Dogs - Cruel or Acceptable?

[TLS-Moose]

As a kid we had a pet dog, my dad worked office hours and my mum was a night-nurse so there was always someone home. When I was twenty I got a dog of my own (a Weimaraner) as I was able to take a dog to work with me at the time. Later on when I changed jobs and left home he stayed with my parents as once again there was always someone home to look after him, and I had him weekends and holidays

I have always resisted having a dog since, despite wanting one dearly, as both my wife, the kids, and I are out between 8.00 and 4.00 every day and I think it's cruel for a dog to be left on it's own that long

Now, my wife has changed her hours so she'll by home by 3.30 every day, and work from home two days a week, plus be able to take him out in the car when she does trips out for work (two or three times a month). At the weekend we went to get some food for the rabbit, and the place we go has six young Basset Hound puppies whose mum died giving birth to them, and I must admit my heart melted .......... but I have remained strong and said no we can't have one for all the above reasons Now the Mrs', who has always been anti-pet, is trying her hardest to persuade me to have one (or two, so they keep each other company )

Do I stick to my guns ......... I have always beleived two things with dogs as pets - 1. they are for life and 2. they shouldn't be left alone for more than a few hours ....

[julian]

the mrs, as always , is right. Have two then they'll never be alone

[deej]

im in the same situation as you and your reasons moose,i really want a boxer dog and it wouldnt be a problem taking it to work on a local day but what do i do on a night like tonight when im sat in a hotel in bristol,the wife would happily have a dog but wouldnt walk it so until i get a job that requires not ime away from home its no dog for me.

its a tough one but if your a dog man/lover then go with the heart,keep the missus and the kids happy

[Johnnyb]

Well as a kid we allways had a dog and my parents both worked full time but the dog allways got a walk in the evening and a good run out somewhere at the weekend, and when i moved down here ten years ago my missus had a Springer that was left from 8 till 3 daily but seemed to suffer no ill effects and when he succumbed to Cancer at ten years old there wasn't a dry eye in our house for some days, even from me and not much upsets me, since then we have replaced Jasper (our springer) with a rescue dog a small terrier who ran away from its previous owner constantly but funnily enough has never ran away from us so that tells a story on its own i think. I used to take her in the truck but after she pee'd in my center console twice and then ran up and down the dash and pawed the windscreen with muddy feet i had to regrettably leave her at home, but we have a mad half hour when i get in with balls and toys and she seems a happy dog all in all and fits in with our two cats as well. And she is treated like a family member with her own corner of the sofa in an evening. One thing i would never do now though was pay a breeder for a dog, there are so many dogs in rescue kennels just crying out for a good home we could have easily come home with half a dozen. One thing did totally p*ss me off though was the attitude of the RSPCA, i could have easily fell out with the fella we spoke with after we said we worked and it would be on its own for seven hours a day four days a week, he spoke to us like we were not fit to own a dog at all even though like i said earlier our dogs are treated like family even getting presents at Christmas (not my idea, its a kid thing).

just my thoughts........

[Funky]

When we had our dog (golden retriever) we would take him for a walk in the morning then he'd be on his own in the house between 0830 and 1500 then one of us kids would take him for a walk in the evening. During the time he was on his own we always left the radio on for him.

He never seemed to mind and had one of the best temprements i've ever seen in a dog and lived to the grand old age of 14.

[Blimey]

We recently been talking about getting a dog as the kids keep going about having one, always been dead against it myself.

Don't want no smelly thing in my house.

We just had the inlaws dog for 2 weeks as shes a little scottish terrier and don't smell at all.


My god what a a pain in the a*se

I've got 3 kids from 14 down to 9 and they are no where near as needy or as hard work as having this dog was.

Never again, it has deffo answered our question about getting one. Like you say the hardest part was going out for the day doing something with her as we acouldn't leave her all day

All of us now agree it would be a bad move

[billinom8s]

get 2

do as you are told by the boss

nuff said!


My parents have 3 westies, they are awesome dogs. Go on, you know it makes sense

[Funky]

Small dogs aren't real dogs, they're enlarged rats.


As long as you train the dog correctly you should be fine. If not wite to Cesar Millan

[TLS-Moose]

During summer there will usually be someone else around the house pretty much every day, and in September the house will be empty 8.30 - 3.30 three days a week as my wife will be working from home the other two ....... and I am sure a fully grown dog can cope with that ........ BUT ..... the issue is bridging the gap from 8wks to 6-9mths ........ surely it isn't right to leave such a young pup alone for so long? How do others overcome this? And don't say get a 12mth old dog

[Smiler]

Moose, you can't be the first family to have a young pup and leave it alone for periods of time! Is it worth speaking to your local vets/animal shelter on ideas or solutions to puppy loneliness??

All I know on the subject is that bored puppies tend to be quite destructive!!!

of course if you end up with said puppy, we want the obligatory cute puppy pics pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeease

[r1dave]

How much are they m8

[TLS-Moose]

Price not yet discussed ( but a side issue really, anyway)

[Funky]

We picked up Bren when he was 3 months old, at this age he was left for one-2 hours a day whilst mother worked. Luckily she worked another job with a guy who used to look ater and paint dogs so bren would go with her. This was the norm up until he was about 5 years old.

I would suggest something similar, if you can have an old lonely neighbour look after him for some of the day and gradually as he gets older extend the hour or so, so that he becomes habituated to it. Again the use of the radio and also giving him plenty of toys, particularly tasty chew ones and squeekies will help.

Again getting him trained as soon as possible. Each dog has to know the pecking order in the house, but training should only be done by one family member as the dog will look to this person. For the first few nights the dog will cry as it'll be missing it brothers and sisters, but don't give in, just be it's secure point.

Take out pet insurance as well, vet bills are a biatch.

[Lady g]

There are also quite a few people/organisations who offer home visits/training - so you could have someone pop in during the day to check up on the pup, take it for a walk, and perhaps do some basic training whilst they're about it. I've seen adverts for this type of thing on the board at Pets At Home - I think the cost was about £9 per visit (quick check that everything was okay), abit more if it was for a walk/training..

[Tom L]

i wouldnt be that concerned for how long they are left on their own, depends what sort of exercise they get once you're with them. I always thinks its very cruel when people buy big dogs or active dogs like a collie and consider a walk 'once round the block for a pee' and then keep them inside all day.