Dogs and leaving them home while at work

[somegirl]

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.

Dinnertime

[River]

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)



best. dogs. ever.

I COMPLETELY agree with you: BEST DOGS EVER EVER EVER!!!!  Beautiful Rott, BTW.   

[Nitewaif]

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.

[OwnyTony]

 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.

[cyrus buelton]

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.

[tonyj311]

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.

[JEFF_H]

Quit your job and get a new one that you can take your dog to work