Dogs and leaving them home while at work

[yotogi]

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.

[Speedbag]

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.

[Ddan]

I already suggested a fish.  Maybe one of those little green turtles you used to see.     

[TwoWheels]

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.

[hbliam]

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.

[IZ]

I hate to agree with IZ, trust me I hate it.

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!!    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.     

[somegirl]

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.

[Sinister]

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.

[River]

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...)   

[Langanobob]

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. 

[IZ]

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!! 

[herm]

....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...)   

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)



dont have a picture of my other rottie, cajun. he is a 7 year old puppy

anyway, had three rotts altogether.
best. dogs. ever.

[Popeye the Sailor]

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.

[Triple J]

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.

[redxblack]

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.