Time requirements for a dog
Christopher Pilon
My wife and I are considering adopting a dog. While the dog would be at
the center of our attention while at home, we both work full time. My
wife works 10 hr days 4 days a week, and I'm 10+ hrs a day, 5 days a
week. We could rearrange our schedules to come home once during the day
to let the dog out, but that would be quite a bit of rearranging.
Can anyone give us a guideline as to what is an acceptable amount of
time to be gone for two working parents? Are any of you in a similar
situation, and how have you handled it?
I think that we would be stretching it, but any input is welcome.
Thanks in advance.
Chris
TO...@dog-play.com
Can it be done? Yes. Should it be done? Well, that depends on the
dog. If the dog can handle it, and the dog would otherwise die, then yes.
BUT try not to box yourself into deciding in advance what you can and
can't accomplish. First, look at possible alternatives to getting the dog
more social time. For example, hire a pet walker to come in twice a
day. Or consider day boarding. Or consider a combination of
choices. For example, each of you come home mid day one day a week, day
board one day a week, hire a pet walker one day a week. That takes care
of the four days a week your wife works. If your wife has the ability to
move work days around consider making it two work days, one off day, two
work days. When you mention work time does that include commuting? you
really have to look at how long it is from the time you leave 'til the
time you return. For me I had a very long commute. I solved the long
work day problem two days a week by leaving extra early and taking the
dogs with me. I'd stop at a park and we'd go for a nice long walk. Then
I'd drop them off at day boarding, go to work, then after work I'd pick
them up and we'd take another nice long walk.
Don't start with a puppy. Start with an adult dog. An older adult dog
would be ideal. Sometimes owners become ill, or die, or for whatever
reason can no longer care for the dog. These older dogs (4 years and
up) can have a hard time finding homes even though they are perfectly
lovely pets. Once that dog is well established and working out you can
look at your situation and see if the long days can be made less lonely
by adding a second dog.
Diane Blackman
http://www.dog-play.com http://www.dog-play.com/TOTE.html
"Much of the tension [a dog] experiences results from fear -- the more
confidence he gains, the less fearful he will be; the less fearful, the
less tension and stress he needs to dissipate." "The Body Language and
Emotion of Dogs" by Myrna M. Milani, DVM.
Lynn Kosmakos
Christopher Pilon wrote:
> Can anyone give us a guideline as to what is an acceptable amount of
> time to be gone for two working parents?
Once you're past the point of the limitations of puppy bladders, the
important question is not how much time you are gone. Far more
important is how much time you have to dedicate to a dog each and
every day. If you live the kind of life where you are running to get
out the door in the morning and you have evening activities 3 times a
week or are too exhausted to move when you get home - don't get a dog.
If you have an extra hour before leaving in the morning that could
be filled walking a dog, and think you'd enjoy getting out in the
dark with a dog in all weather at night, it could work.
Lynn K.
Jim McKinley
Hi Chris -- We have a Doggy Door at our place. If
you have a sliding
glass door, you can buy a Doggy Door that fits it
nicely. The dog can
then run in and out of the yard as he needs ady it
makes things convenient
for both of you.
--
Jim
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"Baseball is the Only Game Where
the Defense Controls the Ball"
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