Two dogs home alone?

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Parkranger

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Myself and OH both work full time and had written off the idea of dogs.

A few people have suggested that we get two so that during the day they can keep each other company - they'd have the run of the house and a safe and secure garden and walks morning and evening.

What breeds would settle in an environment like this and does anyone think it would be a bad idea?

Have had experience with dogs (parents used to breed great danes) but I'd love to hear honest advice!
 
I'm a lab lover, they are canny and steady and would probably suit in fine with what you are suggesting, we also have a spaniel but they can be hyper! Only thing about labs is they can chew - and may do so if left alone for a while!
 
I have a lurcher and a greyhound, and when I actually have a job they do stay at home very happily when I am at work. In fact every rescue greyhound which I have had has been OK with being left
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People will possibly say that it is unkind to leave them whilst you are at work, but I have worked for 20 years now
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and have had dogs all that time, and I have never had problems with any of my dogs being distressed or bothered in any way.
 
We only have a 3 bed terrace though and our garden is probably only 40 x 20.

I'd love a couple of greyhounds but we've put them off until we have a bigger home....
 
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Lurchers are fab- the fastest couch potato known to man!

I love mine!

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Mine was so lazy even when I got home she would still stay in bed!!! The only time she let of any steam was in the fields!!
 
Any ideas for smaller dogs? I love jack russells but I know that one would be bad and two would chew the house to bigs! Saw two cocker spaniels for sale the other day, sister and brother.....
 
Whippets? I had two before I went onto rescue greyhounds, they are fiesty tough little things but also do the couch potato bit like lurchers and greyhounds
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They do like to burrow under warm things though, so if you leave the bedroom door open you will find them under the duvet when you get home
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ahhhh - maybe whippets could be the way forward? Will chat to OH.

He might want to wait until the extension has been done as I guess dogs and building don't mix!
 
we have a little border terrier and a rodesian ridgeback and they are left in a kennel most days from 8 untill about 3 and seem fine with it, i think having company does help them settle!

i highly recommend a little terrier - they are fantastic and we never had trouble with chewing etc.

in our last house the terrier stayed in on his own during the day, but was limited to the kitchen.
 
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Any ideas for smaller dogs? I love jack russells but I know that one would be bad and two would chew the house to bigs! Saw two cocker spaniels for sale the other day, sister and brother.....

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I've got a single Jack Russell and we are out all day at work, she is fine, she has a seat by the window and just seems to be people watching when I go home. She did chew a bit when we first got her but stopped after about 3 months. Then we just throw a ball for her in the garden when we get home so she can let of steam.
 
i'd think you'd be mad to go for either JRT or beagles,they are def not the sort of dogs to be left 'home alone' all day,seen it with so many of my clients and they hadn't a house left at the end of the day hence me being called in (dog walker/trainer)!!!!

greyhounds are actually couch potatoes too and could actually do with just one walk a day and they are always needing good homes, smaller breeds if thats what your ideally wanting i'd recommend: Cairn terrier,italian greyhound,basset hound.
 
Get British Bull Dogs, mine lives in bed and I work, although Mum pops in to take him for jaunts in the car etc so not totally alone.
 
Glad you've posted this thread. Tom and I really want a pair of dogs when we buy a house next year. Again we would both be working full time although I would hope that one of us might be able to pop home at lunch to check on them but this can be no way guaranteed.

We really like big dogs and would ideally love a Newfoundland and a St Bernard because of their gentle natures and fabulous characters. I know these dogs love companionship - would they be okay to leave? Also do people who leave their dogs at home leave a litter tray?

I know it is far from ideal but they would get training, the proper diet, correct walks at least twice a day, daily grooming and lots of fuss!
 
Wow, you must have a massive house for two dogs that size. We had a St Bernard and a lab as kids and the Bernie was lovely but mum couldn't cope with the slobbers and he didn't really like to be left. One day when mum was at work the post van arrived and the bernie jumped in and wouldn't get out so the postie had to finish his round with this huge dog in the seat, and then deliver him back home.
 
LOL - the mind does indeed boggle but 8 hours is a long time to be sat with your legs crossed
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We don't have a house yet - I graduate next summer so we'll be starting our search in the spring time with the aim of completing during the summer holidays. It's hardly going to be a mansion - rather cosy I think! I don't mind being cheek to jowl (quite leterally) with slobbery dogs but do they need a minimum space? I assume they don't need loads of room as some people keep them in kennels which seem rather small to me!! However upstairs would be out of bounds - I do have some standards of hygiene. I would be looking for a decent size two up two down with a utility room / large dining room to accomodate baskets.
 
To be honest and I don't want to dampen your enthusiasm but we had a big house with land, stables, lake all that cr@p and it still didn't seem big enough, these dogs need to roam, and no matter how much love you have atm, living in a small space with a big wet, slobbery dog, you will end up hating him / her. Every night mum was washing the walls, floors, curtains etc. It wasn't funny and we voved never to have another.
 
Yes, I appreciate what you are saying and I know that Newfoundlands drool just the same. Was it the drooling rather than the space that was the main issue? There are many dog breeds we love and would consider. I was just so struck by the temperament of these dogs. But we love lurchers. Tom had an alsation and these are very close to my heart, too - but also both big dogs.
 
It kind of went hand in hand in that the smaller the room the more you couldn't escape the drool. It sounds like it was pouring from him and he was a lovely dog but we just didn't appreciate how much mess he made. He was actually a rescue case in a last chance home, he was previously owned by a vicar whose wife wouldn't allow him in the house because of the mess and he lived in a garage for the first four years of his life. The comfort we had was that we made sure the last four years of his life were really good.
 
Whippet x greyhound, lurcher, whippets or older rescue cavi's....they are pretty much peace it's self as a small breed, lovely little dogs...but they snore pretty loud
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And they do have short lives. Another dilemma is that we really want to take dogs from rescue shelters. I understand that some people 'need' pedigrees for showing or whatever but it just saddens me to see so many puppies for sale when adults dogs are homeless. But of course choosing from a rescue centre means that we can't be too choosey. Always plenty of unwanted alsations and lurchers though 've noticed!
 
TBH rescue homes are crying out for adopters and it might just be better to go with an open mind and see what you will fall in love with, you might have two dogs that have been brought in together and want to stay together. Good luck i'm sure whoever you choose will be very lucky.

Yes St B's only live to about 8 cos of the strain on their heart.
 
I agree. And rescue homes also match up suitable dogs to suitable homes so you can hope for the best result all round.

Thanks for the advice... I'm sure I'll be here for lots more when I get to that point
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We have a border terrier and a GSP and a 3 bed terrace!!! They do stay at home all day on their own but only about twice a week. Star (the GSP) used to be an absolute nightmare if you left her AT ALL on her own, but now she has Alfie hse is fine.
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We've been moving the furnature round in the front bedroom so she lays in the window sill in the sun all day if we are there or not!!
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I think once they are settled they cope better than people think on there own.... as long as they get good walks and lots of attention I don't really see why it is a problem... Although it would be hard work with puppies!!!!
 
Hi there

I have four dogs home alone during the day, two jack russells and two dalamations. I spend my days at the local lunatic asylum (due to the dogs) - only kidding.

I used to feel guilty about leaving them for long periods until I spent a very rare day at home "all day". The little swines slept all day and then drove me bonkers all evening.

I wouldnt be without them though for all the tea in china as mad as they are I love them all dearly.

I wouldnt leave one dog on its own all day though!
 
Me and the OH work full time and we have always kept two dogs. The dogs go for a good run morning and evening. They seem happy enough with this. I've got a 14 month old Staff and a 12 year old Boxer x. Both are breeds that people say you should not leave alone. But I've never had any problems...I've always kept a bitch and a dog.

I don't think they mind being left, as they sleep for most of the day and only ocasionally have a daft half hour. Even at the weekend when we're both home the dogs lie around sleeping a lot of the time. They are used to their routine and have never barked and upset the neighbours or been destructive in the house.
 
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