Standard workday: compatible with a dog?
November 29, 2015 8:08 PM Subscribe
I would tentatively like to adopt an adult, housebroken dog, but could stand to hear some outside thoughts before taking the plunge. See below for lifestyle details.
1. I am a single female, so everyone in my house is unanimously OK with this idea. I do have a cat who has been exposed to dogs and could not care less about them. (Obviously, the dog would need to be good with cats.)
2. No plans for kids.
3. I own my home, and it has a fenced backyard.
4. I'm not hysterical about having an immaculate house, and can deal with some shedding and drooling.
5. I'm in my early 30s and feeling pretty settled and predictable.
6. I don't do a lot of traveling that a dog couldn't participate in (for example, I travel to see my folks, but it's in driving distance and the granddog would be welcome).
7. I leave my house at about 7:30 in the morning for work and get back usually at around 5:30 or 6. I don't have any show-stopping reservations about this until I get to the workday question. I feel like 10-ish hours is too long for a dog to be inside without a bathroom break or entertainment (except for the apathetic cat).
So. Any single, professional dog-owners out there with a way to get around this? Daycare? Dog walkers? Fancy dog house in the backyard? Other advice about getting a canine companion? Any feedback welcome. Thanks, you guys!
1. I am a single female, so everyone in my house is unanimously OK with this idea. I do have a cat who has been exposed to dogs and could not care less about them. (Obviously, the dog would need to be good with cats.)
2. No plans for kids.
3. I own my home, and it has a fenced backyard.
4. I'm not hysterical about having an immaculate house, and can deal with some shedding and drooling.
5. I'm in my early 30s and feeling pretty settled and predictable.
6. I don't do a lot of traveling that a dog couldn't participate in (for example, I travel to see my folks, but it's in driving distance and the granddog would be welcome).
7. I leave my house at about 7:30 in the morning for work and get back usually at around 5:30 or 6. I don't have any show-stopping reservations about this until I get to the workday question. I feel like 10-ish hours is too long for a dog to be inside without a bathroom break or entertainment (except for the apathetic cat).
So. Any single, professional dog-owners out there with a way to get around this? Daycare? Dog walkers? Fancy dog house in the backyard? Other advice about getting a canine companion? Any feedback welcome. Thanks, you guys!
I agree with mollywas, you sound like a prime candidate to adopt a doggy friend. Taking doggy for a walk in the evening when you get home (or early in the morning) is a great activity and you can go for road trips together and wrestle and play and it will be amazing. Can I just recommend you have a least some kind of buffer of disposable income, or a savings mindset already in place, to ensure you have a little bit of cash on hand should doggy require medical treatment or attention.
posted by turbid dahlia at 8:31 PM on November 29, 2015
posted by turbid dahlia at 8:31 PM on November 29, 2015
Best answer: I'm pretty much you (I can check off #1-7) and I have two dogs. They do fine while I'm at work, though they have a dog door and access to my yard if they need it while I'm at work. Is that an option for you? I don't think they actually go out on their own that often when I'm not at home, just 1-2x a day, but it makes me feel a lot better knowing they have access to the yard if they need it.
Also, as a single dog-owner, be prepared for constant guilt whenever you are not at home and they are alone. I try to make up for the weekdays while I'm at work and they are all alone by spending lots of quality time with them in the evenings and the weekends - it's a big part of my life.
Also, I used to do dog daycare one day a week. It was helpful in that it gave them a lot of exercise one day and they were pretty much wiped out the next day as well. But the cost can add up. A mid-day dog-walker would be an excellent idea if you can afford it.
posted by canda at 8:47 PM on November 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
Also, as a single dog-owner, be prepared for constant guilt whenever you are not at home and they are alone. I try to make up for the weekdays while I'm at work and they are all alone by spending lots of quality time with them in the evenings and the weekends - it's a big part of my life.
Also, I used to do dog daycare one day a week. It was helpful in that it gave them a lot of exercise one day and they were pretty much wiped out the next day as well. But the cost can add up. A mid-day dog-walker would be an excellent idea if you can afford it.
posted by canda at 8:47 PM on November 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
Single 32 y.o. homeowning female dog owner here. I work 24 hour shifts, and yes I feel guilty when I'm working! But. Winston has a dog door and instant access to my backyard and is allowed on furniture. He has plenty of water available and I feed him in the morning (dog walker feeds him in the evening) before we go for our 2 mile run. The radio and a soft light stay on while I'm gone, and he also has a crate and a giant dog bed if tires of all the blankets on the sofa. When I'm at work, my neighbors and friends will stop by and see him for a half an hour or longer; he gets attention and they get puppy love. He's got 18 million toys everywhere. I've thought about adopting a kitten for us, but haven't decided yet. When I am not at work, he spends most of his time with me; working out, walking, sleeping, going for rides, visiting people, and snuggling. If I have to be out of the house for more than a few hours on a day off, I usually take him up to daycare, which he loves ("Winston; wanna go to Pups?" and he will wait at the front door until I open it and run to the truck and jump in). Daycare a few times a week is great! Lots of socialization and a tired puppy is a good puppy.
You sound responsible and a good candidate for dog ownership. Good luck!
posted by sara is disenchanted at 10:01 PM on November 29, 2015
You sound responsible and a good candidate for dog ownership. Good luck!
posted by sara is disenchanted at 10:01 PM on November 29, 2015
I think you could make it work with the right dog. I have one dog who had access to a yard when I would be gone up to eight hours at a time. I was told he was very quiet when alone.
Currently I have no yard for him so we walk both morning and night. An elderly neighbor who cannot afford a dog loves him so he goes to her house when I need to leave him home. He loves her yard and her. So finding someone in your neighborhood might also be an option for at least a couple of times a week.
I tried daycare with him but he was very unhappy being around that many dogs. Not all dogs enjoy day care or dog parks but most love a good walk.
posted by cairnoflore at 10:06 PM on November 29, 2015
Currently I have no yard for him so we walk both morning and night. An elderly neighbor who cannot afford a dog loves him so he goes to her house when I need to leave him home. He loves her yard and her. So finding someone in your neighborhood might also be an option for at least a couple of times a week.
I tried daycare with him but he was very unhappy being around that many dogs. Not all dogs enjoy day care or dog parks but most love a good walk.
posted by cairnoflore at 10:06 PM on November 29, 2015
Maybe get two dogs so they can keep each other company?
And install a doggy door so the dog(s) can go out to pee etc. but aren't stuck outside all day when it's too hot / too cold.
posted by Jacqueline at 5:36 AM on November 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
And install a doggy door so the dog(s) can go out to pee etc. but aren't stuck outside all day when it's too hot / too cold.
posted by Jacqueline at 5:36 AM on November 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
You sound like you have a very good setup for a dog. I would suggest starting out with a mix of dog-walker and doggy daycare. I have the dog-walker come for my dog 3 times a week and the other 2 days he goes to a doggy daycare on an old farm. You might also want a plan for when you can't come home right after work or pick your dog up from daycare. The really nice thing about the daycare I use is that they pick him up and drop him off so I can go out from work without having to come home first.
Once you know your dog and his/her personality better, you can adjust - if they are lower energy and not as social, then a dog-walker every or most days should do it. Mine would be bouncing off the walls without doggy daycare, but not all dogs need that level of activity.
Before I got my dog, I prepared a lot but hadn't really realized how much my life would start to get oriented around the dog. Not to the level of, say, having kids (of course!) but I can't always make plans at the last minute for drinks after work, and if I'm doing something where it wouldn't be appropriate to bring a dog, then I know I can only be gone for about 6-7 hours (though I don't have a yard). But it's totally worth it! Dogs are the best.
posted by lunasol at 7:51 AM on November 30, 2015
Once you know your dog and his/her personality better, you can adjust - if they are lower energy and not as social, then a dog-walker every or most days should do it. Mine would be bouncing off the walls without doggy daycare, but not all dogs need that level of activity.
Before I got my dog, I prepared a lot but hadn't really realized how much my life would start to get oriented around the dog. Not to the level of, say, having kids (of course!) but I can't always make plans at the last minute for drinks after work, and if I'm doing something where it wouldn't be appropriate to bring a dog, then I know I can only be gone for about 6-7 hours (though I don't have a yard). But it's totally worth it! Dogs are the best.
posted by lunasol at 7:51 AM on November 30, 2015
A dog is such a wonderful friend! Walking every morning and night is a delightful sort of mindfulness.
10 hours seems like a long time. I bring mine along in the car if I have long workdays, and I've noticed a lot of construction workers do the same. He is fine with 6-7 hours alone though.
posted by mumimor at 1:26 PM on November 30, 2015
10 hours seems like a long time. I bring mine along in the car if I have long workdays, and I've noticed a lot of construction workers do the same. He is fine with 6-7 hours alone though.
posted by mumimor at 1:26 PM on November 30, 2015
I leave my two furry lads from 7:00-3:00, sometimes until 4:00. They do just fine without pee breaks, but a puppy needs to go just about every 2 hours. I think a dog walker, or just someone who can let the furbaby out at around 2:00 would be perfect. Some breeds love to snuggle and just be. Others need much more. Do some research on breeds before you get a pup. He/she will bring you endless joy/humility/frustration/amusement/love.
posted by hippychick at 3:19 PM on November 30, 2015
posted by hippychick at 3:19 PM on November 30, 2015
My dogs three favorite things are, in ascending order, getting dropped off at doggy-daycare, being at doggy-daycare, and getting picked up from doggy-daycare. They always try to get her to sit before they take her in and prompt her with a treat. She sits just fine (though positively vibrating with excitement, it's adorable) but when they give her the treat, she takes it in her mouth and puts it down on the ground and looks back up with a look that says, "OPEN THE DAMN DOOR AND LET ME PLAY WITH MY FRIENDS!" She comes home exhausted and a tired pup is a well behaved and happy pup.
I can watch her all day on their webcams. The webcams are nice because not only do you get to watch your pup have fun but it means that they are confident enough in their ability that they aren't afraid everyone watching them all the time.
Dog walkers are great and a lot more affordable but good daycare is a great occasional splurge for both of you.
I work from home but I walk my dog at 8:00am most days and then not again until 8:00pm. She follows me around the house and will play with me if I play with her but she otherwise just lounges around the house and sleeps until Mrs. VTX comes home around 4:00. But 10 hours between potty breaks isn't a big deal. Also keep in mind that, depending on the breed and the individual dog, they'll need 12-16 hours of sleep every day. It's not ideal for a dog to be home alone that long every day but if they get at least two good walks in every day, they should be fine and the walks are a fantastic habit for you too.
posted by VTX at 6:49 PM on November 30, 2015 [2 favorites]
I can watch her all day on their webcams. The webcams are nice because not only do you get to watch your pup have fun but it means that they are confident enough in their ability that they aren't afraid everyone watching them all the time.
Dog walkers are great and a lot more affordable but good daycare is a great occasional splurge for both of you.
I work from home but I walk my dog at 8:00am most days and then not again until 8:00pm. She follows me around the house and will play with me if I play with her but she otherwise just lounges around the house and sleeps until Mrs. VTX comes home around 4:00. But 10 hours between potty breaks isn't a big deal. Also keep in mind that, depending on the breed and the individual dog, they'll need 12-16 hours of sleep every day. It's not ideal for a dog to be home alone that long every day but if they get at least two good walks in every day, they should be fine and the walks are a fantastic habit for you too.
posted by VTX at 6:49 PM on November 30, 2015 [2 favorites]
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You sound like you'd be a great dog owner!
posted by mollywas at 8:16 PM on November 29, 2015 [6 favorites]