Dogs that can handle some alone time?

[luds]

The wife is hoping to get a dog. I'm excited about it but we both work and I'm concerned about leaving a dog home all day.

Wondering if any of you guys have recommend dogs that can handle being home alone for 8 hours at a time or should I be thinking about two? We wanted to get a boxer but that doesn't seem like the best idea given our schedule. Looks like it would be miserable and destroy the house.

Any advice is a appreciated. I've had cats all my life so I need help!

[cheferson]

Is there a cheap dog walker in your area?? My dog shep ( sheperd mix) stays home 8+ hours with a walk with little trouble. I only pay $5 for a 15 min walk. I also use canine genius toys with treats to keep him busy. Also adopting an older dog from a shelter would probally cut down on your problems.

[EarnedStripes44]

chef hit it on the head. The more exercise the dog gets, the more time it can spend alone. Big dogs need at least 20 minutes of full speed running every day. I have a boxer and I run the dog mornings before work on the bike (weather permitting). Then I leave for work, but by that time the dog is lying down broad side tongue rolled out over the floor panting. At that point she could care less whether she's alone or not. The separation anxiety thing is something they don't completely outgrow but it mellows with age.

[ProfessorM]

IMO if you are going to leave a dog at home for 8 hours a day you should probably stick with cats. I just don't think it is fair to the dog to be left alone that long and some behavioral situations could also surface. Not trying to be judgmental Mike just my opinion. As the dog gets old they can stay longer without stimulation but a young dog, that long, just not ideal IMO. It's the main reason I am not getting one right now after putting my buddy down a few weeks ago. I just don't have the time right now. Good luck

[luds]

Originally Posted by ProfessorM

IMO if you are going to leave a dog at home for 8 hours a day you should probably stick with cats. I just don't think it is fair to the dog to be left alone that long and some behavioral situations could also surface. Not trying to be judgmental Mike just my opinion. As the dog gets old they can stay longer without stimulation but a young dog, that long, just not ideal IMO. It's the main reason I am not getting one right now after putting my buddy down a few weeks ago. I just don't have the time right now. Good luck

Thanks Paul. That's the kind of honest feedback I'm looking for. What do you think about the possibility of two. Obviously in means more responsibility but do you think that would help with the bordom and loneliness?

[Sea Dangles]

Some breeds are fine with minimal excersize,Boxer is not one of those breeds.

[The Dad Fisherman]

I second Prof M's sentiments....dogs require a lot of care and stimulation especially when they are young. Cats could care less if you're there or not.

But if you decide to go ahead with a dog, If you are planning a family you need to look at breeds that are known to be good with kids. German Shepards and Labs pop into my mind as great family dogs.

Nothing would suck more than getting attached to a dog then having kids and finding they can't co-exist

Dalmations, Chows and Huskies are not know to be very kid friendly.

Stay away from dogs that you can put through the Uprights...remember you have to be seen walking them

[ProfessorM]

Possibly. Like stated by Chris breed is important to this. Need to ask some experts, Vets, breeders, mspca, about what they think. It is a big purchase. I am sure they could help you out. I am no expert but have had dogs my whole life, but just my opinion. Also don't forget how expensive one dog is never mind 2. Vets, food, etc, and if they have any major problems well now we are talking 1000's. My old dog needed to have her ACL done at one time and it cost me 1500 bucks, and that was just one problem. For example, and an extreme one , a good friend's family dog ate a whole tennis ball. It clogged it intestinal track. Very sick animal. Well after a surgery and other options the poor dog died after surgery. Grand total for the ordeal $12,000 and a deceased animal. Don't get me wrong Mike I luv dogs . I so miss mine still but since you have not owned one I am just trying to give you a look at the non fun part of a dog ownership. You might want to look into pet health ins., which should be right up your alley.With all the doom and gloom I just told you owning a dog is fantastic and I hope you figure out a way to make it work for you. They don't call them mans best friend for nutin. Next step kids

[eastendlu]

I have had up to three dogs at once i would not recommend getting two as you think they will keep each other company but what will happen you will have twice the mess and two dogs that want your attention also pack mentality one will try to dominate the other.If you have not owned dogs before do your research as they can be alot of work.i also agree with the professor.

[Nebe]

DONT DO IT...

[Swimmer]

Luds in the last 27 1/2 years we have had two goldens. Both were left home during the day for 8 to ten hours. Both were smart enough not to drink too much water and never tore anything up. Secret was having a ton of dog toys laying around for them. I just had to euthanize the best friend I have ever had, Minnie. Minnie the most recent Golden was 11 1/2. I would not have traded her for anything and I wouldn't get any other kind of dog for the question you posed. Wife and I gave her a tremendous amount of attention we we got home from work. We just started talking about getting another one. Probably before springtime.

[Crafty Angler]

My vet of almost 30 years told me when I was considering getting a golden pup to keep my old golden company that another dog will give them a kind of companionship that we just can't.

All the guys are right - a tired dog is a happy dog and less likely to get into mischief if he's bored.

Uhhhh...kinda like us, I guess.

At the end of the day, they only want one thing. You. That's what they live for.

I couldn't live without mine - at least I have someone who understands me

[Jimbo]

We have a boxer about a year and a half old that stays in a large crate no more than six hours, 4-5 days a week depending on our schedules. We don't necessarily like having to do that. We fenced in our backyard so he's out first thing in the morning, out again when the first person gets home, walked regurlarly and in and out as he desires until around 11:00PM. He gets a lot of exercise and through his affection and obedience it doesn't appear he holds the crate thing against us.

[Swimmer]

Originally Posted by Karl F

I have left my golden alone, at times for up to 10-12 hours... and always felt real guilty about it.. and everytime she was fine.. no troubles.. the most i usually leave her alone is 4-6 hours... and then give her a massive workout.. dogs need a "job"... or lots of exersize....

companionship works well for some.. an old friend has always kept 2 goldens... they just put the eldest down, a few weeks ago, at 15 and a half years, bone cancer... the 8 year old is going thru an incredible sad mourning period right now... and he is concerned, but is planning on a pup arriving soon, but is having second thoughts about introducing another dog this soon...altho, I had to remind him of the depression the dog he just put down went thru, when they lost the first companion she had years ago... and how the arrival of what is now the 8 year old...pulled her right out of it...

BTW... my experience...go with a female dog, and fix her young... more brains, better manners, a tad more loyal, and less apt to roam.

read any of the dog whisperers books too... Cesar knows his stuff!

Also had females myself, fixed, like KarlF says more brains, better manners. I have thought of getting two this time myself. Not done with mourning the last one though. Wife comes down stairs every morning and cries cause her buddy isn't there waiting and its been 2 1/2 weeks.

Go golden, can't beat em.

[beaver]

I have a beagle who is approaching 8 years and he is fine staying home for 8 or more hours. What he does when hes alone? No one knows, but he hasn't had a problem since his puppy days. Also have a cat so maybe they do a little partying once everyone leaves in the am, but my guess it that they both sleep a lot and look out the window a lot. I wouldn't advise leaving a young dog home alone for that long, but an older dog can usually handle it fine. It is also good to ease them into it.

Duncan, the beagle, still gets confused when my folks have a weekday off. After he goes out and eats in the am he runs back upstairs to bed. Quite humorous actually.

[crash]

My 5 month old lab (pogie) is home for 6 1/2 hours a day and has had no issues at this point. He is crate trained, and gets a big walk in the morning before I leave, and again in the afternoon when my wife gets home. He sometimes even climbs back in the crate to take a nap after dinner.

[basswipe]

Dachshund.

[nightfighter]

1. Wait until spring. Especially if a pup. Easier to train. And find a dog trainer, as you will need to be trained too. This will steepen the curve for all of you.

2. Some very good breeds mentioned here. I am partial to Labs.

3. I am in agreement with Paul for many reasons. Mostly for the dog, but also for you two. Keep your focus on each other in your new marriage. You are also going into a new house, which will present its own challenges. And I see many people with dog walkers that spend more time with their dog than they do. They just shouldn't have a dog, period.

4. Crate training is good. It is the dog's safe zone. It is also useful for disipline and keeping the house from getting messed up. The dog will often hang out in the cage when you are home, as it is his/her 'pad.'

5. I like the idea of adopting an older dog, given your work schedules and lack of having had a dog. There are a lot of people giving up their pets in the current environment due to finances, not because of bad behavior. This raises the odds of getting an animal that doesn't have issues.

6. Females are great. But I would consider trying to get through the first heat, or estrous, before spaying. This allows the dog to develop all the female hormones which make female dog more docile, generally. If you spay before the first heat, it is a true neuter, the same as a male neuter. But getting through the first heat can be messy, and challenging.

Being a dog owner is great. Only outdone by being a parent. They both involve work, disappointments, and money. There are tremendous upsides emotionally. Just don't jump into this any more than you would jump into having children. You and LaTasha have the opportunity to sit back and enjoy this stage of your life and will know when you are ready to add a dog.

I have had many dogs, even bred labs, four litters. Currently we do not have a dog. Could have had pick from my brother's last litter, but we declined. Conscious choice on our part. When my brother's family goes skiing for two weeks, we used to sit their dogs. Mother and daughter labs. Younger dog is just outta control.... a direct result from lack of time and formal training on my brother's part. But it is the 10 pm walks in February that convinced me that I did not need a new dog in our lives right now. That's me.

The two of you need to look at this carefully. If you do go forward, it will be a positive experience. That I am sure of.

[spence]

Our lab can do 8+ hours easy as long as she gets her exercise every so often.

Not sure if someone mentioned this above, but if time alone is an issue from day one you don't want a puppy!

-spence

[nightfighter]

Another perspective, considering you are a plugaholic;

Figure after year one, your pedrigree dog would be roughly 30-50 RM Smiths... You ready fer dat????

[luds]

Originally Posted by nightfighter

Another perspective, considering you are a plugaholic;

Figure after year one, your pedrigree dog would be roughly 30-50 RM Smiths... You ready fer dat????

Yeah....Starting to come to terms with that disease. My apologies to the site sponsors.

[bridgeman]

Adopt a greyhound !
We have two. They are both 4 1/2 yrs. old. Advantage is they are already crate trained having spent most of their lives in one. After the initial "get comfortable" period they can be left out. We do have someone come in midday to let them out for exercise. They are gentle dogs with good dispositions and they are NOT hyper. In fact they are referred to as "40 MPH couch potatoes".

[The Dad Fisherman]

I can see the headlines now....

"Wall Street Reacts to the Release of Luds 2009 Budget"

The NYPE (New York Plug Exchange) took a major hit yesterday as Luds released his 2009 budget. with announcements of a shift in capital expenditures drifting towards Real Estate and a 50-75% decrease in plug investments the plug world is reeling from the news. This has left current plug manufacturers with a huge inventory surplus that does not bode well for the coming year.

The news could have a ripple effect to other industries as well. Lumber and Timber industries will have to slow production by at least 20% which could lead to a huge reduction in the Workforce. VMC has already announced that it will be down-sizing their work force by 10% due to this news.

The CEO's of some of the Major Plug Manufacturers are already on their way to Washington to speak to Congress. They are trying to convince them to put together some sort of Bailout plan, rumored to be in the neighborhood of $20B, to help them restructure and ride out this sudden turn in the market.

Larry Wentworth, CEO of Bigfish Bait Company, said that "You try and adjust your production for fluctuations in the market but it is next to impossible to absorb an almost 50% decrease in Consumer Purchases.

[luds]

Originally Posted by The Dad Fisherman

I can see the headlines now....

"Wall Street Reacts to the Release of Luds 2009 Budget"

The NYPE (New York Plug Exchange) took a major hit yesterday as Luds released his 2009 budget. with announcements of a shift in capital expenditures drifting towards Real Estate and a 50-75% decrease in plug investments the plug world is reeling from the news. This has left current plug manufacturers with a huge inventory surplus that does not bode well for the coming year.

The news could have a ripple effect to other industries as well. Lumber and Timber industries will have to slow production by at least 20% which could lead to a huge reduction in the Workforce. VMC has already announced that it will be down-sizing their work force by 10% due to this news.

The CEO's of some of the Major Plug Manufacturers are already on their way to Washington to speak to Congress. They are trying to convince them to put together some sort of Bailout plan, rumored to be in the neighborhood of $20B, to help them restructure and ride out this sudden turn in the market.

Larry Wentworth, CEO of Bigfish Bait Company, said that "You try and adjust your production for fluctuations in the market but it is next to impossible to absorb an almost 50% decrease in Consumer Purchases.

vmc is safe. the plugs i have are not worth much without sharp hooks.

any more info or dog recommendations.? this is really helpful and has helped comfirm alot of the research that we've done. it's just good to hear it from someone you know has had first hand experience.

it looks like we will mostly likely be getting a toy poodle. my wife has some friends that have had these dogs since they were puppies and they have similar lifestyles. i'm not excited about it but kind of have to give the nod on this one given the whole may-november fishing thing. marriage is a give and take right? i'm also thinking this dog might make a good companion for a man's dog puppy if we feel like we can take on another down the road.

[The Dad Fisherman]

Originally Posted by luds

it looks like we will mostly likely be getting a toy poodle.

.....I want to come by and watch you walk it....Please


Just kidding.....I like all dogs, there are good points to all breeds. Poodles came in as one of the top 10 Smartest breeds.

You can ask Josh what dog came in as one of the top 10 Dumbest....

[Nebe]

true story-

My neighbor is an elderly single woman and ownes a toy poodle. The people across from me are old and shall I say.. 'racist'. The house next to them was for rent for months and we were all wondering who was going to move in..

One day the lady with the toy poodle hired a dog walker, who was a very nice elderly black man. The very same day the racist lady calls mrs nebe very distraught because a gay black man had moved in next to her

[The Dad Fisherman]

Originally Posted by The Dad Fisherman

Just kidding.....I like all dogs,

oops....except Chihuahua's.....can't stand them rats

[luds]

Originally Posted by Nebe

true story-

My neighbor is an elderly single woman and ownes a toy poodle. The people across from me are old and shall I say.. 'racist'. The house next to them was for rent for months and we were all wondering who was going to move in..

One day the lady with the toy poodle hired a dog walker, who was a very nice elderly black man. The very same day the racist lady calls mrs nebe very distraught because a gay black man had moved in next to her

You should have us come down for a test run. That old bag (meant in the nicest way) would not know what hit her. I could take stroll by her house with the poodle one week and the following week I'll go by with my black wife. There goes the neighborhood.