Reasonable circumstances for a dog?

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Trolt

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This is entirely hypothetical, as I don't currently have a dog. However, I'm desperate to have a dog, and think my circumstances are reaching a point where having a dog is feasible. Earlier today, my dad said to me that having a dog under these circumstances would be "cruel" ... so I thought I'd see if you lot think I have unreasonable circumstances? I know you won't be shy about it :p

I am currently working at a large Agricultural college, which has kennels. Staff are allowed their dogs with them in the animal classrooms, and the rest of the time, the dog can be in the college's kennels.

Staff can visit their dog in any of their 3 break times, and in between, the animal studies students interact with the dogs. The dogs get walked and cleaned out twice a day, by the students, and are used for grooming practice, vet checks and general animal handling within the animals lessons. Obviously, at these times, the students are being supervised by staff, and are only allowed to handle the animals when the staff feel they are competent enough. I've worked with these students, and they are fantastic with the animals, really careful and respect them, without allowing bad habits. They're all quite consistent in handling styles, because they're all taught the same.
(Every dog gets walked and cleaned out twice daily, then the handling/grooming etc is rotated, so the dogs aren't out all the time being handled, at the same time, they aren't stuck in a kennel all day either.)
I understand that not everyone would feel happy with this, but does it make it an unreasonable circumstance?

So if I had a dog, then it would come to work with me each morning. Some of the time, the dog would remain with me in class, and in other times it would be in individual large, spacious, kennels, but getting to interact with other dogs during supervised play times and dog walks.

My dad thinks this is cruel, disruptive for the dog who wouldn't be "settled" and not fair for the dog to be handled by so many different people. However, on the opposite hand, my dad doesn't think it's fair to get a dog and then work full time, as the dog gets no social interaction. :rolleyes: Can't win!

This is all hypothetical, seeing as whilst I live with my parents then I have to abide by their rules :rolleyes: but I just wandered if it was unreasonable to expect to have a dog under these circumstances? I'd be going for a small breed, and making sure I got them at the start of the summer holidays, so I had plenty to time to establish a bond before putting it into kennels.

I don't think the other dogs at college are poorly treated, and they look to have a fantastic time, which is why I'm really considering it ... but if these are "cruel" circumstances to have a dog (when they seem ideal to me), then I'm not sure I'll ever be in the right circumstances to be able to have a dog??

The only issue with it is, I'd really like a rescue dog, but I can see that it might not be fair to a rescue, to get it from kennels, and then put it in kennels daily? Although I'm sure it would work out its routine and settle eventually, I can see that might be more disruptive?

General hypothetical musings, that come with a cup of tea and a slice of pink cake!
 
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No not cruel - so long as you get the "right" sort of dog. You would also need a back-up plan, should it not work out.

I personally would rather cut my arms off than have the students at my uni handle my dog - but thats just me ;) and the dog has to suffer the ex instead!

Anyhoo, there is nothing wrong with the arrangement if the dog is happy with it - although it may have a very negative association with being in a kennel environment - so you could maybe consider taking him in there over the summer to get hi used to it.
 
That really isn't a cruel life for a dog IMO.
Sounds like quite a stimulating, interesting day for a dog.

All of our dogs have been kennelled during the day and it hasn't killed them yet. We had one female who used to get walked by loads of different people, she was 'everyone's dog' and she loved all the attention, she had a fan page on FB and loads of people sent cards when she died.
 
Sounds a wonderful life for a dog! All that attention and interaction with other dogs. If you have the whole summer to bond/get to know the dog it sounds ideal.
 
This sounds like quite a nice life for the right kind of dog tbh. I work in a rescue and would happily rehome you a nice, outgoing dog who hadn't been in kennels for long. TBH a lot of rescues have no negative association with kennels providing the rescue itself was a good one. A few of the staff members here have rescues from work and still bring them up during the day.

I wouldnt rehome a "long termer" to this kind of arrangement, but quite a few of my dogs would think this kind of home was fab! You will have to "vet" any potential dog quite carefully if you're going to allow students to handle them though - you'll need a nice straightforward, confident sort with no hangups.
 
Yep, i agree, it could be a great life, for the right sort of dog - a confident, friendly, well balanced, outgoing kind of dog i'd say would probably love it.
 
Sounds like any dog would have a fab time, mine usually has to beg attention off anyone passing or anyone he meets on a walk (spent about 10 minutes having a cuddle with the postman a few weeks back .. ) so to get lots of attention would be heaven for him!
 
Sounds a lot better than being left home alone all Dayton me. If you do this with the dog from day one it's routine will be quickly established and should settle into it easily.
 
I work at an agric college and my pooch goes into the kennels. I drop her off at 8 am and dont see her again untill 5pm. She LOVES it. She whines with excitement all the way to the kennels and pulls like a tank to get in.

When she first started there she was very scared of other dogs, no agression just very submissive. The staff helped me work through that, she was socialised in small groups at first until she felt comfy having playtime with the lot of them! She has loads of doggy pals now :)

I see her going for training sessions and walks and her tail is always wagging and according to the staff she is a joy to deal with and brilliant to train (Because she is always starved obviously!) They know not to let her off her lead.

She gets loads of attention from different people and she is expected to behave for them all. She is very easy for anyone to handle, I am just sad she will miss her 'school' while i am off on maternity.

ETA - I think B actually prefers sharing a kennel (she is so easy to fit in she shares with lots of different dogs and has the occasion day alone) so might be worth keeping that option open? I think havng a calm pal who knows the routine settles a younger dog :
She is a border terrier and he key to keeping her happy is mental stimulation not physical. She could run all day and never stop but after a day of 'school' she is pooped and happy.

So... obviously I don't think it is a cruel set up for a dog at all :p It is by far better than leaving the dog alone at home all day IMO, I am always close by if anything were to happen and I receive regular reports!
 
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Thank you all for your replies :)

I still need to persuade my parents (and then make sure the college has kennel space :p) but it's nice to know it wouldn't be unreasonable. In the mean time, I'll keep puppy dreaming ;)

Littlemisslauren - thank you! Really useful to hear it from that point of view.
 
As long as you have the right dog I don't think it's cruel. They get lots of interaction and stimulation, which is better then some dogs that are left at home for hours on end.
 
Whilst it sounds to be a near idyllic existence for a dog, on the surface, I suspect that it may not be quite the ideal. Firstly, and whilst I wouldn't actually allow others access to my dogs, I suspect that in the OP's case, before any others have any input into their animal, that they have a well balanced and positive relationship with the dog.

Few dogs manage the trick of serving two masters, and if the OP has asked the question on here, it's just possible that they don't actually have the confidence or experience to build up the necessary rapport with a dog, before allowing others to have an influence.

Again, it would also depend on the dog, and its outlook on life. Would the constant changes of influence unsettle the dog? There are certainly questions to be asked, and answered.

Trolt, I'm not condemning your ideas out of hand, but I am saying that you run the risk of ending up with a destabilised and confused and unhappy dog. Try it by all means, but be prepared to consider your father's thoughts, and also be prepared to change your approach.

Alec.
 
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No, I wouldn't. While I don't think its cruel, I don't think it would be helpful having the dog handled by different and changing people. All but one of my dogs came from rescues and being in that environment was extremely stressful, so I would never put them in kennels for any reason.
It would be better to use a dog walker and leave the dog at home, where it would have a stable environment and interaction and stimulation from one other person.
 
My Tia and Quila would love that! Jack is more of a one person dog so wouldnt enjoy it but he would tolerate it without getting stressed....odd dog loved his PAT work though!

It sounds much better than my dogs situation and they are all happy and healthy.
 
horserider said:
It would be better to use a dog walker and leave the dog at home, where it would have a stable environment and interaction and stimulation from one other person.
Click to expand...

I think that is quite a generalisation. My dog IS in the OPs situation, and thriving.

Staying at home with only a walk at lunchtime was NOT enough for her. We tried it for a long while and it wasn't enough stimulation for her, she got bored and ate the house.

IMO some dogs won't suit it. My mums dog is a big nervy wimp and I think she would find the situation too stressfull. The dogs at work are all very happy in their routine.

I do think it is important to have a bond with your dog before they go into a place like this though, to limit confusion.
 
I think it really depends on the dog and unfortunately you won't know whether it will suit your dog until you have your dog and by then it is too late. I do not think it cruel for the right dog but you are starting from the position of not knowing your dog.

On the other hand I applaud your decision to think about a rescue/pound dog and for many of them this would be a better option that the final trip to the vet.

I like Border Collies. My last one would have tolerated it well but I would not have coped at all with it. My current one would probably go into a melt down.
 
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