Help choosing a dog for a life style, out 5 times a week for work and 9 hours a day?

Question

The dog will be left on its own 9 till 5 each day. I want a dog that can sleep when your not there and amuse it slef when im not there, but when im back i want it to be lively with me and enjoy my compeny and i can take it for walks in the park and take it to the beach and stuff like that, But i have herd that if your out all day that you should get 2 dogs, which could be better for its life style.
And im looking for an older dog around 2 years and above, not a puppy as i do understand that would be cruel.
And i would rather not have any sarcastic sugesstions.
Thank.You

And yes i will take it to dogie day care, but shall i get 2 dogs.

My mum and dad split up this year and i have had a cat called sassy since the age of 6, thats why i was going to have the cat at my mums and the dog at my dads and i will be leaving at my dads.

My garden isnt very big i live in those houses that are joined together and my garden isnt that big.

Answer 1

The best would be a stuffed animal, followed by a picture and then a statue.

Sorry, don't mean to be sarcastic, but seriously, dogs are social animals and it's just not right to buy one knowing you will abandon it like that.

Answer 2

You've already got a good answer that suggests you get a cat, so I won't repeat why that's a good idea.

You have to understand that getting an older dog around 2 years of age or above, while it does avoid the puppy problems, has it's own set of problems. It would be a rescue dog, with all it's attendant "baggage". Rescue dogs often have been mistreated and are wishing for a loving, happy, forever home. They often come with unknown history of mistreatment and fears.

Talk to your local humane society and rescue groups. Tell them your situation, and see if they have any dogs they believe might work for you. They don't simply rehome the dogs. They test their personalities and work to socialize them. Sometimes they know the dog's history; sometimes they don't know anything about the dog.

The benefit of two dogs is that they can play together and entertain each other.

A dog who feels abandoned when you go to work will often tear up things in the house as they are desperate for attention, and bored.

Remember that, when you work all day, you really do have a responsibility to give the dog good attention when you are at home, just as you would a child who was in child care while you work.

Do an online search for "how to select the right dog". There are several websites where you can answer questions and get recommendations for the type of dog that best meets your needs and personality. That can help you get an idea of what kinds of dogs might be best for you.

Remember, you may have some difficult times as you settle in to this situation. Be patient and don't throw in the towel fast. If you are ready to dump the dog if things get rough, then that's indication that YOU are not ready for having a dog.

Answer 3

You need to ask yourself do you want an inside dog or out side dog,a small dog or a big dog.As for myself i have 3 Chiuauas and a boxer.So i have both little dogs and a big dog.Now my Chiuauas are real cute,smart and real energetic and love to play with each other.When iam at home they do sleep alot.Now as for my boxer i have he to is a very smart dog.I have taught him several tricks and he to will sleep good to.But the only thing about a boxer is that they are a one person dog and can get very upset when you leave them and at times get into things and tear them up because of the fact they are alone and by theirselfs.They are excellant watch dogs and do show their love for their owner.If you should choose to get a small puppy or puppies what you can do is buy a dog crate where they can sleep and stay in. Give them plenty of food and water and play toys and chew toys to amuse theirselfs. They will be ok for the length of time you are at work. If you get a big dog i would keep them out side for sure.I would make sure they have the proper shelter,plenty of food and water and also some play toys and chew toys.If you get a big dog that is very strong make sure the tie out you have them on will hold them according to their size and weight.Now as for chooseing the kind of dog you would like:I didn't get my dogs at a pet store or a shelter. I got my boxer from a ad in the news paper and my chiuauas i got my oldest male chiuaua as a gift and then what i did was breeded him with a friends female chiuaua and got my other two chiuauas which one is a full sized and one is a tea cup.Now that is an idea you can think of to find some one that has a female dog of what ever breed you may like and see if she is going to have puppies and when she does choose a puppy from birth and watch that little puppy/puppies grow andwatch them get real attatched to you. That's how i did my dogs and i have enjoyed every little minute with them.

~Good Luck an God Bless!

Answer 4

If there is nobody in the home all day then a dog is probably not the best pet to get. A dog needs a lot of attention through out the day. If not the dog may start acting out or suffer from seperation anxiety which will cause the dog to damage things in your house. And then at that point you will probably just get rid of the dog. And getting two dogs is not the answer either because that will just be double the distruction.

Answer 5

Get a type of large hound if you have a big enough yard. Most large dogs eg mastiffs, danes, were used for hunting but only a couple of times a week and were basically ignored when not hunting. I grew up with danes and my parents both worked their asses off in a resteraunt they owned. It meant that my mother was at work from 9-6pm and my dad was there from 3-midnight. When dad was home he was sleeping and us kids were at school. The dog was basically at home alone until us kids got home from school, but then we would take the dog to the park with friends for about 3 hours while we played. She never destroyed anything, we never got complaints about barking, she had lots of toys and she seemed to sleep most of the day away then would be with us from about 3pm until we went to bed at 8pm, then dad would get home and spend a couple of hours with her in the shed, we woke up about 6am spent 2 hours with her until we had to get ready for school. She had a good life and died at the very ripe old age of 14 (which is very old for a dane), so spending most of the daylight hours by herself never did her any harm. If anyone wants to suggest that we neglected my beloved and still missed family pet, well they can get bent. I am sure that whatever breed of dog you choose will be very happy with you, but i would really recommend a larger dog as most smaller breeds are very demanding. Go to a shelter and get an older dog, even a 5-6 year old dog can live a long life if cared for.

Answer 6

You are not going to want to hear this... but a dog is really not an option with a lifestyle like yours. A large dog left alone for that long will develop behavioral issues like chewing. A small dog will get separation anxiety from being left alone too long. ( I know I have a yorkie ) I would think that the best pet for you would be a cat. Cats are not dependant on social intteraction and are reliable when it comes to using the littler box.

I know you must really want a dog and its KILLING you to hear otherwise. The rest of the sarcastic people are insensitive and the ones that are reccomending dogs just want to be chosen for best answer. Please listen to my advice. My aunt once had a dog that she left alone for the same time everyday. The dog was crazy when people were around her and would knock them down. Its because she was left alone so much. Really, dogs are very social creatures and need constant stimulation.

Good luck!

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Answer 7

Rescuing a dog from a shelter is sO rewarding, both for the dog and for you.

You are right about an older dog. Take the pet to the vet before agreeing to adopt though. Some breeds have in-breed physical problems that result in multiple vet visits and time away from work, so caution about the health of the pet.

We have multiple successes within our large family with the cage method. This is a metal wire crate with a metal bottom that is very humane, when used correctly.

Bring your new friend home in a car carrier that you have pre-purchased. (You'll need it for the car later anyway.)

Introduce your friend to his/her new home, that you have well padded on one half of the bottom, at the rear of the cage, and with newspaper just inside the door.

Then out for a walk you go.

Then into the cage with a treat and some water.

Leave and go to the store (maybe for more good-friend supplies, as you will want to indulge!).

Return. Out for a walk you go.
Into the crate with a treat and fresh water.

Repeat above with you in another room this time.

Then out for a walk, treat, etc.
Introduce the commands "Bed" and "Walk."

Increase the time crated.
Then increase the time crated with the door open.

From your friend's point of view, a rule or two:
When in "Bed" your friend is invited out, with a consistent command of your choosing, but is never touched, petted, poked, anything while in the crate. That is santuary space for your friend. Period. Including from all visitors to your home.

That is the beauty of the crate method from your friend's quality of life point of view.

Enjoy!

Answer 8

If you do decide to get one or two I'd recommend looking at the books by Cesar Millan, aka, The Dog Whisperer. ..possibly the best in the dog training world. you may know about him already bc He has a program on the National Geographic Channel all the time.
the books are...
Cesar's Way
Be The Pack Leader
The Dog Whisperer

Just watching the show will amaze you....

From one web site ...

Cesar..http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/dogwhisperer/insight.html


1. Dogs are not humans. Before they receive love and affection, they need exercise, clear direction and leadership. Giving them love alone doesn't create balance in their lives. Be a pack leader!

2. Rehabilitating a dog is not about "fixing" it. It's about you, the owner, creating the intention for what you want, not what you're feeling. Dogs pick up on feelings of fear, doubt or worry—and they will move to fill them by attempting to become dominant.

3. Practice unwavering leadership every day, especially on your walk. The energy you're projecting internally is the message you're sending to your dog.

4. Dedicate at least 45 minutes of time to the dog's walk in the morning. Let the dog know you have a consistent pattern that you expect it to follow. Utilize your dog's energy in a positive manner.

5. Don't expect more from your dog(s) than your own children. Dogs need discipline, too. Give them rules, boundaries and limitations as well as love.

6. Avoid nurturing your dog's fears or unstable mind. Imagine a successful scenario and hold it in your mind when dealing with your dog.
7. You are the source of your dog's energy. You are the role model.

8. Challenge the dog's mind—dogs want to know what to do with their lives. Let the dog work for your affection. Once in a calm/submissive state, your love will intensify those qualities in your dog.

9. Dogs need "on" and "off" time. Engage them fully in structured times together; then they can relax and avoid impatient or destructive behaviors.

10. Dogs show us how much we can learn—they live in the moment. Try it!

Answer 9

I'm not a dog expert, tell you that right away. But it sounds like you just want a companion. Have you thought about cats? A cat is pretty independant and still loving. Plus, no walking. BUT, I do know people who have cats and have trained them to walk outside with them. I have a friend who regularly takes her cat out for walks without a leash and he just follows her EVERYWHERE.
If it's a dog you want, try a smaller dog. Right now I am taking care of a Toy Poodle. They are very loving and he LOVES to sleep with you, cuddle on the couch, everything. But when I am out running errand he just takes naps and plays with his toys. Only problem is, if you work 9-5, dogs usually have to go potty 3 times a day. You MAY be able to get away with doing it right before you go to work and as soon as you get home but I'm not sure.

Answer 10

It would be cruel to own any pet with the hours you work. When its cold, where will it sleep? How will it keep warm? How will it be fed? When it is hot, will it have shelter, enough water etc. Chances are, it will destroy your yard through boredom. It will bark & howl because it will suffer seperation Anxiety. That is no life for any animal. Dont be selfish.

Answer 11

Personally, I would recomend a tea cup chouwawa. They are a smaller breed of dog and they don't have to be watched absolutely ALL the time. They are very energetic though, so walks after you get home from work would be a good idea. You should really think about it.

GOOD LUCK!! :)