When is adopting a dog wrong?

Question

I would really love to have a dog and I think adopting would be the best choice, although I do have reservations as I work full time and I am out of the house from 7am till 6pm. Is this too long to leave a new dog alone in a strange flat?

Alot of very good points that I probably already knew! No dog for me then, Ill look into sponsorship! Thanks for all the answers!

Answer 1

sponsor a dog £2 a week or month
it goes to a good cause
if you cant put time into a dog dont get one

Answer 2

Well I think many people work and sometimes long hours, this is no reason not to get a dog. A full gown dog could handle it better then a puppy. But a dog that needs a new home is normally going to suffer from separation anxiety or worse. If you were to get a dog you need to make it at a beginning of a holiday, this way your home at first. I also recommend at least for a while have a dog walker come to your house half way through the day to let him/her out or a doggy daycare. When you are home you must devote all your time, a good long walk. Also affording is a biggy in getting a dog.

Answer 3

Getting a dog is a huge commitment. 11 hrs a day is an awfully long time to be away.Is that every day?
Dogs are very like having a child.Evan an adult dog is like having a 4 yr.old underfoot.You would'nt think of leaving a 4 yr.old child alone that long right?
Now if the time you're away for 11hrs. straight is only one or two days a week the dog will be fine as long as you've made arrangements for someone if not yourself to go let it out for a good romp in the afternoon and you've walked it before you left and again as soon as you come in.But leaving it alone on a daily basis without supervision,exercise or an alternative place to potty and you've got a disaster.All you're doing basically is making a prison of your home for the dog and you'll both be miserable.
Remember that any dog will only be as good as the time you put into it.If you don't have the time you should'nt have the dog.If you can see a way to re-arrange your life to accomodate this dogs needs and requirements then by all means go adopt.But remember once the commitment is made you have to stick to it as if it were a child.Children are'nt disposable and dogs should'nt be either as it truly does then more harm than good mentally to be bounced from home to home.

Answer 4

I think it depends on the type of dog and what you plan on having for interaction for the dog. Many dog owners work during the day and still have a dog in the house. If you are capable of getting up earlier to take him for a walk and then spending time with him every evening and taking him for a walk you should be okay. I wouldnt suggest a puppy because puppies obviously wont be potty trained and will not be able to hold their pee/poop that long. You might consider adopting an older dog 2 to 3 years that is already potty trained and maybe crate trained.

Are you able to come home during lunch to let the dog out to go potty?

Lee has a good idea, do you like cats? Cats actually prefer being alone and seem to treat their humans like they own them...lol. Cats can be a great companion to someone who is gone all day.

As far as Wendy's answer down below I have to STRONGLY disagree with her about rescue animals. She obviously has no clue about rescue nor has ever been involved with rescue. Rescue dogs are given up for a multitude of reasons not just because of bad behaviours. You would be shocked at just how many pet owners surrender awesome dogs to shelters and then pulled out by a rescue from death row. I currently own a "Death Row" dog that I got from a rescue after it was pulled. He is an absolutely amazing lil guy and I have also fostered for rescues and have seen many wonderful dogs that had no problems at all. People give up "Pets" because our society now thinks animals are disposable. When I was a child we had an animal until it lived its full life, we didnt slack on that responsibility as pet owners. Pets are a forever job, just as a child is and should be thought of as such. Unfortunately in this day and age people don't think or feel that way any longer and get pets on a whim and then find they don't want the resposibility of them. Please Please if you get a pet, please adopt from a shelter or a rescue. Don't buy a pet from a puppy mill, backyard breeder or pet store while GREAT animals die in shelters everyday.

Answer 5

It is great that you wish to have a dog love, but number one you are out the house for too long and you stay in a flat. A dog really needs a place to run and play and rest OUTSIDE as well. Also it is not a good idea to get only one dog, they also need company of their own kind. ESPECIALLY if you live in a flat - is your flat maybe on the ground floor where the dog can go outside as well? if so, then get yourself tow small dogs. They will keep each other company and they need TOYS TOYS TOYS. Hope you come right.

Answer 6

well,I think you will be creating a lot of problems for yourself and the prospective new dog,when you adopt an older dog you have to ask yourself why he's in rescue in the first place,is he a barky dog,one that barks at any noise whatsoever,or out of boredom,is he destructive,it is amazing how much damage a bored,lonely,dog can create,no cushion left on sofas,in some cases no sofas,curtains,carpet,door frames,where dogs trying to get out,also is it clean in the house,can you go that long without wanting to go for a quick wee,most dogs can't,so if its a male,it will pee up everything,if a female on everything,not forgetting the poop,
also going back to the noisy dog theme,would your neighbours tolerate this if you are in a flat,or house for that matter,if a council tenant or private,they can demand you get rid of dog or get you evicted,why don't you volounteer to become a dog walker at local rescue kennel,then you can get the pleasure of a dog with none of the problems that arise from owning one,ie,walking,grooming etc,coming home from hard day at work to house full of pee and poo,and torn up furniture is really no fun,probably not what you wanted to hear,but true enough in a lot of cases,hence in many cases the need for rescues,
sorry
Wendy

Answer 7

in the experience that your loved ones has sat down and agreed on the accountability of having and protecting up a dogs, then get a dogs. of direction you experience sorry for any dogs that doesn't have a loving living house. the subject with a dogs left in a shield/pen/cage too long is that there'll in many situations be a undertaking to potty prepare and socialize the dogs. Is the dogs in a foster living house or a shield with little palms on? it extremely is a huge component in my advice.... If the dogs is in a foster living house, then circulate circulate to the dogs and take a seat down and talk to the foster mom and dad approximately him. Will this dogs in large condition into your loved ones's existence-type? Is he healthy and correctly behaved? Ask to take him for one or 2 weeks and then make the call. If the dogs is penned up in a shield, i does no longer propose bringing him right into a house with toddlers. in case you have time and staying power to maintain a targeted eye on him on the same time as he adjusts to being in a house, then decide for it. that's large. back, ask for an ordeal volume of time to work out in case you and the dogs click. i understand some everyone won't accept as true with my advice, yet I propose it with compassion. people have an thought of a few appropriate dogs of their heads. They undertake the dogs from the pound, the dogs seems to be no longer so appropriate, and then it gets dumped back on the pound or chained up and forgotten. There are tens of hundreds of thousands of dogs that want properties. undertake the dogs which you will rejoice with and love. My final 3 dogs have been dogs that individuals deserted. All 3 have been absolute advantages in my existence. solid success and only save on with your intestine.

Answer 8

Sorry, but I think it is too long to leave a new dog alone..By the time you get home from work, are you going to feel like taking him/her for a nice long walk! the dog is going to get very bored and trash your place so I do not think it is a good idea. A rat, (or two) on the other hand, could be you know!

Answer 9

i would say you're not in a position to home a dog. they're pack animals and company is a basic requirement. you're dog would almost certainly develop behavioural problems as a result of so much time alone. you're away almost 12 hours and sleep roughly 8. your dog would only have your company for 4 hours a day at best. hat's off to you for the good intention though.

Answer 10

Absolutely too long. No dog should be left alone that long, even if you have owned that dog for awhile. If your not home that long, whats the point of having a dog? Its nice that people want to adopt animals, but they also have to take care of them. Its just not fair to the pet.

Answer 11

If he is staying in a flat alone it is a bit long. Perhaps you could get 2 small dogs to keep each other company, a small toy dog like cavilier king charles spaniels