single, working dog owner

[PamNY]

A younger adult dog would be great for you. It's difficult to get through the puppy stage when you are away all day.

Many rescue groups do cat-testing on dogs they adopt out. Plus cats themselves are good at training dogs.

As long as you have plenty of time for the dog before and after work, you should be fine.

I know what you mean about not going right back into elder care. I loved my older rescue dog and wouldn't trade that experience for anything, but I did need a break from it. Good luck!

Pam

[mtbdarby]

I agree with everyone else. Go for it! I am also a single pet owner but I do work from home. Trust me, even when you're home they still sleep most of the day

Everyone loves a puppy, but I'm with those that have a soft spot for the older dogs. We just got our second dog from the humane society that's 6-7 years old. It's been a bit of a process getting him acclimated to our family but we're making progress.

Good luck with your search and keep us posted!

[msincredible]

Agreed on an adult dog as the way to go. If you can find a couple of dogs that get along well that might be even better, as they will keep each other company. Sometimes rescue groups have pairs that are bonded and they want to adopt them out together.

I ended up in a similar situation for a few years after getting divorced and moving out of a house. My ex didn't want our 2 whippets, so I found an apartment that would let me keep them. I was single at the time and working, and also had a busy business travel schedule (25-50% travel).

It wasn't ideal, I wouldn't have chosen to get new dogs at that time, but I made it work. The dogs kept each other company when I was gone at work, and I lived close by so that I wasn't gone too long during the day. They get a morning and an afternoon run/walk to tire them out and keep them happy and out of trouble. I had a friend that I would trade dog care with when I traveled.

When I moved out, my ex was of the opinion that I should have gotten rid of the dogs, but they have done well with me and been happy. It can be a bit tough on your social life, but for me it was well worth it.

[Becky]

I love the idea of adopting an older (post-puppy) dog! We adopted Cody when he was ~6 months, and that was perfect. He was old enough to physically hold it once he became reacquainted with housebreaking.

I'm going to slightly hijack this thread, and I apologize in advance, but I think it's a somewhat relevant hijack. For those of you who work away from home and have dog(s), what do you do about weeknight riding? I'm interested in getting more riding in, but I feel badly about racing home from work, and then racing back out to ride. The cats couldn't care less as long as my thumbs can still open a can of cat food, but the dog really is more in tune with my/our comings and goings. I feel guilty

With my schedule as it is now, Sundays are about the only day for long rides, plus some weekday and Saturday commuting.

Thanks in advance (and be kind- I feel badly enough already).

[badger]

I have petfinder.com saved on my favourites and go to it almost daily. I see pages of beautiful dogs and want to take them all, but alas, I only have an 800sq ft condo.

I wish I could put a dog door but it's just not feasible. And most little dogs can't hold it in for 8 hours, so my other option really is a bigger dog. Chevy had no troubles holding it in for about 10 hours, though I felt so guilty when he had to hold it that long.

The dog'll get walked every morning and after work. I know that a tired dog is a happy dog. I'll also try to go home for lunch most days and I might be able to bring the dog to work once in a while.

Thanks for all your input. I was getting so much negative feedback from people around me telling me I shouldn't get another dog because of my schedule. But aside from work, the dog will be with me everywhere.

As for long rides with dogs - maybe you can get one of those kiddie carts that you attatch to the back of the bike? the dog can run with you for some of the ride but when s/he gets tired, they can hitch a ride behind you? I often thought of doing that with my old guy but I think that would've freaked him out.

[Blueberry]

badger-

Just wanted top add to the chorus who think you would be an awesome doggie parent - sounds like you know what it takes, and you're willing to commit. I have a golden and, though they are generally known for being high energy, all he does is sleep. All day. I didn't work for a while, and discovered he had no interest at all in me during the day. Shoot, I have to wake him up in the AM to get him to go out - he's just as soon sleep in!

No easy answers on the weeknight riding - my dog doesn't always get 2 walks a day (we have a fenced yard, and he doesn't like hot weather at all). So...I don't feel too guilty. I would say ride, and then do a short-ish walk with the pup as a cooldown.

CA

[tulip]

I work at home, and I'm amazed at how much my dog sleeps and just lazes around during the day. I give him an hour's walk in the morning, and after that (and breakfast), he snoozes in his crate for a few hours. He then gets up, stretches, and moves to a dog bed in the livingroom for a while. He'll get up to drink some water, and he always barks at the mailman. Since I'm home and leave the back door open, and he can open the screen door by himself, he goes into the back yard and finds a sunny spot and snoozes some more. He'll bark at passersby occasionally, too, but mostly he's not doing much. At lunchtime (mine), I usually work on some obedience with him for about 10-15 minutes, and then he goes back to resting. About 4pm he starts getting antsy, wanting to go on a walk. I take him out between 5 and 6 for a 45-minute walk, then he gets dinner, and then for some reason, he's full of energy and wants to play in the backyard. We either play chase or I kick an old soccer ball and he goes nuts. Then he watches me intently as I make myself dinner, and falls asleep between 7 and 8. What a life!

[Biciclista]

Plus cats themselves are good at training dogs.


Pam

Over the years we've introduced the occasional dog to our cat family.
at one point we had a tottering old cat named Toby and we'd just gotten a new 1.5 year old dog. My Dh put a large lamb bone on the floor in front of the dog. The dog wouldn't touch it until Toby had slowly walked up to it, sniffed it, licked it, and walked away.
We never had to say a word.