Dogs who arent allowed in the lounge

[Lipglosspukka]

A friend of mine wants to get a dog. She doesn't want a puppy. Quite happy with something a bit older.

She is however allergic to dogs. Not horrendously, but enough that she wouldn't want a dog in the main parts of the house. She wants to keep the dog in the kitchen with a dog flap allowing access to the garden. The dog would be able to see her pretty much all the time as she works from home (did pre pandemic too) and the lounge where she works is visible from the kitchen.

She would be able to do a decent walk in the morning, commit 30 minutes garden play time and training on her lunch break and then a walk after work too, albeit a shorter one.

She is concerned that a dog would be unhappy not being able to be sat at her feet all the time. Or that it would feel lonely.

Do you think it sounds like an okay set up?

 

[Equi]

Depends on the dog. My last dog would have been totally fine with this arrangement, he lived in the kitchen but it also had a lounge area that my dad used 100% of the time so he was never alone long but even if he was he didn’t mind and he was never a clingy dog so would happily go and do his own thing even when you were there. Half the time he wouldn’t even bother greeting you unless he thought there was something in it for him ?

 

[Havital]

Personally I think it sounds rather odd. Why would you want a pet you’re allergic to. Not only that but regardless of them only being in certain areas of the house their fur will eventually end up all over the house and allergies can worsen over time! Can I ask what breed dog they are wanting, as the amount of walking time you have mentioned is not that long. I’d tell her to seriously reconsider as what she wants and what a dog deserves are two different things.

 

[HeyMich]

Our dogs used to live in the outhouse and not ever come into the house. They were happy and healthy. You'd be surprised how many dogs live like this and aren't glued to their owners 24hrs a day.

 

[Lipglosspukka]

I'm not sure I was clear on the walking time.

An hour AM
Half hour play and training lunch
45 mins in evening.

 

[TheOldTrout]

I'm also confused as to why she wants a dog if she's allergic to them.
Does she live alone? Wondering if there are other family members who could also walk the dog but who might also disrupt the routine of the dog living in the kitchen and garden. How big are the kitchen and garden?

 

[AmyMay]

Why have a dog (as a pet) if it can’t be with you? Bizarre.

 

[Arzada]

Why does she want a dog? And what's in it for the dog?

 

[AmyMay]

My brother is allergic to cats. They have a cat, and......

..... he’s no longer allergic.

Our bodies have an amazing way of adjusting.

 

[CorvusCorax]

I don't see a problem TBH.
I love my dogs but they're not attached to me all day. Some dogs live out/in kennels part or full time.

I've been allergic to every dog that's come into my house but my body soon adjusts.

Hair does get everywhere though. I've found dog hair in the fridge and he's definitely not been in there.

I think the exercise sounds fine. Dogs don't all actually need five hours a day yomping, mental stimulation is more important.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

I cant get my head around why she actually wants a dog?

 

[Lipglosspukka]

She wants a dog as a walking partner
She wants to be able to take it on camping holidays
She wants to do some low level obedience/agility etc.

 

[alibali]

Some dogs might be ok with it particularly if that's all they've ever known. However all my dogs have preferred to be in the same room as me. When I accidentally shut my dog out of the room the other night he didn't make a fuss but when I opened the door 90 minutes later I found him lying right outside and he had brought all his toys and laid them at the door as well. I think he was trying to bribe me to let him in ? I couldn't imagine either of us being happy with the arrangement you describe. We enjoy each others company too much.

 

[Rowreach]

My dogs stay in the kitchen. This generally means I do too. I don’t like dogs on my bed (couldn’t care less what anyone else does) and I’d rather they didn’t shed hair all over my sitting room.

I don’t think this makes me an appalling dog owner, and they seem quite content ?

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

OK point one - a walking partner seems great.

Point two - take it on camping holidays, surely then the dog will be all over every inch of the camping arrangement she uses so I would think not do-able with a dog allergy, if she cant be in that close proximity at home it would be even worse camping?

Point three - yes I can understand that used to do it myself with my collies and it is a great way of bonding with your dog/s, but even they were very much house dogs.

 

[Arzada]

She wants to be able to take it on camping holidays

A tent each?!

 

[Sandstone1]

My dogs are part of the family. Cant see the point of having a dog and excluding it from family life.

 

[CorvusCorax]

She wants a dog as a walking partner
She wants to be able to take it on camping holidays
She wants to do some low level obedience/agility etc.

Sounds fine and infinitely better than being shut in a rescue kennel for most of the day with other dogs on either side barking constantly.
I live in a rental property and even when I was at home, the dogs weren't in bedrooms. Their heads don't seem to have fallen off and they have done quite well in competitions despite me not tripping over them 24/7

Like I say, it's highly likely that her body will adapt anyway.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Do people with kids, keep them with them 24/7? They never spend any time alone in their rooms? Off doing classes or hobbies? Being babysat? Co-dependecy isn't healthy in any species IMO.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

I dont think it is letting the dog sit at your feet all day so much, that seems a bit of an exaggeration of what regime some of us are more happy with..

We all have different house rules for our dogs thats for sure. Mine for instance are not allowed upstairs so that is them left on their own on the ground floor the whole night and of course they are quite happy with that. And of if they aren't outside with us during the day as they almost always are, purely because they enjoy being with whoever is outside be it at the house or in the fields or yard. Then indoors they pick and choose which room and which family member they chill out with, that is their choice and seems to work for the family and the dogs too.

I guess if the person is getting an adult rescue dog one would like to think it will probably be happy with pretty much any set up if it is introduced in the right way, there again it might be highly distressed not to be allowed free access to its new owner. Each to their own.

 

[Sandstone1]

Do people with kids, keep them with them 24/7? They never spend any time alone in their rooms? Off doing classes or hobbies? Being babysat? Co-dependecy isn't healthy in any species IMO.

Not quite the same thing is it? Kids grow up, move out, go to uni and get married. Unlikely to happen with dogs! No one is saying a dog has to be with you 24/7 but if you have a dog as a companion animal which most of us do it seems strange to keep it away from you for most of the time. Yes I know working dogs are different but we are talking pets here.

 

[SusieT]

Where will she put it on camping holidays if she is allergic?

 

[CorvusCorax]

My working dogs are pets too and they are in the house in the evenings, just not in every room. Just because someone doesn't keep their dogs in exactly the same way as someone else, doesn't mean they are automatically wrong, same as horses and kids.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Not quite the same thing is it? Kids grow up, move out, go to uni and get married. Unlikely to happen with dogs! No one is saying a dog has to be with you 24/7 but if you have a dog as a companion animal which most of us do it seems strange to keep it away from you for most of the time. Yes I know working dogs are different but we are talking pets here.

Yes and no. Puppies are very dependent, then you wean that off and eventually a well rounded dog can learn that it's OK to spend time either alone or apart from a human for a while and not crumble.
At risk of repeating myself, it may be a moot point, her body may adapt as mine has.

 

[SOS]

I think it’s fine... but if she’s that allergic I’d strongly advise against getting a dog. Remember there’s no such thing as hypoallergenic dogs and whilst some allergies can improve with exposure, some can worsen. It will be the dog that has to deal with another upheaval if it all goes wrong.

As for the actual situation...

Most people with dogs work full time and they get a walk AM & PM and are alone all day. It’s not ideal but that’s the reality for most dogs in the UK. Ideally they should have interaction mid way through this and must be allowed toilet breaks but not all do. I see no different with your friends regime. I know lots of dogs not allowed in the lounge, particularly if it’s carpeted! But most of those people have a kitchen that’s the heart of the home.

My dog is extremely lucky as she comes to work with me. But she is crate trained and still spends periods of time alone and away from people. On quiet days, when given a choice, she still would rather be sleeping in her crate 80% of the time. But that’s typical to her breed (whippet), that as long as they have a run they can settle.

Other dogs, particularly working lines or high energy breeds or intelligent breeds, need more than just walks but mental interaction. Your friend would have to provide this in the dogs allocated times as well as puzzle feeders and various games at home, if the dog is that way inclined.

What’s your opinion OP? If I was your friend and found this thread I’d find it a little off.

 

[AmyMay]

Deleted because I can’t be arsed.

 

[Tinkerbee]

Sounds find to me depending on the dog and specific garden/yard situation. Growing up all our dogs were "outside dogs" and not allowed inside anywhere never mind the living room!

That said my friends OH is (was?) allergic to dogs, took tablets anytime they were at ours, often needed inhaler ?, but they have a dog of their own now (and not a poodle type) so they seem to have adapted to constant exposure.

 

[SadKen]

It's a bit weird to me,as I want to be with my boys as much as possible except at nighr. They guard and get too hot so I can't sleep, which means they sleep downstairs. They will spend time alone if I'm out or on important calls but we prefer to be together (no touching tho,the older boy doesn't like hugs).

Having said that it would be better than kennels and just because I don't do it that way doesn't make it wrong.

 

[milliepops]

Interesting thread. I would love a dog. Have always wanted one. I Am also allergic so would prefer to keep some rooms dog-free just so if I'm having a bad day there's somewhere to retreat to.

I'm allergic to horses too but do get a degree of tolerance to my own, still have to be mindful of it even with all the medication etc.

I know OH wants another dog. His last one lived in a kennel in a shed adjacent to the front door and seemed content with the arrangement, she went to work with him all day then in her own space overnight. If we get our own place I think I'd be OK with an indoor dog so long as it wasn't allowed everywhere.. Good to hear others manage this.

 

[Goldenstar]

She wants a dog as a walking partner
She wants to be able to take it on camping holidays
She wants to do some low level obedience/agility etc.

What on earth is she going to with the dog on a camping holiday .
it’s very cosy in a tent with a dog .
I can‘t imagine no possible way I would keep one dog like dogs are sociable they need company not to shut away , horrible idea .