Are you Single + working + have dog... Advice wanted

413x · 27 Jul 2015 at 00:02

Just interested if anyone on here owns a dog and is single and works.
And how do you make it work to be fair to the dog.

I'm aware that at the very least you should be able to come home at lunch and see the dog, pay him/her some attention
And that a rescue won't even entertain you unless this is the case.

I'm also guessing you need a fairly fixed job in terms of location and no unexpected trips or overnight meetings.

I'm seriously considering making some significant changes so I can have a dog. But it would be just me and the dog.
I would need a job change as the main problem is the random overnights. (which is obviously unacceptable fit a dog)

How easy do you find it?
How limiting?
And is there anyone who manages it with a non 9-5 job?

Thanks

SonniLombardi · 27 Jul 2015 at 00:14

I personally wouldn't do it myself, it's not fair on the dog leaving it all hours alone indoors. They are social animals and need company (majority of them) having 2 of them would be better because of the company of each other.

But as everyone knows dogs make great companions and are great if you are a single bloke living alone. I suppose coming home at lunch etc would be ok, but not sufficient enough imo. catch 22 situation.

Just take a look at this video to see how dogs behave when on their own, waiting for it's owners and constantly looking out, not every dog is the same mind you.

413x · 27 Jul 2015 at 00:20

It isn't ideal, and every dog is different.
I'm sure many people do this, but I guess it would depend on the dog.
My old dog that my ex took was very good and ok with just being seen at lunch.
I even Web cammed her for movement, really she just slept. She obviously got walked every day.

Westie · 27 Jul 2015 at 00:21

ive been seriously considering it since my dad died we always had family dogs but id love one of my own too as i do have quiet a lot of spare time.. only problem is i live above a pub haha

and i work 4 days a week 12 hours.. which id hate leaving him/her alone for that long + i dont wanna get my stuff destroyed!

subscribed so will defo hear what people have to say!

413x · 27 Jul 2015 at 00:23

Westie said:
ive been seriously considering it since my dad died we always had family dogs but id love one of my own too as i do have quiet a lot of spare time.. only problem is i live above a pub haha and i work 4 days a week 12 hours.. which id hate leaving him/her alone for that long + i dont wanna get my stuff destroyed!

subscribed so will defo hear what people have to say!

That is a very long time.
I know personally my current job is unworkable. But I'm considering trying to find something either more flexible (long lunch) and no overnighters

I don't have much company in life and my last dog I bonded to like never before.

Boycey0211 · 27 Jul 2015 at 00:24

based on that video alone I'd advise against it, and I'm very much not a dog lover. It looks distressed being on its own.

I know every dog is different and all and some will be fine but is it worth the risk?

Dave M · 27 Jul 2015 at 00:26

My brother has a border collie, works early/late shifts and (very rarely) nights being out of the house for about 8.5 hours. I'm sure his dog enjoys it more when he's home all day but seems well adjusted and happy enough.

He doesn't come home at lunch, but fits in 3 walks a day and longer walks up into the hills on his days off. He locks him in his cage while at work or when he goes bed, from what I've seen he'll wander into his cage when bored even when people are around - a lot like that dog in the video had a space in the closet where he went to once he realised the humans had gone for a while. I imagine he sees his cage as 'his' space.

KaHn · 27 Jul 2015 at 00:27

Did it when I broke up with an ex, work 5 minutes away from home so he went for a walk on the morning, lunch time, straight after work and just before bed.

Sometimes I would have to miss the lunch time walk but would make sure I left on time/early.

He's currently with my Mam while I'm away with work but seems to be coping well with her doing a similar regime.

KaHn

413x · 27 Jul 2015 at 00:28

Dave M said:
My brother has a border collie, works early/late shifts and (very rarely) nights being out of the house for about 8.5 hours. I'm sure his dog enjoys it more when he's home all day but seems well adjusted and happy enough.

He doesn't come home at lunch, but fits in 3 walks a day and longer walks up into the hills on his days off. He locks him in his cage while at work or when he goes bed, from what I've seen he'll wander into his cage when bored even when people are around - a lot like that dog in the video had a space in the closet where he went to once he realised the humans had gone for a while. I imagine he sees his cage as 'his' space.

That's impressive from a border collie. They usually have bags of energy!
And just as impressive to fit in 3 walks a day!

413x · 27 Jul 2015 at 00:30

KaHn said:
Did it when I broke up with an ex, work 5 minutes away from home so he went for a walk on the morning, lunch time, straight after work and just before bed.

Sometimes I would have to miss the lunch time walk but would make sure I left on time/early.

He's currently with my Mam while I'm away with work but seems to be coping well with her doing a similar regime.

KaHn

Now this is very much my situation
In all senses.
And I forsee this being as much contact I could give.

At the moment I'm flexible on location, would just need to find a job flexible and no overnighter. I don't have anyone who could step in for random work off sites

KaHn · 27 Jul 2015 at 00:32

I'm now single al4x said:
Now this is very much my situation
In all senses.
And I forsee this being as much contact I could give.

At the moment I'm flexible on location, would just need to find a job flexible and no overnighter. I don't have anyone who could step in for random work off sites

Looks at dog walkers, I was lucky in that I was very much 9-5in but with work trips away I took him to my folks a 500mile round trip.

KaHn

413x · 27 Jul 2015 at 00:35

KaHn said:
Looks at dog walkers, I was lucky in that I was very much 9-5in but with work trips away I took him to my folks a 500mile round trip.

KaHn

I'm sure my parents wouldn't mind (big pet family) and mine are only a 120 mile round trip away.
Didn't really think about that option.

Dave M · 27 Jul 2015 at 00:36

I'm now single al4x said:
That's impressive from a border collie. They usually have bags of energy!
And just as impressive to fit in 3 walks a day!

Not really, they'll run about like a nut for a bit then sleep. Throwing a ball up a hill is a good trick

How hard it is to tire out depends on the dog and age, but none of them are on the go constantly. Gun dogs (e.g. springer) tend to be worse for wanting to be on the go all day.

413x · 27 Jul 2015 at 00:38

Dave M said:
Not really, they'll run about like a nut for a bit then sleep. Throwing a ball up a hill is a good trick

How hard it is to tire out depends on the dog and age, but none of them are on the go constantly. Gun dogs (e.g. springer) tend to be worse for wanting to be on the go all day.

You're not wrong on that last one. My extended family are farmers mainly, and springers are hyper hyper dogs. Pretty submissive too.

Jon33 · 27 Jul 2015 at 00:41

My wife and I both work and have a dog, he is a rescue dog, border collie (I thought the same as people have already mentioned about them being full of energy but he does sleep quite a lot after hes had a run out!) crossed with something else (I think German shepherd) and the rescue center told us he is happy to be left alone in his crate.

We have a dog walker who takes him out for an hour during the day and friends nearby that can pop in on the rare occasion that we both are out for more than 3-4 hours.

He seems perfectly happy and he's usually asleep when I come back in his crate before he hears the door open. I think it depends entirely on the dogs temperament and how you treat it, some breeds might be happier being left alone whereas others may not.

KaHn · 27 Jul 2015 at 00:41

It really depends on what sort of dog you have, my German shepherd is a lazy ****, he used to lie on the sofa all day till he heard me come to the door and I used to hear him jump down and come meet me.......

KaHn

Traffic_Warden · 27 Jul 2015 at 00:42

I have two dogs, me + my family work all day like most people do, the dogs just entertain each other when we are not around, they are even more happy when we all get home

They have access to outdoors and indoors all day so can pick and choose what they want to do on 1.5 acres of land haha, so probably a bit of an advantage to just a house bound dog.

SonniLombardi · 27 Jul 2015 at 00:49

KaHn said:
It really depends on what sort of dog you have, my German shepherd is a lazy ****, he used to lie on the sofa all day till he heard me come to the door and I used to hear him jump down and come meet me.......

KaHn

Haha such an easy life!

413x · 27 Jul 2015 at 00:50

I kind of fell in love with rotty cross smaller breed.
She was really good with everything. Right balance between affectionate and independent.

Wouldnt want a pure. I like the uniqueness of crosses.

The above post sounds very much like my parents house!

413x · 27 Jul 2015 at 00:52

KaHn said:
It really depends on what sort of dog you have, my German shepherd is a lazy ****, he used to lie on the sofa all day till he heard me come to the door and I used to hear him jump down and come meet me.......

KaHn

That's what my old dog did.
The odd time she would sleep so heavy I could pull up and sneak up to window and see her sleeping!
Only about twice that