EGAR Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 As it says in the title. What do YOU think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happylittlegreensquirrel Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 depends on the indivdual dog and the arrangements made for the dogs care during the day ( pet walkers/sitters , people visiting etc ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacqui d Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 ditto what mrs sqiggs said im a full time worker, as is hubs, but we have my mum next door but one and she does hourly visits, i also work shifts, hubs works set hours and as we have school age child as well it means the house is rarely void of an adult which works works well for us and the dogs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alison Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 depends on the indivdual dog and the arrangements made for the dogs care during the day ( pet walkers/sitters , people visiting etc ) I'd say that one size doesn't fit all too and the individual circumstances need to be taken into account. I work full time but....... Sol (plus fosters) come to the office with me. Friends of mine, a married couple in settled professional occupations, were turned down by the RSPCA as potential rehomers because they both work full time. The RSPCA - rightly or wrongly - ignored the fact that their shift patterns/other factors meant that the dog would only be left alone once in a blue moon for a maximum of 30 mins. One of the other factors was that the wife's sprightly retired mother lives with them and very much wanted a dog too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanrossscot Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 As the wise squirrel says. I work f/t OH works shifts, sometimes they are left for long periods but they cope fine with it 'cos I introduced it gradually (and had friends coming in until they were used to it) Tricky though for rescues to decide I guess, they wouldn't necessarily know what you say is true (though that could apply to anything else as well) I would like a rescue at some point, but the hardest thing may be to persuade a rescue round the f/t work thing. Hopefully they would look at my existing trio to see that it can work and work well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendbert Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 As it says in the title. What do YOU think? Why? What do you think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merledogs Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 (edited) I'd say take each case on its merits. It depends on how important the dog(s) is/are to the person taking them on and what sort of arrangements they are willing to make (or not) for when they are at work. I work full time and have five rescue dogs. When I took them on OH was living with me and as he was a postman he was home by lunchtime every day. However, I knew when I took them on that he and I were not destined to be together for a long time, so when I moved I bought a house which was close enough to work that I could get home at lunchtimes (I would dearly have loved to move somewhere more rural but it wasn't practical). When I need to travel to business meetings I pay a dogwalker to come in and let them out/play with them between once and three times a day, depending on how far I have to travel and how long the meeting is. My life revolves around my dogs such that I don't have a social life or go on holiday without them. I don't do things which will take me away from them at weekends because those are the only two full days a week I get to spend with them and I don't think it's fair on them (and I wouldn't want to leave them anyway). It's not an ideal situation and I do feel guilty about that sometimes, but my dogs are happy, well fed, well looked after and loved Edited February 18, 2008 by madmerle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whizzie Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 depends on the indivdual dog and the arrangements made for the dogs care during the day ( pet walkers/sitters , people visiting etc ) Exactly. I think rescues that refuse such homes point blank are missing out and ultimately because there are more dogs needing homes than good homes available it is the dogs that miss out. The amount of attention invested in a dog/dogs is also not solely measurable by the amount of time someone is at home. It can be quality over quantity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snow Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 The amount of attention invested in a dog/dogs is also not solely measurable by the amount of time someone is at home. It can be quality over quantity. I agree with that wholeheartedly - lets face it a dog in kennels does not really have human company all day, and it certainly doesn't have company at night, whilst during the day there will be people about they won't be spending time one on one with that dog for long - they simply don't have the time. I've never really understood why it's felt that it's more acceptable for a dog to remain in kennels than to have the chance of a good life with people who work full time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zico's mum Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 Depends whether the dog in question is OK to be left for a few hours.I work full time,my dogs get more exercise and socialisation than many of my neighbours dogs whose owners are at home all day.I make a real effort to do so - walked 5 times a day including 1 hour 45 minutes before coming to work and cycle home like a mad woman each lunch hour to walk them for 40 minutes.I was turned down by many rescues because of work hours - not for a specific dog which obviously I understand as not all can cope but for ALL their dogs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudi Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 (edited) I work full-time but go home at lunchtimes, I rarely go out in the evenings unless they come along or I have a sitter and weekends are for me and the dogs. They always come first. I never leave them on their own for any length of time without exercising them and giving them a Kong or something. The two dogs I have now, I've had from puppies and was careful to get them used to spending time alone and they show no stereotypical behavioural problems so I can only assume they're relaxed about their routine. I think some breeds/types are more prone to separation anxiety and research indicates a prevalence amongst rescue dogs so maybe that's what some rescues base their policy on?? I think there's a confusion between an ideal life and a good life - most of us get by with a good life and dogs are no different. Edited February 18, 2008 by Rudi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staffymad Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 Each home should be looked at individually, some FT homes are superb and some wouldn't be suitable. I work full time, some days from home and some not. When I am not here I have a dog walker that takes my dogs out for 1 hr at lunch time, they had a walk with me in the morning and hubby is home at 16.30 plus they have a dog flap. I know I wouldn't be a good home for a puppy/very young dog but the older or more mature dog is perfect for me as they are happy enough to lounge around and sleep plus they have each other for company. However we did have enquiries about dogs from FT who thought it would have been ok to leave the dog(s) for 8 hrs a day, needless to say they were deemed as not suitable, where we have loads of offers for oldies from FT and they have made arrangements, i.e. coming home at lunch time, doggy creche, dog walker etc. We as a rescue would not dismiss a FT working home as long as provisions are made and the dog(s) would be suitable. Cindy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanrossscot Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 Mine can be left for 8+ hours at a time but are quite content. If it's for more than a couple of days (clashing shifts etc) then I will ask my friend to come and give them a run but other than that they are fine with their own company. These are collies (11, 9 & 1.5) so generally high activity dogs, but are also very happy, not stressed and not destructive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staffymad Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 Mine can be left for 8+ hours at a time but are quite content. If it's for more than a couple of days (clashing shifts etc) then I will ask my friend to come and give them a run but other than that they are fine with their own company. These are collies (11, 9 & 1.5) so generally high activity dogs, but are also very happy, not stressed and not destructive. I meant more people who would leave a single dog 8+ hrs every day monday - friday alone. I know of a few people who do leave their dogs for a around 7 hrs a day alone but only once a week and then only irregular, so again with the right dog it is possible if not every day I know your dogs are very happy, content dogs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissa Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 I think it is fine if the person is responsible & can get home at lunchtime or employ dog walker/ friend etc - but every dog is different so hard to say, some dogs will cope better than others being left for longer periods and this should be taken in to account . As has been mentioned I have come across people who are home all day but don't really bother with their dogs they are just 'there' so in my opinion each home on its merits deserves a chance . Also the amount of loving homes you would lose if you only rehomed to people who didn't work would be huge - very few people have the luxury of part-time work or staying at home nowadays Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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