Hi there Have been reading this board for a little while now doing lots of research and taking on board all the advice given. I have a question. We are desperate for a puppy. I have 2 boys 10 and 7 who have been very patient and just before Christmas me and my husband decided it was a now or never situation, we wanted to get a puppy. I worked full time but negotiated with my work to work from 8am till 2pm everyday ( I work local so can be through my door at 2.15). My husband leaves the house at 9am. Is this doable with a dog? In the early puppy stages my Husband could come home in his lunch hour at midday or we can get my MIL to pop in but obviously not long term. From reading this forum I am thinking of getting a big Pen and a crate for bedtime, we have so much love to give a puppy, a huge garden, time and attention but I want everything to be right. I would hate for the puppy to be unhappy. Is this too long to leave a dog in the day? Also just to add we would do a long dog walk first thing in the morning, try and wear them out before settling them down and going to work. Thanks for reading. Any advice greatly received.
Hi and welcome I work 25 hours a week, and work locally just like you, and it works for us. I had 2 weeks off work, then work reduced hours for another 2 weeks. I slowly increased to 3 hours, pop home for 30 mins, back to work for 2-3 hours. I did have my neighbour pop in every 30 mins to start, then every hour after this. When she got to 1, I had a dog walker come in twice a week so I work 9-3 on those days without coming home for lunch. By 6 months old I left her for an absolute max of 4 hours alone (usually 3). It can work, but for the first few months you will need help with we breaks as their bladders are so small and they need company. Please do ask any questions you feel may help you
Sure, a well adjusted dog, used to being left, can do 9am to 2pm alone, that shouldn't be a problem. A good walk before you go, and a pile of kongs and s/he will just snooze until you're home. Particularly if you are active with your dog otherwise, plenty of training and activities etc. The puppy stage will be a challenge, you can't expect a very young pup to do 5 hours alone, but there are all sort of solutions to get you through that bit. Puppy walkers/visits, puppy creche etc. You'll manage, with enough planning. Best of luck with it.
I think it would be a good idea to investigate dog walkers/sitters, as it is rather a long time to leave a puppy. They do need company, playtime etc - they won't just sleep all that time as an adult dog might if it had been given a good early morning walk. I guess it depends on where you live, but around here (East Sussex) dog walkers and day care are actually quite reasonably priced, e.g £15 for a whole day in a home setting including 2 one hour walks. (Obviously you'd need slightly different care for a puppy).
Welcome! And I second what Julie said ^^^^ I work and I'm on my second dog. The puppy days they really need quite a bit of company. Like babies they eat, sleep, pee, poo and play in rapid succession. You can totally leave them longer when they're a bit older but you'll need help in the early days. Best of luck!
Thank you Naya and Julie, it's a relief to know that this can work, we really want this to work. The puppy stage we will need to do a lot of planning, and get some more help. Funny that we have talked and analysed and discussed having a dog much more than when we decided to have our first son. Thanks again
Thanks bbbrown and Joy, we live in Surrey and I have googled dog walkers etc. We haven't even got the puppy yet and already I'm thinking that I'll be nervous leaving him/her with a stranger.
It doesn't last long though. 3 or 4 months (until your pup is 5 or 6 months old) and then you can get a pup happy with spending 5 hours alone with lots of company and activities otherwise - and years and years of dog love after that for the sake of a bit of extra expense, planning etc. at first. Your dog won't need long walks at first. I had a dog walker, but she just came round and spent an hour in the garden with my pup.
Yes, I think it's doable. The early days will take a lot of managing and help coming in. I Was lucky when I worked, my parents and MIL took it in turns to come and to be with the dogs. They did the ironing, made cakes and our evening meal while they were at it! (Happy days, I miss them all so much )
Hi there! In addition to the great advice above, you might find this article of interest: Advice on raising a puppy when you work full time
Hello and welcome! Great advice, and it is definitely doable, though it requires forethought and planning, especially for the first few months. And I would definitely advise taking a few weeks off work for when the puppy first comes home.
Thanks again everyone. We are in the midst of a long discussion now about when would be the right time. After our holiday in August? or close to Christmas?or early next year?. Combining us taking time off work and school holidays would help a lot. Maybe we are over thinking it a bit.
Hi Froggy! Welcome to the forum. We did this successfully when our kids were just a little older 15 and 12 (I think!) Got our pup after we returned from our summer hols, kids and me/hubby were home for the first 4 weeks, then kids back at school. Left house 8.30am, OH back at 11.30-12ish for a pit stop 45 mins, then kids home at 3.15pm. Very quickly Lilly didn't "go" at lunchtime, we just extended it an hour or so every week or thereabouts until she was content until school home time. Lilly was crated, always got a filled kong when we left the house,always eager to go in her crate. Worked out really well for us. Bladder like a camel. We have a home-bod contented dog - created or in her nature? Dunno that. Good luck with you plans!
From the options you listed I'd go for August. This is based solely on the amount of time you will spend outside encouraging toileting!
This is something I wrote a couple of years ago now....I still work, and my new puppy will be here in 10 days!
