Working and having a dog

Denise · 02-16-2005, 11:28 AM

No, we are not getting a dog (yet) but I am curious to know how dogs adjust when their owners are working during the day? Is it fair to leave a dog alone and wait to use the bathroom until their owners come home from work?

Feedback please.

Candycane · 02-16-2005, 11:39 AM

Taz has always had someone home with him during the day so I can't really speak from experience. During the winter, he stays inside except to go to the bathroom. He goes out at 6:30 a.m. to eat, then again at about 11:00 a.m., then he goes out to eat dinner at 4:30 p.m., then again at about 8:00 p.m., and one final time at 11:00 p.m. for his nightly treat.

When they are puppies, they can only hold their bladder for about 3 hours so I don't know how it would work unless the puppy had to stay outside. I'm lucky that Taz is so well trained...he has never had an accident...even if we are out and get home a little later than his "out" time. I find that having him on a schedule works quite well because when he goes out, he knows that he has to go or hold it for another 4 hours or so. Most of the time, he at least tries to go.

doxielover · 02-16-2005, 11:50 AM

i used to work and had a dog. It really isn't a good idea to leave a dog alone all day. it is distinctly harder with a puppy, as they have to go out every 2 or 3 hours. An adult can go out in the morning, again on your noon break, when you get home, and at night. If your dog it trained to use newspapers it isn't that big of a deal.

bunnicula · 02-16-2005, 03:02 PM

I can't really comment on whether it is fair or not (you'd have to ask my dog about that), but my dog goes out in the morning and then stays home by herself until everyone gets home from work around 4. She's never had a problem holding her pee.

It is, however, hard to leave a puppy for extended periods of time. It worked out for us because we got Jessie just before my brother and I (who were in grade 6 and 3 at the time) got out of school for summer break. So both of us were able to stay with her mostly everyday for two months. When we did have to go out though, she did get very lonely and acted up as a result. She got over it though as soon as she realised that we were not going to be gone forever and that we would indeed be coming home.

Denise · 02-16-2005, 03:06 PM

I am thinking when the day comes and we get a puppy, I will have to be off from work until he or she is housetrained. With Dave's current schedule, he comes home at 3:00 which isn't too late. I know dogs are a big responsibility and we are certainly taking our time looking at all aspects of it.

doxielover · 02-16-2005, 03:35 PM

Quick question- Would it be fair to make a dog wait all day to go to the bathroom?
would you want to have to wait all day to pee? Not trying to be an *ss just asking. It really is bad to do that. I mean some dogs can do it, but it isn't good to make them.

bunnicula · 02-16-2005, 03:44 PM

Like I said, I cannot speak for what is or is not fair. If my dog cried and rushed to the door everytime that I rushed home, I would find a way to let her out during the day (which would certainly have to involve relying on neighbours), but that is not the case. My dog is a very happy and otherwise very spoiled girl.

I think that it is great that some people can go home in the middle of the day to let their dogs out, but I do not think that that is an option for most people.

As an aside (since you asked), I used to regularly pee before I left for work at 8:00 am and not go again until I got home at 7:00 pm. So yes, I have waited all day.

Candycane · 02-16-2005, 03:47 PM

Actually, I wait all day too!

Mostly because I hate public restrooms.

Anyway, Danielle, does your dog get fed in the morning, or at night? I don't worry so much about Taz having to pee, but I do worry about him having to defecate and not being able to.

If she doesn't appear to have to go really badly when you get home, I could imagine that she is probably okay holding it all day...but who really knows? My cats often hold it all day because they sleep while I'm at work. Then they leave huge puddles in the litterbox.

bunnicula · 02-16-2005, 03:50 PM

I should also note that I haven't lived with my dog for 5 years...

I think that she gets fed really early in the morning.

Solarsis · 02-16-2005, 03:51 PM

Does anyone have their dog trained touse a "litter box" or the regular toilet? I've heard of people having potty trained dogs before.