keeping a dog

[selfraising]

Thanks they are quite positive replies. I was thinkig of a minature poodle or the OH wants a cocker spaniel.

thwe good thing with my neighbours one works away all week and the oher works long hours.

Hi my cocker spaniel is now 14 and a half and on the whole we've had no problems with barking but cocker spaniels can be a bit neurotic so may be prone to barking more. If buying as puppies always ask to see one or both parents, it will give you a good idea what the puppy will turn out like.

[NSB]

Definately I would like to find a breeder even before the littler arrives just to get to see the parents as well. A dogs for life gotta find the right one

[flowerofshona]

Nope sorry dont agree with it !!!
I breed labs and i will not sell to anyone who is going to leave a dog more than 4 hours a day max !!!
The RSPCA has the power to take owner to court who leave a dog alone more than 4 hours a day.
Why have a dog if you not going to be there ??? i have 7 dogs but i work from home and if i ever go out i have a neighbour who pops in 2-3 times for me and i hate it !
Please think of the dog especially a puppy !!!! people buy a pup and wonder why it chews the house up or cry for hours, would you leave a child alone at home ??? Puppys need to go to the loo many times a day and need feeding during the day, they do not know that the huge pile of food you put down is to last all day ! how are you going to house train a puppy if your never there ??
To many dogs end up in rescues because they become destructive and have other social problems and mainly because they are left alone all day.
PLEASE think very hard before you do this, its a dogs life at stake.

[SarzWix]

Mine makes a constant racket if left alone - howls, barks etc. She more or less goes everywhere with me as a consequence - she's a German Shepherd. Personally, I wouldn't advocate leaving a spaniel or a poodle alone for long periods - they're both very intelligent dogs (poodles rank higher than German Shepherds on an intelligence scale) and the more intelligent the dog, the more likely they are to get bored. In fact, I've seen first hand the ruination of a spaniel through boredom.
On the other hand, if you were to get something like a retired racing greyhound (and there are many, many of them needing homes), you have a better chance of a happy dog. Contrary to popular belief, they don't need a lot of exercise, and they're usually very quiet, peaceful, loving dogs. (My sis has one and works almost full time, he is a happy chappy) No good if you have cats though.
Basically, IMO, no young dog is going to be happy left on it's own all day.

[lynda66]

i've a 6 month pup and a 12 year old, the older one will happily sleep all day whether i'm in or not, the pup wants and needs constant attention, otherwise you store up lots of trouble as it gets older ... if i worked full time i would definitely consider an older rescue dog, ..... i'm still having a few problems with house training the pup, as i suspect he lived outside before ... so housetraining doesn't seem to have worked, or wasnt an issue ... problem is when i go out, if he wants to go he just does it, even if i'm only out for half an hour and it's impossible to correct quickly when you arent there ... training a dog to go on paper also creates problems, as they learn that its ok to go in the house and its a very hard habit to break.

an older dog will usually be house trained .... i always worked with previous dogs, and never had a problem, although i always have had cats or another dog, as company for them too.... and worked at places where either i could take the dog, or come home during the day..... if i just had the older dog now, she will hold on 24 hours or more in an emergency, but thats only happened a couple of times in her life.

[Snadger]

Mine makes a constant racket if left alone - howls, barks etc. She more or less goes everywhere with me as a consequence - she's a German Shepherd. Personally, I wouldn't advocate leaving a spaniel or a poodle alone for long periods - they're both very intelligent dogs (poodles rank higher than German Shepherds on an intelligence scale) and the more intelligent the dog, the more likely they are to get bored. In fact, I've seen first hand the ruination of a spaniel through boredom.
On the other hand, if you were to get something like a retired racing greyhound (and there are many, many of them needing homes), you have a better chance of a happy dog. Contrary to popular belief, they don't need a lot of exercise, and they're usually very quiet, peaceful, loving dogs. (My sis has one and works almost full time, he is a happy chappy) No good if you have cats though.
Basically, IMO, no young dog is going to be happy left on it's own all day.

Mine is quiet when left alone, which isn't very often. Its when we're there that she barks!

[bobleponge]

I was once told that my dog barked constantly when I went out, this was when he was much younger.
My next door neighbour worked nights, so I was very very worried, as we didnt get on very well at the best of times, and didnt want to risk upsetting him even more.

I set up a video camera, and turned it on every time the dog was left alone.
He barked when someone came to the door, until the person left, and he barked when anything came into the back garden, which really wasnt often.

I could see, however, that if you work nights, and sleep all day, a dog barking at all would be annoying and disrupt your sleep pattern.

Fortunately my nearest neighbours now are a change of clothes and a fresh horse away, so if my dog barked it wouldnt be an issue.

I would personally avoid a spaniel if it was to be left alone, as has been said, they are very intelligent animals, and get bored easily.

[sweetiepea]

While I'd be inclined to advise an older dog rather than a pup, our last dog Finn, hated being left alone for more than a couple of hours, even in his later years. He was 14 when he died last summer. He was never a barker. He would just pine and fret until we returned and wouldn't eat or drink while we were away.

[Two_Sheds]

Mr TS is on about getting a dog. He "really" wants one ( it was a Wii last year). I'd like one too, but we both work, and he likes to go away a lot. Also, the parrot has free run of the house, and this couldn't happen if we had a dog.

We borrowed a puppy for a fortnight, and I thought he settled in well, but my neighbours told me he howled when I went out. Poor people, they already have to listen to the spaniel on their other side howling all day.

At our old house, we had a Rottweiler next door (massive dog, tiny house, no garden). It howled and barked and whined from 8am till the owner rolled home from the pub. I used to have to go out to get away from the noise, it was really distressing.

I've not said no, which would stiffen his resolve to get one: instead I've said yes, but I am NOT walking it, and I am NOT picking up its poo. He's thinking about it.

[OverWyreGrower]

We have 2 large breed, young dogs (Boxers, 3 and 4 years old) and we work full time, and always have done.

They don't bark when we are out (unless someone comes through the gate into the back garden) and are exercised twice a day regularly.

I think if you are prepared to put the work in, you can make it work. However, this means walking in all weathers, all year round at stupid times of day. In the dark, wind, rain, snow, ice etc; as well as the lovely sunny mornings in summer.

[Comfreyfan]

A colleague recently rehomed a dog from the RSPCA. He was concerned because he works full-time and explained to the RSPCA that he would be able to pop home during breaks/lunchtime, 2-3 times during the day. They said it was better not too, they were happy for him to have a dog, but said it was better not to go home to visit during the day because the dog would suffer more stress each time he left. He's created a wonderful kennel/shed with a big 'dog flap' so the dog has the run of the garden whenever he wants or can snuggle up indoors.

[janeyo]

I have had 2 cockers - they are crazy! They 'calm' down a bit when they get to about 12 lol.
Quite neurotic though and mine were scared of the doorbell, the postman, the wind, a paper bag, their own shadows... you get the picture? lol

Great dogs though and can cope with moderate amounts of excersize if left a bit or mammouth amounts if you are feeling energetic!

I worked as a teacher so would get a walk in the morning and not again til about 4is, and no accidents (after toilet training). Toilet training was hard -worse than a toddler - he used to come in from a hours walk and wee poo on the paper (as the lady I got him off trained him to go on newspaper)

I would love another dog, but OH not keen on dogs. Our cats hate dogs. I had to give mine away (was like ripping my heart out) as when I moved in with OH we had no space at all for a dog then 6 months later we moved and I had loads of space. Gutted. My only consolation was that he went to a lady in remission with leukaemia and I knew he was part of her rehabilitation and would be well loved.

He did used to bark A LOT but having him 'seen to' lol solved lots of that. Think he just got confused as I had such long holidays where he was spoilt, then when I went back to school he was all at sea.

[Sprocket*]

I have a Springer Spaniel and a Collie Springer Cross,we both work full time but on shifts. If the shifts are the same then they go to my Mums for the day... and usually refuse to come back as they have such a good time! I try not to leave them for more than 4 hours as I don't think it is fair on them. We had the Collie/Springer Cross first and she did no end of damage when on her own - never barks (only at Squirrels). The Springer came from rescue at 8 weeks and needs constant companionship, the breed are very loyal and like to be with you. They are walked for at least 2 hours aday through woods and fields, they also have a ball that goes with them to give both physical and mental stimulation. I am lucky with the area that I live in as both would not be happy with a stroll in the park.

Both my dogs came from English Springer Rescue and it breaks my heart to see that a regular stream of them come in for reasons like: They don't match the decor any more (true), I work full time and don't have time for them, or I am going on holiday and don't want to pay the kennel fees..

There has been some fabulous advice on here and I sympathise with you wanting a dog as they are ace (even when its freezing, raining, foggy, muddy). Don't just rush out and get one, do some real research, plan, prepare and research again. Think about your lifestyle and giving the best for a dog. Good Luck! Think seriously about a rescue dog though rather than a puppy.

Almost forgot - we fretted about whether we would cope with two dogs - having taken the plunge I would never go back to having one as they are company for themselves

[Polly Fouracre]

We have, ahem, quite a few dogs and I work nights and Jim works days so that they aren't left alone.
No, I have to say it, PLEASE don't get a dog and then leave it alone for hours while you work!!
How many hours could you sit and do absolutely nothing before you're either dying for a pee or bored rigid. A dog that has had proper exercise and I mean a good couple of hours of running and playing can be left for a maximum of four hours before needing to go outside and to ask it to wait is cruel.
So, unless you have someone to care for a dog, especially a puppy, by day please think and think again!!

[Glutton4...]

In theory I'm against it, but we have done it - it works. We took on our (rescue) dog as he was going to be PTS if we didn't have him. Prior to this, we had agreed not to have one as we both worked full-time, but I was able to take him with me. When I changed jobs, he went to my parents' each day, just like a child would go to nursery - it worked.

As Sprocket* says, think carefully about what breed/type you can manage, and do LOADS of research into different breeds' characteristics. Large/long-haired dogs take a lot of grooming, and can make a huge mess when muddy/wet, but, are usually more placid. Small dogs can be much easier to keep on top of, hygiene-wise, but can be very energetic, and drive you barmy.

Good luck with whatever you choose!