Home Alone - Dog

In the OPs shoes, I wouldn't be getting a dog remotely however what I would say is do not discount a rescue - just because they're rescued doesn't mean they're going to rip your house apart and bite every human or other dog - yes they may have issues but some of those can easily be corrected with basic training, something not all people can be bothered with!

We had a Pointador rescue (came to us between aged 3 and 4) and he's been the perfect addition to our family after a few initial days of teething issues (and he can be a bit of a **** on walks but that's just the hunter instinct of the Pointer in him we've come to accept once he's on a scent). We have 2 cats as well and the dog is absolutely **** scared of them :D No doubting who rules the roost in our zoo!! My son was also 4 years old at the time and they've developed an extremely strong bond that's easily noticeable when out and about - the dog follows him everywhere!

My other half's sister discounted a rescue for the same reason that it would come with reams of issues, she's brought a Cockapoo puppy for god knows how much money and is having a ton of issues with it. Sometimes a 3-4 year old rescue will be better than a puppy as you've skipped the teenage years :) Plus if you do want to go out for a couple of hours (though not 8), mine is more than happy to have a treat and then goes to sleep on the bed until you get back a bit later.

A lot of rescues are funny these days about their acceptance criteria which I admit is sometimes really frustrating as it just encourages people to buy a puppy with no conditions but there's a reason for it - they're there to protect the dogs welfare rather than trying to keep the person trying to get said dog being happy. Some however are OTT I'll admit and you do wonder how they ever get any adoptions through. The big name ones like Dogs Trust and RSPCA are some of the most picky in my opinions but there's a lot of smaller ones out there who are more helpful, who are in more need of funding etc. to keep going.

If we're out for any more than 4-5hrs due to occasional all-day work commitments, then he goes to doggy day care and gets 3x 40 minute runs in a secure field with other dogs - great for his socialisation as well as fitness - as others have mentioned factor this cost in to your ownership. Rest of the time he's quite happy to sleep and bum about - especially as he's heading to 10 years old now. My next door but one neighbour has a dog they leave outside all day and it's incredibly annoying and sits there barking on the patio - feel very sorry for it especially now it's starting to warm up.

Last thing I'd say - DO NOT underestimate vet and vet insurance costs - it's all great and wonderful when they're a puppy and the costs are fairly minimal but once they start getting to 8+, the costs jump significantly - for an all in policy, when we first got our dog we were paying around £300 per year - now he's 8, it's closer to £800 and that's not the most expensive - Petplan wanted over £1.2K. You could save a little by cutting down the policy benefits but you never know what's round the corner. Even then, sometimes it's not feasible or worth claiming for if it's a minor thing as it can cause unnecessary increase to the policy price the following year but the costs have to be added as well.
 
danlightbulb said:
Recently asked a similar question myself but on a dedicated dog owning forum. Needless to say, got a lot of backlash.

There is a conflict here in my mind.

Lots of people own dogs, got to be millions of UK households. Are you telling me that all of those don't work full time hours or work close enough to pop home for lunch every day? Unlikely in my opinion.

So I think there will be a lot of dogs being left alone whilst people are at work. And I would also say that 30 years ago it was common then too but back then it was just considered normal.

So when someone like me or OP asks this question, the answers (not to get a dog) do not match with the reality of what most people (who aren't here on the forums) are doing, you just don't know about it normally.

Then the second issue for me is the dog owning enthusiasts view of the living environment of the dog. Many rescue centres seem to believe that you need not only to never leave the dog alone, but also have access to acres of rural woodland on your doorstep for multiple hours per day outside exercise. Because many of these dogs 'prefer a rural setting'.

Now Im sure all of us here would love to be working only 2 hours a day and live in 10 acres of our own 6ft fenced woodland. But that is not what 99.999% of us have. Those expectations are wholly unrealistic, it is no wonder many of these dogs never leave the rescue centres.

One person on the other forum used the term 'snowflakification' of dogs. I.e, in this modern day age we are wrapping them up in cotton wool too much compared to what we did in previous generations.

I dont know the answer myself yet. My girlfriend really wants a dog but it would have to be alone a couple of times per week most likely. It does at times feel like the moral expectations have become a bit too perfectionist, I don't know.
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The point is, we’ve moved on from 30 years ago in terms of education, welfare etc.

It doesn’t matter what was done then, the facts are that its not right to leave an intelligent animal alone in the house for 8+ hours a day. They need stimulation, they need exercise, they need to use the toilet.

You don't need acres of land but you need to take responsibility for the wellbeing of the dog.

As LiE pointed out, you leave them alone and they get restless and disruptive.

Then there’s the occasions you’ll want to take them on a long walk through the park, thats when behaviour issues come to light. Lunging at dogs, being overly protective… extreme example but it happens all too often and generally why I’ll avoid certain parks because you know the types of owners that frequent.
 
i have 2 rescue dogs .. they need as much attention as a puppy to get them over what they have gone thru .. even after 4 yrs baby boy is still a little skittish.. there never on there own for more than 4 hrs most days less .. it took near a yr to get them to a stage where they would relax fully .. baby girl we got first .. a yr later baby boy ..
now there mostly calm .. but still cant walk them they go to a private field 4 times a week for a run around .. plus a big back garden .. :) small dogs are a problem .. at 23 stone between them they would just try to eat them .. :P
 
I think training for the dogs is probably most important aspect. And maybe the breed. We had a trainer when we first got our rescue. The trainer did two training session. That was enough for her. "He doesn't need training. and she gave most of our money back. He is a collie. They intelligent, the most intelligent breed it seems. That was seven years ago. The lady keeps in touch with us and our dog. He just behaves.

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Cats will become pals with the doggo.
Consider the breed to choose a lot. Also consider taking time off to allow the puppy stage and match with your partner.
Totally possible.
And when you have the time take that doggo great places.

I am in a similar boat I am in flat 3 floors up I do have the time right now. I would love a doggo. I can do it. I go up hills. My doggo would love me.
I have doubts.
I have had doggos before and also kitty kats that I want to have again.
So cat and dog together again .... soooo tempted.
Do it. Take care of it. It is a great experience. Dogs love you. Cats are like meh cuddles are ok but I will survive if you die! ;)
 
As everyone else has said don't do it, dogs are social animals and need company. I wanted a dog my hole life and finally after 41 years adopted a Greyhound this year, reason is because of working from home between me and the wide he is never left alone for more than a couple of hours

Even at 6 years old and a very chilled out breed he is quite a lot of work
 
In our old house, our niehgbours had a husky. They built a horrible cage for it outside, which they'd leave it in when they weren't at work. This dog whined and barked all day when they weren't home. Obviously hated life, and they seemed to think that was fine.
 
I couldn't do it, i feel bad leaving our wee budgies alone during the day sometimes... even when i think they prefer it when we are not there.

We are waiting until later life, perhaps when part time working or after retirement.
 
dirtychinchilla said:
In our old house, our niehgbours had a husky. They built a horrible cage for it outside, which they'd leave it in when they weren't at work. This dog whined and barked all day when they weren't home. Obviously hated life, and they seemed to think that was fine.
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Theres a dog like that where my mother lives just barks incessently all day loud enough to wake you up in the mornings drives everyone nuts, well me at anyrate whenever I visit. I just think "why?"
 
We've recently done it and the advice would probably be to not to. In fact I did say to my wife that I'd prefer not to but...

The children missed our old dog massively (very passive boy and had a flap into the garden to use any time) and a year had nearly gone by without one. We've always had dogs.

Mitigating factors from our side are:
Next door neighbour who wants to walk him for us if we need any time.
Access to a farm with other dogs any time we need, can just drop him off in the morning and pick up on way home. He'll always be with other dogs there.
Wife works odd shifts and I work 3 miles from home or at home so we can often stagger timings.
E.g. today she walked him at 11 and went to work, I came home about 2ish and he and I are nicely shaded under a gazebo in the garden currently.

It's messing my work around a bit but we are making it work. If none of the above look like they'll work on any day, he comes with me to work and we have huge grass walking areas by there.
 
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