single, working dog owner

[Becky]

Tulip, your description of a dog's day made me laugh

[Aggie_Ama]

As you may know I had Heidi and Maggie. Both are (were) small and kenneled in our laundry room while we were at work. You asked them to "get in their beds" and they walked to the room and climbed in their doggie beds. Maggie was 4 when adopted and about the mellowist dog. It isn't funny now but we used to say "if she was any calmer she'd be dead". Heidi is almost 8 and really energetic but she loves being in her bed during the day or when she is tired. We still play with her when we get home (she doesn't like walks). So I think it is perfectly fine as long as it fits the dogs personality or needs. My miniature schnauzers did not have high exercise requirements. A heeler, young lab, pointer or a dog that needs a job and a lot of exercise I wouldn't leave home 8 hours.

Before we owned a house we lived in an apartment (900 sq ft), the girls lived in the bathroom behind a baby gate during the day and got a morning, afternoon and nightly stroll to potty and investigate the outdoors. They seemed content.

[GLC1968]

I was single with a large dog in an apartment/condo setting for 8 years of my life. As long as you are willing to commit to what the dog needs, then there is nothing wrong with it (even a large dog in a small space is fine, depending on the breed). It certainly sounds like you know what to expect, so I would tell the nay-sayers to mind their own business!

I'm sure you already know this, but definitely pay attention to breed (as best you can with a shelter dog). You don't want a jack russell or border collie mix unless it's a much older dog. These are breed types that are high energy, working type dogs and they'll go nuts inside all day. On the other hand, many BIG dogs are very content being quiet all day (like Great Danes - if you wanna really freak out your neighbors!). My dog was a shephard/dobie mix and she had no trouble with 10 hours alone (figure in commute, too) as long as she got plenty of attention and exercise when I was around. I had no life outside of work back then, so it was really, really easy to devote a lot of time to her. In fact, I find that I very much miss that one on one connection that we had. She'll forever be the best dog I ever had and I miss her terribly, still.

Please share pics when you find your next companion!

[GLC1968]

Tulip, your description of a dog's day made me laugh

Me too!

[badger]

there's actually a Great Dane mix at a shelter right now, and I would LOVE to take him. Love Great Danes.

I'm not breed specific, I'd imagine any breed will have exceptions to their general rule. I really did love the energy my dog had, he was so mellow, gentle and calm.

I'd like to crate train my dog, but I guess failing that I can corrall him/her in the bathroom with a baby gate.

Thanks for all your input, I'm getting excited again

[badger]

this guy

[TsPoet]

this guy

Well you wouldn't need to buy a crate, since your 800 sqft condo would be crate-sized already
I love his ears.

[Biciclista]

Badger, remember, these large dogs don't live very long!

[badger]

I know, isn't it horrible that they only live 8-10 years?

Anyways, turns out he jumps 7' fence, and since mine's only about 5' and not that sturdy to begin with, he'd be gone.

I'm also thinking I'd like to foster and maybe end up adopting one. I hated fostering for a shelter (I volunteer at the spca), but I would be okay with a rescue group who'll do home checks, etc. But finding someone who'll let me foster while working and living in a condo is worse than finding a dog to adopt.

[Karma007]

Karma is currently and apartment dog; she gets walked 45minutes daily @ 5:15, then again when FI gets home @ 3. she is crated when we're not home. Every time I feel guilty about it, we'll be home on the weekends and she'll go crawl in to her crate alone, even though we are on the couch. Not a big deal.

[berkeley]

What about a greyhound?

They match pretty much everything you're looking for - low energy, low key, adult rescue and lots of them do well with cats. And most are crate trained from the track.

They're really great dogs and spend most of their day snoozing!

[TxDoc]

I'm at a point where I feel I'm ready to open my life to another dog. However, I'm having many people tell me I shouldn't, as I work all day.

My dog was very old and was very low energy and didn't need to do much other than sleep all day. A younger dog, well, that's where I get a bit stuck. I have two cats, one of which was very close with the dog and I'm sure they kept each other company while I was away.

There's bound to be other people who are single and work all day, and still manage to have a well balanced dog in their life, no?

How about an adult, well-trained dog? A respectable breeder/trainer may have some adults as well as puppies - but a puppy would make your life more difficult if you do not have a lot of time for training/supervising. Usually young puppies like to be busy - so either you give them something to do (training), or they will find something to do (most likely something you would not agree with). A well-trained dog will understand your rules pretty quickly and should not cause problems if you are absent for several hours every day. If you have a doghouse (I figure you would since you have one dog already), an outside dog would make things even easier

Of course when you do make a decision - please post pictures of the new family member

[ACiveE]

Have you considered a doggie day care? I have multiple friends who pay monthly subscriptions to doggie day care (muuuuch cheaper than per visit for them) and they drop their dogs off each day while they work. Their dogs come home totally worn out as they've been running around all day long.

Just an idea. If you can afford it, I would suggest looking into it.

[nancielle]

I'm a single pet owner who works all day as well. I adopted Chloe (it'll be two years ago in July) from a local rescue. She was two years old at the time. I took some vacation time when I got her so that I could be there as she adjusted to her new surroundings. She gets walked three times a day (5:30 am weekdays, a little later on weekends, again when I get home from work and a final walk at 9 pm.) She's pretty much a slumbering slug the rest of the time. Sometimes after dinner she'll want me to play with some of her toys with her or she and the cat will chase each other through the apartment.

I deliberately did not get a puppy (athough the thought of having one was tempting) because I knew I would not have the time to spend with it during the day.

[badger]

I'm having a bit of a dilemma in terms of finding my next four-legged companion.

Do I seek out an older dog that will have a harder time being adopted, a disabled (i.e. tripod) dog that is otherwise healthy but still harder to place because people want the cutest and the prettiest, or a rescue from a horrible place where they escaped certain death but isn't getting the attention it deserves in an over-crowded sanctuary?

Unfortunately I don't have easy access to meet them so I'm kind of committing without actually having met them.