So, I am trying to win the argument with my wife so I can get a pooch. Her biggest hang up (and mine) is that we are gone about 12 hours for work M-F.
We live in a house.
We have 2 indoor cats.
I dont want a stinky outside dog. Thinking about a boxer, but that cant be left outside while we are gone- MN winters.
I like the Alaskan Malaumutes- but I worry that they would be stinky dogs (but they would like to be outside).
I like German Shepherds- but my wife is afraid of them.
I have a 3 year old kid.
Anyone have a good recomendation for breed, or a solution to my predicament? I'd like a dog that would act as a guard dog if necessary- but safe to have around a kid. I think the boxer is the best fit based on my research- but the real catch is how to give him access to the outside to do his business without the cats getting out.
One could use a dog door with the chip in the collar so only the dog can get in and out of it.
If that was the norm I think it might be a bit on the long side to leave the dog home alone. Can you guys stagger your schedule and fit in regular walks?
Quote from: MrIncredible on March 30, 2009, 11:54:24 AM
One could use a dog door with the chip in the collar so only the dog can get in and out of it.
If that was the norm I think it might be a bit on the long side to leave the dog home alone. Can you guys stagger your schedule and fit in regular walks?
I read that those electronic collars dont work well below 30 degrees. So thats 10 months out of the year :P
We carpool together, so we cant stagger.
Dog daycare isnt cheap- like $250 a week. But I suppose it might be a possiblity.
$250 a week? That is more than I make a week. ;D I'll come let your dog out during the day. [laugh]
Research each breed specifically. Some dogs will be pissed when you leave and tear your house up (Jack Russel Terrier), some will be really depressed (Bichon Frise).
Get a fish
12 hours a day.........is a long time for a dog to be left, in or out on a regular basis.
is your wife arguing against the dog?
12 hours is a really long time for the dog to be left alone. Especially if you get them as a puppy there is no way you can do that your house will be destroyed. I would suggest adoption to skip the puppy phase if you still want the dog. Also if you are working 12 hours a day how much time do you really spend awake when you get home that can be committed to the dog? They need attention to thrive unlike cats.
I leave my dogs home alone for 10-11 hours per day M-F with no access to the yard. My little one had a problem not being able to hold himself 'til I got home when I first got him. After a few times of this happening I opted to put him in a kennel inside the house while at work. Dogs won't deficate where they sleep so he HAD to hold it. It may sound cruel but dogs do adapt to that sort of potty training. After about a year I tested him by leaving him out with my other dog and there hasn't been any accidents. Pee pads are another option but for a big dog like what you want it may get pretty messy.
If you get the dog as a puppy it probably would be a good idea for someone to come by your house in the middle of the day. A 3mo old puppy can only hold it for 3 hours, a 4mo old for 4 hours and so on...
Good luck!
I have a 6 month old boxer mix. She's super hyper and puppies do destroy stuff if they're bored.
big dog equals big bladder.
our 160 pound saint can go 12 hours. hell...she can go 14. but I hate doing that to her so 8 to 10 is the norm.
and that certainly wasn't the case from 7 weeks to a year.
wile she is a big cuddle dog with my daughter she turns more cujo than behtoven for strangers so that might fit your criteria.
but I wouldn't do it knowing it's 12 straight every day. too hard on dog and not enough family time together for a needy dog.
I leave the dogs at home for at most, ten hours straight, and that would be only those times when the wife is gone. Other than that, there is often someone at home with them.
I'm with your wife on this one!! DO NOT GET A DOG!!
If you can't be there to train it, take it out, have playtime at least 2-3 x's day..you shouldn't have a dog that is going to be indoors.
12 hours/day?! Eventually a dog can make it that long (which is pretty cruel..especially in a crate)..but it would take a year or so with someone there more often to train it.
+1.
Avoid a puppy as well. Get an older dog who has less needs (assuming you get a dog at all). 12 hours is too long. Our adult dogs are home around 8 hrs during the day and they're fine, but that's only about 175 days a year.
If you do decide to get a dog, get two. At least they have some entertainment when you're not around that way. Not puppies. You have to be able to dedicate plenty of time every day anyway, though. All the boxers I've ever been around are hyper as hell. Better off getting a longer haired mutt. Golden Retrievers are great with kids and can deal with weather.
I hate to agree with IZ, trust me I hate it.
Your lifestyle does not sound conducive to having a dog. One option other than daycare might be to see if there are dog walkers in your area that can get your dog out during the day. If that is the case, you can find yourself an animal that is good for crate training and give it a go but I still wouldn't recommend it.
There is a show that is running on animal planet called Dogs 101 which is a great primer for various breeds. Do your homework and rescue a dog if you get one. But 12 hours is too long IMO.
I have to agree with IZ and redxblack, I'm afraid you're probably not home enough for a pup. :(
I'm in the same boat, want a German Shepherd in a bad way but I work too much to believe it would work out as I would like. So I have to stick with the kittehs (mine are more like monkeys) and hideously expensive saltwater fish for now.
I already suggested a fish. Maybe one of those little green turtles you used to see. ;D
You're gone 12 hours for work, and you have a 3 year old. It doesn't sound like you have time for a dog. Spend what free time you have with your kid. They grow up quick.
Sure, some dogs might make it 12 hours without making a mess, but what kind of life is that for the dog. They are social animals and do well with plenty of attention and exercise, but can be trouble without. Maybe this will help put it in perspective. It's been raining for a week and the dog hasn't had a good walk and you haven't had a ride. Priority should be the dog even if you miss out on a ride.
You might want to consider waiting several years until your kid is old enough to help out. We got a dog a couple of years ago when my kids were 10 and 8. At this age they were able to help out with the reponsibility of owning a dog. They can walk him around the yard after school and prepare his meals. We are also fortunate that my wife works close to home and can come home at lunch time for a quick walk.
I'm with the rest of the crew. No dog for you. :( Lots of good points brought up already including; time (it should go to your kid), puppies need lots of attention, it's cruel to lock up a dog for 12 hours at a time every day, some of the dogs you are naming...working dogs...even more so.
I have a Jack Russell Terrier. Only got her because I worked from home. She demanded a minimum of two walks a day or one walk and a trip to dog beach or dog park. By demand I mean, if we did this she was easy to have around. If we didn't she was a pain in the ass. Now my job requires that we are gone for 12 hours 2-3 days a week. On those days she has complete access to the back yard through a dog door, she has two cats to harass, and she has a dog walker that comes around the mid point and takes her somewhere for an hour to an hour and a half. I wouldn't do it any other way. Dog walker only costs about $150 -$180 a month depending on how many days.
Quote from: yotogi on March 30, 2009, 04:10:13 PM
I hate to agree with IZ, trust me I hate it.
[cheeky]
We've had 3 dogs since we've been married. Pug..bought him in Flagstaff when I was in college over summer break. Never at home longer than a couple hours at a time. One time he was left for 12 hours when we went to Phoenix to buy a car. He ate a 6"x16" chunk of drywall in the bathroom!! :-X Never left him home alone that long again.
We bought the Mastiff when my wife and I were both working for ourselves so there was always at least one person home to take care of the dog. Doggie doors for Mastiffs don't really work. ;)
The Frenchie we bought when I was on vacation so I was home for a couple weeks or the Mastiff was there to sleep by here when we weren't. We kept her in his old cage when we were potty training her. It was big enough for her house, food/water bowls and room to play.
We rescued an English bulldog that was in a situation similar to the situation you'll be putting your future dog in. These people bought it just to have a dog but never paid it attention. :-\
REALLY think before you make this decision and go with a Boxer! Frenchie's, Pugs, and other small breeds have the same look and have good energy. They can be left alone and will sleep most of the day! They don't require much maintenance in the way of exercise either.
Quote from: MrIncredible on March 30, 2009, 02:13:25 PM
I leave the dogs at home for at most, ten hours straight, and that would be only those times when the wife is gone. Other than that, there is often someone at home with them.
And they are older and have one another for company. When they were younger and I couldn't be home as much, I hired a dog walker to come by in the middle of the day. I also provided long-lasting toys for entertainment (such as a stuffed Kong). Now they are old they sleep about 22 hours a day whether I am home or not.
I agree with the general consensus, 12 hours alone time day after day is not suitable for a dog.
BTW any responsible breeder will not sell you a puppy knowing that about your lifestyle...nor will a good rescue group adopt to you. That's part of screening to make sure the dogs end up in suitable homes.
Just to get this out of the way: crating a dog is not cruel. That said, do not, do not, get a puppy with a three-year-old; dominance/pack issues will get tough to work out with a puppy and a toddler.
I take my dogs to work with me, most days; other days, they can/do spend 10+ hours in a crate. I try and minimize those days, though.
1. If you already have a kid, keep in mind: a dog adds more work and therefore more time required by you.
2. Puppies are DESTRUCTIVE.
3. Don't crate a dog more than 4 hours, but it's a perfectly viable and logical training tool.
4. Adopted dogs are great, and probably a better option (in terms of choosing an older/potty trained dog) if you insist on having a dog.
5. EVERYBODY in the household needs to be on board with having a dog.
6. If you and/or the wife can't make it home for lunch to play with the dog, ask a neighbor to pop in a couple times during the day (that's what I do and the neighbors LOVE my dogs).
7. Dogs are pack animals--more than one is good so they have company. But YOU are the pack leader.
8. MOST amazing dog I ever owned was a rottweiler--fantastic with kids and a great guard dog and the most intelligent animal I've ever owned. BUT I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND ONE FROM THE POUND because you don't know the background/history. Get one from a RESCUE agency that specializes in the breed.
Dogs are AMAZING creatures, but you HAVE to be ready for them and you MUST make time for them. Oh yeah, dogs are usually puppies until 2 or 3 years of age depending on the breed and you would be AMAZED at the kinds of things they deign to injest...
Good luck! (You'll need it...) ;D
I think I have to agree with what IZ said. Plus, if your wife really doesn't want a dog and you end up somehow convincing her and you get one, it's gonna be a big problem in the future, guaranteed. About stinky dogs, I think that outside dogs that are out playing in the fresh air are less likely to be stinky. It's the ones kept inside that get stinky. Every dog we've ever had has been awesome, very intelligent and sensitive but also able to instantly switch to warrior mode when appropriate. They've all given us absolutely 100%, that seems to be the only way they know how to live and that kind of sums up my thoughts. If you can't give a dog 100% back then you shouldn't get one.
Quote from: Sinister on March 30, 2009, 06:22:41 PM
Just to get this out of the way: crating a dog is not cruel.
Don't take what I said wrong G. I crated all my dogs at one point. Just not 12 hours at a time!!
Quote from: River on March 30, 2009, 07:06:12 PM
....snip
8. MOST amazing dog I ever owned was a rottweiler--fantastic with kids and a great guard dog and the most intelligent animal I've ever owned. BUT I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND ONE FROM THE POUND because you don't know the background/history. Get one from a RESCUE agency that specializes in the breed.
...snip
Good luck! (You'll need it...) ;D
this is bear. he came to me from a pound at age 3. he was sweetheart right up until i had to put him down last december (not due to behavior)
(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm285/s2r1000/IMG_1819.jpg)
dont have a picture of my other rottie, cajun. he is a 7 year old puppy ;D
anyway, had three rotts altogether.
best. dogs. ever.
We crate the dogs whenever we ain't home. It lets us know they're safe, and keeps them from doing anything retarded, like knocking the clothes rack onto the fireplace and burning the house down.
I agree with most here...12 hours alone is too long. Sorry. :-\ 12 hours at work, plus say 7 hours of sleep, leaves 5 hours per day to spend with the dog and your child...not enough IMO.
Crating a puppy for long periods so they don't pee is also cruel. Puppies have limited bladder sizes...figure about an hour per month of age. Crating adult dogs is fine, or puppies for short periods, but neither for 12 hours. Imagine being confined in that small of a space for that long...makes my joints ache just thinking about it. Animals need to move around and stretch, just like people.
We have 2 dogs, a 5 year old and a 6-1/2 year old. They are home alone for about 10 hours per day. They have a room inside the house with a dog door to the backyard. They also get a 30 minute walk before work, and a 45-60 minute walk after work. Because of this they don't destroy things...and they never have. They're still amped when we get home though...especially if the morning walk was missed. When the 5 year old was a pup (first 9 months or so) my wife and I alternated coming home for lunch to let her out of her crate to use the bathroom and play for an hour or so.
We have two dogs. One is ultra lazy. When we crate him, we leave the door open. He rarely leaves the crate in those instances. The other dog gets the door closed to keep her from getting unwound and tearing things up (when we're gone for longer than an hour or so).
They like their crates.
Quote from: MrIncredible on March 30, 2009, 08:55:19 PM
We crate the dogs whenever we ain't home. It lets us know they're safe, and keeps them from doing anything retarded, like knocking the clothes rack onto the fireplace and burning the house down.
They also get a run in the morning and a long walk in the afternoon.
They have been crate-trained for years and happily run in there. :) Crate-training is also good if your dogs have to spend time at the vet's or a groomer. [thumbsup]
Dinnertime (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW9AVoEMNFM&feature=channel_page#lq-hq-vhq)
Quote from: herm on March 30, 2009, 08:54:38 PM
this is bear. he came to me from a pound at age 3. he was sweetheart right up until i had to put him down last december (not due to behavior)
(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm285/s2r1000/IMG_1819.jpg)
best. dogs. ever.
I COMPLETELY agree with you: BEST DOGS EVER EVER EVER!!!! Beautiful Rott, BTW. [thumbsup]
12 hrs is too long to leave a doggie home alone. It's the exact reason I don't have a dog, as much as I love them and want one.
As far as huskies, yeah, they can tolerate the weather outside, but they don't like being confined - even if it's a large yard. They're escape artists and left unattended outside, they'll eat your lawnmower, then dig or jump out of the yard and make their way to Iowa. Seriously - they are very social and will find something to do and somewhere else to do it if you aren't there for them.
Maybe you can volunteer for a local shelter helping to socialize dogs so they have a better chance of being adopted. That'll get you some doggie time and it will be good for the dogs.
Quote from: Cuky_Monster on March 30, 2009, 12:49:08 PM
Dogs won't deficate where they sleep s
Thats what I thought. Not always the case. My dog (though I havent put her in a cage by herslef for a while) when put in a cage and when she is all alone, she will do it out of protest. If she is in a cage with my other dog in the same room in a cage next to her, she is ok.
She hates being alone.
Dont get a dog.
Our Chihuahua can be left for hours and hours without us being home. He just sleeps on the couch.
The doberman.......different story.
She stays in a crate (a nice big one, gives her plenty of room).
she is 16 months old and we got her at 6 weeks.
I live a mile from work, so I go home at lunch and spend an hour with her. She goes no more than 4 hours (+/- a few minutes).
Last week she was crated for an entire day (9 hours), as I was travelling and had issues with someone letting her out.
holy make the beast with two backs, apparently she was crazy after that.
dont get a dog, you arent ready or prepared for the commitment.
thanks for all the feedback. I've been researching dogs for the last 2 months- and now its come down to the logistics - which is where I hit the road block. I'd like to think I am not just jumping into this without the dog's best interests in mind too. Otherwise I would be like the ass-clowns that do get dogs without thinking things through first and end up taking them to the pound.
It sounds pretty unanimous that it wouldnt be a good fit for me now. So I appreciate all the input. Maybe I'll get a turtle or a fish.
(http://www.buddytv.com/articles/Image/my-name-is-earl/earl-burn-victim-joy-darnell.jpg)
Quit your job and get a new one that you can take your dog to work 8)