How do you lot organise your life around your dogs?

Natch

Natch

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Just a question really to see how can you (read I,) keep a dog when I assume a lot of you are of working age?

Do you work from home? In a job you can take your dog to? Do you have friendly neighbours who will take or walk your dog while you are at work? Do they go to day kennels somewhere?

Can you tell I'd love to have a dog??

:D
 
I had the little dog for just a week (was looking after her), only.

But she came to work with me, and sat by my desk :D It was fabulous.

She and I could go for a wonderful walk at lunch time in local park land.


Friends who have dogs and work full time have dog walkers.
 
Right now the puppy gets a walk in the morning, both get a walk at lunch time with my mum and myself then they get another one in the evening but when I move out it will be the same but with a dog walker at lunch time.
 
I work mornings only and before I go out I take Danny for a nice long walk so he sleeps for most of the time I'm gone. But if I have to, my boss is nice enough to let me take him to work (though that's rather rare). If I was forced to work full time I'd end up coming home at lunch and taking him for a walk.
 
During term time when I am at work, I get up at 5.45am to take Purdey for a good 45min walk before going to horse (she comes with me to do that) then home for breakfast. She goes in her kennel at 8am when we go to work then either me or hubby pop home at lunchtime to let her out in the garden for 20mins. I get home at 5pm most days so then she gets another walk then. I have weds pm off (well work at home) and OH gets fri pm off.
So for 3 days a week she is in her kennel from 8am - 5pm except for 20 mins at lunchtime but she is perfectly happy and she is more than happy to skip back into her kennel everyday.
 
Mine have a stretch in the mornings when I'm seeing to the ponies and then the dog walker arrives at half eleven for an hours run and then another stretch in the evening.

My older dog is pooped with all this though and needed 12 hours sleep last night to recover. At six am this morning he went for a wee and then straight back to bed. I haven't yet worked out how to do this cos he refuses to be left behind but can't handle too much exercise.
 
At the moment I'm on nights so I get up, walk them, eat, then leave.
When I'm on a nine to five I'll do it either before or after work.
When I'm early I walk them when I come home.
They're out most of the time either in the same big pen now that B has been neutered or in pens next to one another with roof on if the weather is **** so no worries about chewing the house up or toilets :p
There is maybe one day a week when neither of us can get them out (Mum does it when I can't) and they get a hoon in the field AM and PM and a nice big bone each but that's once a fortnight at the most and they get plenty of exercise either side of that day.
Yesterday was one of those days, I think Mum had them out very early in the morning, big bone to keep them busy then a hoon in the field and I brought them in with me overnight.

We've always kept our dogs like that and they've always been fit, healthy and happy, even the ones that lived alone. Our last bitch was walked by anyone and everyone if me and my mum were busy :p . They had a better life than being stuck in a kennel block, that's for sure!!!

Also training club once if not twice a week, floodlit in winter, that knackers them :p
 
I'm a student so two/three days a week in term time she's left for a maximum of four hours while I commute to uni for lectures. I only take jobs that are evenings and weekends - my OH works 8.30-6.00 so when I'm at work he's always home, or there's only a very short overlap between me leaving and him coming in. Between us she gets four good walks a day.

In order to leave her happily she has to be absolutely knackered, so she comes to the yard with me and is tied up on a long line there while I muck out and then has a hoon in the spare field with toys, chucking balls etc. and then an hour's yomp cross country before we get home. She then stays in the most gigantic crate known to man because she can still be quite anxious and destructive if given free roam.

I've got two years left in which to completely conquer the anxiety issues before I have to get a 'proper' job, at which point I will hire a dog walker or look into partial daycare if it's not possible for me to come back at lunchtime.

I should add that most dogs are not this demanding but it's still a lifechanging commitment! Kind of like having a toddler that you can legitimately shut in a cage every now and again. :p
 
I have greyhounds - nuff said really :D Seriously though, they are fabulous dogs to have if you work - they get a good run around the paddocks every morning, then they sleep all day whilst I am at work :) Then when I come home they have a good walk off the lead with plenty of running around (if they want :p If it is raining they tend to sulk and walk behind me :p) and another run in the paddocks before bedtime :)

I have often said on here that I used to worry about leaving them whilst I was at work, until I actually videoed them one day - camera was on 'long play' record, so I had several hours footage of sleeping greyhounds :D
 
Oh dear, I don't organise my life around the dogs at all, they fit in with me:(

If they are not on the yard with me they are in their bedroom which has free access to a 30' x 30' yard (my ex patio) they come and go as they please. I don't DO rushing home for the animals at all. If I do get called up to cover for anyone I am out by 6am and not home until 4pm, they've been fed, had a run and are plenty happy.
 
I take mine for a 2 hour run in the morning, then they're left for 5 hours while I go to work (sofa time!)

Then at 4.00pm, either another 2 hour walk or out with the bike followed by a mooch in the horses field for an hour or so if I ride.

I don't have anyone to walk them for me so prob go a bit overboard as a result :o
 
I have a JRT and my OH has two labradors.

My JRT comes to work with me, she sits in the office in the corner in her basket, and when we go out on site, she has a cage in the back of the car.

My OH owns his own business, and his labs go to work with him (and his two parents labs are also there!!) the 20+ guys that work for him know that they are below the dogs in the pecking order!

The girls come everywhere with us - if we are going shopping etc, unless it is a hot day, they will ride in the car. If it is hot then they go to OH's parents to 'dog sit' - they are rarely left alone at home (although have no issues at all when they are).

We even bought a house in Devon so that the dogs can come on holiday with us at all times, and we do not have to worry about finding dog friendly hotels etc!

I travel a lot for work, and when I go away I do have to track down dog friendly places that I can take my JRT to - most places are happy to have a small dog though.
 
I'm lucky enough to live very near to where I work (2 mins drive), so going home at lunchtime is no problem.
Equally, when we got puppy, I took afternoons off for about 2 weeks, and my housemate was always at home so for the first six weeks when bladder control was uncertain, there was always someone to attend!
He spends up to 4 hours in his crate before being let out, with walks am and pm, and free play at lunch time (mostly sock stealing!), but this was only when I felt he was able to go that long before needing a comfort break and he was regarding the crate as his bedroom.
I felt like a total s**t today because it was nearly 5 hours before I got back but there was a lot of yawning and after 30 minutes of mucking about with a squeaker he's crashed out on the sofa. I don't think he really misses me when I'm not there, but if the sofa were to get stolen- oh dear!
 
Bah, think I've got it pretty easy :) I mostly do lunchtime pub shifts which are DEAD so mutt come to work with me and snoozes/hunts around for bar snacks on the floor.
Other than that work from home so really its quite easy!
Uni is only half days so I'll either bring him with and walk him either side of lectures or leave him at home which isn't ideal, no one else knows how to look after him!
 
Live and work on the same site and I come home at lunch so she gets out then. Or if I'm at uni my dad will pop up (also works on site). Although if no one is at home I bully one of the students into walking her. :D
 
Because my work and business are all dog based our dogs are part of that, I work 2 night a week and take my rotti and akita into work (vet hospital) and OH has a dog walking business and we also board dogs so there is someone home or at least we are in and out all day long, OH spends his day basically exercising the dogs he walks, the dogs we board and our dogs, I sometimes join him on his dog walks but always join him walking our dogs or the dogs we board unless im sleeping off the night shift.

Even when he worked shifts and me full time there was mostly always someone home, I would not care I have dogs that would and have happily slept the day away.
 
They either come with us or if they can't he will go to his sitters house for the day (but i can't plan to do much with him the day after because he is usually knackered :D)

He will come to work with me if it is an office day or he will go with my husband if its an office day for him.

Otherwise he will be at home in his crate but for no more than 4 hours usually.
 
I run my own business so our dog Dougal comes to my office with me some days. OH works from home so Dougal sometimes stays at home with him. OH's business is a home-from-home dog boarding service, so if we have to go away without Dougal (which is quite rare) one of our 'host families' looks after him.
 
I wouldn't worry too much they adjust really well.
We have two and their routine has been the same since they were pups (aged 8 and 10 now) - my parents leave around 7.30am each morning and get home around 4.30pm.
The dogs have a walk before they leave and a walk when they arrive home. Now I'm home from uni I am here most of the afternoon after I've been with the horses and they tend to have long bursts of sleep - short bursts of play together and so on!
I think because they have each other they are very happy with the arrangement and its never been a problem.
Obviously when they are poorly my parents tend to come home at lunchtime to check them or take a days holiday to look after them.
Overall they seem fine with being left and as they get older, the more sleep they're getting!!
K x
 
6am morning walkies

breakfast then i go work.... next walk 1pm (sort horse)... 4pm walk.

something like that... at a weekend same again :/
 
Betsy has adapted very well, I work 8 - 4 on between 3 and 5 days a week, OH works shifts that vary week to week. The past couple of weeks OH has been on nights, so I didnt get to see him much but B loved the extra attention!

On days that we will both be out all day I come home for my lunch break for toilet trips / play time so she is not left more than 4 hours, Although last week I had a nasty accident at work and I was unable to drive and couldnt get back to let B out at lunch... I was worried sick about her but when I got home a couple of hours later she just gave me a dirty look for waking her up!

As long as she has been runs before and after work she is fine for the day, but with her being a baby still i like to get back to her!
 
We have two dogs. my OH works 4 days on 4 doys off so some weeks he may be off 4 days durng the week. one of my daughters is still at home and works part tme so she is around some of the time. I work fulltime and if its a day when everyone s at work all day I come home at lunchtime. I walk the dog before and after work. if they're lucky my OH or daughter might walk them
 
When I got Quail she originally came with me to the office & slept undder my desk bar potty breaks. Till she started her seasons then left at home. Which is only 2mins away so I would nip back at coffe breaks at 11 & 3 & at lunch to let her out. I use to ask my dad to take her out but she will not toilet for him. Even if I have to be away all day she will not go for him & waits for me to return & take her out????
Now she comes to work with me on the yard & lets herself in & out of the car as she pleases! Usually she will sleep most of the day in the car! Though the door is wide open for her to get in & out!

My old dog stays with my Dad who is at home all day retired. Poor old girl gets dragged out every hour when all she wants is to sleep sunbathing!

H has just got a new addition & I am determined it is to be his dog! So he is having to do all the work. Except when he is at work I look after her. He works 12 hour shifts 6till 6 be it days or night. But is on the 4 days on 4 days off 4 night on & 4 off. Though has a blank week a month!! & it's not safe to leave it with Dad (he has no clue really about dogs!)
So if he is working days pup comes in back of my truck & I let it out for potty breaks play at lunch. Then back to him when finished work & if he is on nights then I have it. Till she is older & toilet/house trained!

Though my older girls are really good & the odd times when they have ben left for a day there are no accidents or destroyed things in the house & they are taken straight out before doing anything else!

Dogs only know what you teach them.
 
I get up at 6.30 and walk Freddie for an hour. Leave the house at 8.30 for work. OH is home at 4 and walks him for an hour then. He also gets another 20 min run around 8pm and then a wee last thing. He also comes to the yard with me 2-3 times per week.

I often work from home one day a week. I don't particularly like the fact he is on his own for that long - tbh though, I think I worry more than he does as he just sleeps all day!

If we want to go out in the evening or for the day at the weekend, our neighbours are normally happy to dogsit.
 
Get up at 6am they mooch around the fields/yard while i do the horses then go for a walk.
I go to work at 7.30am.
They get taken out throughout the day by my nan/grandad who live in our annex.
I get home about 4.30pm they mooch around yard while I do horses.
Dinner time is between 5.30 - 6pm.
Evening walkies is 7.30pm
Then bedtime at 9pm ( the sleep outside in a kennel and run!)
 
My routine has been completely screwed up by the current refusal of younger staffie to got out on walks (he has elbow displaysia). It was - walk first thimg for 30 mins, dog walker in 3 days a week to walk for an hour, and stables in the evening, which means a hoon with me over the fields for 20 mins and then keeping me company when finishing off my horse. I do work from home but go out a lot seeing clients and 1 day in the office, so do pay a "dog sitter" to keep my 2 company if I am going to be home late. Now I have to get in the car, drive somewhere for a 15 minute walk as Blaze can be conned into doing that - and repeat later as well!

Good news is that injections and vet feed seem to be making a difference at last and his tolerance to exercise and lameness seem to be improving.
 
all 10 of ours live in kennels behind our house, bar my patterdale X, and they are all friendly happy healthy working dogs.
at the moment they are spending all day chasing pheasants, which to be honest, it pretty much what any spaniel wants to do, but in the spring/summer, when the human workload is in full force they are happy to have a run in the morning and a long run in the evening.
i think alot of it is how you bring them up. ive never had a problem dog thats lived inside, as far as attention seeking or barking goes, so id put that down to the way ive taught them.
 
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