I work full time but come home at lunch time. Currently one of my dogs spends most of that time alone, as he fights with my other boy, and constantly humps my puppy bitch unless I am there to stop him. I do feel a bit sorry for him, but as Ory says, it's hardly mistreating him - he gets walked, fed, brushed, cuddled etc. When I am off work for some reason, they all spend the day lying around fast asleep, so I would imagine that's what they do every day!! :-D

I can see all points raised in this thread - but what is not mentioned is where circumstances change. What would be best for my 5 dogs now that I HAVE to go to work full time? I am now on my own with 2 teenage girls - 5 dogs between 6 years old and 10 weeks - previously I had the luxury of either not working or working part time with OH at home in the day as he worked nights. So.... is anyone saying here that it is in my dog's best interests for me to rehome them?

They have rights too... we are their family - we love them, have brought them up from babies, we are their whole world.

They will stay home with me where they belong and we will just do the very very best we can for them.

Jane

Of course it is different if something unforseen happens like your circumstances.  However if things didn't work out and the dogs were not adapting and coping then, yes, I do think rehoming is preferable.  Dogs adapt to new homes remarkably well, generally, particularly if it actually gives them the things they have been stressing about missing.

Jane Dee I think dogs going to a whole new family would be a bigger stress for them then waiting a bit longer for you to come home. There's still three of you at home and having kids really helps. They can take the dogs home after coming from school, can't they? My parents worked from 8am till 4pm or 5pm when I was little, but me and my brother came home from school at about 2pm and believe me, our Labrador was a completely normal happy dog.
I myself could never ever give any of my dogs away (it's just like giving a child away), as I know they would die without me. There's just no way they could handle the stress........ if I give them to care for a week all they do is sleep and look depressed. And they won't eat anything at all :( . Just imagine me giving them away!! They don't care if there's another person with them 24/7, it's the free hours they spend with me that makes the happy. Even if that means waiting for me while I'm gone........

You are so right... I did get to work this morning though and sit and cry at my desk - worrying about how they will cope. I know the older ones will be ok but the pup is another matter. But boss says I can start early and take flexible breaks for as long as I need.. I also phoned ex in tears .. he came round this evening and I explained my worries to the whole family - so we have come up with a plan, ex included... to help out while Quiz is still little. So tho there was no way my dogs were going anywhere, this thread has made me face my worries and sort them out - thanks everyone.

Jane x

Hi maggymills, No-one is trying to make you feel bad for going to work - come on :-).  I'm sure you will be a good owner because at least you have thought about the issues involved.

I personally still feel the ideal for a puppy is to have someone at home the majority of the time (and I fully agree that you shouldn't be there ALL the time).  It may work for some people and some dogs but IMHO I think a lot of people who work full time can end up with unhappy problem dogs and wrecked homes and any novice potential dog owners should be aware of that.

hey i know exactly how it feels to have to leave your doggy's @ home. I have just bought to gorgeous dachshunds and me and my bf both work days regular. I know they cry and they also make a mess when I'm away they are both 3 yoa and are fuly house trained but when we go to work they sometimes wee!! I feel awful for leaving them and come home every lunch time to walk them and let them have a wee,but still they are unhappy. They are very contented happy dogs otherwise and they have lots of excersise as i take them on long walks morning and evening time as we are lucky to live by a nice field!!

Im lost a to what to do! Does anyone have any advice because its breaking my heart to see them so sad!

is there any way you or your boyfriend could cut your hours down?
I would have to leave my dog alone  for 2 days at most a week, so it must be a bit differnet for you, but at least they have each other for company :)

If you could manage- i would change hours?..

Hi allibone,  Is there any chance of family, friends or neighbours popping in to see the dogs while you are at work, ideally give them a bit of exercise?  Were they left alone in their previous home?  It sounds like you are doing your best for them and if you haven't had them long, they may be better when they have settled in.

hello! can't change hours unfortunately however they have been a lot better today I came home at lunch and they were very well behaved. I read to hide little treats in there room (not many of course don't want to make them fat!) and try ignoring them and not making a fuss immediately when I get home becuase then I suppose they won't see it as such a big thing.I hope that this will work in the long run maybe they are just finding there feet! Thank You for your advose though guys!

The last post was some time ago I know but I havent had access to the internet. I just wanted to say the opinions on this post - especially from stay at home dog owners- are just that, opinions and subjective ones at that. You have a right to your opinion and to voice it because debate is good and educational but dont kid yourselves that you must be right. The only advice I would accept is the EVIDENTIAL kind ie people who have experienced it and have actual knowledge of the subject. I have no doubt, and proof, that my dog is happy with me as a working owner. Like some of the others have said, some of the worst dogs in my training classes belong to stay at home dog owners. I was also a working mum when my kids were growing up and there is always a lot of critisism about working mums isnt there? Well when my kids started school they had no problems being left. The stay at home mums had screaming tearful kids everyday for at least 2 months. Isnt that cruel too, to create a dependent anxious creature who is always wondering when you are going to leave them and can never truly relax in case you do. As I said in my previous post there is no absolute right or wrong, just good or bad or indifferent owners.

June

There is always a sliding scale of happiness :) All that anyone wants is the best for their dogs. Dogs don't know that their lives could be a bit better - so they accept what they have. Since we got our younger dog as a puppy, I have increased my working hours. In February I started working 4 days a week - but only because I could have 1 1/2 hours at lunchtime to come home and walk them. I didn't like doing it, but I'd have lost my job if I hadn't increased my hours. I needed the job, as my husband has just 'retired' (with no pension as he's only 59) four weeks ago. Now I know that my dogs are really happy. I come home at lunchtime to see the smiles on their faces as they have spent all morning trotting around the house or garden with him. The difference is evident. Yes, they were content before - now they are happy :)

Daisy

Can I just add that I was a stay at home Mum and my kids NEVER cried when they were left anywhere. What a sweeping generalisation :( :(

Also may I add that I have experienced this and have knowledge of the subject ..... Why are you trying to justify yourself by criticising 'stay-at-home' mothers and dog owners ?????

Daisy

I think if you phoned your local rescue and asked how many of their intake are from homes where the dog  have spent a considerable amount of time alone and how many are there as a result of being dependent, anxious creatures due to too much human input you would find your thinking is a bit squewed.  I think you have to bear in mind very few non full time workers will be constantly with their dogs most will leave them for shopping trips etc.
Whilst I can just about accept dogs will cope with full time owners, although many will not so each attempt will be a gamble, you would have to go a very long way to convince me it is a better life for them.

Better on not, the reality is that we all have different lifes and dogs like humans will get used to all kinds of things. We'll never agree on this subject, like we will probably never agree on many things, but that's the beauty of life..... we're all different and we all have to cope with each other ;) . We all love dogs and all living creatures and we all want the best for them....... but let's face it, there is no perfect family and there is no perfect environment for dogs. We all just try our best and I think trying counts, doesn't it!?

Daisy, I'm not trying to justify myself. Its the stay at homes who started the attack on working people. I'm just trying to give the other point of view for a balance. What I'm trying to say is that there is no ideal situation, you can't say that dogs are always better off with someone who stays at home or at work. I have seen miserable dogs with all types of owners. As you are a working owner it is a little hypocritical having had a dog all this time to now say that your dog is better off with its retired owner, having done this you now critisise others who work. And as for rescue centres, I have worked in a rescue centre and read the statistics. Dogs are brought in for all sorts of reasons but simply because there owners work is not one of them. The main reasons are death, divorce, not being realistic about what having a dog entailed, change of circumstance like having children, emigrating or illness or too elderly to cope any more. All of these reasons happen to working and non working people. I'm not the one making sweeping statements or generalisations, I would look at everyones individual circumstances. How many people can say that they lead a 100% perfect life, why in this country do we think our animals need to have perfect lives when most of us dont. I think Ory's reply is absolutely right. There should be no room for prejudical thinking or attacking people because of their lifestyle.

Having been both a 'stay-at-home' and a 'working person', I feel I have the benefit of both experiences. And my dogs are a lot calmer and easier to live with when I'm home fulltime than when I'm out working.

Having worked closely with breed rescue we've found one of the very common reasons for dogs needing rehoming is divorce, where a previously stay-at-home partner also has to go out to work and the dog's damned miserable. :(

>but simply because there owners work is not one of them

I beg to differ there are many in our local rescue because people have stated they are unable to meet the dogs needs due to working hours often they will say the dog is distructive too but sometimes it is just a recognition that the dog is not happy, they cannot fit in walks with all the other stuff that needs doing in their evenings etc.  You acknowledge another common reason is divorce well nobody hands in a dog because it is short of two loving owners! it is because very often a divorce means an increase in the working hours of the wife and again the dogs needs are no longer being adequately met.  Nobody has attacked the posters who say they work and it is working out fine for their dogs, well done them for making the efforts to make it work :) but effort it does take and most posters not only acknowledge this but stress it to guests enquiring as to the feasability.  It is not going to work out for every dog though and I have issue with this idea that working homes are in anyway better that is stretching it a bit in my opinion :) and I certainly don't think that a homeing will ever fail because the owners don't work.

I have to agree with the rescue thing. Divorce is a huge reason,because as others have said the wife usually has to go back to work and the dog is alone all day.

They do breed profiles every month in one of our dog magazines(cant remember which one) and down the bottom they always put the "in rescue" statistic,it seems the  2 highest percentages are divorce and  the owner having to go back to work!

I'm not sure how it is in UK, but in my country practically everybody works. Not many stay home parents since the 80s for some reason. Married or single, most people do work. And many, many do have dogs or other pets and yes it works out fine.... I think the subject here is dogs that were used to having someone at home all the time and then all of a sudden people get a divorce, the person who was with the dog has to start work and of course it is going to be a shock for a dog. After years of having his beloved person with him, he can't see him for hours now. It is a shock for an old dog (as dogs are also creatures of habit), but I was more like talking about dogs that have gradually gotten used to staying home alone while their owners are working. Since day one this was their reality and the got used to it. And that's how it is. It's always been like that in my family and it's always been like that for most of my relatives.
But as I said before...... we all have different lives and there's no point in judging anyone. As long as we love our pets and do our best they're happy to share our lives and to be be with us every free minute of our day. For the ones that are lucky enough to have someone supporting them and they don't need to work for living.... even better, sometimes I wish my reality was like that :) . Not because I'd wanna stay at home 24/7 with my dogs, but because there are million other things I'd be able to do :) ......

I may be a working owner, June - if you could call it that :) You haven't been around long enough to know my exact circumstances. When we got our first dog six years ago, I had two children at home who shared dog walking (together with me and my husband) - they were also home during school holidays. When we got our puppy, as I have stated, I was only working two mornings a week. We timed getting the puppy so that she arrived at the end of June so that the children were at home to help look after her. As she got bigger I increased my hours to four mornings a week and then four days a week. She is now three. The dogs had both my now adult children home from mid-June through to the end of September. They have hardly been left alone for long periods of time - Even when the children aren't home, I have 1 1/2 hours for lunch and am home from work at 4.40pm. I am hardly being hypocritical  - I've never criticised people who work. The only people I criticise are those who do not give due consideration to how they are going to cope with a young puppy. Some make no allowance for the fact that things sometimes do not go to plan. My own puppy turned out to be a very bad chewer - if I had worked full time, she would have had to be shut in her crate most of the day for a year until she could be trusted.

As for sweeping generalisations, I suggest that you reread your post concerning 'stay at home' mothers leaving their screaming children - words simply fail me if you can't see that that is a sweeping generalisation :)

Daisy

I can't help feeling this is a sign of the times.  I want therefore I have a right to have :(.  Of course, people have to work, but dogs are social creatures, unlike cats that cope much better.  I would have loved to have got another dog after I lost my old boy years ago, but I did not feel it was right to have one and be out all day, so for many years I did not own a dog and had to wait until my circumstances changed to allow me to spend time working from home, I had a cat instead ;)
I do think it is possible to work fulltime and yes, I work fulltime, but three to four days is from home.  On the days I am out, I arrange for walks / care so that they are not left alone.  What is important is that arrangements are made - dogs do need company, they do not thrive alone.  Would you go out and leave your children all day, no you make arrangements for care, so why is it that some people think it's perfectly ok to go out to work and leave a dog alone for long periods.

JuneH, I disagree, I help with a breed rescue and the fact that dogs are not coping well with being left is one of the most common reasons for dogs to be given up.

The days when there was always a family member at home have gone now, and of course that shouldn't stop people from owning dogs, providing they make provision for their care whilst out for long periods.

The arguments for appear to be I want a dog so I will have one and it will be fine, but if it really is no problem, why do the statistics show otherwise.....