Having a dog while at work

[Imp]

What if he got a second dog to keep it company? Twice the amount of shit disturbed, or it'd have company.

I am seriously considering a dog, but my hours wouldn't be as bad. If OP rescues a dog from a shelter, I'm not seeing the leaving at home situation being as bad -- they do supposedly walk dogs at shelters regularly (and put them down if they have too many...).

 

[SpatiallyAware]

What if he got a second dog to keep it company? Twice the amount of shit disturbed, or it'd have company.

I am seriously considering a dog, but my hours wouldn't be as bad. If OP rescues a dog from a shelter, I'm not seeing the leaving at home situation being as bad -- they do supposedly walk dogs at shelters regularly (and put them down if they have too many...).

That's fine after the puppy stage.

The first year of a puppy's life is hugely critical for his mental health. IMHO you really have to make some serious life changes that first year.

 

[Gooberlx2]

11.5 - 12 hours is too long for even an adult dog, much less a puppy. You need to make time to get home and let him out during the work day. Otherwise pony up for daycare or a dog sitter...or don't get a dog.

 

[alkemyst]

So my roommate finally caved after years of pressure and agreed that I can get a dog. This will be the first dog that I will be responsible for (I had a dog when I was younger but apart from the occassional walk, my parents did all the heavy lifting).

Anyway, my question is this: can I raise a dog in a condo when I'm at work for long periods of time? My average work day involves me leaving the house at 7:30 am and not getting back until 8 ish. If I go to the gym, I'm not back til 10. My roommate has a more flexible schedule (his work is only a couple of miles away) and he is home by 5:30 but he made it abundately clear that he does not want to be involved in any way for taking care of the pup.

about 9 hours is a max limit. Some dogs don't tolerate this even.

Being gone almost 15 would be abusive.

You should only rely on yourself to care for a pet. Not family or friends.

Dog Sitters and day cares are available.

 

[Corporate Thug]

guys, this is a complete hypothetical but would your response change if the living situation was a house with a yard? In other words, the dog would be at home alone from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM or so (until my roommate gets home) but he would have access to a yard all day.

 

[olds]

OP, is trolling. No one is this clueless.

 

[Corporate Thug]

OP, is trolling. No one is this clueless.

Trolling about a dog? My roommates sister has a cocker spaniel that stays home alone from 7 to 6 everyday.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Trolling about a dog? My roommates sister has a cocker spaniel that stays home alone from 7 to 6 everyday.

You hold it from 7 to 6 and let us know how it goes.

 

[alkemyst]

guys, this is a complete hypothetical but would your response change if the living situation was a house with a yard? In other words, the dog would be at home alone from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM or so (until my roommate gets home) but he would have access to a yard all day.

Many places have banned leaving dogs outside unattended. A doggie dog would work, but make the home insecure depending on size.

 

[Schfifty Five]

Trolling about a dog? My roommates sister has a cocker spaniel that stays home alone from 7 to 6 everyday.

The general consensus is that you should not get a dog. You sound like you've already made up your mind about getting one, which will suck hardcore for the puppy/dog. It's pretty cruel to leave a puppy alone for that long. Please don't be a selfish person by doing that just so you can have a 1 hour play time with it each night. That would be down right irresponsible.

 

[Puppies04]

The general consensus is that you should not get a dog. You sound like you've already made up your mind about getting one, which will suck hardcore for the puppy/dog. It's pretty cruel to leave a puppy alone for that long. Please don't be a selfish person by doing that just so you can have a 1 hour play time with it each night. That would be down right irresponsible.

This.

 

[spacejamz]

The general consensus is that you should not get a dog. You sound like you've already made up your mind about getting one, which will suck hardcore for the puppy/dog. It's pretty cruel to leave a puppy alone for that long. Please don't be a selfish person by doing that just so you can have a 1 hour play time with it each night. That would be down right irresponsible.

The fact that OP doesn't have the common sense to realize the foolishness of leaving a puppy in a cage for 12 hours before creating a thread about it speaks volumes...

 

[Sheep]

What if he got a second dog to keep it company? Twice the amount of shit disturbed, or it'd have company.

Getting two cats is generally not a bad idea because they do keep each other company (assuming they're littermates or otherwise get along well if you adopt them when they're older). However, I've never heard of this applying to dogs as well.

 

[UglyCasanova]

Cannot understand why anyone would want a dog in the first place.

 

[Corporate Thug]

The fact that OP doesn't have the common sense to realize the foolishness of leaving a puppy in a cage for 12 hours before creating a thread about it speaks volumes...

1. I never said anything about a cage, you made that part up all by yourself.

2. If you read through the thread, you would have realized that my roommate comes home earlier than I do so the dog will not be left alone for more than 9 hours.

 

[olds]

...
2. If you read through the thread, you would have realized that my roommate comes home earlier than I do so the dog will not be left alone for more than 9 hours.

So my roommate finally caved after years of pressure and agreed that I can get a dog. .... My roommate has a more flexible schedule (his work is only a couple of miles away) and he is home by 5:30 but he made it abundately clear that he does not want to be involved in any way for taking care of the pup.

I'll just leave this here

 

[DrPizza]

12 hours in a crate while OP is at work, and presumably, 8 more hours while the OP is sleeping.


Anyone who has a dog confined to a crate more than 12 hours a day sucks.

 

[Ns1]

What if he got a second dog to keep it company? Twice the amount of shit disturbed, or it'd have company.

I am seriously considering a dog, but my hours wouldn't be as bad. If OP rescues a dog from a shelter, I'm not seeing the leaving at home situation being as bad -- they do supposedly walk dogs at shelters regularly (and put them down if they have too many...).

my 3 dogs don't play with each other.

 

[DrPizza]

guys, this is a complete hypothetical but would your response change if the living situation was a house with a yard? In other words, the dog would be at home alone from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM or so (until my roommate gets home) but he would have access to a yard all day.

No problem, depending on the breed, neighborhood, temperament of the particular dog, etc. It could be a problem with dogs that bark a lot - in neighborhoods where you have neighbors. Or, it could be no problem at all - in neighborhoods where houses aren't close together. Heck, we can go away for a week on vacation & just have someone double check once or twice a day that everything is fine & that their water is clean and food is full.

 

[brandonb]

I have 2 dogs. I can't even let them be in the kennel for 4 hours (without issues) let alone 12+ hours.

The reason is very simple. When they are locked in a kennel, their minds become stressed. They can't handle it being locked up in a cage for long periods. They are social creatures and pack animals. Usually at about the 4 hour mark, they start to get hyperactive (which is a sign of dog stress, that's how they get out that frustration).

Almost every single time my dogs are locked up all day (8 hours or so) they have so much energy (hyperactive) when I let them out that they go crazy and even rip apart crap in the yard letting out their frustrations. They ripped apart my above ground pool last year because they tried dragging it across the yard because my GF went out of town in the morning and by the time I got home they were in destructive mode. My pool paid the price.

8 hours in a kennel is fine at night, while its sleeping. But not while they are awake during the day. They need something to occupy their minds.

If you have a dog that's locked up. The moment you get home and let it out, it's going to be a shithead for hours and be so unruly you will want nothing to do with the dog. You will feel like you want to kill it or give it away. That's how I feel when I let them out after being locked up so long. Don't torture yourself or the animal by getting one.

I suggest going to the local animal shelter, where dogs are in cages for hours with no social interaction (except what you see through the gate) and ask an employee if you can take it out to play with it. Just watch how much they will pull, tug, jump around, and go nuts in general. And that is with interaction through the fence, imagine at home where they have nothing... It's only worse. Imagine dealing with it every day. It won't be fun... Do that before you decide to buy a dog. Trust me, you'll change your mind.

 

[Schfifty Five]

1. I never said anything about a cage, you made that part up all by yourself.

2. If you read through the thread, you would have realized that my roommate comes home earlier than I do so the dog will not be left alone for more than 9 hours.

yeah but you also said your roommate doesn't want to take care of it.

Honestly, you got to treat a puppy/dog as if it were your child. If you don't want to bother with the responsibility of taking care of it, then don't get it.

I don't understand why you would ask us if you should get a dog or not, then try to prove everyone wrong when they say you shouldn't. Again, you probably already made up your mind and will get a dog, but you definitely don't sound responsible enough to take care of one. You sound like you just want to play with it for maybe an hour each night and that's it.

 

[spacejamz]

1. I never said anything about a cage, you made that part up all by yourself.

2. If you read through the thread, you would have realized that my roommate comes home earlier than I do so the dog will not be left alone for more than 9 hours.

Cage or not, why would you even ask if it is okay to get a dog, given your work hours??

If you had any shred of common sense, you should have known the answer before you touched your keyboard and created this thread.

The fact that you didn't know the answer as soon as this asinine question popped into your head does not bode well for any pet that you will own in the future.

You are a prime example of the saying "common sense isn't so common"

 

[JimmiG]

So my roommate finally caved after years of pressure and agreed that I can get a dog. This will be the first dog that I will be responsible for (I had a dog when I was younger but apart from the occassional walk, my parents did all the heavy lifting).

Anyway, my question is this: can I raise a dog in a condo when I'm at work for long periods of time? My average work day involves me leaving the house at 7:30 am and not getting back until 8 ish. If I go to the gym, I'm not back til 10. My roommate has a more flexible schedule (his work is only a couple of miles away) and he is home by 5:30 but he made it abundately clear that he does not want to be involved in any way for taking care of the pup.

That wouldn't work. My dog is 7 years old now and handles being alone much better, but for the first 2-3 years you won't be able to leave the dog alone for more than 2-3 hours at a time. Besides, what do you need a dog for when you're away from home so much?

 

[Murloc]

guys, this is a complete hypothetical but would your response change if the living situation was a house with a yard? In other words, the dog would be at home alone from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM or so (until my roommate gets home) but he would have access to a yard all day.

only if it's a dog that doesn't need too much movement (low energy), and if it can get out in the yard to shit in an autonomous way (dog door or whatever, it's a security risk though, maybe you should stick to small dogs).
Even then, big problems could arise. It could be out barking all day and you're not there to train it. The neighbours will complain and you might encounter legal consequences.

Also 1 hour a day or something is not enough to train a dog.

This situation would be okay for a middle to old aged dog that is already trained.
But when you get a dog, it's a puppy. And there's no way that a puppy can be alone all those hours. You have to go home on lunch and finish working a bit earlier.

Also your roommate doesn't want to be involved in any way: does that means he'll stay there and watch while your dog shits on the rugs? A puppy jumping on you and crying like crazy if you close it out of the room is not getting involved?

 

[cousin]

I do not advice to get a dog. Nobody will care about it except you. If you do not have time why getting a dog? Maybe it is better to get the dog a little bit later when you have not much work?