Dog owners, am i being selfish?

Chairless

Im really toying with the idea of getting a furry buddy.

I live alone and work at least 8 hours a day, when im not in work i am always itching for an excuse to stomp around the local countryside.

I know i can give a dog a good, relaxed and stable home with plenty of care and exercise but the poor thing would have to be alone while im working.

Thoughts please.

Dnsnyder

Perhaps you could invest in "Doggie Day Care" a couple of times a week? This will allow the dog to be in a social environment, able to run around, play, and expend some energy. This would help to break up the routine so that the dog wouldn't be alone 5 days a week for 8+ hours a day. And, the important thing is that when you do get home from work, you spend time with the dog and ensure that they are getting proper exercise and socialization.

coliema

I've had my beagle for 5 years, since he was a puppy. I work 8 hour days and I work about 45 minutes away from my house. I leave the house at 545 am for work and I don't get back til around 345 pm. My fiance works from 7 am to 8-9pm everyday. The dog is there alone for about 8-9 hours a day, and he's perfectly fine. I make sure he has water and food everyday and plenty of toys and I turn the TV on in the living room for him and the radio on in the kitchen. Just be sure, when you are home to pay attention to the dog and take him outside to play, etc. More than likely the dog will sleep most of the time you are gone.

stuffinmuffin

Quite a tricky one and probably depends on the dog. I had a greyhound and whilst they're incredibly placid they, as all dogs, need a bit of company every few hours. This is costly...but on days myself or my boyfriend couldn't get home within 8 hours we had a dog-walker that would take him out for an hour (it used to cost us about £8) and feed him if necessary. It was quite good in the end because the dog-walker built up a relationship with the pooch and they'd also take him in when we went on holiday or away for weekends.
Also really research your breeds thoroughly before committing. Smaller dogs tend to be more 'yappy' as is next doors which we're on the verge of feeding chocolate covered chicken bones in a bid to put it out of it's incessant barking misery! Large dogs are calmer (less to prove) and also look into the difference into female/male temperaments of a breed.

One thing I quickly learned is that the commitment is HUGE! I thought that because I loved being out walking in the country-side a dog would be perfect, but at times like 1am when Muttly's got the raging trots and HAS to be taken out can be a different matter! ; )
Overall though, I absolutely adored my dog and won't hesitate to get another one in the future.

Monkeylost

A hound is worth every penny you pay for it. We've got a Springer Spaniel and bought her from the breeder she gives back so much love all the time. She is the best thing we have ever bought in our lives.

All you really have to consider is the breed you buy as some are better at being left than others. Ours needs constant attention so it's a good job I'm home most days but not all dogs need that. Have a look at which hound suits your lifestyle and go for it, they get you out of the house, are always pleased to see you and will be your best friend for life. Xxx

bio_fit

Simples. Get TWO dogs.

pinuplove

That's a tough one. On one hand, dogs are extremely social and extended periods of being alone will cause some dogs to act out in destructive ways, simply from being bored or because they are lonely. On the other hand, many dogs do very well alone while their owner works - crate training is especially helpful in this. So it is somewhat dependent on the temperament of your dog. Doggy daycare is a great option if that is feasible for you.

Consider adopting an older dog with an established personality and less of the annoying puppiness I love my furry buddy. We go for long walks most days, he has a yard to play in, and he sleeps at the foot of my bed. Make sure you have a reliable dog-sitter or boarder if you have to go out of town without him. That is the one thing about my pup - he makes going away for.the weekend much more complicated than it was when we just had a cat!

Dunkirk

Consider fostering a dog as a 'test run'.

_LilPowerHouse

I had the same problem when My family and I wanted a dog.. so I went to this website: http://www.eukanuba.com/en-US/dog-breed-selector.jspx and you answer some questions and the match you up with the best breed possible for your lifestyle. its like
match dot com but for people and dogs..LOL.. It matched us up with a toy fox terrier and we absolutely love this breed.. I hope it works out for you as well.. :happy:

Mustlovepugs11

I have one dog currently and am adding a second next week as I feel bad for my one dog being alone throughout the day... He is alone for about 8.5 hours monday - Friday. He seems fine and we have had no problems with him acting out in any way. Plus he is a pug which they sleep most of the time. I still do feel bad for him which is why we are getting him a friend to keep him company during the day while we are away. If you do get a dog just make sure he gets plenty of attention when you get home. Good luck!

ooOOooGravy

2 ideas for you!

1) get 2, they keep each others company, i have 3 and they are happy together for the 9 to 10 hours we leave them.
2) get a rescue dog! this have many more advantages to a fresh puppy
- already older and house trained
- more than likely already used to being left alone for long periods of time
- supporting buying rescue dogs rather than puppy breeding

honestly there are thousands of dogs that needs re-homing and be perfect for your lifestyle.

ps i want a picture of said dog, when you get it

SunshineAndLove

We got two for the reason that we didn't want one being on his own all the time. We are lucky though in that the in-laws have them two days a week for us and they get walked every day by FIL and I can work from home sometimes. Do feel really guilty when we have to leave them for 5+ hours on their own. Make sure you get one that likes walking, we didn't think it through when we got ours and they have got very little legs so not great for walking long distances.

I don't think it's a bad idea, would be good if you had some sort of interaction for it during some days if not all of the days though. Do you have a next door neighbour that could pop in?

hbrittingham

Consider an adult dog. Lots of people work full time and have dogs. I happen to live close enough to go home for lunch every day, but many dogs can go 8+ hours without needing to potty. I agree with the others, rescue is a great way to go. Both of my goldens are rescue dogs.

thekarens

Get a couple of pound puppies. They can keep each other company and they are great workout buddies. We have 4 dogs. I work about 45 minutes from our place. Only one of our dogs is really good for working out (standard poodle, who was a rescue) The others are little and prefer short walks.

PS........if you own your home a dog door is an option.

LorinaLynn

I was working full time when I got my dog, and I've been out of work for quite a while now. You know what my dog does most of the day? Sleep.

Eight hours is too long for a puppy to be home alone, since they don't have enough bladder control, but perfectly fine for an adult dog. Rescue dogs are the best.

Skeemer118

I've had my beagle for 5 years, since he was a puppy. I work 8 hour days and I work about 45 minutes away from my house. I leave the house at 545 am for work and I don't get back til around 345 pm. My fiance works from 7 am to 8-9pm everyday. The dog is there alone for about 8-9 hours a day, and he's perfectly fine. I make sure he has water and food everyday and plenty of toys and I turn the TV on in the living room for him and the radio on in the kitchen. Just be sure, when you are home to pay attention to the dog and take him outside to play, etc. More than likely the dog will sleep most of the time you are gone.

^ Same for me. My 2 guys stay home for at least 8 hrs a day by themselves. They're happily wasting their day away & I find the evidence by seeing fur all over my bed where they've managed to roll around playing & sleep. LOL. We pay lots of attention to them when we get home & try to exercise them outside to keep them active & fit. They're my babies!

shaybethxo

we had one dog for 7 seven years and she was left alone for probably 8 hours a day, 3-5 days a week, and we left her with plenty of food water treats and toys and she never seemed stressed out by it. she's perfectly happy, and we walk her daily. we got another puppy in january, mainly because we lost our cat and the house felt a bit lonely. and now he keeps her company through the days we're out, and he has settled in fine. no destructive behaviour, he's calm and chilled out - amazing since he's only 4 and a half months old! so in short, provided they are stimulated when you are home, a dog could be great for you

edit: our dogs a re small breeds - jack russel cross and a cavalier king charles, so a small breed would probably be your best bet

rml_16

Most dogs are alone that long. A lot fewer people would have dogs if they worried about leaving them that long.

I would recommend against a puppy, though. Get a grown dog with a good temperment that's house trained. As long as you spend plenty of time with the dog when you're not at work, it will be fine.

And to add, you could get either two dogs or a cat (low-maintenance) and the dog wouldn't be alone.

JennaM222

The dog whisperer says dogs cant tell time You can't humanize them ( as much as we want to...)

My Boyfriend adopted a Pit/American Bull dog and he too works 8 a day, 5 days a week, sometimes longer. You just need to make sure your dog gets alot of exercise when you are with him

Good Luck

KellyTSmith

Well, since you like being active outside, I think as long as you take your new buddy with you, you'll be alright. My dog is home alone for about 6 hours a day, but I make sure to get her outside the moment I come home- and if the weather is bad, then we go to Petsmart or for a drive- as long as the time you spend with him/her is active, he or she will nap for those 8 hours you're at work. I dont think you're being selfish at all.

nammer79

pick a dog that will match you but honestly most pet owners are full tome workers too ... having one isn't free and and cost a bit of money when you take care of them correctly. (vet bills, food, toys and other things) just make sure you spend all the time you can with it and show the dog that you love it.

janalayn

I have a long-hair chilhuahua who is 11 months old ... she stays at home for 9 hours during the day while we work. She stays in a puppy playpen (six sided wire portable cage) with a puppy pad. She has plenty of toys to keep her entertained and we also have two cats in the house. Once she stops chewing we will allow her to run loose in the house with the cats while we work.

UpEarly

My husband and I work an 8 hour day and have a 30-45 minute commute (each way). We have three dogs - all pugs. They do just fine on their own for the day. They're all healthy, happy, quiet, calm and well-mannered. We picked pugs specifically because they're a low-energy, laid-back breed. They don't need lots of stimulation or exercise. And...we have three of them because they keep each other company - and that prevents issues with separation anxiety. I grew up in a house with a neurotic, spastic, high-energy border collie-dalmation mix that needed lots of time, attention and exercise and couldn't bear to be alone. She destroyed many things in my parents house. She was the wrong breed and temperament for our busy family.

So... I think you can definitely get a dog with your schedule. Just pick the right breed and consider getting a pair. :-)

And the following has not been true in my personal experience...

Smaller dogs tend to be more 'yappy' as is next doors which we're on the verge of feeding chocolate covered chicken bones in a bid to put it out of it's incessant barking misery! Large dogs are calmer (less to prove) and also look into the difference into female/male temperaments of a breed.

tiggersstar

.i walk my dog in the morning, then go to work for 8 hours. i get someone to let him out in the garden at lunch time for a wee. then my daughter is home from school by 3.15pm and he can go out in the garden whenever he wants. then i walk him in the evening. so he gets a wee roughly every 3 hours in the day, lol! And he’s only a small dog.

i wouldn’t want to leave him all day, I don’t think it would be fair on him. he does have 4 cats to play with though and yes at the weekend, i notice he just sleeps a lot in the hours he is used to being alone.

My friends dog goes for a wee in the garden in the morning and is then left inside all day till she gets home in the evening and is then walked. she said her dog never has a problem waiting. So I presume it depends on the dog.

Most people I know hire a dog walker to take their dogs out for a walk in the day when they are at work. I think if you are not going to be around, this is a good plan. Or a dog proof garden and a dog door?

:flowerforyou:

modgirlrachel

Adopt an older dog and do some research on breeds that are more independent and don't need excessive amounts of exercise

minnesota_deere

Im really toying with the idea of getting a furry buddy.

I live alone and work at least 8 hours a day, when im not in work i am always itching for an excuse to stomp around the local countryside.

I know i can give a dog a good, relaxed and stable home with plenty of care and exercise but the poor thing would have to be alone while im working.

Thoughts please.

I grew up on a farm and dogs are ment to be free and have companionship all the time, the most humane thing you could do is NOT get a dog living in the city. it really upsets me to see animals in cages and left alone for most of the day, its wrong and it is not fair to the dog, your doing it for your own selfish reasons. don't do it, we have 2 cats that have cat doors that come and go as they please, i have never cleaned cat litter because we have 17 acres for them to do there business, plus it cuts down on food, they tend to hunt for themselves. we want a dog but know the huge maintenance they are, and the thought of leaving it alone for more than 8 hours just breaks my heart. they are more demanding than kids, the difference is you can ignore your dog which is the worst. i urge you, do not get a dog, for the dogs sake.

HeidiMightyRawr

My bf and I have a dog. While we're not out for 8 hours a day (apart from maybe once every few weeks) we're regularly out for 4-5 hours in the day. We have a dog crate which is basically their home. Dogs love it, see it as their "den" and as long as they're fed before and when you get back they should be fine. Most of the time all they do is sleep anyway.

After I finish uni this year, I will be looking for a full time job which will mean the same situation as you. We are planning to move by the end of the year, to a house with a bigger garden, building a secure run for him there, with a little shed / kennel inside it to sleep in, and getting a second dog for company Worth a thought if you have a big garden?

Ladyiianae

I've had my beagle for 5 years, since he was a puppy. I work 8 hour days and I work about 45 minutes away from my house. I leave the house at 545 am for work and I don't get back til around 345 pm. My fiance works from 7 am to 8-9pm everyday. The dog is there alone for about 8-9 hours a day, and he's perfectly fine. I make sure he has water and food everyday and plenty of toys and I turn the TV on in the living room for him and the radio on in the kitchen. Just be sure, when you are home to pay attention to the dog and take him outside to play, etc. More than likely the dog will sleep most of the time you are gone.

I have a beagle as well, her name is Pickles and it's almost the same situation. She sleeps all day and doesn't even notice that I;m at work but I am sure to take her out DAILY for a walk as soon as I get home She has to go check her "pee-mail" you know!

rml_16

Im really toying with the idea of getting a furry buddy.

I live alone and work at least 8 hours a day, when im not in work i am always itching for an excuse to stomp around the local countryside.

I know i can give a dog a good, relaxed and stable home with plenty of care and exercise but the poor thing would have to be alone while im working.

Thoughts please.

I grew up on a farm and dogs are ment to be free and have companionship all the time, the most humane thing you could do is NOT get a dog living in the city. it really upsets me to see animals in cages and left alone for most of the day, its wrong and it is not fair to the dog, your doing it for your own selfish reasons. don't do it, we have 2 cats that have cat doors that come and go as they please, i have never cleaned cat litter because we have 17 acres for them to do there business, plus it cuts down on food, they tend to hunt for themselves. we want a dog but know the huge maintenance they are, and the thought of leaving it alone for more than 8 hours just breaks my heart. they are more demanding than kids, the difference is you can ignore your dog which is the worst. i urge you, do not get a dog, for the dogs sake.

I could say the same about you with your cats. We stopped letting ours out because when we lived in the country with tons of room for them to roam, they got hit by cars and a couple killed by wild animals. So, I could call you selfish for letting your cats out just so you don't have to clean a litter box.

But I won't. Because I don't judge people so harshly.

XFitMojoMom

while puppies are cute, a rescue is better as they are already housebroken.

and yes, dogs sleep a lot... yep, even those high energy ones. I have a Weimaraner and a JRT. I take my JRT out for runs with me, she loves it and really calms her down. The Weim is difficult to manage on the leash and I'd be toast if he sees another dog while I'm running. He gets a good long walk with me each day and the run of the yard after squirrels.

Can you install a doggie door?

Chairless

wow, thanks for all the responses so far, lots to consider.

I am looking into what services are availiable locally as far as pop in walkers etc go as this will probably affect my decision.

I by no means live in a city, a small town maybe.