Hi
I'm probably going to open up a can of worms here but I desperately need some opinions on whether it is fair or not to have a puppy when you are working all day and therefore would be left for 4 hours in the a.m and 4 hours in the p.m? (I come home for 45 mins at lunchtime). I have read many books, some of which seem to think it's inevitable cos everyone has to work, and others say it's distressing to the dog, and therefore causes barking problems etc. I so desperately want another dog as I've had them all my life, and therefore keep convincing myself that it would be ok. What do you think?

I think you already know the answer to this question, No. I personally would not sell a puppy to someone who works full time, because it is not fair to the pup, it would be distressed, being alone, such long hours, which leads to destruction, which is one of the main reasons so many dogs end up in rescue.

Hi guest.,

I work full time and have a 3yr old cocker and a 14mnth old cocker. Someone pops in over the lunch hour to stay with them for a bit, we leave at 8am and my other half gets back at 4pm. Although the job he's in at the moment, allows him to come back during the day, sometimes he's finished at 2pm, so can spend all afternoon with them...

I think if you are just getting one pup, it would be different, at least with the 2 they amuse themselves and keep each other company..

HTH

Natasha :D

Here's my situation which works for me - doesn't work for everyone and all dogs but we get on fine.

I have four dogs - a springer, a gwp and two pointers. They have all been left during the day since they were pups. I used to leave them all day until I realised Harvey didn't like it so I know give them a run in the morning, take them to my sisters house (who works at the same place as I do), leave them there for the morning and go back for lunch to give them a run. Finish work and then give them a run in the evening. We leave my sisters house at 8.15, get back at 12.15 for lunch and get back at 5.10 in the evening. As I said, it works for us and the dogs. They are happy enough.

Helen

Maybe it would be better to get a older dog thats had experience of being on its owm maybe this wouldnt be as distressing

when i took jubilee to a puppy party,there was a women there who had a springer spaniel puppy and was complaining that it was chewing everything and making a mess every where.
when the person running the class asked some questions, we all found out that this women had taken 1 week off work when she got the puppy then had returned back to work nothing wrong with that i hear you say.
well this women was out to work between 7.45am and 6.00pm and only returned for half a hour at lunch time.
i think this is so unfair on the dog.

Hi,
I think you should ......only if you are prepared to put in the time, when you bring that litlle puppy into your life, they become your life.
I also worked 9-5 and really wanted a puppy ( I shoot and wanted to try and train my own gundog ) I chose a G.S.P and from the moment I bought Bodie home my life changed.
I use to get up at the crack of dawn feed her and play with her untill I left for work.
I would rush home at about 12, feed her and play with her for 1 hour, rush back to work,rush home after work feed her and play with her even if I was not playing with her she was always around me.
I would stay up late with her even if she was a sleep I would be near her, I gave her all the time I could, after 3 months I was a walking Zombie, I started leaving her a little longer in the morning, at this age I started walking her, once in the morning and once in the evening.
Some good advice I have seen on this topic is to leave a radio on when you're not around.
Most the time when she was a puppy a good feed and a few games, abit of fuss and she was knackered and would sleep.
When she was 6 months old I bought another dog ( a six month old Springer )
They are both 2 years old and me leaving Bodie I don't think has affected her.
Be very sure you can handle this commitment.......and good luck

I'd say go for it. If you are only away for 4 hours in the morning and again in the afternoon, then I think your puppy will come to accept this. Try and get home at lunch times as this will help to settle them for the afternoon stint. As soon as you get a puppy, get it used to being on it's own for say half an hour for the first day, and then gradually extend that time. Try to choose a breed that won't get too distressed at being home alone, one that isn't too hyper and active. Be prepared for some damage to carpets etc ...it's inevitable. Leave it toys and something with your scent on during the day.

I go to work every day, as does my partner, and my two dogs are fine (maybe you could consider two dogs eventually, but get one first and then the other later). Luckily my partner works locally and gets home at 1700 hrs promptly and walks them as soon as he gets in. I also have a dogsitter who walks the dogs at lunch times. This really helps them to settle down in the afternoon. If you're prepared for the commitment and expense then I think you will be OK. Lots of people who have dogs work, and the dogs cope very well.

Like others hav said, if you have the commitment, it can work well.
Bear in mind that housetraining and other lessons will take longer when you arent there to stop the pup from misbehaving. You will need to work extra hard getting your pup used to being alone.
I know a lot of people who have happy well adjusted dogs adn also go out to work all day. Would you consider getting a family member, neighbour, or paying someone, to walk or entertain your pup when you are out?

good luck.

as an aside here, DOGS, why do you think getting an older dog would be a good idea? There are not many people who would want to part with a dog that is used to being left. And even dogs that are used to being left by their original owner may well suffer seperation related problems when rehomed.
IMO the majority of dogs in rescues are there because they cant cope with being left alone.
Do you have experience of rescueing older dogs, seperation anxiety or training dogs to be left alone?

Emma

Hi

Would just like to say thankyou to everyone who have given me advice on my question. I do appreciate both sides of the argument but am greatly encouraged by those of you who do manage to work and keep a dog without causing it distress. I know that it isn't the ideal circumstances but I'm sure I have the commitment and love to give a puppy a great home, and believe me I've thought long and hard about the idea.

Thanks again

Hi.

I am in exactly the same situation as you were when you posted this message - please can you tell me what you decided to do and how it worked out?

Thanks
Ruth

Hi Ruth, i saw your name and i read your post the other day , but have been able to track it down!how is everything? have you come to any decisions yet,? Good Luck! Sue T.

Hi Sue,

I've come to the decision that we can't really get a pup unless we can find someone in our area to come in during the day. My partner can come back but I'm not convinced that's enough. Have found a pet sitting service not too far away but haven't managed to get in contact with them yet. Until that happens, the decision is on hold!

If I decide to go ahead, I think the breed will probably be something like a Golden Retriever or Bernese Mountain Dog - or something similar!

Thanks for the interest - if you have any advice, it will be gratefully received!

Ruth

Hi Ruth,i dont envy you its a hard one,when i was first married some years ago the first thing i did was have a dog and a cat,my mum always used the excuse that we were not home enough to have a dog before, i think it was not wanting the mess , so i had a friend who was a vet and i asked him what he thought ! he said providing the dog had a good run in the morning another at lunch time and another after work he didnt see a problem, it worked with my first dog like a dream,later we had an Irish Setter ,and i was only out of the house for a maximum of three hours , she shredded the entire house ,its as someone said earlier every dog is different ,what i would say though is its a long long day for your dog to spend on their own they are by nature not solitary animals,maybe wait until you dont have to work all day ,good luck keep us updated Regards SUE T.

"wait until you dont have to work all day" ????LOL....I'd have to wait till retirement:). Work pays for the dog food and vet bills. :)

Hi everyone,

I have also been pondering this question for a while. I am a single mum who works full time with 2 kids (4 and 6) and we've wanted a puppy for a long time. I posted on here and got some good advice - some saying no way! and some saying go for it! A lot of breeders say no straight away if you work full time but I found a few who were willing to listen and in the end saw a litter of beautiful Golden Retriever puppies at the weekend and have put a deposit down for one. The breeder knows my situation and suggested I get two to keep each other company when I'm not there in the day (I will be getting a dog sitter for the middle of the day). So I have decided that I will get two!! I am picking them up on Saturday 28th and I'm so excited!! Have started buying beds, bowls, toys etc!! Spent a small fortune already and now will have to double up on it all for the second pup!

It is so difficult to decide whether or not to have a puppy (or two!) when you work, but loads of people work and have dogs. If you have the dedication and commitment then I believe it can work. Having two will mean company for the pups when I am out. I'm not expecting an easy ride and I'm used to sleepless nights and clearing up all the time! I expect I'll be making some more posts on here - I think it's a great forum for advice.

Good luck to anyone else out there who is trying to make the same decision.

Hi,

Well, we've decided to go for it too and we've found a lovely Golden Labrador puppy that we're getting this weekend coming!

I thought about the option of getting two to keep themselves company, but I was told that it would be a LOT of hassle for a brand new dog owner to cope with. There were 2 left at the breeders, one black one golden and it was a hard choice, would have been easier if we could have had them both!! ;-)

Good luck with your puppies - let me know just how much of a nightmare 2 at a time are - maybe I'll think about getting another one later.

Cheers
Ruth

At least you found a sensible breeder, Ruth, who put her puppies' well-being before money.

Two pups together is hard work, even for those who are used to dogs, and multiple dogs at that. As for someone getting two when they're out at work all day - well words fail me.
:(

Actually, because we were struggling to choose, the breeder did jokingly suggest getting both, but she did quickly say "God help you if you do though!"

;-)

Hi Ruth
Just browsing through the pages & read the comments on your topic. I work full time & like you I pondered for ages about a puppy, I have had a lab years ago & had to have her put to sleep, said I would never have a dog again & here I am about to pick up my pup Molly on friday 20th, shes a bichon frise, I am so excited & am making plans for when I am at work, I am taking time off initially but hope to find a dog walker, I will come home at lunch, I used to leave my lab & call home at lunch its surprising how they get into a routine & providing evenings & weekends you are together as much as possible things should be ok. I never had a problem so hopefully the same this time. Good luck with the pup. Regards Pauline