I am distraught! My dog died a while ago and I want a new puppy. Circumstances have changed and I now work full time. We have a dog door and a 7 year old dog.
Does this mean I can't have another puppy?

As you have a 7 year old dog resident, then a puppy would not be alone, but of course would be unsupervised, so you would have to expect longer to housetrain, and possibly more damage done when pup amuses itself.

If you are very commited having a puppy with companionship can work out fine, but of course it will mean spending extra time training and being with the dogs before and after work. You would also need to have someone to come in and feed the pup during the day, as initially it will need 4 meals a day, which will drop off to two at around six months.

I have a friend who works full time, and I go in to see to her Pup, and feed and take him for socialisation walks.

She gets up at 5am every week day to do two lots of walks, as one of her dogs is elderly (pup goes out with her) and the other a Junior!

Her other half then walks them as soon as he comes in from Work, and she then gets in and cooks tea.

While they are at work th dogs have the TV on for company, and me looking in on the young ones.

The 18 month old bitch totally redecorated the kitchen when about 7 to 9 months, and this is something th4ey accepted, due to not being there to prevent it!

No no you can't - even if you came home lunchtime you would have to leave it again in the afternoon and then when you are tired and want to sit down later in the evening the pup would be full of beans and wanting to go and it would be too much. Please think of the pup.

I work 8.30 to 1.30 walk my dogs before I go so I am up at 6.00, my youngest dog is 18months. When I get in at lunchtime she is full of beans, come on I want to go out. Which is fine because we do but I still have to fit in shopping, cleaning, gardening and so on, plus training and I can assure you it is difficult stretching myself in all directions, but one thing has to come first and that is the dogs otherwise what is the point of having them?

Yappy,
I am surprised at your reaction, and find it a little bit patronizing..!
Just because people work full time does not mean the dog is not priority!
As I have said in previous posts - can you imagine this country if dogs only lived with unemployed, part-time workers or retired's? We would be over-run!
Ours has a fantastic life, never missed walks, gets lots of attention and is soon to start puppy classes (thinking about it he is socialised more than me!)
Yes jobs around the house, chores, shopping etc need doing - but we take turns so he is not left unnecessarily - but after saying that your dog must also realise he must blend into normality and everyday life, and I must say Rufus thinks diving into my clean washing basket in fantastic fun! :-)

Hi Louise,
I'm very glad you have managed to fit in the important things in life, (along with working!) Sadly, however, many people don't or can't - like the couple who wanted to have their 7-month Weimaraner put to sleep because it was hyper when they got home, and ran round the house like a mad thing - after all it had only been left alone for 11 hours! Luckily they saw sense and rehomed it.

If a person can manage to juggle all their other commitments enough to give a dog the time and attention it needs, then great! Well done! :)

Hi Jean,

Having said that we are both in our twenties..so ask me again in a few years..!! :-)

Whether people work part time, full time or not at all...thought, time, patience, home enironment and MONEY have to be taken into consideration! - we are nearing the £1,000 mark! (purchase of pup, vets bills, neutering, insurance, toys, bed, leads, collars etc.)

Dogs will adapt to us..as long as we adapt to them - making them our priority and ensuring their lives are made as happy and secure as we possibly can!

It does come down to the commitment, my freind and neighbour does the 5am walks, which I have been sharing with her, but last 3 days I just couldn't drag myself out of bed, even though I can get my head back down for an hour before waking the kids for school! I can take the dogs out anytime later in the day.

On the rare occasions they go out, they have a friends daughter or my son stay the evening with the dogs! You are right some people have good intentions, but just don't have the commitment, or underestimate the dedication needed, but many many working dog owners do make the sacrifices needed to make it work!

An existing dog owner is more likely to have realistic expectations and experiences to draw on when deciding if they can make it work.

I know its already been said but your opinion seems very generalised.
I dont think any idea should ever be an outright no.
Give people the pros and cons and let them make eductaed decisions for themselves.
My puppy is happy and loved and I have put my life on hold to make sure hers is as good as I can possibly make it.

I work full time and have got a 12 week old labrador.
I get up at six to walk her and give her loads of attention before work and then she has a dog walker twice a day.
We were lucky and got a neighbour to do it because professionals are very expensive.
WE pay her £50 a month to walk and feed Darcy every day.
Then she gets all of our attention in the evening.

Like the other note said though, we have found house training trickier. I took a week off work and then worked part time for 2 weeks (used all of my holiday up in January!!!!!!!!) to help her settle in and she was getting the hang of it then but when we went back to work full time she regressed a bit.

She sleeps all night which makes me think she cant be too bothered about being on her own during the day and seems to be a very happy puppy.
She does have a mad half hour when we get home but she soon calms down.

It does put a stop on your social life though cos we'd feel far to guilty to leave her on her own during the evening or weekend cos thst her quality time so we never get to go out anywhere.

She's worth it though.

Hi Rachael,

I'm at home with my pup everyday and he still has a mad two hours every evening!!!! :D :D

My fiance and I work full time although we are able to come home at lunchtime to feed both ours.

It certainly changes your social life as was stated earlier but the two together keep each other company.

I own a 14 month old GSD bitch and have had her from 8 weeks old. I had three weeks off work to settle her in and she was housetrained in that time. I walk her an hour before work, I have an hour and a half at lunchtime to walk and play with her and she then gets an hour+ walk after work as well as training and play. We go to two dog clubs - Monday night and Friday night and agility classes on Sunday. My dog is the centre of my world and my social life has taken a back seat since owning her - however, I wouldn't have it any other way. I think as long as you are 100% committed to your pup/dog then that is fine. I don't agree with people owning a dog, who work full-time, have a hectic social life and never have time to spend playing, exercising and training their dog, or leave it alone for 10+ hours a day. What breed are you considering?

I agree completely, however, I think a lot of people fail to understand the commitment that the dog will be around for a good ten years, and although it gets easier when they get older... its still a tall order to commit all your time outside work to the dog for all those years.

I love dogs, and I tried it when I was younger and had a full time job. I took on an older Dalmatian from some people who wanted to rehome her, on the condition that it was a trial period. I couldn't cope with the early morning walks every day, and the fact that I couldn't go out at all after work without feeling terribly guilty. It wasn't a commitment I felt I could make. It nearly broke my heart taking her back, and it was a good few years before I had another dog.

Years later, I would never sell a puppy to someone who worked full time. 4 hours out of the house was the maximum for my breed, and I would still stick to that even if I really liked the people.

Chloe

I do understand that breeders do have to be careful who they rehome their prides and joys too but the thought that I might not have been able to get a puppy makes me very sad.
I cant afford to not work but because I do work I can afford a dog walker twice a day.
My little girl is very loved and very well looked after.
My mum doesnt work and she has a labrador as well, but he's kept outside all day and the only contact he gets ALL DAY is 4 walks.
Darcy is walked 4 times a day and has love and attention ALL EVENING.
Personally I think she's better off.
Ranger my parents dog craves attention and love and I am currently thinking about taking him on myself.
Just because people are at home all day does NOT mean they'll be good owners.
(no offence mum)

Hi Rachel

I certainly believe that you are doing more than most would, but, I hope you wont mind me saying that you hadn't realised what hard work a puppy is...and that someone less committed than you could certainly just go to work leaving the pup all day (out of sight, out of mind), regularly come home to a destroyed house and rehome the dog..

Its a huge commitment for someone who is working to take on a puppy, and the hit on the social life is a big issue. All I am saying is that its easy to show such commitment right at the beginning, hats off to those who stick with it to the bitter end - they are certainly more committed than I was at the time :)

Chloe

We too have a 12 month old GSD and both work fulltime. I also have BC mix, so the dogs are not alone during the day.
My father in law takes them to the beach for about two hours every day around noon and I take them out when I get home at 16:00.
I have never had problems with Kyra (the puppie) and Misty is used to it and has never shown any behaviour of feeling neglected. We do however make a point of not leaving them alone in the evening unless we absolutely have to.
It makes a big difference if you have two dogs as they will entertain eachother.

.......and lets not forget that being home all day is no guarantee that someone gives their dog enough attention. Plenty of people are there all day but ignore the dog. It is what you do with your dog when there that counts. By the time i have jogged my afghan round the park in the morning, she is DESPERATE to see the back of me so that she can relax! Even though I work she gets 2 hours walking a day, and off lead playing in the park with her pals, 30 minutes grooming a day, and 2 classes per week, plus visiting friends other evenings. gets to sleep with me at night and the cat in the day! So I never let anyone make me feel guilty for working ....she lives the life of Reilly :)

Hiya Doggiedays...

I was thinking......do you really want another puppy??

How about a rescued older dog?

Pups take a lot of your time, I know rescue dogs do too......but with Pups it means so much socialising from an early age etc

There are so many dogs that need good homes....maybe you could think about that :)
I got a rescue...and she's lovely....

Obviously whatever you decide is best for you....go for it...

Just thought I'd let you know about my mutts!!

Lisa

Well having read all your responses I have to say I totally agree with Rachael.

Just because someone works full time does not mean they CANNOT EVER have a dog. Equally because someone is home all day it does not guarantee that the dog will be loved and cared for. Surely the most important thing is that the dog is given lots of affection and its needs are met. Just because someone works full time does not mean they cannot arrange for another person to tend to their dog while they are at work.

I have a friend who has a cocker spaniel called Ralph. She works full time and has had him from a pup. In the early days she came home for lunch every day to spend time with him. He is house trained and is so good that he waits for her to come home and hardly ever has an accident in the house. He is her baby, she loves him to bits and he knows it!! However today breeders would probably not sell her a puppy purely because she works full time even though her dog could not be happier or better looked after.

I think its the owners dedication to the dog that matters ...... not whether they work full time or not. Unfortunately for most of us nowadays we can ill afford the luxury of being at home all day and the amount of people that dont work at all or work part time are few and far between. We live in society that requires most of us to hold down a full time job whether we want to or not. Does that mean that we can never have a pet to love and look after because we are working???

The most important thing I believe when buying a dog is the dogs welfare must take priority and we have to adapt ourselves for the dogs well being. Equally I believe that dogs will adapt to your way of life as long as they are loved. Sadly I think that far too many breeders concentrate on whether you work full time or not and that is ALL they want to know. I believe that as long as prospective owners can show that they would be dedicated to the dog then they should be allowed to buy one.

So please all you breeders out there have a heart and dont be so quick to dismiss full time workers!!!

As I have already posted yopu will realise that I agree with you. BUT as a breeder you want to try and l;oead the dice in favour of your pup making a good home for life, as after all if it doesn't work out the breeder (if an ethical one) will have to pick up the pieces, sometimes years later. They often find a yopung undisciplined problem dog, that they have to rehabilitate and find a new home for.

If they have a choice, these will prefer that the dog goes to a home with someone home all day ect etc etc, so the prospective owner who doesn't have the ideal situation, really has to show that they can provide the commitment, and go the extra mile. Breeders often have only a few phonecalls, and a couple of facve to face meetings in which to judge a person! We do unfortunately get it wrong from time to time, and each time this happens vow to not let a pup go to a similar situation, so no kids, no workers, etc etc. In the end you get so paranoid, that is when you give up breeding, as it ijust becomes too big a headache!