Re: Having a Lab and working full time - possible? Lynne, I think everyone on here would agree that no dog should be left alone for more than 4-5 hours, except in emergencies. Julie was not advocating leaving a dog on its own for long periods. Puppies and grown dogs sleep for long periods, and quickly learn to sleep during the times their humans are away. PROVIDING of course they are carefully and gently introduced to the crate. Your opinion is perfectly valid - as is Julie's.
Re: Having a Lab and working full time - possible? i am meaning a puppy under 12 month needs more attention during this time, being fortunate enough to be able to stay at home, .......i am not saying i love him any more than anyone else on this site as the love the owners have is unconditional love for there dogs i am lucky to be able to stay at home with him...........but neither would i have got a dog if i was in full time work that is me personally
Re: Having a Lab and working full time - possible? [quote author=lynnelogan link=topic=2328.msg22279#msg22279 date=1377248683] and in my opinion i think no dog should be left longer than 6 hours[/quote] Apart from when we sleep then it's ok to leave them for longer!!! is it? :
Re: Having a Lab and working full time - possible? Until a couple of months ago Obi used to go to day care 5 days a week (Mon to Fri) but it was really too much for him. He was exhausted when he got home each day and was too tired to interact with us and even the day care owner said that she didn't think he was really enjoying it after three days. So we cut back to three days, which meant two days home along during work hours (though every other week it's just one day). He honestly is perfectly happy sleeping for the last two weekdays. Even if I am home with him, he just sleeps and I have to rouse him to go for a walk. I would really love to not work and to spend all day with my dog ;D I envy those who can do that. But if you can't do that, then it really is still possible to make it work. You do have to be very 'dog oriented' outside of work hours to make up for it but that's no chore when you love your dog ;D I would not get a puppy unless I could take a month (at least) off work though. Ideally two to three months. They need intensive time. That's why we didn't get a puppy with our second dog, but a 9 month old dog instead. Even then, we both had 4 weeks off work after we first got him and I feel that this was really necessary (or, at the least, it was really really beneficial!) to help him settle in properly. I don't have kids and am never planning to have kids (too old now anyway) and so, for me, my dog is my kid. But I agree with Julie that a dog does not have the same needs as a human child. I would never leave a human child alone all day!! But a well-socialised, well exercised and thoroughly-integrated-into-the-family dog? No problem. For a start, a well socialised dog is a lot more trustworthy and emotionally mature than a kid! If I left a 1.5 year old kid in my house alone for the day I'd expect to come home to utter disaster and a medical emergency. But a 1.5 year old dog - no drama whatsoever.
Re: Having a Lab and working full time - possible? [quote author=lynnelogan link=topic=2328.msg22279#msg22279 date=1377248683] julie i am entitled to an opinion,...... [/quote] Hey Lynne, there was nothing in my post that suggested you weren't entitled to an opinion - just that as someone who works, and has a happy dog (under 12 months), I have a different view and think it's ok to express my view too.
Re: Having a Lab and working full time - possible? my debate is over on this subject...........if your happy with your view and i am happy with mine,matter closed,.....HEY
Re: Having a Lab and working full time - possible? A couple of points made by fairly experienced doggy folk I know quietened my Worry Head when I was worrying about leaving my two: -- it was gently pointed out that on my full time work days, my dogs are glued to my side 16 hours out of 24. on my part time days, 20 hours out of 24. I might take this to extremes by letting them sleep glued to my side all nite on my bed :, but that's a whole lot of time, it did stop me worrying! - many working dogs, generally know to very contented, are kennelled all day. probably with other dogs around, but not with the constant human contact given to most pet dogs. But they are still 'happy' dogs...I guess we need to think about what makes dogs happy, not just what we think would make us happy, when we think about this subject... At the end of teh day I think we all agree that folk will always differ in their opinions on this, I've seen many debates on the subject, for me its simply about my assessment of my dogs' welfare and happiness. That's all that matters really. I adore them, and I know them well enough to know that they are happy and contended, and that they have a wonderful stable life full of great food, adventure, fun, a wee 'pack' where they know who they are, the physical and mental stimulation that they want and need, and SOOOO much affection. Even when they destuff my duvet ;D.
Re: Having a Lab and working full time - possible? Think we've seen the poor huismans off........hope note :'( please come back and tell us what you decide....as you can see we all think different and accept that but all have in common that we love our dogs and make our circumstances work Best Wishes
Re: Having a Lab and working full time - possible? [quote author=lynnelogan link=topic=2328.msg22292#msg22292 date=1377254173] my debate is over on this subject...........if your happy with your view and i am happy with mine,matter closed,.....HEY [/quote] It was never a debate.....it was people's opinions that the original poster was asking for. Hopefully he can now take the opinions given and make a choice based on what his own conscience will allow. It's pretty clear he has options if he wishes to own a dog from the replies. Your opinion of which your entitled too is just your opinion.....not fact. The fact is that dogs can live perfectly happy lives in a working home. Realising the time you have to invest after you come home is probably more important. Same applies when you get up in the morning. With a pup it just takes more management but will willing it's totally possible conscience aside.
Re: Having a Lab and working full time - possible? Hi all, Thanks very much for all the replies - a lot more than I was expecting! It's great to hear so many experiences of working and having a lab and how you make it all work. I think the two biggest things for me are (1) its possible and (2) I have to be ready to prioritising the dog evenings and weekends. I'm going to take the advice of Missy33 and think through how we're living now to make sure a dog can be part of that (thanks for that tip!) Also interesting to note that some of you have done it with young puppies, not just with older dogs. Thanks for all the help and I'll keep you posted on what I do next!
