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This is a bit premature since DH doesn't even know that I've been actively looking at humane society/animal rescue websites for the last week, but I figured I'd get ahead of the game here. I want to have an idea of what do to with a dog while we're at work all day. I so hate the idea of having him/her crated all day. What would you guys do?
1) There's a doggy daycare literally right in the middle of my five minute drive from home to work. Any idea how much those usually run per day and if they're worth it?
2) My dad is retired and he takes care of the other two family dogs all day, so I could theoretically take the dog to their house every day, but that's a 30 minute drive each way and would eat up a lot of gas.
3) We have two spare offices that my boss and I are not currently using and I *might* be able to sweet-talk him into letting me bring the pooch to work (there's another lady in our building who brings her dog to work with her a lot). I don't think this would be a permanent solution though because I'm hoping to find a new job sometime soon with health benefits (one of our requirements before we start trying to have a human baby) And anyway, he'd still be in a room by himself for most of the day. Although he would have more room to play and I'd have plenty of opportunities to take him outside.
So what do you guys think? Any ideas? What do you do?
What kind of dog are you looking at getting? Most dogs sleep the majority of the day, so I don't know that it's something you need to be overly concerned about. It may be nice to see if you can hire someone to come and let the dog out and play for half hour or so in the middle of the day but I think that once they're beyond the puppy stage, this isn't super necessary. If you take your dog for walks and interract in the mornings and after you're home from work you should be fine. I used to crate my dog all day because she was mischevious. She's gotten older and calmer now though and most days she's out in the house while we're gone. No matter whether she's in her crate our out in the house she sleeps most of the day away.
I leave all 3 of my monsters at home, loose in the house, for hours on end. No issues (for the most part).
I think it depends on the breed and age of the dog. Puppies can't hold it all day, and terrier types (among other breeds) have a lot more energy and need to be occupied to avoid being destructive.
I'd suggest crate training your dog at first until they have a chance to settle into their new home. The crate does not have to be a punishment for your dog- it can be their own safe place to eat or sleep.
As for daycare, I have taken my dogs from time to time, and it was nice for a change of pace. I think it was maybe $25 or $30 for the day for one dog. Call and ask them what their rates are. Usually they will want to meet the dog beforehand and assess their temperament and personality.
I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to be able to bring my dogs to work, but there is no way I'd get any work done (not that I get much done playing on WB all day!!). If that is an option I'd go for it.
Every dog is different, some might have separation anxiety and need to be either with their human all day or in a crate when alone, others enjoy the peace and quite of being left alone during the day.
Wish I could bring my dog to work, but alas, it's not allowed.
My dog stays home all day in our bedroom. She used to bark her head off, and I unknowingly pissed off the neighbors. But we managed to nip that in the bud very quickly with a citronella spray collar.
She has a "potty patch" which is a patch of anti-microbial astroturf on top of a tray, and that's where she pees and poops if she can't hold it.
Hmm... I guess I hadn't thought of the crate not being a bad thing :) If he/she was getting enough attention when we're home, it probably wouldn't be too bad. DH and I actually meet each other at home for lunch every day so there would be an hour in the middle of the day that we'd get to interact with him/her. Thanks for the advice girls :)
I agree with a lot of what Danelady said. Age and breed will pretty much be the deciding factors with what your options are. Do both of you have normal 9-5, M-F jobs?
My first dog was a 10 yo pit bull. I lived in a condo with a cement porch and he was able to roam ( in reality sleep) wherever he wanted.
My current 1 yo pitbulls MUST be kenneled or they will do hundreds of dollars of damage. Learned this the hard way their first few weeks home. I really hate kenneling them but it is a very very large kennel and they are in it together, and they are alone only 3 days/ week. They both love it and go in voluntarily and sometimes hang out there when they're tired so my guilt isnt justified...When the weather gets nicer they will go outside in the backyard while we are gone. We also have a border collie and she is a gem who allowed to do and go wherever she pleases and doesnt destroy rooms like her brothers.
IF your current job lets you bring the dog to work, I say go for it! Do you have any neighbors you are close to? How bout friends in the area who work from home, homeschool, etc.?
Our dog is trustworthy being loose in the house by herself so she just chill out at home and sleeps all day.
I'm pretty she she moves around between her bed, the couch, and in the sunshine by the window.
My boys are both at home during the day. The one has roam of the living/dining room (little furniture in there) and the other is in a crate in the same room. Everytime we think we can let him out of the crate he eats something while we are home...
Are you getting a puppy or an older dog? We got both of ours at about 8 weeks old. They were in crates whenever we left the house (the one was crated until about 10 months old) and I came home at lunch to let them out. I went home daily for about 45mins, which gave me time to take them out to the bathroom, get a bite to eat at home while playing with them, then another bathroom break and back to the crate. I did this until the youngest was about a year old (he's 1.5yrs now).
If you get a high energy dog, I'd consider doggy day care 1-2 days a week if you can afford it. I know around here is was about $30 a dog, so we never did it. I really wanted to, but I couldn't see budgeting that.
I do bring my dogs into work if I have to go in after hours. Makes me feel a little safer and they love running around the office. Thankfully I have a dog friendly office and my boss is a dog lover.
Dogs sleep almost the entire day. We've got a camera on our dogs so we can monitor them when we go out. This was a lifesaver for me when we first started leaving our one dog out. I was always worried he'd eat something. I check on them throughout the day and they are both typically sleeping. Sometimes I see the crated one just standing there for a few mins, but he circles around and goes right back to sleep pretty quickly. The days I work from home they sleep all day as well.
Thanks for all the tips! I am looking at adult dogs. I would really love a pug because of their goofball personalities, but I am open to any dog that happens to steal my heart. I know for sure I'm looking for a small to medium sized dog with a relatively low energy level.
The days my hubby and I both work, they are home alone for around 9-10 hours. They most likely sleep when we are gone. It would be good if once in a while if you drop your dog off at the daycare so he/she can be socialized and work off some energy. Also, hiring a dog walker to come mid-day can also be an idea. Good luck!
I think if you live in an apartment with out a backyard that they can run around in during the day then either get a cat, or a small dog that doesn't need to run around (apart from its daily walk in the evening)
I really think bigger higher maintenance dogs should be for people that live in suburbia and who have a big yard they can play in the day, I really dont see kennelling or locking a big dog up in a house as being fair, infact I think its cruel. If you can afford day care great, but it is a dog not a child, perhaps if your only solution is day care or taking it to work, you are not at a point in your life where you should have a dog.
First, remember that dogs don't mind being crated. Humans perceive a crate as a "cage", where a dog sees the crate as its "den" or "bedroom". My dogs will go in their crates to sleep even when I'm home, they know that is their own personal space.
Doggy day care is fun for the dog, but adds up quick. When I only had 1 dog, I would take her to doggy day care once a week, it was $20 for the day. I would do it on a weekly basis, not every day. It also makes it more of a treat for the dog if it's not every day.
I currently have 3 dogs, they are kenneled when I'm gone. 2 of them could be fine loose in the house, but the 3rd marks and has to wear a belly-band inside. Also, mine don't always get along, I don't want to come home to bleeding/injured dogs.
Once you're determined your dog is trustworthy to be unsupervised (you know it won't chew on the furniture, or worse chew on electrical cords and electicute itself), then slowly introduce it to the idea of being loose alone in the house. Start with short times, such as when you run a 15-30 minute errand. Then let it be loose when you go out to dinner. Then eventually let the dog be out when you go to work.
Also keep in mind if you get another dog in the future, depending on the circumstances, you may have to crate the dogs again. So don't get rid of the crate even if you're letting the dog be loose while you're gone.
@simpleandchic I guess that's what I was asking, I don't want to get a dog if its life with us isn't going to be a happy one, but I know that we have a lot of love to give. And PP have indicated that their dogs don't mind being left at home. Like I said, I'm looking for a smaller dog that doesn't need a ton of outside time.
My dog usually stays home by himself once a week. The other days I drop him off at my parents house. My parents aren't usually home during the day but they have a dog so it gives them some canine companionship. Other days I bring him to the office with me and he hangs out and sleeps. Days he goes to the office he usually naps a lot when we get home. I think a doggie daycare is a great idea. If my pooch was better around puppies and younger more playful dogs I would definitely consider it. I think the daycares in my area are anywhere form $15-25/day. A GF of mine pays someone to come in the day and walk her dog for $10/day and she spends about 45 minutes-hour with him, not a bad deal for some one-on-one time. Just make sure if you bring your pup to a daycare you get him the kennel cough vaccine.
I also suggest crating, I haven't used a crate in many years but my dog liked it when I first got him, he did think it was his own little "house". We started off with a crate, once he was really good, we got a big baby gate (Frontgate has some good looking ones) and had him in the kicthen only and left his crate open for him to use. Once he was fine with that he got free reign of the house and has had free reign for about 8 years now. Knock on wood, we only had ONE issue with him chewing soemthing in all these years, it was the blinds during a really bad thunderstorm. If you don't use the crate as a punishment and kind of act happy when you put him in there, maybe even give him a treat, he won't mind it at all. Like other posters my dog often used his for sleeping when we were home for the first few years. If you get the appropriate sized crate they won't do their business in there while you're gone.
@abbyful: Best advice I could give! She said it all.
I foster dogs (on foster #4 at the moment), and I've kept all dogs crated throughout the day. All 4 have been fine and have loved it. We do have a dog walker, which is the perk of fostering... we get it for free. For our smaller dogs (one of ours was a pug), we could see going without a walker and leaving them crated all days. But some of the medium sized dogs need that energy release and stretch.
@swanks4tw: Just because other people say there dogs dont mind being in a crate, kenneled or locked up all day, doesn't mean they are really happy or healthy dogs!
I am sorry I am a strong believer that a dog has the right to be outside in yard and playing, if they loved being crated, kenneled, locked up then thats what they would do with them at day care, they dont!
Even many small dogs in all honesty would prefer to be out playing, I have wanted a dog for years, really badly, and we have a small backyard, but I haven't got one because I know it is unfair, I'll wait until we have a bigger yard and prob get two dogs so they can keep each other company.
For what it's worth, there are a lot of small dogs that do NOT do well in apartments. Just because a Jack Russell is tiny & cute doesn't mean it won't eat a hole in the wall... which is exactly what happened to the people who lived above me in my old apartment. I only had the one great dane at the time, and he was a perfect apartment dog-130 pounds of lazy!
@abbyful: I agree with your point of view on crating or using a kennel. They whine a bit at first, but when they learn that barking doesn't get them out, they settle down nicely. I used to put a blanket over the crate to make it more like a cave, and it worked just fine.
OP- if you guys are going to be at home in the middle of the day, then I really wouldn't stress too much about the dog being at home alone for a few hours. Crate train until they are trustworthy then see how they do for a little bit of time (like run to the grocery store or something) and gradually increase the amount of time they are alone unattended. Baby steps!
Oh- and thank you for checking your local animal shelter. All 3 of mine are rescues and I wouldn't have it any other way :)
abbyful, thank you for the advice! And yes, my ultimate goal would be for the dog to be able to out and about the house while we're gone.
You guys have such awesome advice! I knew this was the place to ask :D
DaneLady, I love love love Great Danes, but our apartment has a max weight limit of 30 lbs. lol
My babies stay home during the day in their crate together. They seem to be most comfortable in their space and it was the best option for us.
I do bring my pups to work on occassion when the boss is out or if it is going to be a rare very hot day. They sleep at my feet while I work and it really isn't a big deal.
If it is an older dog as you suggested you were looking for it shouldn't be a problem to leave them at home. You could try keeping them in a smaller portion of your home (kitchen, specific bedroom) at first until they are comfortable.
Mine stays in his crate all day. We hope to give him free run of the house when hes trustworthy. When we first got him until he was about 4 months old, my husband would go home during lunch break to let him out twice a week. My dad would go the other 2 days. He can hold it all day now at 5 months... but my dad works near by so he still goes 2x a week to let him out and play a little and the other days I just shift and go into work 2-3 hours later so he's only home alone 6-7 hours.
@simpleandchic - I don't advise anybody leave their dogs outside all day unsupervised, especially in the city or suburbs.
I've heard so many stories of dogs, especially if it's a purebred, getting stolen from the owner's yard. Or if it's a bully-type breed, getting stolen for fighting or bait. Or a delivery man puts a package on the back porch and leaves the gate open and the dog escapes.
For small dogs, both in city/suburban and rural areas, hawks and owls are a concern. As well as coyotes, and yes, coyotes do venture into the city. And racoons, a racoon will kill a small or medium sized dog, and can tear up a large dog.
I live in a pretty decent neighborhood, and a couple years ago there was a rash of dog killings, someone was driving around and shooting dogs, the dogs were in fenced backyards. There were at least 5 dogs that were killed this way, all on different blocks/streets, so some sick person was just out shooting dogs in their yards for fun.
Therefore, my dogs are inside when I'm not able to supervise them outside. And they are very healthy, happy dogs.
@simpleandchic: When my dog was crated during the day he was a healthy and happy dog, I think that most people on here would say the same thing about their pooches. When you have to crate your dog you just have to make sure you make plenty of time for activities. I used to walk mine 2 miles in the morning, half a mile at lunch and another 2 miles in the evening. He's 12 years old now and one of the healthiest dogs I've ever seen! Even with our 7 acres of land I would not leave my dog outside unattended while I'm not home. He may enjoy it but there are the rare occassions when dogs get stolen, especially purebreds and I wouldn't risk it.
We have an energetic dog. We are planning on getting another one eventually (wedding present???) but for now we just have one (and a cat).
He goes to doggie day care once or twice a week. We take him on days we know we have plans in the evening. In my area it is $20 per day (6-12 hours) and $12 for a half day (under 6 hours). Our daycare is literally set up like a real day care. There are separate rooms for different size/temperament. Our dog is big (65 lbs) but kind of a baby, so sometimes he gets moved to the med. dog room if the big dogs are particularly rambunctious. They even have a swim room with an indoor pool for dogs that like the water.
Doggie daycare is great because it wears him out. He can barely keep his eyes open on the ride home. I agree with @abbyful that it is a fun treat for the dog. He gets so excited when we pull up to the building.
On days he stays home, he gets a morning walk (30min to 45min) and then a long walk when we get home from work – usually more than an hour. If he is really wound up, we play fetch in the yard or unfinished basement. During the day, he has an area in the kitchen blocked off. He has his dog bed and a few indestructible toys. Mostly he sleeps. We are experimenting with letting him have the whole house. He hasn’t gotten into trouble yet.
When my dog was a puppy, he was crated...to protect him and my stuff! Now he just lays around all day, plays with his toys some (I think...they move around at least), and sleeps. He really has a nice life!
The more I think about it the more I think it's actually a great idea. I get up with DH when he gets up at 6:30 but I don't actually have to be at work til 9. So pooch and I could get a pretty decent walk in the morning.
ETA: I also think the daycare as a treat every once and a while and to get him/her used to other dogs sounds like an awesome idea!
I leave my dog home while working, he is almost 2 but he is still crated. He loves his crate or "home" as we call it. He is home in the crate on Monday 7:30-4 and Tuesday and Thursday 7:30-3. On Wednesdays I drop him off at my dads house to "play" for the day. On Friday's I don't work but usually do errands for a few hours or so in the morning. On the weekends when we go out we leave him in his home. I used to feel bad about him staying in the crate but I've found that on days when I am home all day (Friday for example) he sleeps in his crate all day anyway just with the door open. I wouldn't stress over this too much.
@simpleandchic: Dogs, psychologically, prefer smaller and comfortable spaces when they are alone. It helps them fight off anxiety and loneliness.
Leaving them unattended all day without safeguards is extremely dangerous, especially when outdoors to both animals and others. Think of a dog allowed to roam in a kitchen and all the food it could get in to (believe me, one of my friend's fosters was able to jump up on our counters and grab food out of our shelves). No shelter group or dog trainer would suggest letting a dog stay unwatched in a large area or outside for longer stretches of time. A couple hours, maybe. 5-8... no.
I really reccomend getting to know your pooch before you make any big decisions! Our dog is a big malamute/husky mix. We assumed he'd be a ball of energy! In the start, we crated him, and I came home every day at lunch to give him a long walk.
Then we got to know him and realized that he's totally chill. It varies, but he's usually alone in the house from about 6am - 3pm. He has never peed on the floor and torn anything up. He's left with a lot of food, water and toys and we were very careful to 'dog proof' everything in the house. Honestly, he is a big lump! When one of us gets back, he's usually very excited/jumping and we let him outside to pee immediately. But he just comes right back in and snuggles on the couch. Sometimes, when I leave in the morning, I have to DRAG him out to play for a few minutes. He's lazy :P
Keep in mind that we adopted him as a 2 year old though, not a puppy!
I leave my pup around the house and she is fine! But she is 4 pounds and can't get into a lot of trouble anyways!
I would recommend doggie day care 1 day per week. For example, tire your dog out with walks/playing on weekends. On monday/tuesday they will be pretty tired still (long walks at night are a must!!) On wednesday, take them to day care for the day! This will tire them out for Thurs and Fri and then its the weekend again. This works wonders for people i know!
@abbyful: We had problems with dogs being poisoned with tainted meat here!
Remember, it depends on the breed as well. Not all small breeds are good apartment dogs (like a jack russel).
@zagora: Those collars really work?? Does she have to wear it all the time or did she actually learn that barking was wrong and doesn't anymore? I have a little one who loves barking only second to eating.
We keep our dogs in our finished basement and we have a dog walker who comes and walks them around lunch time. I used to take one of our dogs to Daycare, but it's VERY expensive, at least where I live and I could only afford to take her once a week. We LOVE our dogwalker, she is so reliable and the dogs love her!
My little monster is lucky because myself and SO work opposite shifts for the most part. I'm at work 8:30-6 and he leaves for work at 4:30. So my munchkin is alone in his "room" (laundry room) for about 1-2 hours? Then he's with me the whole night and when I go to sleep he comes with me OR I put him to bed in his little room until SO gets home around 3am and lets him back out. SO goes to sleep around 5-7am and I'll let him out when I wake up around 7-8am. It's a long cycle of being free and in his room but he spends 80-85% time "FREE" and is always asleep anyway lol they are so cute, just sleeps all day and gets little burts of playfulness and energy. Hes 2 years old.
We keep our malamute in a crate during the day. We started him off in the crate when he was a wee pup (he's 2.5 years now). We've never had any problems with it. The crate is large enough for him to stand, turn, scratch, stretch, etc....but not too huge so he still feels safe. He is a funny booger. His crate is his "den" and his "safe spot." If something happens that startles him (like if he senses that either me or my DH are upset or speaking in raised voices), he'll retreat to his den. When he gets sleepy at night (or during the day), he curls up in his crate voluntarily. We give him plenty of exercise in the evenings and weekends, and he has ample time to play and potty in the mornings. We can leave him out in our home alone for short trips to the store, but it isn't so safe for extended periods of time (he has separation anxiety, and things like the following have happened when he was left out alone.....)
I work from home at this time of year and I get to see what Junior Mink does when we're not here. There's a whole lot of sleeping and a whole lot of watching out the window.
She just stays at home and plays with her toys, cuddles with my roommates cats, and sleeps.
You would definitely have to get to know your specific pooch. Mine is free to roam the house and yard but spends most of her time curled up on her bed in my room.
For several years we had a girl in our neighborhood that was home schooled so she would come by during lunch to take our boy for a walk. Worked out great and wasn't as expensive as a professional pet sitter. She went off to college and we haven't found a good replacement yet :( so our four-legged furball is in our heated/cooled sun porch and can get outside to the fenced yard via his dog door. I'm willing to bet he spends 90% of his time sleeping on the couch on the porch...
I have two dogs and we keep them in the crate when we work and a dog walker comes half way through the day and takes them for a wee stroll!
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