them, the main reason, we just didn't have the time. So we have settled with a cat. She is a good companion, she cuddles with us, I don't have to walk her at 5 AM & 11 PM, she is content when we are gone but happy when we are back. My advice in picking a cat is don't just pick one thinking any cat will do. Take time to observe it, hold it, see if it is playful, make a connection with it. Also, in my opinion, after adopting dogs and cats from shelters, they are there for a reason, many (not all) have behavior problems that landed them in "jail." Unless you have the time to work with them to overcome their problems, a kitten might be a better choice, a puppy I strongly do not advise. A last thought, another wonderful pet that does well with alone time and is a good companion are cockatiels. I had one for 12 years and he was great! I even taught him how to whistle a couple of short tunes. He would ride on my shoulder and play with my hair and earrings. Anyways, I wish you the best of luck with your search!

Answer 4

If you have money, you can hire a dogsitting or dogwalking service to visit your dog while you are away at work. Alternatively, you can place your dog in doggy day care, but that can be quite expensive. If none of those are options for you and you still really want a dog, try to choose a breed or dog that is suited to being a homebody, experiences little separation anxiety, and sleeps most of the time during the day when you are out. Also, make sure that you get a dog from a shelter, to give it a second chance at life. Given a choice between being euthanized and staying home alone for eight hours a day, most shelter dogs would prefer to be alone for a while than in doggy heaven. Just make sure that, if you do leave your dog alone while you are away at work, you spend every living moment with your dog the rest of the time to make up for the time that it has to spend alone. Also, please remember: A DOG IS A LIFETIME COMMITTMENT. If you can't commit, please don't get a dog.

Answer 5

I work 40 hours a week (8-1630) and my husband works even more than I do, he's in the military. We just got a 4 month old bull mastiff puppy. When he came to us he was already kennel trained. This helps a lot because dogs will not potty where they sleep. I get up at 6am and take the dog out and we have a good solid hour of playtime. We come home, he eats and then finds a bone to chew on while I'm getting ready for work. When I leave he goes right to his kennel. My husband thankfully gets almost an hour and a half for lunch, so he comes home and walks the dog with a good bit of playing. If he can't come home we have a neighbor that takes him out for us. When I get home at night he comes out of the kennel and is with us the rest of the evening. After his night walk my puppy will crash on his own about 1030. He knows that when we go to bed, he goes to his kennel. For about 2 months he has not whined or put up a fuss about going into his kennel. If you do decide to get a puppy, make sure he has lots of toys, a strict schedule, and that you send lots of time with him when you are home. We have not had any behavioral or training problems with him. If you want a dog make sure that it's what you want. To have a puppy is like having a 2 yr old, gotta watch them constantly, what goes in their mouth, potty training, and getting them trained. Good luck with whatever you choose!

Answer 6

that's far too long to leave anything or body on there own imagine if somebody imprisoned you for that length of time with no company and then when it chews all your belongings because it has nothing else to do you'll probably be horrible to it when you get home and it will get punished probably for it. why don't you get an aquarium there easy and can be quite entertaining. I know because i have just had to give my lovely little puppy away and i only work 5 hours a day and the poor thing cryed as i was leaving every day and it broke my heart. pleasse think about it seriously before commiting.

Answer 7

it's probably not fair on a dog to leave it that long on it's own, either get someone to walk it during the day or at least play with it your a while. Or don't get a dog. Dogs need a lot of time and attention. The other thing you could do is buy one of those computerised pet programs for your pc they are supposed to be very good and interactibve

Answer 8

First of all, the majority of us work 40 hrs a week. A dog or cat, want to be loved. When you have a pet, it is the quality of time not the quantity of time spent with them. (within reason) If you are serious about having a dog, (think hard) then if you feel you are dedicated to walking and feeding and taking it out often and are disciplined enough to crate train a puppy to properly housebreak it, then get it. If you can't not say you want to do all these things or if you are one to always go out after work..then do not get one.

Answer 9

Advertise on a newsagent's board or local paper for one to 'borrow'. I am sure there must be an elderly or disabled person somewhere in your neighbourhood who has difficulty walking their dog and would be only too pleased for you to borrow it and would even let you take it home at times to suit your work hours now and again perhaps.

I used to do this when in your position some years ago and the arrangement lasted for a couple of years. It was a lovely dog and her company was a joy. It got me fitter too!

Answer 10

Think long and hard before you do. It wouldn't be fair to leave a dog alone all day so make sure there would be someone around to take it for regular walks and give it some company. Employ someone if need be.
If you can't do that , why not advertise your services as a dog walker in your free time?

Answer 11

Just this week my boyfriend and I purchased a puppy, and we gave him back to the sellers the next day.

You have no idea how much time and affection they need and it did not dawn on us until we got him.

We were lucky that the sellers took him back and as he was the last pup decided to keep him for themselves - it taught us a big lesson but I still get upset as I wanted a dog so badly, but working full time you just cant give them what they need.

Please don't get one and make the same mistake we did, unless you have someone who can look after him during the day.