Keeping a dog indoors?

Question

Im thinking of getting a small dog, prehaps a shih tzu. I work from 8.00 am to 4.30 Mon to Fri and dont want to keep the dog outdoors. I would be able to come home at lunch for 20 mins to let him relieve himself and I live near a beach so daily exercise wont be a problem. Is it fair to keep him in doors while im at work????

Answer 1

Most small dogs adapt well to inhouse living. Make sure you keep him in an area that is warm and comfortable and provide him with toys. A ball you can stuff with dog jerky or kibble that will come out slowly as he pushes it around, will keep him interested. (Dog jerky is best because it will keep him occupied longer, trying to get it out!) You might leave the radio on at a low volume to keep him company.
If you train the dog from the first to "do his business" on newspaper when he can't get outside, you'll save hassles. You can get a cat litter box and line it with the paper, and leave it in a corner of his area. He'll know where to go then.
As he gets older he'll probably spend a lot of his "alone-time" resting and waiting for you to come home...then you must take him out for a good run as soon as you can, and play ball or what have you with him for at least 2, 30-min stints.
Leaving him indoors is much safer and healthier than leaving him tied in the garden all day while you're gone; no one (person or other stray dog) can hurt him and he can't run away if he breaks his chain or gets over the fence.

Answer 2

I have a shih tzu and so does my neighbour. I work from 9.30-3pm and he stays at home by himself mon-thurs. He is 10months old, I never really knew what he did during the day because the house was never ruined and he would never go toilet in the house, well I was off work on Monday and sure found out what he does all day...sleeps! then has an occasional chew on a chew toy and then goes back to sleep. So now I have no worry, I think its ok if your dog thinks its ok. I think they get into a routine.

He never sleeps like that on the weekend because he knows im there to play with him all day, he knows that mon-thurs is sleep all day time.

Oh and by the way, a shih tzu is a great choice. They are lovely, fun dogs.

Answer 3

My dogs are kept indoors while I am at work, but they are NOT crated. (I think leaving a dog that has been in a certain home environment for a long period of time in a crate is basically an excuse for not taking the responsibility to properly train him/her). They have full reign over my entire 3-story house and they are fine. There is no nervous behavior like chewing on things they are not supposed to, excessive barking, or running around the house frantically. My dogs are NEVER left outside unsupervised. There is too great a chance that something may happen to them outside. I have known neighbors who have had dogs poisoned, gotten away and gotten hit by cars, stung by bees, bitten by a wild animal, eat something they are not supposed to, or stolen. Where I live, the temperature can range from over 100 F in the summer to below 0 F in the winter. I know inside they are always subject to comfy temperatures, my heat and/or air conditioning is always set to a certain temperature whether I am there or not. I know they have plenty of food and water and always have the option of sleeping in their comfy beds.

Answer 4

Its not fair to keep any dog while your at work all day esp a puppy.An older dog you might have more chance of but alot of rehoming centers wont rehome to people working full time.A puppy will never cope with you at work full time,how does it get housetrained?pups during housetraining need to be taken out every hour,not just at lunch time for 20mins.They also need socilising,basic obediance training,playing with,etc there will also be the added fact that your dog may become so bored that it howls when your at work or barks,how would your neighboors feel about this?unless you can get a petsitter or a family relative to come in during the day to look after him,dont bother getting a dog,maybe get a cat instead.

Answer 5

The dog will be fine in a crate just make sure you come home on your break especially while the puppy is young because they don't have the ability to hold their urine for great periods of time until about 12 weeks old. It sounds like you would spend plenty of time with the dog after work so that is great! I would so much rather see someone like you get a dog than someone who is going to chain one up out back and only see it once a day to feed it! A dog will grow to feel very comfortable with their crate, it will become their "den" don't feel guilty for putting the puppy in one. It may take a bit for the puppy to get used to but stick it out and it is the best way to train a dog, it makes housebreaking so much easier and prevents tension from the dog chewing up things they aren't supposed to while you are gone.

Answer 6

Well usually you shouldn't leave your dog in a cage for 8 hrs. Take short brakes and go homw to visit him whenever u can. But for small dogs , it might be ok. Sometimes the dog might have drank all the water... and your not there... take that as a example .. it might suffer from dehydration. Have a person to saty at home while you work. It'll keep u and your dog happy.

Answer 7

If thats where you'd like to keep it permanently while your at work I can't see it being a problem. Inside..outside it's a personal choice. I have a Rotti and a Cocker and I have always kept them both indoors while I'm at work with no problems. If it's a puppy I would be keeping it confined to a small area while it isn't toilet trained. Hope this helps.

Answer 8

A dog shouldn't be left for more than 4 hours maximum, that is in the new legislation coming in to force this year, if you ar unable to take the dog for a walk for about 20 mins (I do mean a walk and not just let into garden) at lunchtime then perhaps you could pay someone to do it for you, I took the following off the RSPCA website. It is the law I was talking about.

What do dogs need?
•Companionship - to be with other dogs or people and not to be left alone for too long.
•A balanced diet.
•A constant supply of fresh, clean water.
•A bed and blanket.
•A well-fenced garden to play and exercise in.
•To be brushed every day, especially if they have long hair.
•Help to clean their teeth. They also need to have their teeth checked regularly by the vet.
•Regular walks and a lead for walking near traffic or farm animals.
•Someone to clean up after them with a pooper-scooper.
•Never to be left in a car in warm weather, even with the window open.
•A collar and identity tag.
•To be properly trained.
•To be microchipped.
•To be neutered.
•To be taken to a vet if they are ill.
•Injections to prevent serious diseases.
•Worming and regular flea treatments.
•To be looked after when you are on holiday.

Remember - a pet needs your time and interest for the rest of its life.

Answer 9

NO. You must realise that when a dog is left it frets and has no perception of when you may be back like we humans would. Just observe a dog outside a shop .It is fixated on the doorway or last point where it saw the owner go away,and won't be happy till it sees it's master come back to it. Leaving a dog alone all day is very harmful and upsetting for it, as they are by nature sociable affectionate animals. Please don't create that arrangement !!

Answer 10

Yes, and probably for the best too. I have two Shih Tzu's, and they are definate escape artist. But i would suggest getting a kennel, so that they have a place to call its own. That's what i do with mine, and we just have to say the command "go to your cage" and they know where to go. shih tzu's are great little animals, and they are loving too. They have big hearts and big attitudes. You will probably love having one, just make sure that yours knows from the begining whose boss, because they might get out of hand if you do not. Congrats.