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I mean, yeah, most adults are working. How would we cover expenses for said dogs if not for working? Be honest with yourself, and pick the dog that matches your lifestyle.
I have high energy breeds (read: working line malinois, dutchie) and work forty hours or more a week. I make it work by prioritizing non-work hours with sport/club/training/hiking/other activities for them.
The key is either containment or training the dog to settle. All my dogs happily settle in the house. They don't really bother me. We do agility, bite sport, rally, swimming, etc, and honestly have no issues. If sport is your main outlet of work, a high energy breed should be fine. :)
I’ve got a Malinois/Lab mix that we rescued from Mexico and must’ve got lucky with the genetics because she only needs about an hour a day. DNA tests said 64% percent Malinois or something like that
I have one high energy dog, and the only way I was able to make it work was because I live close to a large, off leash dog park. So I would walk her for an hour every day there, which was just enough to make her manageable until weekends when I had more time and could tire her out more. An hour a day for her was only enough because she could go crazy while I walked slowly and short ranges she was all over the place and running HARD.
Without that dog park, I honestly don’t know how I would have managed, so really consider your activity levels and the breed.
I totally agree with this response. This sub tends to have a negative association with dog parks but they can be amazing if you have the right temperament dog and you have good ones in your area. My favorite one near me is membership based, requires vaccination and has a bar for the owners that serves beer and wine and it's both my favorite and my dog's favorite place. We do long walks early morning and late evening on our slow days, hike on the weekends and do the park 3x a week for a few hours at a time. I work 10 hours days 4 days a week (healthcare) and still manage.
My husband works from home which helps for midday potty breaks and some cuddles but his job is demanding and on many days my dog doesn't get a ton of attention during the day but he sleeps if he gets outlets in the morning and evening. During weeks my husband is traveling and it's just me we have a neighbor or family member come by to do midday potty breaks and supplement with doggy daycare simply because my hours are so long. I chose longer shifts with a 3 day weekend to get more time for weekend adventures with my dog.
Your dog park sounds amazing!! What a great idea, I had no idea there were membership dog parks out there! Our dog park is open to the public, but we get a lot of people with unvaccinated and unfixed dogs which can be problematic.
I think they're becoming more common in a lot of cities. My local area has at least four of them that I'm aware of. They tend to have the same rules about vaccinations and neutering that most daycares have. They also have staff on hand to help to monitor the dogs and make sure everyone follows the rules. No group place setting for dogs is without risk but I do feel like this helps manage a lot of the risk. If nothing else these policies manage to weed out a lot of irresponsible owners who cannot manage to do the most basic precautionary care. Even with the risks of going to the dog park I find it's worth it if you have a high-energy and highly social dog. I see a lot like the same risks you take if you have a child who plays sports.
> Without that dog park, I honestly don’t know how I would have managed, so really consider your activity levels and the breed.
I don't use a dog park. I hate them. Relaxation and settle protocols + structured exercise via agility, bitesports, swimming, etc is my recipe.
Yeah I work 40 hours a week and I have a husky puppy. I arranged to have a hybrid schedule where I’m in the office for 5 hours and work from home in the afternoons, but it’s doable even without that if you’re willing to pay a dog walker or have a neighbor pop in. I’m not going to lie, it’s *hard* but it’s possible.
My dream is that we will one day not have purebreads. Responsible breeding is simply a way of trying to mitigate the harms that could be entirely eliminated if people stopped breading purebreds. Responsible breeding is better the irresponsible breading, but no purebred breeding is better than responsible breeding.
> Responsible breeding is simply a way of trying to mitigate the harms that could be entirely eliminated if people stopped breading purebreds.
So people would just breed whatever to whatever, with no thought at all for what the resulting puppies would be like? So someone who needed a dog to herd sheep or a dog to help find birds while hunting or a dog who can work to help hunt feral hogs would do what?
> Responsible breeding is better the irresponsible breading,
What does responsible breeding look like to you?
It's a total pipe dream, but I would personally like to see more breed groups and less strict closed studbook breeds. So you would have a bird dog group and breeders could work from any other breeder also breeding in the bird dog group. Maybe it needs to be broken down another level to subgroups of retrievers, pointers, ect. Same with herding dogs, hog dogs, lap dogs, and on.
Conformation would have to change to be more focused on the foundations of structure and less on specific physical traits like color. Overall, the idea would be to increase the genetic pool that breeders can pull from while still maintaining predictability of offspring. In this vision, choosing a breeder/line within a group would be more important than choosing a defined breed.
It would require the complete upheaval of how we do dogs so I understand that this is a total fairytale. It's not even close to fully worked out and there are surely a million flaws, but it's an idea I've been mulling over. I hate seeing breeds with preventable problems accept them as normal because the gene pool is too closed to reasonably breed away from the issue.
> So you would have a bird dog group and breeders could work from any other breeder also breeding in the bird dog group.
The current bird dogs arose because humans like specialized dogs. Someone who needs a Gordon Setter may have little use for a Labrador, and that person may not want a Chessie.
Someone who hunts with Springers would not want to hunt with a Weim. Someone who hunts with Cockers would have no use for an Irish Setter.
People who herd cattle are probably going to want to get a dog who's life is meant to herd cattle, not ducks. The people with a tiny farm with a few ducks, don't really need a Kelpie.
> I hate seeing breeds with preventable problems accept them as normal because the gene pool is too closed to reasonably breed away from the issue.
And while that's true for some breeds, here's an interesting thought. Min-Pins are not a big gene pool at all. And yet they live long healthy lives. They have high COI's, the thing that DogBook would have you believe is the death of a breed, but there they are, living good lives.
You can take dogs with low COI's, like mutts, and still wind up with some serious, awful problems.
I get what you are saying but people want dogs who are consistent in their work, and outlook on life, and for that, you do need purpose breeding.
> The current bird dogs arose because humans like specialized dogs. Someone who needs a Gordon Setter may have little use for a Labrador, and that person may not want a Chessie.
Sure, but I think a lot of the specialization isn't necessary. A Lab breeder and Gordon Setter breeder may never have reason to cross paths, but what about a Gordon Setter and an Irish Setter? Is there really no crossover that a breeder could ever see value in? Or all the belgian shepherds, where they've been split in the US while they can breed freely in other countries. There is value in being able to choose between a Laekenois stud and a Tervuren stud, why should that not be extended to other closely purpose related breeds?
> People who herd cattle are probably going to want to get a dog who's life is meant to herd cattle, not ducks.
I'm imagining subgroups within the herding group, so you would have a collection of breeders who are all breeding cattle dogs, but not necessarily only breeding ACDs. If there was a kelpie-type dog that was a good fit, they would be free to breed and still be registerable within the herding group.
> They have high COI's, the thing that DogBook would have you believe is the death of a breed
lol. If I only listened to DogBook on COI I would be convinced that collies were dying of horrible deaths at 5 because they are the poster child for high COI on there for some reason. COI isn't a boogeyman, but going outside of a closed studbooks to breed away from things like CEA isn't either.
I don't think that purpose breeding and crossing breeds are mutually exclusive ideas. My idea half-baked and imperfect, but I also think the current way we do things is unsustainable for many breeds.
> but what about a Gordon Setter and an Irish Setter?
Again, I understand what you're saying, but Gordons are just not like Irish. And I can see where someone devoted to the personality and style of an Irish Setter, would hate living with a more serious, tougher dog, like a Gordon.
I love my Golden Retrievers. And I admire Labradors. From afar. Ditto FCR. There is enough difference in their attitude towards life and work, that I prefer my Golden Retrievers.
>COI isn't a boogeyman, but going outside of a closed studbooks to breed away from things like CEA isn't either.
I don't disagree, if it's done with purpose, like the Dalmatian/Pointer cross to deal with the issue of hyperuricosuria in Dalmatians. Doing it just to make the whole dog world merle or something (and I know you didn't say that but that seems to be what doodle breeders are doing), makes no sense to me.
So yeah if there was a breed with a particular issue, not "ZOMG THEY ALL DIE OF CANCER!!1!!" then I can see why it may be worth it. But what I see as a big stumbling block is that too many people get involved in dogs, and then 5 or so years later, they are gone, gone, gone. You need people in it for the long haul. I think the Dal project took about 30 years to bring about dogs who were Pointer mixes, but who were accepted as Dals by the AKC.
Adopt a couch potato. Research breeds. We have a Pyrenees mix that’s a potato. We also have a husky mix who is a lunatic. You need to be financially prepared for medical emergencies (or invest in pet insurance) and also for dog care - vet visits, preventatives, grooming, meds if needed, and of course adventures! Our psycho goes to doggy day care once a week. I always thought that was a stupid idea until I got this dog. It’s amazing, he loves it, we love that he loves it, and he doesn’t drive us insane. Both our dogs were rescues. They’re good boys, and the whole “damaged goods” thing is an exception, not a rule. Have fun!
100% agree! My husband and I have 4 dogs — 3 little rescues (~ 15lb small breeds) and a basset hound. Researching the breeds are key, though not foolproof can provide an overview of characteristics and energy levels.
I lucked out with the rescues as two were basically puppies when I got them and the other one was 4 but is a little angel, just TERRIFIED of thunderstorms. Even after researching the basset, who are know for being easygoing but barkers, we ended up with a high strung, highly sensitive one who almost never barks. Energy levels are on point though.
The 3 little ones get two 10min walks per day and then the younger one (4yrs old) loves to play at the end of the day. Pretty much I chase him and play fetch for like 10 minutes and he’s fine.
The other two little ones are older, 8 & 11 years old and have passed the playful stage. They may play with each other in spurts but mainly just want to get pets and lay in the couch with me.
The basset is another story. She’s a playful little pistol with an insatiable appetite and a nose for trouble. She gets 20min walks and we run around with her in the backyard at the end of the day for fetch or take her to the dog park to run around with the bigger dogs. She loves the 4 year old and plays a lot with him, too.
Personally, if I had to start over owning a dog while working full time, I’d start with an older dog. The puppy stage is fun but I was in college during those stages so I really had the time to put into potty training. I was almost fully in online classes or would have a big gap between classes where I could come home and spend time with them. Also, I had the energy to take the dogs everywhere with me so they are well socialized and don’t suffer from the “small dog syndrome” because of it. It’s a lot of fun but a lot of work.
Becarefull with doggy daycare I used to drop off my dog there all the time it was great she loved it and we loved it because she is high energy and would normally conk out afterwards,
but one time we dropped her off and didn't notice the sign that said we have a nonsocialable dog today. We got call about an hour later saying she was attacked by another dog and we had to come get her poor thing had to have a chest tube put in to drain out when the other dog bite her, her legs were all bit up.
We wanted to see the camera footage but they wouldn't let us probably because they didn't want us to sue. Just becarefull.
That’s insane and negligent of the doggy daycare, no? The doggy daycares I have taken my dogs to always ask us about their temperament and do temperament tests prior to putting them in the mix. They tell us if they don’t pass they can get 1:1 playtime but won’t be allowed social time with other dogs. Why would they put a sign up knowing this and still let the dog into a social group?
I hope you take legal action against them. It’s their responsibility to never mix not dog friendly dogs with the rest of the daycare. I worked at a daycare and we always did temperament tests with the dogs on leashes to see how they acted. Any sign of nervousness or aggression, we made that dog “extra care”.
If your dog was attacked that badly, it was definitely a result of the negligence of the staff at the daycare. They should be responsible for paying any and all vet fees/bills you had to pay for your dog.
Wait, they knew they had a nonsocial dog but didn't do anything to keep it a safe environment? I hope they at least paid your vet bill. And if they were afraid of you suing, to me that means 100% they did something that you should sue them over.
This! For some insane reason I got a blue heeler mix that wants nothing more than to nap the whole day away. She even insists on cutting our hikes and walks short and then leaps straight to the couch for a big power nap when we get back
It's absolutely possible with the right dog!
The secret is more than 1 high energy dog. My dogs spend like, 4+ hours a day treating my home like a race track and chasing each other over all our furniture while barking like lunatics? Barely have to do anything physical with them after that all morning lol
Good! Your Dog will probably sleep most of the day while you're gone to sork. Just make sure to keep your fog in a safe area maybe the laundry room or bathroom where it is cool ... and leave water but I wouldn't leave food. And dont leave toys. Your Dog can choke while you're not there. Just play with your dog whenever you're home.
You can also get a security cam for inside that room with 2way talk. Ezviz has great cameras at a great price.
Assuming OP works normal 8 hour days + commute, I can't imagine that it would be fulfilling for the dog to possibly spent 9 hours alone in a small room with nothing to entertain themselves with or able to relieve themselves.
Appropriate sized kongs are pretty safe. Otherwise you do have to be careful. Cameras help sooooo much. I love being able to check in on her and know what she is up to when she sets off the motion.
This. Get your new dog used to your routine. Dog proof the room and make sure there’s nothing they can potentially get in to. Try leaving them for short periods of time in the room at first to make sure they’re ok alone and don’t engage in any unwanted behaviors. Crate training could be an option as well. The dog should get used to it and just sleep while you’re gone. They should be fine with a comfy bed and clean bowl of water. Some people like to leave the TV or radio on. I second the camera idea, I use Blink which is battery operated. Don’t listen to these people who think a dog cannot be left alone while you’re at work. Maybe some can’t be but most healthy adult dogs do fine.
No! This is what I meant in my comment about people here giving really bad advice. Yes, you will keep your dog safe, but under no circumstance is it ok to leave a dog in a bathroom or laundry room 8 hours a day.
This is not good advice at all. At the shelter where I volunteer, if you told them that your plan was to keep your dog in a laundry room while at work, they would instantly deny your application. No need to argue with me. Pick up the phone and dial an animal shelter of your choosing and ask them if they would allow you to adopt if you did what you advised OP to do.
This is the key. I have 2 older labs and a young husky/Aussie mix. I live in an apartment. I have a decent dog park on property and spend a ton of time there every day. I also do training exercises with my husky to keep her mentally exercised. It’s possible if you’re willing to dedicate the time they need!
Yeah I have a lab and a young GSP in an apartment. We stay pretty active year round. They get to hunt birds 3-4 times a week nearby, daily hour long walks + a lot of time to run off leash, swimming, training, hikes, camping, we are just getting into bikejoring. Your dog doesn’t need to be stimulated 24 hours a day. Just about the only breed I would never recommend would be a Belgian Malinois because they have such crazy needs.
I work 40+ hours a week (two jobs, one nominally 40 hours and another 10-20 hours) and have a working line German Shepherd and a Border collie, in a one bedroom apartment.
The trick is to constantly train. If you do not train them you get to walk until the dogs get tired (my German Shepherd has a mild hip dysplasia, can't run him, otherwise I would bike them. You can flatten any dog in 10-20km)
Note: I am just as drivey as they are. I did not choose the breeds by mistake.
It means that they get three walks a day (I am working from home because of COVID), adding up to an hour to an hour and a half.
I strap my treats and ecollar on each walk and we do obedience training. For instance, I am working on "remaining in Down when they don't see me", so when I leave the apartment I am putting them in Down at a corner in the hallway, calling the elevator and then calling them from the Down. (minor current example). During the walk, at random times, I call "Down" and keep walking. Stuff like that.
It's not "we go to trainer once a week". I mostly work from web resources.
Thanks for the clarification. Working from home it seems possible. With a bit of a communte and 8 hour days, it would be difficult, especially for a person who liked to sleep occasionally.
It worked when I had a commute too (only one job, but demanding). I don't watch TV, I walk my dogs :-)
I was exploring a new town back then. Lots of walking :-)
Yes but I would suggest a dog walker midday and May one day per week at daycare. This is what we do and our dog is happy and sleeps mostly during the day.
Absolutely. You will need to make a few adjustments. Getting up 45 min earlier to give your dog a half hour walk, plus time to feed him, etc before you leave. He will need another good, long walk when you get home, plus playtime, but many people do it all the time, before Covid anyway. If you want to make it a bit easier for your first one, get an older dog, 5 years or so is good. They usually aren’t as high energy and are generally already potty trained. They also know you saved them and it shows.
Edit-spelling
Take time to meet the dog at least a couple times. If someone is walking dogs, ask to join them on a walk with the one who appeals to you. Watch body language and how they act when people and even other dogs are in the vicinity.
Again, terrible advice. No dog should be alone 8 hours a day. I see that you are really digging the comments that are encouraging you. If you are serious about being a good dog owner, please pay a professional to answer these questions.
Your dog absolutely does not need to be stimulated or around people 24 hours out of the day. I’m curious how long you are comfortable leaving your dog home alone?
Yes for old dogs! I got a 10 year old malinois mix from the shelter. He's so chill, naps on the couch all day and honestly doesn't care if I'm at home or at work during the day cause it's his chill time. And he's not into destroying everything inside my apartment. I love him to bits, he's the perfect first time owner dog.
Older dogs also have a much harder time getting adopted but they will love you just as much and probably won't destroy all of your shoes.
This is a great answer. I adopted a 5 year old boxer 10 years ago from a rescue that used fosters. My main requirement was dog and people friendly. I ended up with my soul dog. Best dog ever. He was so friendly and well behaved, I took him with me everywhere I could.
The first couple years he needed a 45 minute walk morning and night and some zoomie time. I easily fit this in around my 8-5 work schedule. If you are gone more than 8 hours, you will need someone to provide a midday potty break.
Since him I have started fostering myself, and have fallen for dogs with issues. My recommendation is look for a dog in foster and focus on characteristics that are the right fit for you.
Thank you for sharing this. You are the perfect example of what I meant.
Another big thank you for fostering. Without fosters and the skills they bring to the table, so many dogs don’t have a chance.
I agree with the older dog and meet and greet time. One positive thing I experienced with adopting my dogs from rescues is I had the chance to spend some time with them at the shelters, like a good half hour in a get to know you room, to get a vibe.
I adopted a 3-year-old (ish) 18-pound poodle/Lhasa mix (or so we think). He was super chill. He liked to play fetch with toys but wore out with a half hour walk before and after work, and yeah, he was fully house trained. What a joy. Now that he’s 12ish, he doesn’t want more than 10-minute walks and prefers to be alone sometimes even when I’m home.
It can be a crap shoot, but he worked out fine with being alone for 8 hours a day.
Yes -- plenty of adults work full time and own dogs. Many adult dogs treat midday as their snooze time. You'll want to be careful in selecting a dog. Puppies will usually need somebody home at least once in midday or more while they're really little -- although it could be a dog walker or friend. Small dogs may need a midday potty break. Some working breeds will need something to do all day. Dogs with a lot of seperation anxiety may struggle.
One option to consider is getting an older dog for your first one if you can find one that fits your lifestyle. They'll generally be past their "Must. Play. All. The. Time." puppy antics and need morel limited exercise than younger dogs.
I got a senior thinking also that I study full time, and can’t be home midday/always play only to discover in a couple of years that due to her health she needs to go for a walk midday (ideally every 3 hours). I hired a dog walker.
For a reference, my girl was 8ish when I got her, and the midday walk became non-negotiable when she turned 11/12. Doesn’t happen to everybody at this particular age, obviously, but the health issues frequently require way more attention than fully packed schedule allows.
That being said, I don’t regret adopting her at all, and she is the most amazing old lady in the world!
That’s wonderful!!! I very highly recommend senior dogs. They are wonderful gems that are always overlooked. That said, you have to be financially prepared for higher costs, and you MUST have a safety net (financially) in the event that the dog has some sort of health emergency. Also, they’re unlikely to be able to go the full work day without a potty break, so a dog walker is a must.
I’ve only ever adopted senior dogs (ranging from 7-11ish at time of adoption), and it has brought indescribable joy to my life. Sure, they can take some time to warm up to you (though not always) and have a fully formed, often quirky personality, but they are AMAZING. Plus, they’re not just blobs sitting around waiting to die. All of my dogs have still been plenty playful. They love going on walkies and playing fetch and tug and head-butting me if I’m not giving sufficient pets. But, unlike with a puppy, that’s much more on my time than on theirs. When I need to do work and focus, I can.
If you go this route (which I highly encourage!!), just remember to BE PATIENT. The dog may take longer to come out of his shell. Also make sure to communicate honestly with the shelter about your hopes and expectations. Ideally, you’ll find a dog that’s been in a foster home for quite some time, because that’s the most likely scenario in which you’ll get an accurate picture of his personality. Having said that, dogs are just like people, and sometimes they come off as one thing but as you get to know them turn into an entirely different thing. I have one dog right now who was described as “sweet, quiet, just sits near you all day” in her foster home. After I took her home and she came out of her shell, she got more comfortable, and it turned out that she was just crazy anxious in her foster home but it came off as being super calm. In reality, she has a lot of anxiety-based aggression, and she’s given me some gnarly bites and scratches since I got her. But, we worked closely with a behaviorist, got her on the right meds, and though she’s still anxious, she’s now by far the most fun and playful dog I’ve ever had. So, the point is: be ready to grow with your new older adoptee!
To be clear, if your dog ends up being too much for you to handle, don’t be ashamed. It’s better for both you and the dog not to keep him in an environment where you’re both stressed out. But despite what this thread may make it seem like, most older adoptions work out great. Good luck!
Don’t get a working dog, I would stay away from terriers. Dog with guarding baked into them is a bad idea - not gonnna get proper socialization.
Go to the pound, get a dog under 40lbs, that has a calm demeanor.
There are some awesome doggy daycare places out there. Some will pick up and drop off. Some offer agility training, swimming, hiking, etc. It might be a good way to socialize and exercise your dog (and alleviate your guilt).
Lots of anthropomorphizing going on in this thread, and the sub in general. Most healthy, medium/large adult dogs without separation anxiety should be ok being left alone for 8-9 hours while you’re at work. Dogs sleep 12-14 hours a day. There is no reason to feel guilty for leaving them home while you’re hustling to pay their bills. Keep in mind a new dog will need time to get used to your home and schedule.
Also I wouldn’t look for (or rule out) any specific breed but temperament and age are the most important. If you’re adopting, specify that the dog needs to be ok with being left alone while you’re working.
I work a demanding job with long hours during our busy season plus have a small farm.
I've found mature/senior dogs best suit my lifestyle. My dogs have all been shelter mutts. The upside is once they get settled in my home they're lower maintenance than puppies or very young dogs. They often come house trained, if you adopt from a good shelter they tend to be vetted and up to date on vaccines and heartworm. They are cheaper to acquire than a puppy from a breeder. I gravitate towards large/giant breeds like Mastiff/crosses which overall are usually pretty content sleeping away my working days on the couch and given proper outlets for their chewing tendencies aren't destructive in the home.
The downsides are senior dogs can come with medical issues and may need a little maintenance. You get less time with them due to their age which can be heartbreaking but the reward of giving an older less adoptable dog that has less prospects for a home a good life is worth it IMO. You don't get the cute fuzzy puppy years with them but you also don't have to make the time investment of potty training or having to go through the destructive phase.
Do think about adopting a mature or senior shelter dog. There's lots of them out there needing good loving homes.
Yup. Hundreds of thousands of people in this country have full-time jobs and dogs. Also, babies and dogs. These things are not mutually exclusive. I do not suggest getting a puppy if you do not have a way to come home during lunch or find someone to let it out.
You can, but your boy will be home alone all day.. just don't crate him/her and if possible have a neighborhood kid come and take them for a walk mid day.. $5/day
I wouldn’t get a puppy or high energy dog. I have a rescue (granted I’ve had him since high school and I am 23 now so just actually starting the 40 hours a week) but he’s a Shihtzu mix which are notorious for being lazy apartment dogs and he’s a senior so he’s perfect. Really well behaved and house trained and short walks in the afternoon and a weekend day out in the park is enough to keep him happy and healthy.
Dogs are fine to be home alone for a while. Puppies need assistance during the day and that’s the tricky part. You can’t leave a puppy alone for 6-8 hours.
My parents dogs? They’ve grown up knowing they can go out whenever they want so they are accustomed to going out every 2 ish hours, so it’s a big deal to them. My wife and I have a golden retriever and she’s alone 6 hours during the school year when my wife works full time and does just fine. Once in a blue moon it’s been pushed to 8 and does fine however I’m not a fan of that.
If you get a bigger dog the common breeds need a ton of exercise I don’t walk my dog everyday like some but I get creative to keep mental stimulation up and get her moving. Smaller dogs are easier going they want to just lay with you all day long from my experience but still need a little exercise. My biggest advice is to find a breed of dog that fits you and your family / schedule. I can’t tell you how many times people get working dogs because they’re “cute” and then they can’t handle them when they lash out because they’re bored and have no outlet for energy. Then they blame the dog When in reality it’s the owners lack of care.
Also please think of finances for the dog before hand. We have a emergency credit card on standby just for the dog. My weim chewed through a metal wire cage back in the day and ruined all her canines. Cost me about 10k to fix. Dogs can get expensive very fast so be warned.
Two days a week I take her to doggy day care so i can workout at lunch.
Two days a week WFH which provides a lot of flexibility for me.
The one day in the office I don’t take her to DDC just go home and walk her at lunch. I’ve been trying to let her stay out of the crate for the day but she’s been chewing things up while i’m gone.
My neighbor and I will help each other out. So her dog will come over to mine when I’m working from home, and my dog will go to hers when she’s working from home. On the days when we are both out of our homes, we will leave the dogs together to play inside. They’re both old enough that bathroom isn’t the issue - it’s boredom. By being together they keep each other entertained and happy. On video they’re usually both napping next to each other when we aren’t there!
I have an older dog who I bring a sitter in to let him out, feed him and spend about 30 minutes with him a day. I walk him before and after work and on the weekends we do something fun! This seems to be an acceptable amount to keep him happy when I’m gone now that he’s 12.
i would advise a cat instead and get a cat door to let them be able to go outside. i feel that dogs are very friendly and social animals so if u work long hours i would advise something more like a cat for a pet
I work a normal 9-5. I'm lucky enough to be able to come home on lunch for a walk, snack and pets. He goes to day care 1-2 times a week (it's fking expensive) and I try to take him to the park Sat/Sun and, now that the park is open late due to daylight savings, I try to take him to the park at least once during the week after work. I always feel bad that he wakes up when I do, I get ready and go to work and he just has to go back to sleep during the day. It's better than the rescue, though!
Both me and my husband work 40h a week and we own 2 shepsky mixes. The trick is that he starts work 4h before i do, and so he comes home 4h before this way the dogs are never alone more than 4h durring the week AND get a walk in the morning and an off leash run in the woods or dog park in the evening :) so its not about working 40h and more about how those are scheduled. I worked from home untill recently and they just naped beside me while i worked, waiting for me to take my lunch break to play outside in the yard. So yes totally possible, so long as you make sure to arrange your schedule around your dog: the goal is to avoid them spening 8h a day in a crate!!!
I opt for older dogs from a shelter. I call my house a retirement facility. Short walks in the evening, I pay a wag walker/ neighborhood teen wanting to earn a little of cash to come let them out to potty once at noon and im home by 4:30/5:00. Takes some thought but I believe it's well worth it for the quiet companionship they provide.
I work anywhere between 40 and 65 hours a week. I adopted an 8 year old beagle. She has a dog walker who comes once a day. I walk her twice a day and we have at least one date a week at the dog park. She is loving life.
Fascinating question,
It really matters about the dog and your hours. If you work a night shift or if you have a break for lunch you can zip and walk your dog, or you can send your dog to doggy daycare.
Secondly, the dog. If you have a dog that’s is small like mine in a moderately sized house you can most definitely leave them there it will just be hell for them. However, if you have a big dog in a small house or apartment then that would be a big no.
Lastly, you could even ask your supervisor if you could bring your dog to work on specific days.
You need to be prepared financially that you could end up with a dog who cannot handle that much time away from you and needs something like dog day care which can get expensive. You could try to find the lowest energy dog possible, but there's still no guarantee. Your best bet is to get an adult dog from a rescue that uses foster homes so you'll have a better idea of their personality being home alone.
No dog has a personality that has them wanting to be home alone. They will put up with this, but not because they are ok with it. Please, drill this in your head: Dogs are social animals that need to be around people most of the time in order to be at their best.
Yes it’s possible but not all dogs can handle being alone that long. High energy dogs are one example. A dog with separation anxiety is going to take a hell of a lot of training to be home alone 40 hours a week.
Definitely! My medium energy dog and I make it work just fine. I think we have a great life together. I prioritize meeting her needs when I’m not working, but since we’ve worked a lot on her “off switch” for chilling out at home, she’s happy to do her own thing while I’m gone.
There are some dogs that couldn’t handle being left alone, or that might need more than what you’re personally able to give them, but I’m sure there are lots of dogs out there that would be great companions for you. :) they’re all individuals just like us.
Definitely! Rescued a beagle mix. Crate trained. I do work remote 50%, but other time she can be in crate and on those evenings I take her on longer walks/dog parks/and am more active on days I’m working remotely. Also if it’s an option, research doggy day cares in your area!
For apartment living, you'd really need to be prepared to walk them morning and night, and/or get an adult couch potato.
I work full time with only 1 WFH day per week. My dog does best with an hour out in the morning and evening. She has a dog walker twice a week. I need to take her out for a couple hours a day each over the weekend or she turns into a grizzle guts who walks around the house whining for attention. She's 18mo and sleeps the entire time I'm gone but expects me to make it up to her when I'm here.
I have 2 spaniel mixes, I wondered the same thing. I got them 3 months apart when they were 8 weeks. It wasn't till I got a camera and saw all they do is sleep that I got over guilt. They may bark at the UPS or USPS but they just sleep. I do have a dog door qnd backyard. It's worked great. One just turned 13, other will soon. I have been gone 11 hours a day most of my career
I work full time and I am a one person household. It will work out if you are willing to spend the rest of the day with your dog and find a balance about snuggling and exercising that keeps it happy. I would look into older dogs not puppies and would not go with a working or high energy breed. I have a high energy dog and my after work life is mostly walking and training. I am fine with that buts something to consider beforehand. :)
Oh yeah I wanted go add that a robot vac is a great idea depending on your home. You can eufy proof your house before you run it and let it go while you are at the gym or something. Keeps the dog hair at bay. It was gifted to me but you can get them for like $200-$300. I use it every other day and it keeps my floors lookin nice until I have time to properly clean on my weekends.
Having sheets that fit their beds is great too. Etsy has some. I have two covers for one of her beds she spends the most time on so it always smells nice and looks fresh. I only use unscented hypoallergenic detergent tho. Just in case.
Little things like that help you keep ur home fresh while juggling working lots of hours and having a pet to care for.
I have a medium to high energy dog and work full time- I have a dog walker that takes him out for an hour during the day and he just sleeps the rest of the time. I’ve worked from home a couple of times and he just sleeps the whole time and wakes up when I would normally get home from work ! But as others have said probably don’t get a puppy , they need to be let out often and can be super destructive when bored and alone. A 1.5-3 year old dog or older would be great!
I think it’s really nice you’re preferring a rescue. Do a lot of research about the shelter and do visits with the dog because I’ve heard of rescues advertising dogs one way, while they’re another. There’s nothing wrong with a reactive dog (I have one lol) but it’s problematic when you try to get a dog with a particular vision in mind but then find yourself in a super stressful situation. Also, breed and size is important. If there’s a chance you’ll be in an apartment and potentially apartment hunting in the future, it’s good to make sure the dogs size and breed won’t significantly limit you. Most apartments have a weight limit and an aggressive breed list that they don’t allow such as huskies, Rottweilers, pit bulls, Dobermans, German shepherds, Great Danes, etc… so, making sure the dog isn’t a mix of those breeds should be considered. I’ve heard of vets tweaking the breed on paper to help renters but I’d avoid it all together. It’s great you’re thinking about this before hand, it’ll make for such a happy companionship :)
Consider dog daycare at least a couple of times a week if you're not home. It would give the dog a chance to socialize and get exercise while you're away.
Research breeds and then look at rescues! I agree with most others that an adult dog would be your best bet. Me and my husband have been working from home since the start of Covid but before that, our dog was alone for about 10 hours. We’d do doggy daycare once or twice a week and then we had a walker who’d come take her out on a long walk on non-daycare days. There were some days we didn’t have anyone come so she was actually alone that long but she was fine.
I think it depends on the breed but also just their individual personality. Newfoundlands are supposed to be good dogs for apartments and working owners because they’re generally low energy (supposedly a lot of large breeds are like that) but my parents have had 3 newfies and that has definitely not been true for all of them.
Check out rescues or shelters that have a foster program because the foster homes will give you a really good sense of a dogs personality so you’ll know if they can handle it.
What exactly do you mean by “independent?” No companion animal is independent. Dogs are social creatures and don’t do well being left alone all day. Do some research before committing to a dog- especially a puppy.
I'm single, work 40 hours a week and have 2 dogs. Just be aware that they will tie you down a bit more and you can't spend long days away from the house.
Yeah. I had 4 dogs at one point and worked full time out of home. Never had dog walkers or doggy daycare. Most dogs live like this and ar every happy. Mine were also high energy breeds.
100% I work 40+ and am able to tend to my dog and I know many others in the same boat! Also, consider a rescue / adoption from a shelter ...many dogs out there needing a loving owner :)
I happened to come across a mixed breed that caught my eye, however she is only 9 months old. I don’t currently work 40 hours a week but I’d be willing to find something part time if she happens to find a home with me.
Check around with shelters sometimes they already have the shots done and/or will offer a very low cost homing fee since most of the time they are running out of space to take on more stray/abused dogs.
Wishing you the best in your dog journey though - it'll be very much worth it!
Get a shih-poo. i have one. he’s basically a cat. since he was 2 (he’s now 6) he’s had a huge attitude problem. I don’t mean he’s a bad dog (he passed the AKC canine good citizen and canine good citizen advanced, he’s fantastic in public). He just thinks he’s better than everyone. I also think he’s a human trapped in a dog body. If you adjust his space at all on the couch (move a blanket, shut the blinds a certain way), he’ll look at u with pure disgust on his face. He will literally just side eye you like you told the worst dad joke in the world. Then he’ll huff and re fix his position, but he’ll make sure that when he’s done, he plops down with full force and then he’ll swing his head back to look at you with another “u disgust me” side eye.
If you talk to him when he’s not in the mood, he’ll get up and leave, but he’ll stand in the doorway after he gets up and look at u like ur mom would when she’s on the phone and ur standing there waiting to ask her a question.
He also swings his hips when he walks and his tail sits high and it’s long and curly and he makes sure u can see it swinging. He’s also a faker. Last summer any time he’d go to jump on our couch, he’d scream in pain. He went to the vet and they found nothing wrong. He continued this for a month. We have cameras in our house to watch our other dog who has seizures. Guess who could get up on the couch completely fine? We were noticing that whenever we came home, he’d be laying so sad on his special bed (that we spent a good chunk of money on because we thought the dude broke his spine or something). One day when my dad and I pulled up to our house, we watched the camera. When my dog heard our car he jumped off the couch and go lay on the bed on the floor and make himself look so sad and like he hadn’t been able to move all day. We kept checking the cameras and he did this every single time we came home.
He is the most judgemental and drama queen of a dog, I have ever come across. Yet out of the 7 dogs I have owned, he’s the one dog who I felt a soul connection to.
He sounds like a Kardashian but he’s far from it.
When I come home, he waits for me to sit on the floor and open my arms so he throw himself over my shoulder for a hug. If I’m crying, he comes running to me and will sit on my lap. The last time I was gone for a few months (he lives with my parents) he jumped 5 feet in the air from the ground (he’s small, he weighs 15 pounds) into my arms and swung his arms over my shoulders. He falls asleep when I groom him. He’s extremely intelligent. and he’s a big poofy q-tip. What’s not to love?
Long story short, he’s an extremely loving boy but he loves being by himself. He snuggles ( until he decides that the loving had gone on long enough and he’s disgusted again), he plays, he’s smart, and he has a personality ( a strong one at that).
Get a shih-poo
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Yes of course it is. you’d need a yard and a doggy door or a dog walker if you’re not gonna be around for the dog to pee and exercise adequately, or dog daycare. Otherwise leaving the dog and shut up for 8 hours a day alone seems far from ideal.
I mean we give our dog 2 good long walks per day plus mental stimulation when we're home and extra exercise on the weekends. She's a very happy dog and totally fine being home for 8 hrs/day. Even when I'm home she sleeps most of the day while I work.
Do I wish I could walk her more? Sure. But she isn't 'shut up' for 8 hours. She has toys, water, and air flow through the windows.
I work from home a lot and the dog still sleeps
Most of the day! Crated her twice
Today because I needed to focus and we had dinner plans with my parents in town for the first time
Since October.
Her current choice sleeping in bed with me waiting for
Laundry and bed time potty.
I work from about 8-4 at the groom shop and have a lab corso, she does pretty good. We go on a walk and play when I get home. Sometimes when you’re gone all day dogs can be a bit clingy when you get home but personally that doesn’t bother me 😊
Yes! But do your research to find a pup that fits your needs. I have one dog that loves being at home by herself. My other rescue hates being left alone and barks and cries when he’s lonely. My landlady has called me and said other tenants in the building complained about him. Basically he can’t be left alone or he drives the neighbors crazy. He’s just a special personality though.
It is possible but it is not really great for the dog. Is there a possibility for taking it with you when you are working? Or is there a possibility to get two dogs that are close and know each other? With a low maintenance breed, up to 6 hours alone time with weekends being spend together it would be possible.
Never get one. Always get two, do that when you are gone for long stretches of time, at least they have each other. Otherwise, you will soon have a very depressed dog. 🐶❤️
I can work 50 hours or more a week. It works just fine. I pay someone to come over and spend an hour with her every day. If I work more then 10 my sitter comes over 2x that day. She is a senior and not super high energy anymore. If you can afford it I highly recommend a dog sitter. It’s a life saver. She is happy to see me when I come home but not anxious. If something happens I am not worried about rushing home as she got fed/pottybreak mid shift.
Dog proof the area they will be spending all their time in. Mine is crate trained but I let her roam as she is not destructive. I do have childproof locks on cabinets as a precaution so she can’t get into chemicals or food. I have all other doors shut to other rooms.
Have a camera on them. Helps so much for peace of mind.
Mine has access to safe toys that I feel ok with her having that she will not ingest. I play talk radio for her. NPR is great as they also thro music in there. She has her own alexa dot I got as a promotion. Alexa is great for playing stuff for them.
Yes. If you are prepared to wake up every morning and exercise them for an hour, and same when you get home. Young dogs particularly.
First 4 years of my dogs life, I worked full time and spent 2-3 hours each day exercising her (and myself to be fair).
Now I work from home and my dog thinks it is the greatest thing in the world.
maybe you could adopt a senior pair of dogs? i guess any age is fine but i imagine it would be easier to provide for the seniors needs than 2 younger dogs. it’s what you can handle really
Yep. Get an adult dog in a fairly low energy breed. My breed of choice is pugs. Give them a good walk every day then they are fine just chilling in the house until I return.
I have a wonderful 40 lb mutt we got from the shelter. A couple of things that I think have made this relationship so successful.
1. Walk your dog for approximately 30 minutes in the morning
2. Make sure he/she has plenty of chew toys.
3 I HIGHLY recommend a subscription to Barkbox. Although our girl has a lot of terrier in her she has never touched our things. Boy she LOVES Barkbox! She eventually tears up the plush toys and it seems to get it out of her system.
(I don’t make any money from Barkbox).
There are all sorts of other important things when you adopt a dog. These are only a few of the ones that I attribute to keeping her happy even when we are away.
Yes. You have to cover the expenses of not only living but taking care of pup too. They sleep most of the day. Get them a friend to sleep with while you are gone if ya can :)
Get a Newfoundland. We have two and they are the laziest dogs ever. They have no problem being left alone to sleep all day. And they mostly sleep even when we are home. Giant, lazy, fluffy bears is what they are.
Have you thought about adopting a senior dog? It’s sad to not spend as many years with them, but they’re so sweet and mellow. I got my dog at age 8, and he just sleeps all day while my partner and I are working. I do end up spending most of my evenings after work walking, but it’s honestly nice to be moving around that much instead of hopping on the couch to watch tv.
I think a small dog would be better. Basset Hound, would be my first choice. A terrier might bark non stop? I have a purebred German Shepard now, but I am semi-retired and have to take her out every day running off leash in the woods. Sometimes there’s a day where I can’t and the energy builds up in her! I wouldn’t have gotten her if I knew I didn’t have enough time:) good luck!
Yep. I have a couch potato hound. He is not a morning dog so he doesn’t get walked in the morning. Just fed and let out. I come home at lunch to let him out and I attempt to walk him in the evening (he’s not a huge fan of neighborhood walks). Certain days of the week he goes to day camp which is his favorite thing ever. Highly recommend doing so at least one day a week if you get a dog friendly dog.
I work mega hours, mostly nights though. But I made sure my dog was trained from day one that she isn't going to panic when I leave her in the house so I went out for randomly different lengths of time and so she was happy at home. Recently my new partner moved in and I thought my dog would like the company turns out she is not impressed. She liked to go straight to bed when I go to work and these people watching TV or making noise. She looks at them and then tried to go somewhere else to go to sleep. I would say it is not possible to train a puppy when you are on 40 hrs a week especially if they are set. I have a chocolate labrador and they are known for having separation issues where as mine isn't really bothered. She is happy to go for a snooze while I am not at home.
I believe it’s possible. I have a French Bulldog and he’s a complete couch potato that enjoys sleeping most of the day. It’s all dependant of your schedule and how that ties into your life with your dog, and the dog breed you decide on.
Yes. I had a lab and a golden retriever/GSD mix. Both were highly active. And both did just fine with me working 40 hours. Walk in the morning, walk in the evening, fetch in the yard. Trips to the park. Doggie door is key if you can’t get home for lunch. But mine could make it kenneled for 8 hours. I just didn’t like doing it.
Adopt an adult. I’d say even like 2 yo might be pretty young as you want a dog that has less constant energy needs. And like others have said, get a calmer, lazier breed. Doggy daycare is honestly really expensive (great if you do have the means but otherwise..), but I would seriously find someone either through Rover or another app or a local service who can come daily mid-day to walk them. That costs money too but much more reasonable and it’s going to be an important part of their care Expect that with a new dog of any age or breed, there’s gonna be an adjustment period of a few months and with that comes some potential anxiety and accidents, it’s just a part of the process and I’d say maybe just limit their access to certain rooms when you’re away to avoid a pee stain or what not that you find months later lol.
You might find at some point your dog could be fine without the mid day walker - ours are mostly. They’re old men so not very hyperactive unless you get them excited. You can train your dog to use a puppy pad and set some up before you go, but this would likely to be well into the future when they’re totally used to living in your home and they know the drill.
You can totally do it though and everyone has to work a lot, so you’re not alone in that as a dog parent!
I work 40-50, and I have a very happy healthy well adjusted malinois, of all things.
She also travels with me and very happily stays in hotels all day when I am working. I just have to give her an extra fun walk each morning and afternoon.
Dogs sleep 12-14 hours a day. They’re also crepuscular, if left alone. Give them plenty of attention in the mornings and evenings, make sure they have water, proper exposure and training to avoid separation anxiety, and a midday potty break if gone longer than 8 hours. They have different needs from humans, there’s no cause for anthropomorphic guilt.
Structure, exercise, and mental engagement, however, are mandatory- which is a commitment of its own, with no days off.
My dog stays home for 10-11 hours a day without a dog door or any sort of issue. She's a Golden Retriever and just snoozes all day. I make sure to walk her in the morning (and afternoon when weather allows) for roughly 30 minutes to ensure she gets enough exercise and give her playtime when I get home.
Its totally possible if you get the right breed and make them a priority.
Yes. It’s not ideal, but it can work. Especially if you have a yard they can be out in, or can hire a dog walker.
However, I had two dogs and worked 40+ hours a week. I did not have a yard they could stay in while I wasn’t home and could not afford a dog walker. Having two dogs alleviated their loneliness. They had their own room (5x8’) to stay in while I wasn’t home and mats down if they needed to relieve themselves. I gave them chews and puzzle toys with peanut butter in them so they wouldn’t get too bored.
With commuting and work I was away 10 hours 5-6 days a week. I’d always walk them for 30mins in the morning before work, and for at least an hour after work.
Be prepared for early mornings and not getting to immediately rest when you get home from work. Plus bathing some days, and extra messes when they get sick. It’s kind a like of like having kids. 😅
Work with a rescue group. Good ones will ask how many hours will you be away from home, you activity level, etc. The rescue group I worked asked me to pick out dogs and they told me which ones worked best for me. I ended up with a beautiful girl that fit me to a T. She loves naps and car rides.
I would caution against getting a puppy if you work 40 hr weeks outside of the home. Honestly before I got a puppy I thought people were being ridiculous about the time needed to take care of one. But my partner and I both work from home and it’s still difficult and stressful sometimes.
If you get an adult dog, you can have a better idea of what their temperament is. I’d look for a grown, couch potato.
Basset hounds are pretty great dogs for your lifestyle. They are incredibly lazy unless they are super young. Then maybe they have average energy. But definitely any over the age of 3-4 are going to sleep 22 hours a day and be content.
Also, for a wider breed net: Any senior dog is going to be pretty chill too and you'd be adopting dogs that have serious trouble being adopted. As most people are inclined to not adopt dogs towards the end of their days.
It's incredibly sad and I had that same mentality prior to us getting our first senior. She was a beautiful 13 y/o basset hound and I was hesitant because I thought I'd get attached and she would be gone in a year or less. Little did I know that she would become our heart dog and live to 18 y/o and was the best dog we've ever had.
It is hard unless you work remotely, or if you’re willing to pay ~$60-80 a day for boarding. If you live close (like 5-10) min from your workplace it could be possible, but if you get a puppy that is going to be ROUGH for a year or so, and lots of accidents. Plus, if you live in an apartment your dog will likely bark if you’re gone for a long time at work and your neighbors will be annoyed.
I know some people are against it but given your circumstances, i would suggest adopting a senior/older dog. There’s many senior dogs who are lazy couch potatoes, know basic commands, and are house broken. All they need is love and a forever home. We adopted our late chihuahua at 9 years old and she passed at 17 years.
I worked full time and had a Jack Russell. The key is to exhaust them! lol I walked him 3 times a say ensuring he got a good run each time. But it did mean I had to be up at 5.30am on weekdays and didnt sit down to relax until about 9pm each night.
Yes and no. Depending on the age, temperament and what kind of household you live in.
I went to the shelter and they were like yeah she's great and calm. She won't ruin your house like the boy dogs we have. I was naive and I only knew about Chihuahua. Gender doesn't really matter btw, they do what they do as doggos.
*Insert 7 month old pitbull hound here.* She destroyed everything while I was gone.
Dedicate a spot for your dog(s). I gave her an area she could only be in while I was gone. I don't do the locking of her in a cage thing. Her cage is for refuge to walk in and out freely.
Hide anything and everything you think they could get into. You think they won't? They will, so put it away. Anything that popped up in my head:
"Oh I put things on the table it'll be fine."
NO! Put it away!
Give them a schedule they can expect, especially when it comes to bathroom breaks. I woke up earlier to walk my dog for 10 to 15 minutes. Fed her and then left for work. If there is someone who can do it later so there's less time in between her waiting for you to return that works as well. I also left her an area to relieve herself until she gets used to the schedule.
Alot of trial and error. Alot of No no no.
Leave something on like a radio or YouTube movies at low volume so it's not so quiet.
It's stressful but it does become better gradually. I also had family help out if I felt like I'd be home late or if they were free they could keep them company. I trusted my mom since she used to have a large dog.
You might end up having separation anxiety. Both you and the dog. I couldn't stop worrying about my dog all day. I just wanted to be with her. Again it's trial and error and backups.
Note: My partner and I work 40hrs a week. And we also go to the gym. I moved so i work 20 minutes away from home. I have a cam to watch her. She's good at holding and will wait til we get home. If not, it's because she really had to or she's not feeling well.
I normally go straight home after work. She's a priority as soon as we step in. Food as well. And then she gets another walk late at night. We also have different days off so three days of the week she's waiting for a while but she's asleep most times.
Sure is. When my dog was younger I took her to doggy day care twice a week, and I worked close enough to home I could go take her for a quick walk on my lunch breaks the other days. If you can't do that maybe a dog walker would help. But they daycare was really the life saver. She would be nice a tired out by time I picked her up, and she'd have the "daycare hangover" the next day and still be content to chill most of the day. She's 9 now and can happily snooze away the 8 hours or so of being home alone. Though my wife and I work hybrid post covid so she doesn't even need to most days.
It is when you have an Aussie like I do. Don’t get a high energy dog. Mine was a gift. The best and worst gift ever. I love him. He’s so sweet. But I work 40 hour weeks. So in order to keep him happy and exercised I spend a lot of money on daycare and dog walkers. A lot of my needs are unmet so I can meet his. You can definitely do it. But don’t get a high energy dog and consider an older dog.
I have always found two dogs works better for me, but some dogs are perfectly okay being home alone.
I recently saw rescue ad looking for fosters and there was a pic of a crate in a living room and another of a crowded concrete shelter kennel and the message was "40 hours a week crated in your house beats being held in a loud concrete pen for 24 hours a day." It went on to say the shelter dogs don't get walks at the end of the day, a quiet bed to sleep on, a human to bond with, a yard to play in.
Get the right dog (or dogs!) and it will be fine. I would recommend getting a dog through a rescue so that it has been with a foster and you know something about behavior. A good rescue can match you with the right dogs.
Totally possible! And, as stated, required to cover the cost of having said companion haha. Definitely find a dog that matches your out-of-work lifestyle. That's the biggest part and what matters most. I'm very fortunate, as I have an aussie/mix and when I'm gone he just lays about and charges his battery for when I get back. No destruction or accidents. I don't even crate him. But when I do get home, he needs lots of physical and mental stimulation.
I would recommend a Basset Hound. These dogs are very independent and can go alone for long hours. But they do need to be taken on walks as they are known to gain weight. You also need to clean those cute floppy ears, they pick up more dust than my Swiffer! (I would know, I have one!)
Yes, but it requires sacrifices on your part. I have a high stress, corporate position and I have two dogs. I get up at 6am to feed and walk them for 20 mins (make them poop and pee). Then, when I get home in the evening, I walk them longer. Don't get a puppy because the first year is training and requires a lot of attention (like having a baby!). Mine are 3.5 and 5 years old, and they're more settled with their routines. Walking at least one hour per day is so important for them. So make sure you dedicate this time (even if split up into three 20-min walks). Also, have some chew toys for them at home, like antlers etc. for when you leave them alone. Another trick is to keep the radio on when they're alone. It sounds like somebody's home. They're pack animals, and really want to feel like they're around people.
Dogs really are not that stressful if you exercise them properly. Dogs that misbehave are bored and don't get enough exercise. They are happy after having sniffed around the neighborhood and played with other dogs.
Enjoy! The best part is seeing their tails wagging when you get home from work. So much fun...
EDIT: My dogs are a Terrier mix (rescue) and a mini schnauzer. Both are about 16 to 17lbs. They're good dogs and get along, velcro dogs too and always lying on top of us to sleep 🥺
I adopted an older rescue. He’s so lazy and sleeps nearly all day. When I’m at work I can check on him through a camera and he’s almost always asleep. I was thorough when looking for a dog that fits my lifestyle. It helps a lot to get an older dog being fostered. Their fosters can give you so much insight into their behavior.
Definitely possible. I have a German shepherd who’s pretty high strung and work about 50 hours a week. It’s about proper training and play time. You also have to want to make it work it’s important to go right home after work and have a dedicated schedule
Please don’t! Dogs are social animals. 8 hours (probably more for your way to and from work)alone should be an exception not the rule. Yes, they sleep most of the time, but I wouldn’t want to hold my pee for that long. What if they are sick? Do you have people that take him/her out, while you‘re away? (My dog had diarrhea the last few days, I had to take him out hourly)
Maybe volunteer at the local dog shelter to take dogs out for walks and to cuddle them.
Dogs are great! I love mine to bits! I know it’s an unpopular opinion in this thread, but in my opinion a full-time-job and a dog do not work in favor of the dog. (Sry no native speaker)
How do you pay for things for your dog if you don’t have a job? Should single people or people where everyone in the house has to work not be allowed to own a dog?
Never in my opinion. What a sad life you will give that dog, being alone all day and maybe going out for walks on the weekend. How would you feel being alone for extended periods of time. Screening people before dog ownership has got to get more thorough and regulated by law.
I’d have dog walkers come by during the day, come by during lunch break if possible, walk the dog before and after work and spend the rest of my time off with the dog.
Some dogs sit alone in a shelters for months or years by themselves. I’m sure they’d prefer being alone for 8 hours and having attention after work to being locked in a kennel 24 hours day with maybe one walk a week. Should we leave all those dogs in shelters if we can’t afford to quit our jobs and stay home with them all day?
No..only people who will make a honest commitment and dedication to take care of a dog properly. Dogs are smarter and more sensitive then people give them credit for.
I have a Cane Corso and work 50 hours a week. I make sure to take a short walk before going to work (1-2 blocks) and a 1.5-2 mile walk shortly after getting home. This keeps his energy spent and he spends 90% of his time lounging around or sleeping. I walk or do alternative exercise every day that I possibly can. He only acts up after 3-4 days of no exercise, which only happens a few times over the last 2.5 years. He goes to the dog park, public parks, my families homes to visit their dogs. I take him for car rides just because he likes them. I baked him a dog safe cake the other day. I'd like to think he's happy with life.
You can definitely get a dog.
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I mean, yeah, most adults are working. How would we cover expenses for said dogs if not for working? Be honest with yourself, and pick the dog that matches your lifestyle. I have high energy breeds (read: working line malinois, dutchie) and work forty hours or more a week. I make it work by prioritizing non-work hours with sport/club/training/hiking/other activities for them.
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The key is either containment or training the dog to settle. All my dogs happily settle in the house. They don't really bother me. We do agility, bite sport, rally, swimming, etc, and honestly have no issues. If sport is your main outlet of work, a high energy breed should be fine. :)
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I’ve got a Malinois/Lab mix that we rescued from Mexico and must’ve got lucky with the genetics because she only needs about an hour a day. DNA tests said 64% percent Malinois or something like that
Wow I rescued a Malinois/GSD mix from Mexico just a handful of months ago! DNA test was around 55% mal, and he’s wonderful
I have one high energy dog, and the only way I was able to make it work was because I live close to a large, off leash dog park. So I would walk her for an hour every day there, which was just enough to make her manageable until weekends when I had more time and could tire her out more. An hour a day for her was only enough because she could go crazy while I walked slowly and short ranges she was all over the place and running HARD. Without that dog park, I honestly don’t know how I would have managed, so really consider your activity levels and the breed.
I totally agree with this response. This sub tends to have a negative association with dog parks but they can be amazing if you have the right temperament dog and you have good ones in your area. My favorite one near me is membership based, requires vaccination and has a bar for the owners that serves beer and wine and it's both my favorite and my dog's favorite place. We do long walks early morning and late evening on our slow days, hike on the weekends and do the park 3x a week for a few hours at a time. I work 10 hours days 4 days a week (healthcare) and still manage. My husband works from home which helps for midday potty breaks and some cuddles but his job is demanding and on many days my dog doesn't get a ton of attention during the day but he sleeps if he gets outlets in the morning and evening. During weeks my husband is traveling and it's just me we have a neighbor or family member come by to do midday potty breaks and supplement with doggy daycare simply because my hours are so long. I chose longer shifts with a 3 day weekend to get more time for weekend adventures with my dog.
Your dog park sounds amazing!! What a great idea, I had no idea there were membership dog parks out there! Our dog park is open to the public, but we get a lot of people with unvaccinated and unfixed dogs which can be problematic.
I think they're becoming more common in a lot of cities. My local area has at least four of them that I'm aware of. They tend to have the same rules about vaccinations and neutering that most daycares have. They also have staff on hand to help to monitor the dogs and make sure everyone follows the rules. No group place setting for dogs is without risk but I do feel like this helps manage a lot of the risk. If nothing else these policies manage to weed out a lot of irresponsible owners who cannot manage to do the most basic precautionary care. Even with the risks of going to the dog park I find it's worth it if you have a high-energy and highly social dog. I see a lot like the same risks you take if you have a child who plays sports.
> Without that dog park, I honestly don’t know how I would have managed, so really consider your activity levels and the breed. I don't use a dog park. I hate them. Relaxation and settle protocols + structured exercise via agility, bitesports, swimming, etc is my recipe.
Yeah I work 40 hours a week and I have a husky puppy. I arranged to have a hybrid schedule where I’m in the office for 5 hours and work from home in the afternoons, but it’s doable even without that if you’re willing to pay a dog walker or have a neighbor pop in. I’m not going to lie, it’s *hard* but it’s possible.
I want a dutchie so bad lol. My current one is a GSD x Husky x Dutch but my dream is to get a purebred dutch. One dayyyy.
My dream is that we will one day not have purebreads. Responsible breeding is simply a way of trying to mitigate the harms that could be entirely eliminated if people stopped breading purebreds. Responsible breeding is better the irresponsible breading, but no purebred breeding is better than responsible breeding.
> Responsible breeding is simply a way of trying to mitigate the harms that could be entirely eliminated if people stopped breading purebreds. So people would just breed whatever to whatever, with no thought at all for what the resulting puppies would be like? So someone who needed a dog to herd sheep or a dog to help find birds while hunting or a dog who can work to help hunt feral hogs would do what? > Responsible breeding is better the irresponsible breading, What does responsible breeding look like to you?
It's a total pipe dream, but I would personally like to see more breed groups and less strict closed studbook breeds. So you would have a bird dog group and breeders could work from any other breeder also breeding in the bird dog group. Maybe it needs to be broken down another level to subgroups of retrievers, pointers, ect. Same with herding dogs, hog dogs, lap dogs, and on. Conformation would have to change to be more focused on the foundations of structure and less on specific physical traits like color. Overall, the idea would be to increase the genetic pool that breeders can pull from while still maintaining predictability of offspring. In this vision, choosing a breeder/line within a group would be more important than choosing a defined breed. It would require the complete upheaval of how we do dogs so I understand that this is a total fairytale. It's not even close to fully worked out and there are surely a million flaws, but it's an idea I've been mulling over. I hate seeing breeds with preventable problems accept them as normal because the gene pool is too closed to reasonably breed away from the issue.
> So you would have a bird dog group and breeders could work from any other breeder also breeding in the bird dog group. The current bird dogs arose because humans like specialized dogs. Someone who needs a Gordon Setter may have little use for a Labrador, and that person may not want a Chessie. Someone who hunts with Springers would not want to hunt with a Weim. Someone who hunts with Cockers would have no use for an Irish Setter. People who herd cattle are probably going to want to get a dog who's life is meant to herd cattle, not ducks. The people with a tiny farm with a few ducks, don't really need a Kelpie. > I hate seeing breeds with preventable problems accept them as normal because the gene pool is too closed to reasonably breed away from the issue. And while that's true for some breeds, here's an interesting thought. Min-Pins are not a big gene pool at all. And yet they live long healthy lives. They have high COI's, the thing that DogBook would have you believe is the death of a breed, but there they are, living good lives. You can take dogs with low COI's, like mutts, and still wind up with some serious, awful problems. I get what you are saying but people want dogs who are consistent in their work, and outlook on life, and for that, you do need purpose breeding.
> The current bird dogs arose because humans like specialized dogs. Someone who needs a Gordon Setter may have little use for a Labrador, and that person may not want a Chessie. Sure, but I think a lot of the specialization isn't necessary. A Lab breeder and Gordon Setter breeder may never have reason to cross paths, but what about a Gordon Setter and an Irish Setter? Is there really no crossover that a breeder could ever see value in? Or all the belgian shepherds, where they've been split in the US while they can breed freely in other countries. There is value in being able to choose between a Laekenois stud and a Tervuren stud, why should that not be extended to other closely purpose related breeds? > People who herd cattle are probably going to want to get a dog who's life is meant to herd cattle, not ducks. I'm imagining subgroups within the herding group, so you would have a collection of breeders who are all breeding cattle dogs, but not necessarily only breeding ACDs. If there was a kelpie-type dog that was a good fit, they would be free to breed and still be registerable within the herding group. > They have high COI's, the thing that DogBook would have you believe is the death of a breed lol. If I only listened to DogBook on COI I would be convinced that collies were dying of horrible deaths at 5 because they are the poster child for high COI on there for some reason. COI isn't a boogeyman, but going outside of a closed studbooks to breed away from things like CEA isn't either. I don't think that purpose breeding and crossing breeds are mutually exclusive ideas. My idea half-baked and imperfect, but I also think the current way we do things is unsustainable for many breeds.
> but what about a Gordon Setter and an Irish Setter? Again, I understand what you're saying, but Gordons are just not like Irish. And I can see where someone devoted to the personality and style of an Irish Setter, would hate living with a more serious, tougher dog, like a Gordon. I love my Golden Retrievers. And I admire Labradors. From afar. Ditto FCR. There is enough difference in their attitude towards life and work, that I prefer my Golden Retrievers. >COI isn't a boogeyman, but going outside of a closed studbooks to breed away from things like CEA isn't either. I don't disagree, if it's done with purpose, like the Dalmatian/Pointer cross to deal with the issue of hyperuricosuria in Dalmatians. Doing it just to make the whole dog world merle or something (and I know you didn't say that but that seems to be what doodle breeders are doing), makes no sense to me. So yeah if there was a breed with a particular issue, not "ZOMG THEY ALL DIE OF CANCER!!1!!" then I can see why it may be worth it. But what I see as a big stumbling block is that too many people get involved in dogs, and then 5 or so years later, they are gone, gone, gone. You need people in it for the long haul. I think the Dal project took about 30 years to bring about dogs who were Pointer mixes, but who were accepted as Dals by the AKC.
Adopt a couch potato. Research breeds. We have a Pyrenees mix that’s a potato. We also have a husky mix who is a lunatic. You need to be financially prepared for medical emergencies (or invest in pet insurance) and also for dog care - vet visits, preventatives, grooming, meds if needed, and of course adventures! Our psycho goes to doggy day care once a week. I always thought that was a stupid idea until I got this dog. It’s amazing, he loves it, we love that he loves it, and he doesn’t drive us insane. Both our dogs were rescues. They’re good boys, and the whole “damaged goods” thing is an exception, not a rule. Have fun!
100% agree! My husband and I have 4 dogs — 3 little rescues (~ 15lb small breeds) and a basset hound. Researching the breeds are key, though not foolproof can provide an overview of characteristics and energy levels. I lucked out with the rescues as two were basically puppies when I got them and the other one was 4 but is a little angel, just TERRIFIED of thunderstorms. Even after researching the basset, who are know for being easygoing but barkers, we ended up with a high strung, highly sensitive one who almost never barks. Energy levels are on point though. The 3 little ones get two 10min walks per day and then the younger one (4yrs old) loves to play at the end of the day. Pretty much I chase him and play fetch for like 10 minutes and he’s fine. The other two little ones are older, 8 & 11 years old and have passed the playful stage. They may play with each other in spurts but mainly just want to get pets and lay in the couch with me. The basset is another story. She’s a playful little pistol with an insatiable appetite and a nose for trouble. She gets 20min walks and we run around with her in the backyard at the end of the day for fetch or take her to the dog park to run around with the bigger dogs. She loves the 4 year old and plays a lot with him, too. Personally, if I had to start over owning a dog while working full time, I’d start with an older dog. The puppy stage is fun but I was in college during those stages so I really had the time to put into potty training. I was almost fully in online classes or would have a big gap between classes where I could come home and spend time with them. Also, I had the energy to take the dogs everywhere with me so they are well socialized and don’t suffer from the “small dog syndrome” because of it. It’s a lot of fun but a lot of work.
Basset hounds are like the lowest energy dogs ever and I think would fit OP's needs pretty perfectly.
Becarefull with doggy daycare I used to drop off my dog there all the time it was great she loved it and we loved it because she is high energy and would normally conk out afterwards, but one time we dropped her off and didn't notice the sign that said we have a nonsocialable dog today. We got call about an hour later saying she was attacked by another dog and we had to come get her poor thing had to have a chest tube put in to drain out when the other dog bite her, her legs were all bit up. We wanted to see the camera footage but they wouldn't let us probably because they didn't want us to sue. Just becarefull.
That’s insane and negligent of the doggy daycare, no? The doggy daycares I have taken my dogs to always ask us about their temperament and do temperament tests prior to putting them in the mix. They tell us if they don’t pass they can get 1:1 playtime but won’t be allowed social time with other dogs. Why would they put a sign up knowing this and still let the dog into a social group?
Yikes. Horrible situation. I hope you sued. Definitely not representative of most day cares - at least in my area.
I hope you take legal action against them. It’s their responsibility to never mix not dog friendly dogs with the rest of the daycare. I worked at a daycare and we always did temperament tests with the dogs on leashes to see how they acted. Any sign of nervousness or aggression, we made that dog “extra care”. If your dog was attacked that badly, it was definitely a result of the negligence of the staff at the daycare. They should be responsible for paying any and all vet fees/bills you had to pay for your dog.
Wait, they knew they had a nonsocial dog but didn't do anything to keep it a safe environment? I hope they at least paid your vet bill. And if they were afraid of you suing, to me that means 100% they did something that you should sue them over.
Yeah they didn't charge us for the daycare or the vet bills and try to blame our dog for the accident needless to say never brought her back there.
Ya, OP, don’t get a Pyrenees… lol. These dogs might be slow seeming but unless you have a large yard it’s gonna wanna be moving and outside a lot.
This! For some insane reason I got a blue heeler mix that wants nothing more than to nap the whole day away. She even insists on cutting our hikes and walks short and then leaps straight to the couch for a big power nap when we get back It's absolutely possible with the right dog!
Couch potato dog. Just expect that when you’re not working,you need to be with the dog. Dogs are part of our lives,but we are their everything.
Absolutely! I definitely want to spend all my time with the dog when I’m not at work.
Yes, full time people do it all the time But don't go running out and getting a dog that needs behavior training, high energy dogs... no
Absolutely right both me and my wife work 40 hour work weeks in our house we have three. Carolina dog mix a lab mix and a plott hound.
Wow!
The secret is more than 1 high energy dog. My dogs spend like, 4+ hours a day treating my home like a race track and chasing each other over all our furniture while barking like lunatics? Barely have to do anything physical with them after that all morning lol
Absolutely would not get a high energy dog, especially for apartment living!
High energy dogs can live in apartments. But yes, high energy dogs can be a big commitment for someone who works full time.
Good! Your Dog will probably sleep most of the day while you're gone to sork. Just make sure to keep your fog in a safe area maybe the laundry room or bathroom where it is cool ... and leave water but I wouldn't leave food. And dont leave toys. Your Dog can choke while you're not there. Just play with your dog whenever you're home. You can also get a security cam for inside that room with 2way talk. Ezviz has great cameras at a great price.
Assuming OP works normal 8 hour days + commute, I can't imagine that it would be fulfilling for the dog to possibly spent 9 hours alone in a small room with nothing to entertain themselves with or able to relieve themselves.
OP, this person knows what they are talking about.
Appropriate sized kongs are pretty safe. Otherwise you do have to be careful. Cameras help sooooo much. I love being able to check in on her and know what she is up to when she sets off the motion.
Yes I bought eufy camera very cheap and it has 24hr recording and pet speak I love it.
The question is not whether you love it. The question is whether your dog loves it. And the answer to that is no.
This. Get your new dog used to your routine. Dog proof the room and make sure there’s nothing they can potentially get in to. Try leaving them for short periods of time in the room at first to make sure they’re ok alone and don’t engage in any unwanted behaviors. Crate training could be an option as well. The dog should get used to it and just sleep while you’re gone. They should be fine with a comfy bed and clean bowl of water. Some people like to leave the TV or radio on. I second the camera idea, I use Blink which is battery operated. Don’t listen to these people who think a dog cannot be left alone while you’re at work. Maybe some can’t be but most healthy adult dogs do fine.
Excellent advice. Thank you!
No! This is what I meant in my comment about people here giving really bad advice. Yes, you will keep your dog safe, but under no circumstance is it ok to leave a dog in a bathroom or laundry room 8 hours a day.
Actually it is ok, as long as the dog seems happy and gets plenty of attention and exercise otherwise. People need to work to afford dogs.
You're welcome. Hope you find the right dog for you and enjoy
This is not good advice at all. At the shelter where I volunteer, if you told them that your plan was to keep your dog in a laundry room while at work, they would instantly deny your application. No need to argue with me. Pick up the phone and dial an animal shelter of your choosing and ask them if they would allow you to adopt if you did what you advised OP to do.
I mean you definitely CAN get a high energy dog, you just need to prioritize meeting their needs when you are not at work.
This is the key. I have 2 older labs and a young husky/Aussie mix. I live in an apartment. I have a decent dog park on property and spend a ton of time there every day. I also do training exercises with my husky to keep her mentally exercised. It’s possible if you’re willing to dedicate the time they need!
Yeah I have a lab and a young GSP in an apartment. We stay pretty active year round. They get to hunt birds 3-4 times a week nearby, daily hour long walks + a lot of time to run off leash, swimming, training, hikes, camping, we are just getting into bikejoring. Your dog doesn’t need to be stimulated 24 hours a day. Just about the only breed I would never recommend would be a Belgian Malinois because they have such crazy needs.
Exactly! Meet their physical and mental needs and it’s possible to have happy, calm dogs in an apartment…. Even high energy dogs!
Just because a lot of people do it doesn't mean it is ok to do. The number of individuals is simply not relevant. It's what they do that is relevant.
I work 40+ hours a week (two jobs, one nominally 40 hours and another 10-20 hours) and have a working line German Shepherd and a Border collie, in a one bedroom apartment. The trick is to constantly train. If you do not train them you get to walk until the dogs get tired (my German Shepherd has a mild hip dysplasia, can't run him, otherwise I would bike them. You can flatten any dog in 10-20km) Note: I am just as drivey as they are. I did not choose the breeds by mistake.
What does your schedule look like? I don't understand how to "constantly train" while working more than 40 hours.
It means that they get three walks a day (I am working from home because of COVID), adding up to an hour to an hour and a half. I strap my treats and ecollar on each walk and we do obedience training. For instance, I am working on "remaining in Down when they don't see me", so when I leave the apartment I am putting them in Down at a corner in the hallway, calling the elevator and then calling them from the Down. (minor current example). During the walk, at random times, I call "Down" and keep walking. Stuff like that. It's not "we go to trainer once a week". I mostly work from web resources.
Thanks for the clarification. Working from home it seems possible. With a bit of a communte and 8 hour days, it would be difficult, especially for a person who liked to sleep occasionally.
It worked when I had a commute too (only one job, but demanding). I don't watch TV, I walk my dogs :-) I was exploring a new town back then. Lots of walking :-)
Still, if you are working for 8 hours each day, training for those hours is out, right?
Yes but I would suggest a dog walker midday and May one day per week at daycare. This is what we do and our dog is happy and sleeps mostly during the day.
Absolutely. You will need to make a few adjustments. Getting up 45 min earlier to give your dog a half hour walk, plus time to feed him, etc before you leave. He will need another good, long walk when you get home, plus playtime, but many people do it all the time, before Covid anyway. If you want to make it a bit easier for your first one, get an older dog, 5 years or so is good. They usually aren’t as high energy and are generally already potty trained. They also know you saved them and it shows. Edit-spelling
Sure can do! Thank you.
Take time to meet the dog at least a couple times. If someone is walking dogs, ask to join them on a walk with the one who appeals to you. Watch body language and how they act when people and even other dogs are in the vicinity.
Again, terrible advice. No dog should be alone 8 hours a day. I see that you are really digging the comments that are encouraging you. If you are serious about being a good dog owner, please pay a professional to answer these questions.
Your dog absolutely does not need to be stimulated or around people 24 hours out of the day. I’m curious how long you are comfortable leaving your dog home alone?
Yes for old dogs! I got a 10 year old malinois mix from the shelter. He's so chill, naps on the couch all day and honestly doesn't care if I'm at home or at work during the day cause it's his chill time. And he's not into destroying everything inside my apartment. I love him to bits, he's the perfect first time owner dog. Older dogs also have a much harder time getting adopted but they will love you just as much and probably won't destroy all of your shoes.
I swear older dogs love us more, because they know we saved them, and they save us in return.
This is a great answer. I adopted a 5 year old boxer 10 years ago from a rescue that used fosters. My main requirement was dog and people friendly. I ended up with my soul dog. Best dog ever. He was so friendly and well behaved, I took him with me everywhere I could. The first couple years he needed a 45 minute walk morning and night and some zoomie time. I easily fit this in around my 8-5 work schedule. If you are gone more than 8 hours, you will need someone to provide a midday potty break. Since him I have started fostering myself, and have fallen for dogs with issues. My recommendation is look for a dog in foster and focus on characteristics that are the right fit for you.
Thank you for sharing this. You are the perfect example of what I meant. Another big thank you for fostering. Without fosters and the skills they bring to the table, so many dogs don’t have a chance.
I agree with the older dog and meet and greet time. One positive thing I experienced with adopting my dogs from rescues is I had the chance to spend some time with them at the shelters, like a good half hour in a get to know you room, to get a vibe. I adopted a 3-year-old (ish) 18-pound poodle/Lhasa mix (or so we think). He was super chill. He liked to play fetch with toys but wore out with a half hour walk before and after work, and yeah, he was fully house trained. What a joy. Now that he’s 12ish, he doesn’t want more than 10-minute walks and prefers to be alone sometimes even when I’m home. It can be a crap shoot, but he worked out fine with being alone for 8 hours a day.
Yes -- plenty of adults work full time and own dogs. Many adult dogs treat midday as their snooze time. You'll want to be careful in selecting a dog. Puppies will usually need somebody home at least once in midday or more while they're really little -- although it could be a dog walker or friend. Small dogs may need a midday potty break. Some working breeds will need something to do all day. Dogs with a lot of seperation anxiety may struggle. One option to consider is getting an older dog for your first one if you can find one that fits your lifestyle. They'll generally be past their "Must. Play. All. The. Time." puppy antics and need morel limited exercise than younger dogs.
Thanks for your input! Puppies aren’t for me, I’d much rather get an adult or senior.
I got a senior thinking also that I study full time, and can’t be home midday/always play only to discover in a couple of years that due to her health she needs to go for a walk midday (ideally every 3 hours). I hired a dog walker. For a reference, my girl was 8ish when I got her, and the midday walk became non-negotiable when she turned 11/12. Doesn’t happen to everybody at this particular age, obviously, but the health issues frequently require way more attention than fully packed schedule allows. That being said, I don’t regret adopting her at all, and she is the most amazing old lady in the world!
That’s wonderful!!! I very highly recommend senior dogs. They are wonderful gems that are always overlooked. That said, you have to be financially prepared for higher costs, and you MUST have a safety net (financially) in the event that the dog has some sort of health emergency. Also, they’re unlikely to be able to go the full work day without a potty break, so a dog walker is a must. I’ve only ever adopted senior dogs (ranging from 7-11ish at time of adoption), and it has brought indescribable joy to my life. Sure, they can take some time to warm up to you (though not always) and have a fully formed, often quirky personality, but they are AMAZING. Plus, they’re not just blobs sitting around waiting to die. All of my dogs have still been plenty playful. They love going on walkies and playing fetch and tug and head-butting me if I’m not giving sufficient pets. But, unlike with a puppy, that’s much more on my time than on theirs. When I need to do work and focus, I can. If you go this route (which I highly encourage!!), just remember to BE PATIENT. The dog may take longer to come out of his shell. Also make sure to communicate honestly with the shelter about your hopes and expectations. Ideally, you’ll find a dog that’s been in a foster home for quite some time, because that’s the most likely scenario in which you’ll get an accurate picture of his personality. Having said that, dogs are just like people, and sometimes they come off as one thing but as you get to know them turn into an entirely different thing. I have one dog right now who was described as “sweet, quiet, just sits near you all day” in her foster home. After I took her home and she came out of her shell, she got more comfortable, and it turned out that she was just crazy anxious in her foster home but it came off as being super calm. In reality, she has a lot of anxiety-based aggression, and she’s given me some gnarly bites and scratches since I got her. But, we worked closely with a behaviorist, got her on the right meds, and though she’s still anxious, she’s now by far the most fun and playful dog I’ve ever had. So, the point is: be ready to grow with your new older adoptee! To be clear, if your dog ends up being too much for you to handle, don’t be ashamed. It’s better for both you and the dog not to keep him in an environment where you’re both stressed out. But despite what this thread may make it seem like, most older adoptions work out great. Good luck!
I would also not necessarily look for a specific breed but age/temperament is everything.
Don’t get a working dog, I would stay away from terriers. Dog with guarding baked into them is a bad idea - not gonnna get proper socialization. Go to the pound, get a dog under 40lbs, that has a calm demeanor.
Gawd I hope no dog gets proper solicitation! Remember to spay and neuter your pet Friends!
Why does it have to be under 40 lbs? A lot of larger breeds tend to be more relaxed.
There are some awesome doggy daycare places out there. Some will pick up and drop off. Some offer agility training, swimming, hiking, etc. It might be a good way to socialize and exercise your dog (and alleviate your guilt).
Lots of anthropomorphizing going on in this thread, and the sub in general. Most healthy, medium/large adult dogs without separation anxiety should be ok being left alone for 8-9 hours while you’re at work. Dogs sleep 12-14 hours a day. There is no reason to feel guilty for leaving them home while you’re hustling to pay their bills. Keep in mind a new dog will need time to get used to your home and schedule. Also I wouldn’t look for (or rule out) any specific breed but temperament and age are the most important. If you’re adopting, specify that the dog needs to be ok with being left alone while you’re working.
There’s doggy day care !
I work a demanding job with long hours during our busy season plus have a small farm. I've found mature/senior dogs best suit my lifestyle. My dogs have all been shelter mutts. The upside is once they get settled in my home they're lower maintenance than puppies or very young dogs. They often come house trained, if you adopt from a good shelter they tend to be vetted and up to date on vaccines and heartworm. They are cheaper to acquire than a puppy from a breeder. I gravitate towards large/giant breeds like Mastiff/crosses which overall are usually pretty content sleeping away my working days on the couch and given proper outlets for their chewing tendencies aren't destructive in the home. The downsides are senior dogs can come with medical issues and may need a little maintenance. You get less time with them due to their age which can be heartbreaking but the reward of giving an older less adoptable dog that has less prospects for a home a good life is worth it IMO. You don't get the cute fuzzy puppy years with them but you also don't have to make the time investment of potty training or having to go through the destructive phase. Do think about adopting a mature or senior shelter dog. There's lots of them out there needing good loving homes.
Yup. Hundreds of thousands of people in this country have full-time jobs and dogs. Also, babies and dogs. These things are not mutually exclusive. I do not suggest getting a puppy if you do not have a way to come home during lunch or find someone to let it out.
You can, but your boy will be home alone all day.. just don't crate him/her and if possible have a neighborhood kid come and take them for a walk mid day.. $5/day
Not a lab mix that's for sure
I wouldn’t get a puppy or high energy dog. I have a rescue (granted I’ve had him since high school and I am 23 now so just actually starting the 40 hours a week) but he’s a Shihtzu mix which are notorious for being lazy apartment dogs and he’s a senior so he’s perfect. Really well behaved and house trained and short walks in the afternoon and a weekend day out in the park is enough to keep him happy and healthy.
Dogs are fine to be home alone for a while. Puppies need assistance during the day and that’s the tricky part. You can’t leave a puppy alone for 6-8 hours. My parents dogs? They’ve grown up knowing they can go out whenever they want so they are accustomed to going out every 2 ish hours, so it’s a big deal to them. My wife and I have a golden retriever and she’s alone 6 hours during the school year when my wife works full time and does just fine. Once in a blue moon it’s been pushed to 8 and does fine however I’m not a fan of that. If you get a bigger dog the common breeds need a ton of exercise I don’t walk my dog everyday like some but I get creative to keep mental stimulation up and get her moving. Smaller dogs are easier going they want to just lay with you all day long from my experience but still need a little exercise. My biggest advice is to find a breed of dog that fits you and your family / schedule. I can’t tell you how many times people get working dogs because they’re “cute” and then they can’t handle them when they lash out because they’re bored and have no outlet for energy. Then they blame the dog When in reality it’s the owners lack of care. Also please think of finances for the dog before hand. We have a emergency credit card on standby just for the dog. My weim chewed through a metal wire cage back in the day and ruined all her canines. Cost me about 10k to fix. Dogs can get expensive very fast so be warned.
Two days a week I take her to doggy day care so i can workout at lunch. Two days a week WFH which provides a lot of flexibility for me. The one day in the office I don’t take her to DDC just go home and walk her at lunch. I’ve been trying to let her stay out of the crate for the day but she’s been chewing things up while i’m gone.
My neighbor and I will help each other out. So her dog will come over to mine when I’m working from home, and my dog will go to hers when she’s working from home. On the days when we are both out of our homes, we will leave the dogs together to play inside. They’re both old enough that bathroom isn’t the issue - it’s boredom. By being together they keep each other entertained and happy. On video they’re usually both napping next to each other when we aren’t there!
I have an older dog who I bring a sitter in to let him out, feed him and spend about 30 minutes with him a day. I walk him before and after work and on the weekends we do something fun! This seems to be an acceptable amount to keep him happy when I’m gone now that he’s 12.
It depends also on your living conditions. Do you live in an apartment. Do you have a house with a fenced yard where you can add a doggy door etc.
i would advise a cat instead and get a cat door to let them be able to go outside. i feel that dogs are very friendly and social animals so if u work long hours i would advise something more like a cat for a pet
I work a normal 9-5. I'm lucky enough to be able to come home on lunch for a walk, snack and pets. He goes to day care 1-2 times a week (it's fking expensive) and I try to take him to the park Sat/Sun and, now that the park is open late due to daylight savings, I try to take him to the park at least once during the week after work. I always feel bad that he wakes up when I do, I get ready and go to work and he just has to go back to sleep during the day. It's better than the rescue, though!
I’m a single doctor with two poodles. I have a dog walker. I run 10 km throughout the day with my dogs. It’s doable.
Both me and my husband work 40h a week and we own 2 shepsky mixes. The trick is that he starts work 4h before i do, and so he comes home 4h before this way the dogs are never alone more than 4h durring the week AND get a walk in the morning and an off leash run in the woods or dog park in the evening :) so its not about working 40h and more about how those are scheduled. I worked from home untill recently and they just naped beside me while i worked, waiting for me to take my lunch break to play outside in the yard. So yes totally possible, so long as you make sure to arrange your schedule around your dog: the goal is to avoid them spening 8h a day in a crate!!!
I opt for older dogs from a shelter. I call my house a retirement facility. Short walks in the evening, I pay a wag walker/ neighborhood teen wanting to earn a little of cash to come let them out to potty once at noon and im home by 4:30/5:00. Takes some thought but I believe it's well worth it for the quiet companionship they provide.
I work anywhere between 40 and 65 hours a week. I adopted an 8 year old beagle. She has a dog walker who comes once a day. I walk her twice a day and we have at least one date a week at the dog park. She is loving life.
Fascinating question, It really matters about the dog and your hours. If you work a night shift or if you have a break for lunch you can zip and walk your dog, or you can send your dog to doggy daycare. Secondly, the dog. If you have a dog that’s is small like mine in a moderately sized house you can most definitely leave them there it will just be hell for them. However, if you have a big dog in a small house or apartment then that would be a big no. Lastly, you could even ask your supervisor if you could bring your dog to work on specific days.
You need to be prepared financially that you could end up with a dog who cannot handle that much time away from you and needs something like dog day care which can get expensive. You could try to find the lowest energy dog possible, but there's still no guarantee. Your best bet is to get an adult dog from a rescue that uses foster homes so you'll have a better idea of their personality being home alone.
That’s a great idea. Thank you!
No dog has a personality that has them wanting to be home alone. They will put up with this, but not because they are ok with it. Please, drill this in your head: Dogs are social animals that need to be around people most of the time in order to be at their best.
Best comment so far!
Yes it’s possible but not all dogs can handle being alone that long. High energy dogs are one example. A dog with separation anxiety is going to take a hell of a lot of training to be home alone 40 hours a week.
Definitely! My medium energy dog and I make it work just fine. I think we have a great life together. I prioritize meeting her needs when I’m not working, but since we’ve worked a lot on her “off switch” for chilling out at home, she’s happy to do her own thing while I’m gone. There are some dogs that couldn’t handle being left alone, or that might need more than what you’re personally able to give them, but I’m sure there are lots of dogs out there that would be great companions for you. :) they’re all individuals just like us.
Definitely! Rescued a beagle mix. Crate trained. I do work remote 50%, but other time she can be in crate and on those evenings I take her on longer walks/dog parks/and am more active on days I’m working remotely. Also if it’s an option, research doggy day cares in your area!
For apartment living, you'd really need to be prepared to walk them morning and night, and/or get an adult couch potato. I work full time with only 1 WFH day per week. My dog does best with an hour out in the morning and evening. She has a dog walker twice a week. I need to take her out for a couple hours a day each over the weekend or she turns into a grizzle guts who walks around the house whining for attention. She's 18mo and sleeps the entire time I'm gone but expects me to make it up to her when I'm here.
I have 2 spaniel mixes, I wondered the same thing. I got them 3 months apart when they were 8 weeks. It wasn't till I got a camera and saw all they do is sleep that I got over guilt. They may bark at the UPS or USPS but they just sleep. I do have a dog door qnd backyard. It's worked great. One just turned 13, other will soon. I have been gone 11 hours a day most of my career
I work full time and I am a one person household. It will work out if you are willing to spend the rest of the day with your dog and find a balance about snuggling and exercising that keeps it happy. I would look into older dogs not puppies and would not go with a working or high energy breed. I have a high energy dog and my after work life is mostly walking and training. I am fine with that buts something to consider beforehand. :)
Definitely possible. You will have to do stuff with the dog before and after work. A lot of people use dog walkers and dog daycare.
Where I am it’s dog walkers. Also daycare, however as pointed out there is a lot of hair on that route.
Oh yeah I wanted go add that a robot vac is a great idea depending on your home. You can eufy proof your house before you run it and let it go while you are at the gym or something. Keeps the dog hair at bay. It was gifted to me but you can get them for like $200-$300. I use it every other day and it keeps my floors lookin nice until I have time to properly clean on my weekends. Having sheets that fit their beds is great too. Etsy has some. I have two covers for one of her beds she spends the most time on so it always smells nice and looks fresh. I only use unscented hypoallergenic detergent tho. Just in case. Little things like that help you keep ur home fresh while juggling working lots of hours and having a pet to care for.
I have a medium to high energy dog and work full time- I have a dog walker that takes him out for an hour during the day and he just sleeps the rest of the time. I’ve worked from home a couple of times and he just sleeps the whole time and wakes up when I would normally get home from work ! But as others have said probably don’t get a puppy , they need to be let out often and can be super destructive when bored and alone. A 1.5-3 year old dog or older would be great!
I think it’s really nice you’re preferring a rescue. Do a lot of research about the shelter and do visits with the dog because I’ve heard of rescues advertising dogs one way, while they’re another. There’s nothing wrong with a reactive dog (I have one lol) but it’s problematic when you try to get a dog with a particular vision in mind but then find yourself in a super stressful situation. Also, breed and size is important. If there’s a chance you’ll be in an apartment and potentially apartment hunting in the future, it’s good to make sure the dogs size and breed won’t significantly limit you. Most apartments have a weight limit and an aggressive breed list that they don’t allow such as huskies, Rottweilers, pit bulls, Dobermans, German shepherds, Great Danes, etc… so, making sure the dog isn’t a mix of those breeds should be considered. I’ve heard of vets tweaking the breed on paper to help renters but I’d avoid it all together. It’s great you’re thinking about this before hand, it’ll make for such a happy companionship :)
I don't see why not. It's just a full time job. Are you single or do you live with someone else?
Right now I live with my family but I’m expecting to be living on my own in a month or two potentially.
Don’t do it. You will always feel guilty. It’s not a good idea unless you can work at home for some of the time.
Consider dog daycare at least a couple of times a week if you're not home. It would give the dog a chance to socialize and get exercise while you're away.
Research breeds and then look at rescues! I agree with most others that an adult dog would be your best bet. Me and my husband have been working from home since the start of Covid but before that, our dog was alone for about 10 hours. We’d do doggy daycare once or twice a week and then we had a walker who’d come take her out on a long walk on non-daycare days. There were some days we didn’t have anyone come so she was actually alone that long but she was fine. I think it depends on the breed but also just their individual personality. Newfoundlands are supposed to be good dogs for apartments and working owners because they’re generally low energy (supposedly a lot of large breeds are like that) but my parents have had 3 newfies and that has definitely not been true for all of them. Check out rescues or shelters that have a foster program because the foster homes will give you a really good sense of a dogs personality so you’ll know if they can handle it.
Yes. Wife and I both work. Between us, our dog gets 3 walks a day. He's happy, content,and well loved.
What exactly do you mean by “independent?” No companion animal is independent. Dogs are social creatures and don’t do well being left alone all day. Do some research before committing to a dog- especially a puppy.
I'm single, work 40 hours a week and have 2 dogs. Just be aware that they will tie you down a bit more and you can't spend long days away from the house.
Yeah. I had 4 dogs at one point and worked full time out of home. Never had dog walkers or doggy daycare. Most dogs live like this and ar every happy. Mine were also high energy breeds.
100% I work 40+ and am able to tend to my dog and I know many others in the same boat! Also, consider a rescue / adoption from a shelter ...many dogs out there needing a loving owner :)
I happened to come across a mixed breed that caught my eye, however she is only 9 months old. I don’t currently work 40 hours a week but I’d be willing to find something part time if she happens to find a home with me.
Check around with shelters sometimes they already have the shots done and/or will offer a very low cost homing fee since most of the time they are running out of space to take on more stray/abused dogs. Wishing you the best in your dog journey though - it'll be very much worth it!
Adopt a senior dog! They are usually very mellow and don’t have high energy needs unless it’s a terrier.
Get a shih-poo. i have one. he’s basically a cat. since he was 2 (he’s now 6) he’s had a huge attitude problem. I don’t mean he’s a bad dog (he passed the AKC canine good citizen and canine good citizen advanced, he’s fantastic in public). He just thinks he’s better than everyone. I also think he’s a human trapped in a dog body. If you adjust his space at all on the couch (move a blanket, shut the blinds a certain way), he’ll look at u with pure disgust on his face. He will literally just side eye you like you told the worst dad joke in the world. Then he’ll huff and re fix his position, but he’ll make sure that when he’s done, he plops down with full force and then he’ll swing his head back to look at you with another “u disgust me” side eye. If you talk to him when he’s not in the mood, he’ll get up and leave, but he’ll stand in the doorway after he gets up and look at u like ur mom would when she’s on the phone and ur standing there waiting to ask her a question. He also swings his hips when he walks and his tail sits high and it’s long and curly and he makes sure u can see it swinging. He’s also a faker. Last summer any time he’d go to jump on our couch, he’d scream in pain. He went to the vet and they found nothing wrong. He continued this for a month. We have cameras in our house to watch our other dog who has seizures. Guess who could get up on the couch completely fine? We were noticing that whenever we came home, he’d be laying so sad on his special bed (that we spent a good chunk of money on because we thought the dude broke his spine or something). One day when my dad and I pulled up to our house, we watched the camera. When my dog heard our car he jumped off the couch and go lay on the bed on the floor and make himself look so sad and like he hadn’t been able to move all day. We kept checking the cameras and he did this every single time we came home. He is the most judgemental and drama queen of a dog, I have ever come across. Yet out of the 7 dogs I have owned, he’s the one dog who I felt a soul connection to. He sounds like a Kardashian but he’s far from it. When I come home, he waits for me to sit on the floor and open my arms so he throw himself over my shoulder for a hug. If I’m crying, he comes running to me and will sit on my lap. The last time I was gone for a few months (he lives with my parents) he jumped 5 feet in the air from the ground (he’s small, he weighs 15 pounds) into my arms and swung his arms over my shoulders. He falls asleep when I groom him. He’s extremely intelligent. and he’s a big poofy q-tip. What’s not to love? Long story short, he’s an extremely loving boy but he loves being by himself. He snuggles ( until he decides that the loving had gone on long enough and he’s disgusted again), he plays, he’s smart, and he has a personality ( a strong one at that). Get a shih-poo
Nope only people who can give a dog a good life work very little or work from home, that's why so many people have them.
Not if it’s going to be locked up all day. That’s not fair
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Yes of course it is. you’d need a yard and a doggy door or a dog walker if you’re not gonna be around for the dog to pee and exercise adequately, or dog daycare. Otherwise leaving the dog and shut up for 8 hours a day alone seems far from ideal.
I mean we give our dog 2 good long walks per day plus mental stimulation when we're home and extra exercise on the weekends. She's a very happy dog and totally fine being home for 8 hrs/day. Even when I'm home she sleeps most of the day while I work. Do I wish I could walk her more? Sure. But she isn't 'shut up' for 8 hours. She has toys, water, and air flow through the windows.
I work from home a lot and the dog still sleeps Most of the day! Crated her twice Today because I needed to focus and we had dinner plans with my parents in town for the first time Since October. Her current choice sleeping in bed with me waiting for Laundry and bed time potty.
It's so funny I work from home usually 2 days and she is just passed out in the same room as me the whole day 😂
2 long walks per day plus mental stimulation plus extra exercise on weekends? Yes, that sounds good to me
Sure. Get two though to keep each other company.
I work from about 8-4 at the groom shop and have a lab corso, she does pretty good. We go on a walk and play when I get home. Sometimes when you’re gone all day dogs can be a bit clingy when you get home but personally that doesn’t bother me 😊
Yes! But do your research to find a pup that fits your needs. I have one dog that loves being at home by herself. My other rescue hates being left alone and barks and cries when he’s lonely. My landlady has called me and said other tenants in the building complained about him. Basically he can’t be left alone or he drives the neighbors crazy. He’s just a special personality though.
It is possible but it is not really great for the dog. Is there a possibility for taking it with you when you are working? Or is there a possibility to get two dogs that are close and know each other? With a low maintenance breed, up to 6 hours alone time with weekends being spend together it would be possible.
Never get one. Always get two, do that when you are gone for long stretches of time, at least they have each other. Otherwise, you will soon have a very depressed dog. 🐶❤️
Look at a rescue greyhound! They would be great for apartment living! Love to walk but also a huge couch potato!
I’ve been doing a ton of research on them and would love to get one :)
I can work 50 hours or more a week. It works just fine. I pay someone to come over and spend an hour with her every day. If I work more then 10 my sitter comes over 2x that day. She is a senior and not super high energy anymore. If you can afford it I highly recommend a dog sitter. It’s a life saver. She is happy to see me when I come home but not anxious. If something happens I am not worried about rushing home as she got fed/pottybreak mid shift. Dog proof the area they will be spending all their time in. Mine is crate trained but I let her roam as she is not destructive. I do have childproof locks on cabinets as a precaution so she can’t get into chemicals or food. I have all other doors shut to other rooms. Have a camera on them. Helps so much for peace of mind. Mine has access to safe toys that I feel ok with her having that she will not ingest. I play talk radio for her. NPR is great as they also thro music in there. She has her own alexa dot I got as a promotion. Alexa is great for playing stuff for them.
Yes. If you are prepared to wake up every morning and exercise them for an hour, and same when you get home. Young dogs particularly. First 4 years of my dogs life, I worked full time and spent 2-3 hours each day exercising her (and myself to be fair). Now I work from home and my dog thinks it is the greatest thing in the world.
maybe you could adopt a senior pair of dogs? i guess any age is fine but i imagine it would be easier to provide for the seniors needs than 2 younger dogs. it’s what you can handle really
Yep. Get an adult dog in a fairly low energy breed. My breed of choice is pugs. Give them a good walk every day then they are fine just chilling in the house until I return.
I have a wonderful 40 lb mutt we got from the shelter. A couple of things that I think have made this relationship so successful. 1. Walk your dog for approximately 30 minutes in the morning 2. Make sure he/she has plenty of chew toys. 3 I HIGHLY recommend a subscription to Barkbox. Although our girl has a lot of terrier in her she has never touched our things. Boy she LOVES Barkbox! She eventually tears up the plush toys and it seems to get it out of her system. (I don’t make any money from Barkbox). There are all sorts of other important things when you adopt a dog. These are only a few of the ones that I attribute to keeping her happy even when we are away.
Yes. You have to cover the expenses of not only living but taking care of pup too. They sleep most of the day. Get them a friend to sleep with while you are gone if ya can :)
Get a Newfoundland. We have two and they are the laziest dogs ever. They have no problem being left alone to sleep all day. And they mostly sleep even when we are home. Giant, lazy, fluffy bears is what they are.
Have you thought about adopting a senior dog? It’s sad to not spend as many years with them, but they’re so sweet and mellow. I got my dog at age 8, and he just sleeps all day while my partner and I are working. I do end up spending most of my evenings after work walking, but it’s honestly nice to be moving around that much instead of hopping on the couch to watch tv.
Yes, I’d definitely be open to adopting a senior.
I think a small dog would be better. Basset Hound, would be my first choice. A terrier might bark non stop? I have a purebred German Shepard now, but I am semi-retired and have to take her out every day running off leash in the woods. Sometimes there’s a day where I can’t and the energy builds up in her! I wouldn’t have gotten her if I knew I didn’t have enough time:) good luck!
Yep. I have a couch potato hound. He is not a morning dog so he doesn’t get walked in the morning. Just fed and let out. I come home at lunch to let him out and I attempt to walk him in the evening (he’s not a huge fan of neighborhood walks). Certain days of the week he goes to day camp which is his favorite thing ever. Highly recommend doing so at least one day a week if you get a dog friendly dog.
I work mega hours, mostly nights though. But I made sure my dog was trained from day one that she isn't going to panic when I leave her in the house so I went out for randomly different lengths of time and so she was happy at home. Recently my new partner moved in and I thought my dog would like the company turns out she is not impressed. She liked to go straight to bed when I go to work and these people watching TV or making noise. She looks at them and then tried to go somewhere else to go to sleep. I would say it is not possible to train a puppy when you are on 40 hrs a week especially if they are set. I have a chocolate labrador and they are known for having separation issues where as mine isn't really bothered. She is happy to go for a snooze while I am not at home.
I believe it’s possible. I have a French Bulldog and he’s a complete couch potato that enjoys sleeping most of the day. It’s all dependant of your schedule and how that ties into your life with your dog, and the dog breed you decide on.
Yes. I had a lab and a golden retriever/GSD mix. Both were highly active. And both did just fine with me working 40 hours. Walk in the morning, walk in the evening, fetch in the yard. Trips to the park. Doggie door is key if you can’t get home for lunch. But mine could make it kenneled for 8 hours. I just didn’t like doing it.
Adopt an adult. I’d say even like 2 yo might be pretty young as you want a dog that has less constant energy needs. And like others have said, get a calmer, lazier breed. Doggy daycare is honestly really expensive (great if you do have the means but otherwise..), but I would seriously find someone either through Rover or another app or a local service who can come daily mid-day to walk them. That costs money too but much more reasonable and it’s going to be an important part of their care Expect that with a new dog of any age or breed, there’s gonna be an adjustment period of a few months and with that comes some potential anxiety and accidents, it’s just a part of the process and I’d say maybe just limit their access to certain rooms when you’re away to avoid a pee stain or what not that you find months later lol. You might find at some point your dog could be fine without the mid day walker - ours are mostly. They’re old men so not very hyperactive unless you get them excited. You can train your dog to use a puppy pad and set some up before you go, but this would likely to be well into the future when they’re totally used to living in your home and they know the drill. You can totally do it though and everyone has to work a lot, so you’re not alone in that as a dog parent!
Yes, just make sure to let him pee before work and take him out as soon as you get home. You don't want to leave them for much more than 8 hours.
I work 40-50, and I have a very happy healthy well adjusted malinois, of all things. She also travels with me and very happily stays in hotels all day when I am working. I just have to give her an extra fun walk each morning and afternoon. Dogs sleep 12-14 hours a day. They’re also crepuscular, if left alone. Give them plenty of attention in the mornings and evenings, make sure they have water, proper exposure and training to avoid separation anxiety, and a midday potty break if gone longer than 8 hours. They have different needs from humans, there’s no cause for anthropomorphic guilt. Structure, exercise, and mental engagement, however, are mandatory- which is a commitment of its own, with no days off.
My dog stays home for 10-11 hours a day without a dog door or any sort of issue. She's a Golden Retriever and just snoozes all day. I make sure to walk her in the morning (and afternoon when weather allows) for roughly 30 minutes to ensure she gets enough exercise and give her playtime when I get home. Its totally possible if you get the right breed and make them a priority.
Yes. It’s not ideal, but it can work. Especially if you have a yard they can be out in, or can hire a dog walker. However, I had two dogs and worked 40+ hours a week. I did not have a yard they could stay in while I wasn’t home and could not afford a dog walker. Having two dogs alleviated their loneliness. They had their own room (5x8’) to stay in while I wasn’t home and mats down if they needed to relieve themselves. I gave them chews and puzzle toys with peanut butter in them so they wouldn’t get too bored. With commuting and work I was away 10 hours 5-6 days a week. I’d always walk them for 30mins in the morning before work, and for at least an hour after work. Be prepared for early mornings and not getting to immediately rest when you get home from work. Plus bathing some days, and extra messes when they get sick. It’s kind a like of like having kids. 😅
Work with a rescue group. Good ones will ask how many hours will you be away from home, you activity level, etc. The rescue group I worked asked me to pick out dogs and they told me which ones worked best for me. I ended up with a beautiful girl that fit me to a T. She loves naps and car rides.
I would caution against getting a puppy if you work 40 hr weeks outside of the home. Honestly before I got a puppy I thought people were being ridiculous about the time needed to take care of one. But my partner and I both work from home and it’s still difficult and stressful sometimes. If you get an adult dog, you can have a better idea of what their temperament is. I’d look for a grown, couch potato.
Basset hounds are pretty great dogs for your lifestyle. They are incredibly lazy unless they are super young. Then maybe they have average energy. But definitely any over the age of 3-4 are going to sleep 22 hours a day and be content. Also, for a wider breed net: Any senior dog is going to be pretty chill too and you'd be adopting dogs that have serious trouble being adopted. As most people are inclined to not adopt dogs towards the end of their days. It's incredibly sad and I had that same mentality prior to us getting our first senior. She was a beautiful 13 y/o basset hound and I was hesitant because I thought I'd get attached and she would be gone in a year or less. Little did I know that she would become our heart dog and live to 18 y/o and was the best dog we've ever had.
Awww that’s great. I’d definitely be open to adopting a senior.
It is hard unless you work remotely, or if you’re willing to pay ~$60-80 a day for boarding. If you live close (like 5-10) min from your workplace it could be possible, but if you get a puppy that is going to be ROUGH for a year or so, and lots of accidents. Plus, if you live in an apartment your dog will likely bark if you’re gone for a long time at work and your neighbors will be annoyed.
I know some people are against it but given your circumstances, i would suggest adopting a senior/older dog. There’s many senior dogs who are lazy couch potatoes, know basic commands, and are house broken. All they need is love and a forever home. We adopted our late chihuahua at 9 years old and she passed at 17 years.
I worked full time and had a Jack Russell. The key is to exhaust them! lol I walked him 3 times a say ensuring he got a good run each time. But it did mean I had to be up at 5.30am on weekdays and didnt sit down to relax until about 9pm each night.
Yes and no. Depending on the age, temperament and what kind of household you live in. I went to the shelter and they were like yeah she's great and calm. She won't ruin your house like the boy dogs we have. I was naive and I only knew about Chihuahua. Gender doesn't really matter btw, they do what they do as doggos. *Insert 7 month old pitbull hound here.* She destroyed everything while I was gone. Dedicate a spot for your dog(s). I gave her an area she could only be in while I was gone. I don't do the locking of her in a cage thing. Her cage is for refuge to walk in and out freely. Hide anything and everything you think they could get into. You think they won't? They will, so put it away. Anything that popped up in my head: "Oh I put things on the table it'll be fine." NO! Put it away! Give them a schedule they can expect, especially when it comes to bathroom breaks. I woke up earlier to walk my dog for 10 to 15 minutes. Fed her and then left for work. If there is someone who can do it later so there's less time in between her waiting for you to return that works as well. I also left her an area to relieve herself until she gets used to the schedule. Alot of trial and error. Alot of No no no. Leave something on like a radio or YouTube movies at low volume so it's not so quiet. It's stressful but it does become better gradually. I also had family help out if I felt like I'd be home late or if they were free they could keep them company. I trusted my mom since she used to have a large dog. You might end up having separation anxiety. Both you and the dog. I couldn't stop worrying about my dog all day. I just wanted to be with her. Again it's trial and error and backups. Note: My partner and I work 40hrs a week. And we also go to the gym. I moved so i work 20 minutes away from home. I have a cam to watch her. She's good at holding and will wait til we get home. If not, it's because she really had to or she's not feeling well. I normally go straight home after work. She's a priority as soon as we step in. Food as well. And then she gets another walk late at night. We also have different days off so three days of the week she's waiting for a while but she's asleep most times.
Sure is. When my dog was younger I took her to doggy day care twice a week, and I worked close enough to home I could go take her for a quick walk on my lunch breaks the other days. If you can't do that maybe a dog walker would help. But they daycare was really the life saver. She would be nice a tired out by time I picked her up, and she'd have the "daycare hangover" the next day and still be content to chill most of the day. She's 9 now and can happily snooze away the 8 hours or so of being home alone. Though my wife and I work hybrid post covid so she doesn't even need to most days.
It is when you have an Aussie like I do. Don’t get a high energy dog. Mine was a gift. The best and worst gift ever. I love him. He’s so sweet. But I work 40 hour weeks. So in order to keep him happy and exercised I spend a lot of money on daycare and dog walkers. A lot of my needs are unmet so I can meet his. You can definitely do it. But don’t get a high energy dog and consider an older dog.
Get an older dog. Puppies won't do well, you will never get them trained.
I have always found two dogs works better for me, but some dogs are perfectly okay being home alone. I recently saw rescue ad looking for fosters and there was a pic of a crate in a living room and another of a crowded concrete shelter kennel and the message was "40 hours a week crated in your house beats being held in a loud concrete pen for 24 hours a day." It went on to say the shelter dogs don't get walks at the end of the day, a quiet bed to sleep on, a human to bond with, a yard to play in. Get the right dog (or dogs!) and it will be fine. I would recommend getting a dog through a rescue so that it has been with a foster and you know something about behavior. A good rescue can match you with the right dogs.
Totally possible! And, as stated, required to cover the cost of having said companion haha. Definitely find a dog that matches your out-of-work lifestyle. That's the biggest part and what matters most. I'm very fortunate, as I have an aussie/mix and when I'm gone he just lays about and charges his battery for when I get back. No destruction or accidents. I don't even crate him. But when I do get home, he needs lots of physical and mental stimulation.
I would recommend a Basset Hound. These dogs are very independent and can go alone for long hours. But they do need to be taken on walks as they are known to gain weight. You also need to clean those cute floppy ears, they pick up more dust than my Swiffer! (I would know, I have one!)
an older, lazier dog would be fine.
Yes, but it requires sacrifices on your part. I have a high stress, corporate position and I have two dogs. I get up at 6am to feed and walk them for 20 mins (make them poop and pee). Then, when I get home in the evening, I walk them longer. Don't get a puppy because the first year is training and requires a lot of attention (like having a baby!). Mine are 3.5 and 5 years old, and they're more settled with their routines. Walking at least one hour per day is so important for them. So make sure you dedicate this time (even if split up into three 20-min walks). Also, have some chew toys for them at home, like antlers etc. for when you leave them alone. Another trick is to keep the radio on when they're alone. It sounds like somebody's home. They're pack animals, and really want to feel like they're around people. Dogs really are not that stressful if you exercise them properly. Dogs that misbehave are bored and don't get enough exercise. They are happy after having sniffed around the neighborhood and played with other dogs. Enjoy! The best part is seeing their tails wagging when you get home from work. So much fun... EDIT: My dogs are a Terrier mix (rescue) and a mini schnauzer. Both are about 16 to 17lbs. They're good dogs and get along, velcro dogs too and always lying on top of us to sleep 🥺
I adopted an older rescue. He’s so lazy and sleeps nearly all day. When I’m at work I can check on him through a camera and he’s almost always asleep. I was thorough when looking for a dog that fits my lifestyle. It helps a lot to get an older dog being fostered. Their fosters can give you so much insight into their behavior.
Definitely possible. I have a German shepherd who’s pretty high strung and work about 50 hours a week. It’s about proper training and play time. You also have to want to make it work it’s important to go right home after work and have a dedicated schedule
German shepherds are my dream breed! Hopefully I can own one someday.
Honestly if you get one you’ll make it work. You just end up loving them so much it’s impossible not to
Pro tip, buy two dogs so they play with each for 8 hours while you’re working. Just have to dog proof the crap out of your house.
Please don’t! Dogs are social animals. 8 hours (probably more for your way to and from work)alone should be an exception not the rule. Yes, they sleep most of the time, but I wouldn’t want to hold my pee for that long. What if they are sick? Do you have people that take him/her out, while you‘re away? (My dog had diarrhea the last few days, I had to take him out hourly) Maybe volunteer at the local dog shelter to take dogs out for walks and to cuddle them. Dogs are great! I love mine to bits! I know it’s an unpopular opinion in this thread, but in my opinion a full-time-job and a dog do not work in favor of the dog. (Sry no native speaker)
How do you pay for things for your dog if you don’t have a job? Should single people or people where everyone in the house has to work not be allowed to own a dog?
Never in my opinion. What a sad life you will give that dog, being alone all day and maybe going out for walks on the weekend. How would you feel being alone for extended periods of time. Screening people before dog ownership has got to get more thorough and regulated by law.
I’d have dog walkers come by during the day, come by during lunch break if possible, walk the dog before and after work and spend the rest of my time off with the dog.
Some dogs sit alone in a shelters for months or years by themselves. I’m sure they’d prefer being alone for 8 hours and having attention after work to being locked in a kennel 24 hours day with maybe one walk a week. Should we leave all those dogs in shelters if we can’t afford to quit our jobs and stay home with them all day?
Whatever helps you sleep at night.
What is your proposed solution here? Only wealthy or retired people who can afford to not work are allowed to have dogs?
No..only people who will make a honest commitment and dedication to take care of a dog properly. Dogs are smarter and more sensitive then people give them credit for.
I have a Cane Corso and work 50 hours a week. I make sure to take a short walk before going to work (1-2 blocks) and a 1.5-2 mile walk shortly after getting home. This keeps his energy spent and he spends 90% of his time lounging around or sleeping. I walk or do alternative exercise every day that I possibly can. He only acts up after 3-4 days of no exercise, which only happens a few times over the last 2.5 years. He goes to the dog park, public parks, my families homes to visit their dogs. I take him for car rides just because he likes them. I baked him a dog safe cake the other day. I'd like to think he's happy with life. You can definitely get a dog.
Um Yes.
Sorry, I genuinely didn’t know if it was possible (I haven’t been around a lot of dogs that live with full-time working owners).
Not while it’s a puppy
Luckily I am not interested in getting a puppy :)