I am very interested in looking to adopt a puppy or a young dog, but I work 9-5 almost every day, and am taking some night classes also. Are there some breeds that can be okay until I get home in the evening time? or is it not a smart idea to get a dog if I cannot be with it during the day most of the week?
2007-08-03 09:19:18 · 23 answers · asked by Jonathan C 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
You can adopt and have a life with a dog even though you work 9-5. I wouldn't recommend a puppy since they need to be fed and let out to potty every couple of hours. Consider a dog at least a year old. It'll have many years of life to give you (aaverage 15) but will have the capacity to hold it's potty for 8-10 hours.
If you're in night classes and don't come home between work and night classes please don't get a dog unless you plan on having someone else like a family or friend or dog sitter come over and and sit and play and take care of the dog because that will be alot of time that the dog is left alone. If you only have another semester or two left of school, than get a dog when you're done with the night classes. That's only fair to the dog.
2007-08-03 09:54:54 · answer #1 · answered by smurf 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I work full time and have 7 happy dogs but I do spend the majority of free time home with them. I would wait until after night classes and get an adult dog. My 2 big guys go to the dog park frequently to burn off energy plus play together an hour a day or more. But if you are not willing to properly exercise a younger dog get a quiet laid back maybe 5 yrs or older dog. Many shelter dogs have been housedogs and are fine left alone. Also fostering is a good way to know if a breed is suited to your lifestyle. Think of the future too, do not get a toy breed or dog who hates kids if you are going to have kids or a Great Dane if you are going to move in with your parents..lol..
2007-08-03 09:30:38 · answer #2 · answered by ginbark 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no..dont get a dog. wait till you have a less busy schedule. If you were just working 9-5 (hours not too long) then it'd be ok. But a puppy especially needs LOTS of care and attention and needs to be walked and let out SEVERAL times a day. There is no certain breed you can leave alone for long periods of time. Its inhumane. Get a cat if you want to do that. They dont care as long as they have toys, food and poop box.
2007-08-03 09:23:06 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
My husband and I adopted a cat from a shelter not to long ago and we have the same kind of schedules. We found that the cat did not do so well, and we ended up having to give her to my grandfather who is home all the time. I would say that if you would want to adopt you should go with an older dog that is content alone, and set in its ways.
Mrs.Williston
2007-08-03 09:27:44 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would probably be okay after you are done with your night classes and are home in the evening. It would be really hard on a dog, especially a puppy, to be alone for that long. Consider adopting one when you are available after work to spend time with him.
2007-08-03 09:25:03 · answer #5 · answered by Bambi 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You are way to busy to get a dog. A dog is a social animal and requires attention and interaction with humans. Would you like to be cooped up in a house, all by yourself 3/4 of the day, with no attention paid to you, and completely alone? I suggest you get some fish.......they are very forgiving about being isolated from human contact! :>)
2007-08-03 09:27:16 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I sympathize, but definitely wait. I had the same issues while doing work and school and I'm really glad I waited until got out of school.
My fiance still wasn't sure we had time for a young puppy with our work schedules so even after I got out of school I made up a puppy schedule before getting a puppy. Here is what we worked out:
7:30am - get up, play with and feed puppy for 20-30 minutes
8:00am - get ready for work
9:00am - potty break, go to work
10:30am - fiance gets up, 10-15 minute play/potty break
11:00am-1:00pm - puppy in crate
1:00-1:30pm - come home at lunch, play with and feed puppy
1:30-5:00pm - puppy in crate
5:00-5:15pm - fiance comes home to let puppy pee
6:00pm - get home, take puppy for walk
Fortunately my job was flexible so I could take a long lunch to let her out, and my fiance's job was only 5 minutes from the house. But as you can see, it was a lot of work and took a lot of time until she was old enough to be left in her crate for longer periods of time. Eventually she'll be left in the house uncrated once we can trust her. But that takes time and a lot of training. (and the sacrifice of some shoes, cords, trash cans. :)
2007-08-03 10:59:05 · answer #7 · answered by Debrian 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not at all a good idea. He isn't going to want to sit around all the time waiting for you.. You're too busy for a dog. AND 2 dogs is NOT a better idea. You will have 2 bored dogs.
2007-08-03 09:24:01 · answer #8 · answered by DP 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
No. Dogs especially puppies take a lot of work and time! You have to have time to train it, play with it, give it excersice by walking it, playing fetch, taking it to dog parks to run around, take it to lakes to swim or let it swim in ur pool if u have one. Potty training is the hardest! If u do decide to get one don't get a little dog! They are hardest to potty train and they can't hold it that long! hope i helped! =)
2007-08-03 09:28:15 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's good you are questioning this. A dog is a high level commitment and not fair to adopt a dog that deserves your time. so maybe a dog is not for you, what about a cat ? they are more independent and less needy.
2007-08-03 11:49:24 · answer #10 · answered by Rexydoberman 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋