Could I rehome a dog?

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skewby

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At the risk of being fried alive...a friend is trying to persuade me that I could take on a dog (she knows it's a dream of mine). I have two cats, and work long, long hours. I leave the house at 7am and don't return until 6pm. Friend says that a small dog could use the (large) cat flap into secure garden.

I am aware also, that dog walkers exist, and could pay one to take dog out in the middle of the day. I am also on DIY livery so go to the yard every morning to muck out and turn out, and most evenings to ride, so some fresh air and exercise could be got then.

Please don't slate me - I have always thought that my lifestyle, and cats, prohibit me from having a dog. However my friend, who is an experienced dog owner herself, has made me rethink all that. Would appreciate all advice and thoughts. Thanks.
 
So, if you go to bed at mid-night and don't have a social life (or go shopping etc) the dog would have company six hours a day???

Not biting your head off really.
 
Well I have worked F/T and owned dogs for the past 20 years - although I have never worked as long hours as that I have to admit. At the moment I leave at 8.10am and get back at 4.50pm, and pop home in the middle of the day to let mine out.

Even though I am a strong believer that people who work F/T CAN have dogs, I would personally say that your hours are too long to leave a dog without company even if you do have someone to come along and walk him/her. Just my personal opinion though!
 
I work shifts and have a dog, but then again when I'm on day shifts 6am-6pm, dad has my dog.

Yes you could have a dog flap, but what happens if/when the neighbours complain about it barking?
 
Dogs don't train themselves (at least, not to behave the way humans want them to), it takes a great deal of time. Expecting the dog to exercise itself while you muck out in the morning, and ride in the evening, is fraught with problems - what if it is a nuisance or unsafe to let loose in the yard? What if it does a runner, or chases your horse (or someone else's horse, or the yard cat, or a squirrel...? Sure, when you've had the dog a few years, and have trained it, you can do this - well, perhaps. Some dogs never get to a point where they can be let out of the car and trusted to safely and politely amuse themselves until you're ready to get back in it.

Training a dog takes time, knowledge, commitment and consistency. I can't see how you expect to successfully train, exercise and play with a dog in the little spare time you have, and it's terribly unfair to leave it all day, cat flap or not. Bored and lonely dogs howl or bark, can be colossally destructive, because they are unhappy. Please wait until you have more time.
 
It really depends on the dog to be honest. Some dogs are fine with being left for long periods (think old dog whose owner has died/is sick/goes into home; and no-one wants the old dog because they generally prefer puppies).

Dogs are fairly adaptable however as has already been said, if you end up with the wrong dog for your circumstances, then you could have a lot of bother. The dog could be a neighbours nightmare if it barks all day long. It could also become bored and start to develop undesirable behaviour patterns.

A dog walker could help you a lot if you were to have her come and take the dog for a decent long walk every day. The dog would be with you when at your horse in the mornings, evenings and weekends. The dog would have the cat/dog flap so could relieve him/herself when necessary. So it is doable, but it is also a risk that the dog you choose may not settle in this environment.

I have 5 dogs and I am at home with them all the time; I have a farm, so my dogs are outside with me whenever I am outside, which is a lot in the nice weather ... but over the past week I have been inside a lot as we have had pretty big snowstorms. My dogs have a dog flap so they can come and go as they please 24/7. I have to say if I don't go outside, my dogs rarely bother either. They are just as happy to sleep all day as they are to be running around the farm all day.

Think very carefully about it and cover all eventualities. People on here are, rightly so, concerned for animal welfare, hence the reservedness. I think it could work, however I also can see it could be a disaster too if there is a mismatch.
 
I think maybe you could do it if you could get a dog sitter to come in for maybe an hour a day to walk the dog and have a little play with it.

Its not safe to let the dog out through the cat flap when you are not there.

And if i was you i wouldnt be thing small dog they tend to have the highest energy levels. how about a ex racer greyhound they need less exercise than most dogs and are usually quite happy to lay around with the tv or radio on for company?
 
If you get a dog flap and the dog has a warm bed, food, water and toys to play with I can't really see the problem to be honest. As long as you are prepared to play with it and take it for a walk it would be better off with you than in a kennel in a dogs home surely? It would be maybe worth thinking about getting two smaller dogs than one big one, but obviously that would incur twice the cost. At least then they could keep each other company. A dog flap (which we have for our dog) is a brilliant idea because they can let themselves out for toilet as well as for fresh air. It wouldn't be fair to get a puppy though if you are going to be out all day.
 
Here's another 'duck and cover' post and not something I would "recommend" as such, but the dog I grew up with, a GSD, spent up to 12 hours alone every day, outside, in a run with access to the garage, when I was at primary school.

She got walked first thing and late at night and when my mum went self-employed and I started high school she was alone for seven hours and spent the rest of her time with me.

My mum was a single parent and worked very hard and she did the best she could under the circumstances.

That dog was with us for 14 years (with her broken leg!)
She was happy, loved life and was sound until the day she was PTS, in body and very much in character.

She didn't like other dogs very much and she was completely devoted to us. I don't think anyone could say she would have had a better life in kennels.

Definitely something I would not suggest with a young dog...she was well into adulthood when this situation arose.
An older dog, one happy in its own company, or a smaller pair of younger dogs, may be the answer for you.
 
[ QUOTE ]
how about getting two !!

(runs and ducks for cover....!)

[/ QUOTE ]
How about, reducing the size of your signature?
 
I dont think this is really a question anyone else can answer apart from you.

Dogs are kept in all sorts of situations and all the ones ive known have coped perfectly well.

For example, we have 4 dogs- i appreciate they have each others company but my OH works 12 hour shifts and i am home (some days) all day, other days only for a few hours.

They have a huge double garage to themselves when we are not there full of toys, bones and there beds (obv, food and water) they never bark or make a nusience and at times have had to stay in there all day and its never caused us a problem- ever! My mums dog stays in the house as he cant be trusted to be allowed out the back without supervision as hes a lil sod but hes home, alone from 8am-5.30pm with no issues at all.

I take mine up the yard alot and they entertain themselves, me and OH take them out aswell even during the night at times but if there is one day when they cannot go out due to times etc then they play in the garden or just doze with us of an evening.

My dogs are happy, healthy and (seemingly) content.

I know people who have dogs that dont get taken out (for walks) for days on end and i cant say the dogs seem any worse for it personally- although they all have gardens so dogs arent confined to the house for example.

If you want a dog, can offer it happy, loving forever home then i dont see the issue really- and only you can answer those questions.
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