Dogs and working full time

[Archangel]

Help please! How do all you full time workers cope with having a dog?
Reason for asking is 4 giant paws have crossed my path looking for a home. I would take him like a shot but work in an office full time. Leaving him home all day is not an option so he would come to work with me and use car as a mobile kennel (he would be able to see me as car right up to patio doors).
I am on a bridlepath so trolling out at lunchtime would not be a problem.
If it was yet another horse

I could cope as it would just be one more in the system, but I last had a dog 16 years ago so it would be a huge (but very welcome) step for me.
I do not have anyone I could call on to help on a regular basis.
Want to do the best for the dog really, he has already had an unfortunate start, don't want to add to his problems.
Advice please, he has until Monday.

 

[Skhosu]

You can't keep the dog in the car, its not fair on him. Why not put a kennel out on the patio?

 

[HelsB]

Cars are like greenhouses in summer! A kennel in the shade ??

 

[SunshineTallulah]

As long as car has enough room, with water, ventilation and the woofer gets regular breaks for the loo and a leg stretch that would be ok.

Mobile dog trainers travel from venue to venue with dogs in their cars all day, as do vets, farriers, saddlers etc etc.

I don't see it as a prob, esp if you exercise him/her prior to you heading to work.

Better than being stuck in a kitchen all day with no company. Most dogs spend the day snoozing anyhows.

 

[AmyMay]

I am not sure that you are actually allowed to keep a dog all day in a car - however well ventillated etc. it is.

Sounds like this may be one to pass on.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Is he healthy and reasonably happy? Can you make the difficult decision if it doesn't work out?
If your answers is yes, and it's okay with the law, then I'd say : get a kennel or, if you would be okay with leaving the boot cover open, get the good sort of sun shield (screens) for your car windows (at least for the back and all the side windows), and give it a chance and see how it works out. Then at least you'll know you gave him a chance.

On the other hand, if he hadn't had an unfortunate start, and if he hadn't had this timelimit, would you still really consider getting a dog like him?
Be very carefull with agreeing to something, only because you want to save him from euthanasia (I presume the "he has until monday" = euthanasia?).

Do what you feel is in his best interest, good luck and hugs what ever you choose, from Sweden.

 

[flyingfeet]

I cope by getting my parents to dogsit all day - is that an option???

 

[MagicMo]

We do keep dogs even though we work full time, we thought about it for a long time before we decided to do it. In the end we decided that, although our situation was not ideal, we still provide a much better home than many dogs will ever get.

I was very careful to pick dogs who were not too high energy, I wouldn't have got a puppy either, we always have adult rescues.

They have a long walk in the morning and then are happy to snooze all day - whether we are there or not. They have free run of the downstairs of the house and the garden. They then have a long walk in the evening.

They get a lot of exercise, attention and training and are very chilled dogs.

We also always have at least 2 dogs as I do feel they need some company during the day.

So in your situation I would say that it depends entirely on the temperament of the dog you are considering, also as the others have said I would be very concerned about leaving it in a car all day especially in the summer.

 

[GinaB]

[ QUOTE ]
As long as car has enough room, with water, ventilation and the woofer gets regular breaks for the loo and a leg stretch that would be ok.

Mobile dog trainers travel from venue to venue with dogs in their cars all day, as do vets, farriers, saddlers etc etc.

I don't see it as a prob, esp if you exercise him/her prior to you heading to work.

Better than being stuck in a kitchen all day with no company. Most dogs spend the day snoozing anyhows.

[/ QUOTE ]

No, no, no! You cannot keep a dog in any car for any length of time! Have you ever tried getting into a car that's been sitting in the sun for half an hour? It's like an oven and the poor dog will cook. More dogs die in this way than you could imagine.

 

[LynneB]

I have taken my dog to work and left him in the car for the day HOWEVER, he was so stressed at home it was unbearable for him. I only took him as he had a slot outside the postal bay (inside the building, under cover and cool) where the building's post guy and other visitors would say hi to him all day long. When not holding audience he lay on his back and slept like a baby. He had never been happier. I also saw him for breaks and lunchtime for walks. He relaxed so much it was a different dog. However, this only last two months in cool months from Oct to Dec until I decided to work from home. I would never keep my dogs in a car in the sun same as I would never put them in an oven!

If you could keep all doors and windows open and give him shade and he can see you I see no harm, but if he can come right up to the patio doors, can't he come in to the office in his kennel instead?

 

[Archangel]

Thank you everyone, very helpful replies.

I have been agonising over this dog all week, yes, he is a rescue, he is in a pound and his time is up Monday. I initially said a very firm no but I can't get the poor boy out of my mind.

The car situation is difficult to describe (and I don't think I did it very well!). He would not be in the car and left unsupervised - the office is rural and the car is right up to my office (which has double patio glass doors) so I am not more than 10ft away.

There are plenty of trees so it is shady (the conkers dent the car roof in the winter!), windows can be left completely down and the back open with no problem. In fact I was more worried about the winter and him getting cold!

In the past we have had people bring their dogs in and they tended to snooze in the car in the morning and then slither into the office in the afternoon (the dogs that is) which is what I would eventually hope to happen in my case.

I am still in a complete quandry with all my instincts saying no. Thanks once again for your help, I am a bit of a soft touch (which is how I got so many horses) but am trying not to let my heart rule my head.
I know healthy dogs are put down all the time in pounds but this one...

 

[Archangel]

Thanks Breezemum, there is the same sort of set up here. Sadly I don't think he could come in all the time as we have one person with asthma.
----------------------------------------------------
Please everyone, don't think I am going to shut a dog in a car with the windows up - never never never, my fault for not explaining it well enough. Sorry for confusion.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Well, with that car-situation, and that you know that there's healthy dogs put down and you still can resist going there scooping them up by the dozen, but you just can't get this dog off your mind... I can't tell you what you should do, but if it had been me, I would have picked him up.

If you do get him and the person with asthma gets problems, try giving him a shower once a week.

from Sweden.

 

[Archangel]

Thank you.

 

[CAYLA]

My friend has a husky and a greyhound, and she takes them to her place of work every day she works in a vets, she has however got a van with a cage door, so she can leave main back door open all the time, they can stand up and walk around, and they have a Kong each, but to be honest, everytime I go up they are flat out asleep.
The van is parked at the back door of her work, so she can see them every time she walks past the door/corridor.
Her place of work is in the Country side, like your scenario, quiet, shaded location, so she takes them to the fields on a morning b4 they go back in the van, and again for an hour, sometimes longer at dinner time, then a long walk when she gets home, they are both pretty laid back dogs, and seem to like their routine.

The van has ventilation, and she does sometimes, bring them in the surgery during hot summer days, cages in vets are alot smaller than her van though, so she and the dogs prefer to stay in van, also more peacefull, from roudy dogs.

I think it really depends on the dog and the situation, alot of people take their dog to work, and they sit on the passanger seat all day.
Just a simialr scenario for u to go off.
On the other hand the dog could stress, bark and chew the car to pieces, hence why my friend has a van, all metal, non chew, not that hers have ever chewed

 

[fmay]

Good luck with whatever you decide. It doesn't sound as though you are going to be able to say no to him

and your work situation sounds a lot better than a lot of other people that keep dogs.

 

[angela_l_b]

I take my dog to work 2 days a week and either myself or my husband works from home the other 3 days. I've got a Freelander and can leave the back window down, also the sunroof and all the other windows, and in summer there's an underground carpark where it is always chilly - the car never gets too hot. Obviously she has loads of water, and she gets a pig's ear or something else to chew on (you can imagine how nice my car smells!). She is happier here than at home and this means she gets a good lunchtime walk as well as attention from all the smokers who go and see her! I can see her from my window and she sleeps all day except when someone goes in for a cuddle. I don't think it's any more cruel than being left in a cage or small room. Not sure I would do it every day but she seems relaxed knowing I am near. In winter you can get heat pads that you microwave, they stay warm for a few hours so if it's a really cold day she can curl up with that.

 

[Vicki1986]

This may sound obvious and you may have alrady considered it - but, have you asked your boss about any sort of solution? Some are surpingly open to it. My boss didnt have much choice (he's my Dad so able to be carefully persuaded), my dog sleeps all day in his bed in the corner off the office, with the occasional play or sit on someones lap if they need cheering up. He has most definately improved morale and stress levels in our office, (studies prove this does happen also) and even my Dad enjoys having him here - to say he is not a dog lover is mild. However my dog is very small (toy) and very well behaved so that makes it very easy to incorporate him into my working life.

 

[acegik]

Its not just about where you are going to keep him but how much of your life you are willing to give up .Things like going on holidays , socialising at weekends, day out shopping , all these have to be organised as well . H aving been sat in the car all day would you have time to spend with him in the evenings when its pouring with rain and he wants to go out . Lots to think about but good luck with your desision.

 

[Archangel]

I am pleased to say that the lovely dog was not PTS, I would have taken him to save him, but a space was found for him at a rescue that specialises in his breed and he is there awaiting a new home.

 

[samstar]

So glad he has a chance now of a new life.

 

[Wishful]

OH's dog is in the car a lot of the time, as is my OH!! Back windows have window socks in summer, dog moves straight into the sun when OH gets out of car. Lab cross lizard????? Definitely enjoys basking...

Apparently in winter he does a good job of keeping my OH's seat warm.