Am I being selfish and unrealistic

B

BBH

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 April 2007
Messages
9,357
Visit site
I currently have 2 dogs. a 10yrs Bullmastiff girl and a 6 yrs British bulldog boy.

I had a third BM but sadly she died 3yrs ago.

About 3 mths ago I took on a rescue 18mths BM boy . Unfortunately although a beautiful dog with people he was very unpredictable with animals.

He had to go back as he twice attacked my bulldog and ran my mini pony into the ground hanging off her tail .

I am wondering the fairness of getting a puppy that I can socialise fully .
The issue is that I work fulltime but only 5 mins from home so it means I can come home at lunchtime . Is it fair though to tire pup out in the morning , crate for 4 hrs then tire out for an hour at lunch and then be home at 5.05pm

Anyone else had a puppy whilst working FT.
 
No, as you cannot physically tire a puppy out without damaging it's future health, especially a breed or type that you like.
Sorry.
 
It's good of you to reply as it's practicalities I need to hear . I don't have any good dog crèche near me either and my dog walker goes en masse so that wouldn't work.
 
BBH said:
Anyone else had a puppy whilst working FT.
Click to expand...

only because we were having a quiet couple of months and the pup could come to work with me and either be in the office or my van in a playpen. even then I had quite alot of help from colleagues. little pups can't go four hours in the day time without being let out or be alone for that long imo, even with other dogs around. and then when they are 4-7months they need even more of your time as they sleep less. are you able to save up annual leave? or rope in a family member?
 
I too live 5 miles from current work.
Travel can take 7-8 mins on a good run, even at lunchtimes I need to allow at least 15 mins each way in case of emergency /temp traffic lights / pensioners pottering, so no way to properly spend time with a pup in lunch hour
(winter early mornings it can take up to 40 mins!!)

OP, I think you know the answer, its really not a good start for any new one till your hours or circumstances change
 
I live 5mins away so prob a mile and a half distance wise .

It seems a puppy is a non starter so maybe have to wait for a socialised rescue .
 
i agree with the other posters, i am retired but have a horse so need to be out for 2 hours am and 1 hour pm....i recently got a puppy (was looking for a small adult dog in rescues but no joy) and i timed it when i was giving my horse a couple of weeks off so i could take puppy with me both ends of the day at first as i wasnt riding....i gradually got him used to being left in his crate(my other dog is loose in the same room)for half an hour gradually increasing to 2 hrs and all went well. i then was back riding and i am comfortable with leaving him for up to 2 1/2 hours. he is now 5 months.....this would not be doable if i was working full time and i wouldnt have considered a puppy if i was...hope that helps a bit..
 
You can get it if you can afford to get someone in or take additional time off in addition to what you are proposig - so probably a mid afternoon break in addition to what you propose.
 
I have a (now) ten week old puppy, I am retired and OH is partly retired but it's still very time consuming and I have to plan everything around puppy. I couldn't do it if we were working. We had our last puppy when I was working but I worked from home, was able to take pup out with me on calls and only worked term time. We coped OK but tbh I think pup spent rather too much time in a crate in my car at times but at least he had company and regular walks. Probably not the right time for you.
 
Sorry, I wouldn't get a puppy if I worked full time & was out of the house as much as you are. It's just not fair on the dog.
 
Considering the old saying that 'Two's a company, and three's a crowd', and considering the breeds which you currently have, I'd sprout wings and fly before I left three dogs unattended.

An emphatic 'NO' from here. Sorry!

Alec.
 
Alec Swan said:
Considering the old saying that 'Two's a company, and three's a crowd', and considering the breeds which you currently have, I'd sprout wings and fly before I left three dogs unattended.

An emphatic 'NO' from here. Sorry!

Alec.
Click to expand...

Jeez Alec that is the second time I have agreed with you in two days! Surely not :) :)
 
I did raise a pup when I worked full time in a similar situation to you. I worked close to home so left just before 9am, came home at lunchtime to let her out and was home again shortly after 5pm. I had no social life and every evening and weekend was dedicated to her, she had the company of two friendly, laidback dogs (I shared a house with my sister and her dogs at the time) and grew up to be a well adjusted, happy dog.

But ... there is always a but ... it was far from ideal and it is not something I would like to do again. My conscience couldn't stand it.
 
Don't think I would. We've got pups in summer so we have some weeks for settling/training etc. The neighbour comes in for an hour every few hours now they're adults. I don't think I would be happy if they were left for hours.
 
Clodagh said:
No, as you cannot physically tire a puppy out without damaging it's future health, especially a breed or type that you like.
Sorry.
Click to expand...

This. ^^ Sounds like waiting for a suitable older rescue dog would be a good option.

And no you're not being selfish or unrealistic because you are actually thinking before you act :-)
 
Clodagh said:
No, as you cannot physically tire a puppy out without damaging it's future health, especially a breed or type that you like.
Sorry.
Click to expand...

^^this 100%! If you wait and trawl through preloved/pets4homes etc and try places like Large Breed Dog Rescue then you will eventually come across one that suits. It took me a couple of months to find one that was perfect for me (2yr old DDBxEnglish mastiff) and I had travel from Cheshire to London to collect him but had him a few years now and he was definitely worth it. I didn't even consider getting a puppy, who has the time for all that anyway and the house training dear god no its bad enough when my son sprays around the loo never mind a puppy peeing on the carpet haha
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top