Work full time and have dog?

Hello Flowingflower

Not really a good idea I am afraid to say. Because a dog is a pack animal, they are used to having company and I am not sure that house rabbits would quite cut the mustard. They can become destructive and develop problems with barking if left alone to their own devices for too long without company and being able to go out and have a pee etc. Being intelligent animals that, depending on the breed, may well descend from a working line, they need to be mentally and physically active for part of the day and being left alone for 8 hours is too much. When left alone a dog will do little more than simply wait for their owner to come home which just isn't fair on the dog.

Try looking on websites about dogs and different breeds etc and you will probably come across some advice. I am sure there must be some on the Battersea Cats and Dogs Home or the RSPCA website.

Sorry!!

flowingflower, I have to endorse what Delighted has said. Additionally, there's a pretty good chance the dog would KILL the rabbits, and I'm not being funny or nasty, believe me! 😮

May I ask you ... what do you want a dog FOR? There may be other alternatives to actually keeping one yourself, you see, if you have a genuine interest in and love of dogs, but I'll let you answer the question, if you want to of course, before elaborating 🙂

Holistic

Flowingflower

I feel terrible if my dogs are on there own for more than 4 or 5 hours, itching to get home to let them out. Would you be able to go out in a morning and leave them for that lengh of time.
I have to agree with Delighted and Holistic in that I don't think it would be a good idea. I don't think I would be happy leaving a rabbit and dog together either I would fear for the rabbit.
Sorry, I don't think that was what you wanted to hear.

Helen

To be honest I think it is confirming what I thought which is why I haven't got a dog so far...

I feel bad enough leaving the rabbits!
Thanks, I appreciate your honesty!

Any interest in possible alternatives to actual ownership, as per my post above?

Though if so, my further reply would have to be tomorrow, I think, as it's getting a bit late 😮

Holistic

I'm open to the idea but i don't know of anyone. It's one of these things that if there's a dog needing me it will appear I reckon.

I also kinda like the idea of it being mine though.. perhaps a whole other thing going on there i guess..

But also, I don't love everyone's rabbits but I very much like mine!! Maybe I'm just a bit selfish that way...

Could you get home at lunch time or pay for a dog walker to go in for an hour? I would definitely not recommend getting a puppy if you are out of the house all day but there are older dogs that would be ok with the arrangement. You would have to be sure that they would get a decent break at lunchtime.

I used to work full-time out of the house and adopted various dogs from rescue. I prefer to have more than one dog when they are left during the day as they then have each other for company (I agree you would need to be very careful about leaving a dog and rabbit together, unsupervised).

There are older pairs of dogs looking for a new home together, I volunteer for a rescue that helps rehome older dogs. Feel free to contact me if you'd like any help/advice/suggestions 🙂

I endorse all that has been said here.

We once 'rescued' a 4mth old border collie from a family.

It lived outside in a kennel with rabbits which were allowed to run free in the yard. The family had 4 kids under 6 and all the dog had known was chasing rabbits and kids. The pup was a total wreck never having been socialised or trained in any way. When we took him home he chased anything that moved, cars wheels, bikes, prams etc and took many months of walking up and down a main road and town centre to re train him. Plus he had alot of other issues too.

If you introduce a dog into your house without supervision it will be a recipe for disaster, no matter how well meaning you are.

I have 2 dogs and I work full time but my mum (83yrs young) comes in a couple of times a day to let them out. I would never ever leave my dogs more than 4 hours without them being let out.

CrissyB

at the animal rescue centre where I volunteer, they would not let someone adopt a dog, if they were out all day, as the dog needs company , stimulation and long walks. as well as needing regular outings for a wee like you mentioned.

Is there anywhere near you that needs volunteer dog walkers?

tigress

is it possible for you to bring dog to your work?

Amethsytfairy:)

I agree with everyone else, a whole day to leave your dog is too long. We got our dog Tex because I work part-time and am around in and out all day. The most I will leave him is 4 hours.

They are definitely pack animals and love the company.

Have to agree that dogs need company throughout the day.

We had our dog Misha for 16.5 years but due to circumstances and where we lived she was only on her own for short periods of time. When she passed away our lives changed and we are now away from the house for long periods.

Although we would love another dog we realise that due to work commitments we cant. So we have registered as dog walkers at our local dogs home, we've made a commitment and enjoy the time spent walking the dogs, although I would love to bring them all home with me I know I can't.

Fudge

RSPCA has older dogs need fostering so perhaps foster for weekends if really want dog?

maybe friday evenings and someone pick up dog on mondays?

Amethsytfairy:)

One of my neighbours has two rescued greyhounds - they are fantastic and totally lazy! They each have a sofa and reluctantly leave them to go walking with her twice a day! She works full time (health visitor), but has a dog-walker who goes in around lunchtime to take them out for 45 minutes. ((The aforementioned dog-walker makes a very good living - I'm thinking of changing careers!))

must admit this is on my mind a lot as since my partner's dog passed away nearly 2 years ago i've fallen in love with having a dog of my own, but live in a flat and we both work (albeit i work part-time only). we did have our old dog visit from time to time but he was old and carrying him up and down stairs to toilet was very hard. (he was living in joint custody with my partner's ex at the time!)

for now i'll have to make do with my goldfish!!

but i've been looking on the website suggested by ReikiAnge and it looks like a great idea for the future as i'd rather take on a couple of rescue dogs when the time comes. In fact re: Jabba....i'd love to get a couple of greyhounds or lurchers. There's a fab sanctuary nearish to me and we are going to sponsor one of those that can't be rehomed. I've learnt so much about them and they seem like wonderful pets.

I'm open to the idea but i don't know of anyone. It's one of these things that if there's a dog needing me it will appear I reckon.

I also kinda like the idea of it being mine though.. perhaps a whole other thing going on there i guess..

But also, I don't love everyone's rabbits but I very much like mine!! Maybe I'm just a bit selfish that way...

The alternatives I was going to suggest have now been pretty much covered by other members here ... sponsoring a dog, volunteering at rescue centres etc etc

The 'whole other thing' you mentioned is something you might perhaps want to look into, though we all need things like love, companionship, someone to depend on us and so on, and these are all perfectly normal human needs which for many are fulfilled by a companion animal.

What is important to bear in mind is the reason for wanting to own a dog in the first place, and this is something that anybody considering parting with a dog ... a rescue centre, breeder or whoever ... will most probably ask you. If they don't, they should ... but that is just IMHO.

Holistic

go part time?or come home for lunch ? install dog flap?

cat imstead?

Amethystfairy:)

at the animal rescue centre where I volunteer, they would not let someone adopt a dog, if they were out all day, as the dog needs company , stimulation and long walks. as well as needing regular outings for a wee like you mentioned.

Is there anywhere near you that needs volunteer dog walkers?

tigress

I don't know if your rescue centre will adopt to full-time workers if they can make arrangements to go home at lunchtimes or have a dog walker go in, but I just wanted to say again that there are rescues that will adopt to full-time workers in that situation.

I gave my rescue dogs a very good life when I worked full-time outside of the house and I know plenty of people that do now - mostly with multiple dogs as it is good for them to have company. I would recommend older dogs in this situation or dogs that are generally happy to chill out during the day (greyhounds spring to mind!).

I appreciate that some rescues generally won't rehome to full-time workers and I completely respect their policies, I just wanted to clarify that other rescues would consider such homes.

RSPCA has older dogs need fostering so perhaps foster for weekends if really want dog?

maybe friday evenings and someone pick up dog on mondays?

Amethsytfairy:)

I have heard of rescues doing w/end fostering before, but usually once you foster a dog he/she would stay with you until the dog finds a home, rather than moving them to and fro from kennels.

If the OP has weekends free then I think volunteering to dog walk at a local rescue would be a great idea. Rescues are often keen to find volunteers in the form of homecheckers, transporters, fundraisers, people to help out on stalls etc. too, though I appreciate that's not the same as having your own dog.

Something tells me that greyhounds and rabbits in the house might not be a good mix 😉

Holistic

Something tells me that greyhounds and rabbits in the house might not be a good mix 😉

Holistic

I wouldn't want to leave any dog loose with rabbits unsupervised. If I had rabbits I'd separate them from the dogs if I were out.

I volunteer with someone who has a rescue greyhound and lurcher and a number of cats and they have rabbits, although the rabbits live outside.

Something tells me that greyhounds and rabbits in the house might not be a good mix ;)Holistic

I hope no-one thought I was suggesting that, 'cos that wasn't my intention :026: !!!!

We used to have rabbits in our garden - two pet rabbits who had escaped from their run and 'gone bush' - they lived happily in the roots (burrow) of a large holly tree. Our border collie would spend hours sitting by the hole with her head resting on crossed paws, waiting for them to come out. It was so lovely to watch - and she never attacked them! They lived there for around 5 years!

Originally Posted by Holistic [url][/url]
Something tells me that greyhounds and rabbits in the house might not be a good mix ;)Holistic

I hope no-one thought I was suggesting that, 'cos that wasn't my intention :026: !!!!

We used to have rabbits in our garden - two pet rabbits who had escaped from their run and 'gone bush' - they lived happily in the roots (burrow) of a large holly tree. Our border collie would spend hours sitting by the hole with her head resting on crossed paws, waiting for them to come out. It was so lovely to watch - and she never attacked them! They lived there for around 5 years!

No, not at all! I guess I should have done quote boxes ... I have now 😉

I was replying to ReikiAnge who had said:

I would recommend older dogs in this situation or dogs that are generally happy to chill out during the day (greyhounds spring to mind!).

because in her OP, flowingflower had told us:

I'm not going to get one if I was going to be cruel by leaving it all day. I have house rabbits too so they could keep it company! I would be happy to take it for walk in morning and evening so that's not a problem...

My sister once had a rabbit, who lived on the terrace in a hutch. Rabbit had babies. The dog used to carefully - with his teeth - remove the toggle on the door to her run, and go and lie down in there, with baby bunnies jumping all over him. One day, however, the mother was loose and running across the lawn. Instinct was too much ... and unfortunately he chased and killed her 🙁

That's why I said that greyhounds and rabbits might not be a good mix. Even if the greyhounds aren't ex-racing ... and many are ... they will still have the instinct. Because they are dogs. Ours referred to above was a large-ish mongrel whom we rescued as a baby puppy, he could well have had some hound blood in his makeup.

Holistic

Like I said, I'd be reluctant to leave a dog and rabbit unsupervised, whatever the breed.

I wouldn't want to leave any dog loose with rabbits unsupervised. If I had rabbits I'd separate them from the dogs if I were out.

I volunteer with someone who has a rescue greyhound and lurcher and a number of cats and they have rabbits, although the rabbits live outside.

Now there's a name I recognise from elsewhere! 🙂

I agree with you.

In an ideal world it is better not to work full time if you have a dog, BUT, this is far from an ideal world and there are lots of dogs in various shelters that are having miserable lives or are in danger of being put to sleep because they can't find homes. I don't know about the rules and regs of rescue centres in regards to working hours but it may be worth finding out and as already mentioned there are people that will come in and walk your dog or let it out to the loo (you could even pay a neighbour or friend).

I know they are crying out for homes for greyhounds, especially at the moment as people aren't taking them on due to the credit crunch. Apparently they have particular trouble homing black greyhounds and they can stay in the rescue kennels for years.

I meet many people in my area with greyhounds (as there is a rescue centre nearby), lots of the people work full time and they all say what wonderful pets they make and they also say how lazy their hounds are and how they are happy with short walks and spend the majority of the day sleeping (they are known as 40mph couch potatoes).

Untold numbers of greyhounds are destroyed each year because there is no room for them in the rescue centres so this leads me to think that isn't it better they go to a good home where they will be spoilt and loved even if they do have to spend some time on their own each day. Also whats the best option a lethal injection/years in a lonely kennel or a forever sofa where they can curl up in the warm and wait for their favourite person to come home, feed them, take them for a little walk and then curl up on the sofa with them for the evening.

At my local Greyhound rescue you can also volunteer to walk the dogs if you don't want to actually own one. You can also sponsor a dog or a kennel and you can go and visit/walk the dog you sponsor (or the dog that resides in the particular kennel you sponsor).

You sound like a kind and thoughtful person as you're obviously putting a lot of thought into this, so I think a rescue dog would be very lucky to find such an owner.

Good luck whatever you decide.

Sx

Hey Squirrel, that sounds like the greyhound rescue centre near me....one day i really hope to be able to re-home one. But i live in a small flat and am not allowed dogs 🙁 It's gutting, but it doesn't look like i'll be able to move for some time. However, now you've mentioned about how difficult it seems to be to rehome black greyhounds, when the time comes....i shall look for them!

Hey Squirrel, that sounds like the greyhound rescue centre near me....one day i really hope to be able to re-home one. But i live in a small flat and am not allowed dogs 🙁 It's gutting, but it doesn't look like i'll be able to move for some time. However, now you've mentioned about how difficult it seems to be to rehome black greyhounds, when the time comes....i shall look for them!

That's lovey news Shaya that you will one day give a greyhound a home (especially a sidelined black one) - I too would like to rescue greyhounds but as I already have a couple of dogs I can't handle more at the moment, physically or financially - plus there is no more room on the sofa lol !! However once mine go to rainbow bridge (although I hate to think of that time) then I will take on greyhounds. I couldn't live without a dog now, they are such a huge part of your life and although there are some minor inconveniences the positives far outway any negatives.

Sx

Sx

😀 Thanks Squirrel, that's so lovely to hear! As much as i love where i live, it's hard not to have a hound! One way or the other, i feel a black greyhound in my future LOL!

Bestest wishes
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