I have an English Setter (a hunting dog, very active)
You cannot leave a dog alone for more than a couple of hours during the first few weeks. So you need to take time off work (if you live alone) or use a daycare service. Or take the dog with you to work. Later on: 8-10 hours alone a day is far too much for most dogs (they won’t die from it, but they might become aggressive, especially towards strangers), in that case you should get one who isn’t very active.
Don’t even think about gettting a Husky, or a Husky mix, as they require a ton of excercise (they can easily run for 20 miles without slowing down at all). Much of the same goes for hunting dogs and sporting dogs, even mixes.
I hate to say it, but in your situation you might consider a cat instead. Or an older dog, a 8-10 year old. They are often better trained, calmer, and wont get into as many fights as a 1-3 year old dog. Be prepared for medical bills, you should have a vet do a complete checkup when you get the dog. Older dogs need a dental check every two years.
It will take 4-12 months before a dog starts trusting a new owner unconditionally. Tip: If you have a broadboand connection, you might consider getting a web camera so you can keep an eye on the dog from work.
Beagles are hunting hounds, so it wouldn’t surprise me if this were true; however, my limited experience (one rescued off the side of the road and later placed) is that they are very calm and (mostly) eager to please, although they can be bullheaded when they want something. Ours was a bitch, though, and had been abused and let stray (or more likely dumped), and so was very appreciative of her new home. We never had to leash her, and she required only minimal training. Sometimes I wish I’d kept that dog, apartment regulations or no.
I never heard of this. Where (state or general area) do you live? This sounds like a great idea, and if there’s such a thing near me I’d be sorely tempted to get a dog again. I just hate the idea of leaving one all alone for so long a stretch, and I can’t bring a dog to work anymore.
I live in the rural Northeast in a town of about 30,000. It’s not a “big market” area, but we have two doggy daycare centers.
Here’s some general things you should know about doggy day care.
Enter your zip code here to see if there’s one near you. (My city is not listed, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t find one.) You could try this one, too.
As popular as they’re becoming, I’d be really surprised if you didn’t have one near you.
I just love to watch the dogs at my daycare center. They’re having a blast.
The great thing is that you end up with a well-socialized dog which isn’t afraid of people or other canines.
Get a Lab mix. They are not mainstream without good reason. Your average Lab/Lab-mix will love running in the park but will easily do an 8 hour day on the couch.
We had a poodle/Lab/border collie mix for almost 20 years and a Shepard/Lab/Doberman for 16 years. Neither looked like a Lab but they had all the good characteristics of Labs.
Everyone in the household was out all day (between 6 and 8 hours). The girls mooched about all day inside, uncrated (crating is not something I had heard of till the SDMB). Both LOVED the daily run round the park but once home would happily snooze the day away.
Other then when they were pre-6 mths, nothing was ever chewed, nothing was ever piddled on and there was never any barking to annoy the neighbours.
Dogs are not supposed to be “cool” or non-mainstream but the right breed to fit you.
That said my mum now has an Airedale who spends several 8 hour days alone on the couch.
Get a dog, just get a dog that likes snoozing ie NOT a Jack Russel or Beagle!
A few thoughts from a 25+ year dog owner and enthusiast.
Don’t rescue a dog because it makes you feel good about “saving” it. You likely won’t be doing it any favors.
There are some breeds that are perfectly fine being on their own for 8-10 hours. Our Pugs handle it fine, being that they’re lazy shits, but there are few other breeds that handle it as well. Though they’ve helped calm the Westie. But keep in mind, they still need the excercise every day. Not the same as larger and more active breeds, but they still need the workout.
With the Husky, A/C is great, but you have to keep mindful of overheating. (Same with Samoyeds and Malmutes) They were bred for cold climates and have an impressive resistance to cold. When walking them, it may be best to wear a thick fur coat and remember that while you can sweat to cool off, they can’t.
And for the love of God, do not get a Jack Russel if you A) live in an apartment and B) will be gone for 8-10 hours a day.
And if both apply, I’ll come over and poke you in the eye. The dog will be miserable. In this scenario it would be better to put it down.
That said, I love that you want to adopt a dog, and I hope you make the right choice. I’m just wondering if a cat isn’t a better option, though.
Our dog, a Lab/mastiff mix(she looks purebred lab), is a potato. She roams the house and the yard looking for new snoozing spots.
When we get another dog, I just want the same one back. Although, I’ve always been a sucker for Large Dogs, like Mastiffs. Except the drool issues. Gah!
Fer the love of Buddha! don’t get a Beagle. They are fine with kids, but exceptionally hard to train, spaztic, nose sniffing useless dogs. I hate beagles.
At least a Jack Russell Terrorist have more use and show intelligence.
Alot of large dogs (St. Bernard, Mastiff, Rottweiler, Great Dane, Newfie, etc) are couch potatoes, as long as they get at least one or two good, long walks a day.
Do not get a Jack Russell, anything that’s predominately Dalmatian, or any other breed that has a ton of energy, because he’ll be miserable, and you’ll be even more miserable when you come home to find everything you own torn to absolute shreds.
I work a full day, and have a “high energy” dog (boxer). The biggest problem is that he has separation anxiety, though apparently the whole breed has a propensity for it. He is crated during the day (sounds cruel, but he doesn’t mind it) and has no problem.
He gets a daily romp at a dog park, and other than that is the laziest thing you’ve ever seen. If I get home around 6 PM, he is in bed again by 7 PM, and dead asleep by 8:30 until whatever time I get up in the morning.
It can be done, but it is a lot of work.
Actually, I should be walking to the dog park right now…
This probably should have been mentioned before, but have you talked to the workers at the shelter? Explain to them that you want a dog, but you will be gone a lot so you need one that will be happy on its own for the day. Even if they don’t have something right then, they can get your number and call you when a dog that matches that comes in…
Before you give up on the idea of a dog you might want to check if they’ll let you test one of the dogs for a long weekend. Some places will let you take the dog and bring it back if it isn’t right for you. I imagine they’d be more willing to do this with dogs that have been there a while rather than ones they can place easilly but I don’t know this for certain.
While the eight to ten hours of alone time isn’t optimal I don’t see it as the deal breaker that some people do. Lots of dogs live that way, most famillies in this country don’t have one person staying at home anymore. If you could visit at lunch to give the dog a quick potty break that would help alot.
I lived with a beagle mix for a few years and she was the sweetest dog once she got to know me. She was elderly when I knew her but I just checked with my wife and she tells me she never did that beagle howl, even when she was young. She did shed a great deal, we had dog hair collecting on top of dog hair with that dog.
scr4, I wouldn’t automatically give up on the idea of getting a dog. If you’re willing to do some research and wait for the right one to come along, there’s no reason why you can’t have a happy, well-adjusted dog and a job. Lots of people have dogs who stay at home while they work, myself included.
But do be aware of what a sizeable time commitment dogs are – if you don’t like taking 1-2 walks/day, or you want to be able to take off for the weekend at a moment’s notice, it may not be a good time for you to get one.
Aw, don’t give up! I read this thread last weekend and was really rooting for you and looking forward to the pictures of your new dog!
I have one idea that might help. Is there any way you could arrange to go home for lunch, at least at first? You mentioned in the OP that you are pretty close to work. I have a pretty active little dog (a pug/eskimo cross). My husband and I both work full-time, but I am able to go home for lunch pretty much every day to let the dog out and play a little bit. When it’s nice out, I put him on his chain outside for 45 minutes or so. That way he’s only alone for four hours or less at a time, depending on my husband’s schedule.
And if you do really decide that a dog is wrong for you, don’t give up on cats. They’re fine on their own for long periods of time. We have two cats who couldn’t care less if I come home at night or not! Yet they’re always in for a cuddle when I do.
I’d just like to jump in to say that the “no more than 4 hours alone” dictum is just one person’s opinion. It is not shared by every dog expert - perhaps not even by most.
The board certified animal behaviorist that works at the same veterinary school that I do says that’s not true and not a widely-held belief.
FWIW- He maintains that dogs should be crated or in some other secure environment when they’re alone. Also - he insists that dogs don’t get bored. An hour or 10 hours in a crate is all the same to them.
So forget all the doggie-psycho babble and get the dog you most like. If you keep it in a crate when you’re not home, you both will be very very happy that you took the plunge.
We have Joe, a black lab/border collie mix (SPCA pup) and Katie, a Bassett Hound (formerly abused stray)…I can attest that both of these dogs would like nothing better to spend 8+ hrs a day lying on the sofa or the bed. Even when we’re home, the Bassett spends most of her time sleeping. She’ll take short walks, while Joe is good for longer walks and jogs. Our dogs confined to the living room/kitchen area (one big room really) during the day if noone is home.
Anyway, thought I’d let you know about our dogs. I hope you do get a dog or two. And I hope them make you happy!
I have to disagree with everything from this poster:
The board certified animal behaviorist that works at the same veterinary school that I do says that’s not true and not a widely-held belief.
It’s true that this was not a widely-held belief in the past. Nowadays dog shelters here won’t even give away dogs to people who would have to leave them alone in the apartment because they work normal hours. They’d rather put them down.
FWIW- He maintains that dogs should be crated or in some other secure environment when they’re alone.
No. Normally dogs should not be crated/locked down (though they should have such a place to go to). If they need to be locked in a crate, they are either poorly trained or living a miserable life.
Also - he insists that dogs don’t get bored.
Wrong. One example: This past year an experiment was conducted by the top vet school here (no internet link). They installed monitors in a number of apartments where the owner was away during the day. They watched the dogs over a period of several weeks. The conclusion: dogs get bored, and sometimes even anxious over being left alone for so long. It’s also true that a few breeds don’t seem care.
An hour or 10 hours in a crate is all the same to them.
This is also wrong. Dogs have a concept of time.
So forget all the doggie-psycho babble and get the dog you most like.
The absence of knowledge of your so-called “doggie-psycho babble” is the main reason why dogs end up miserable or even mistreated. Getting a dog requires for you to adapt to their way of life as much as they will have to adapt to yours. Taking in a dog is a huge responsibility that will take up much time (and money). And most important is choosing a breed with a mood you can handle and which suits your living enviroment. Not “the dog you most like”, but “the dog you can handle that you most like”.
Please forgive the poor use of quotes, I haven’t gotten that down yet
Alien said:
I have to disagree with everything from this poster:
Hey, I’m just the messenger. Just putting it out there that there is more than one school of thought about this. The students where I work roll their eyes at the “dog’s don’t get bored” assertion too - but the behaviorist sticks to it.
Nowadays dog shelters here won’t even give away dogs to people who would have to leave them alone in the apartment because they work normal hours. They’d rather put them down.*
THIS I can not understand. I run a program for animals owned by the homeless and I work with many humane society folks. They are the nicest people on the face of the earth, but I just can’t get my mind around this belief. Is a dog is really better off DEAD than being kept with a loving owner who happens to work? It’s like saying that high needs orphans are better off bouncing around foster homes than being adopted by a loving couple if they can’t be provided with their own bedroom with attached bath.
Is there no middle ground between doggie heaven-on-earth and death?
Normally dogs should not be crated/locked down (though they should have such a place to go to). If they need to be locked in a crate, they are either poorly trained or living a miserable life.*
Many folks crate their dogs when they are not home. It prevents their houses from being soiled and chewed up. They stay happy with the dog, thus the dog gets to stay happy as well. If these animals are miserable, they are doing a great job in hiding the fact from their owners and veterinarians.
I know of show dogs that are kept in crates 23 hours out of 24 most of the time. They have the muscle tone of a baked apple and one could certainly make a case that they aren’t happy. {What’s really ironic is that these folks will sell their puppies to another show person who will also keep the dog crated most of its life without blinking an eye- but insist on the fenced in back yard, etc. etc. care when selling them as pets}.
*So forget all the doggie-psycho babble and get the dog you most like.
The absence of knowledge of your so-called “doggie-psycho babble” is the main reason why dogs end up miserable or even mistreated. Getting a dog requires for you to adapt to their way of life as much as they will have to adapt to yours. *
Dogs have become the most successful domestic animal on earth because their way of life pretty much coincides with human. If you want a pet that requires a committment to adaptation to their way of life on the part of the owner - get a fox or a wolf.
I’ve known dozens and dozens of happy, healthy, dogs who live in households in which all the humans are either at work or at school most of the time. What is more, most have little knowledge of canine behavior and treat their dog “like a people” because of it. 99% of them are well adjusted, happy creatures.
scr4, don’t give up yet! How did your visit with Jax go? Because as soon as I saw that dog’s pic, I wanted you to pick him. He’s a lovely dog.
I wish I could see him up close–I’m not seeing the Beagle so much there; is there a particular reason they are labeling him a hound? He looks like a herder to me and that would be a big difference in attitude. However, if Jax really is a Beagle mix, I’d recommend not getting him because of the potential for baying. That would not make you popular living in an apartment.
I see he’s a stray, so you’d just have to take your chances temperment-wise, but just because he’s a little hyper at the shelter doesn’t mean that’s a true indicator of his personality. Many dogs get excited when they first meet people, then mellow out once they get comfortable around you. I love the look of Jax and wish I could meet him.
Also, whether you can leave your dog for 10 hours during the day depends a good deal on the individual dog. My older dog can easily be left inside for 10 hours with no mishaps. The younger pups can do a little damage because they still chew, but if are given appropriate toys they can be left in for 5 hours with no problems.
I also second the idea of doggy daycare. Someone who provides dog training in your area may be able to direct you to an excellent daycare. Even a once a week visit can do a lot for a dog’s socialization skills and to help with separation anxiety.
I realy liked him, but it’s hard for me to tell how he’ll behave. He was very excited and active, and spent the first couple of minutes trying to lick me to death before he’d calm down enough to sit down and be petted. Maybe he just hasn’t been getting enough excercise, but I’m not at all sure he’d adapt to apartment life. He doesn’t look much like a Beagle to me either - his fur is longer and much softer than a typical Beagle, and he has pointy ears. I guess his body proportions are similar to a Beagle, but that’s the only similarity I can see.
I’d be happy with an older, lazier dog, but would such a dog act lazy in a shelter cage and/or petting room? How do I know it’s just lazy and not inattentive or sick? There was this Basset/Goldie mix, for example, who is so “lazy” that when I approach his cage he wouldn’t even come over to sniff me. I didn’t get a good feel from that. When I walk through the cage area, the one that looks most lazy and laid back is the Husky mix, which seems to tell me that either what you guys said about Huskies is untrue for this one, or that I’m not good at judging dog personalities. I’m pretty sure it’s the latter.
As far as I can tell from the yellow pages, all kennels and pet day care facilities are on the other side of town (the upscale residential area). Might be a possibility, but it’d mean an extra half hour of drive twice a day. Coming home during lunch is definitely a possibility though, so I might re-rethink the plan. I’ll at least see if I can talk to a knowledageble person at the shelter tomorrow.
Oh well, it was fun thinking about it.