Hi,
Could you settle this ongoing debate between and my friend. He has a two year old corgie dog. (His only pet) He leaves the house at 9.15am and usually is home by 6.30pm. He has a dog walker who comes in and walks the dog five days a week for half an hour. Other at lunch time. Otherwise she is there on her own all day. Is this cruel? Do dogs need company?
2006-12-01 04:02:13 · 17 answers · asked by Tanya W 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
No, it's not cruel at all.
I have to leave my dog home alone all day long as my wife & i work full time. She has to stay in a cage (which she LOVES though). We leave toys in it for her to play with. And she is only a year old (38 lb Corgi mix).
Dogs need to adjust to the schedule of the owner; but at the same time the owner needs to adjust to being home more at night and stuff. Other than during the day, we usually take our dog everywhere we go.
2006-12-01 04:11:25 · answer #1 · answered by Joe Somebody 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I think maybe a dog walker should come in twice in this time or even to walk the dog for a bit more than 30 mins at lunchtime, I won't on any occasion leave my dogs for more than 4 hours max! I do have 3 dogs also, so they are company for each other + I leave the radio on, if I have to go out again in the afternoon I make certain that I am with them for at least 2 hours, 1 hour walking them and another at home with the back door open. Dogs are pack animals and they need company, either of their own kind or human company.
2006-12-01 14:24:14 · answer #2 · answered by Pawstimes16 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
That's 9+ hours. Eek.
Personally, I don't think this is fair, but I am happy that he has someone come in to exercise the dog during the day. Closer to an hour would be better, IMHO.
With this schedule, as long as he exercises the dog when he gets home and takes time out with it, has trained the dog well, and the dog tolerates it well - it's really all a realist can ask.
But again, personally I think that dog owners should not get a dog just for the 3 hours a day that they have to play with them - they seriously need to consider the other 21 hours a day.
Just because 'a lot' of people do it doesn't make it right. A lot of people drive drunk and do drugs, but that doesn't make it right.
Perhaps a doggie day care would be a better option?
2006-12-01 12:19:25 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
This isnt cruel at all, thousands of people leave dogs in alone all day without hiring a dog walker, i think he is being very good by paying someone to come in a walk the dog while he isnt there.
Dogs do relish atention and company just like humans do but if owners had to be in 5 days a week hardly anyone would own a dog
2006-12-01 12:12:35 · answer #4 · answered by beth 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
At least he has someone to come in once during the day. I don't like to say people should be deprived of pets because they work outside the home but, sorry, I do think it's cruel to leave a dog alone all day. He should get another dog.
2006-12-01 12:08:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Dogs are pack animals. They do like company. I think the dog walker is a great idea. Maybe leaving a radio or the tv on would be good, too.
2006-12-01 12:20:34 · answer #6 · answered by Didi 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't say this is cruel. He obviously cares about this dog, hence the dog walker. As long as the dog is left with access to shelter and water I see no problems. When you think about dog pounds etc most of the dogs are confined to their pen most of the day except for a walk and that. In terms of company, it kind of depends on the individual breed of the dog. Some favour company others don't. Ours did, hence we got them in a pair.
2006-12-01 12:10:30 · answer #7 · answered by Pickle 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
No, it is not cruel. Dogs prefer company but can certainly adjust to a daily time when they are alone. Your friend is a lucky one that has a dog walker that can take the dog in the middle of the day! While ideally, we would be home all day with our dogs or we would have plenty of friends for them, the reality is that most of us must work and may not have resources for more than one pet. And dogs adjust well to this type of lifestyle.
2006-12-01 13:15:05 · answer #8 · answered by SC 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
It sounds quite normal actually. A lot of pets spend the day alone while their people are at work.
At least he has a dog-walker that comes and takes the dog out while he is at work!
2006-12-01 12:06:30 · answer #9 · answered by Yo LO! 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
dogs are best with company but not always do they need it, if the dog is settled and happy there is no need to worry, i am sure if his dog was unhappy then he would be restless and show signs of sadness. i agree that it would be better not to leave a dog alone all day , but not everybody can do this, as him to get the dog a companion that way they will ahve each other while he is at work.
2006-12-01 14:25:28 · answer #10 · answered by pearly 1 · 1⤊ 2⤋