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Are we suitable for a dog?

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  • 03-04-2011 8:21pm
    #1
    angeldelight
    Registered Users Posts: 5,175 ✭✭✭


    So as the title suggests, I'm wondering if we would be suitable candidates to get a dog...

    We have moved in to a new apartment which is on the ground floor - there's a fair bit of outside space which is fully secured. It's a paved area with high walls and a lockable gate. The space is quite big, it extends around 3 sides of the apartment.

    We both work full time. My OH would be out of the house from 7.30am and getting back at the earliest 6.30 but could be later. My hours vary a little bit - generally 4 days a week I'm out from 8.15 until 6 and one day it would only be 1.30 to 7.30. This is a long time, I appreciate that, is it too long? I would be happy to pay for someone to walk the dog for an hour during the day and I'd bring the dog for a walk in the evening as well. We definitely wouldn't be looking for a puppy, it would be an older dog from a rescue. However if it's too long it's too long and we'll have to drop the idea. Thanks


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    #2
    gigawatt
    Registered Users Posts: 380 ✭✭gigawatt


    its a longish time alright, but have you considered getting 2 dogs? they would keep each other company when you guys arent there. I'd imagine they'd be alright especially if you were going to get them walked/ minded during the day.


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    #3
    Shegull
    Registered Users Posts: 47 ✭Shegull


    I don't think you would be allowed to have dogs in an apartment. You need to check with your landlord (if renting) or the management company. No point in becoming attached to a dog and then having problems with being allowed to keep it/them. Our managment comittee won't allow them in our development.


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    #4
    portgirl123
    Registered Users Posts: 657 ✭✭✭portgirl123


    i would imagine this is a long time for a dog to be left a lone all day. It maybe could work, if after checking your allowed a dog in your appartment, by getting a older dog as a pup would need someone at home a lot of the time for proper feeds and toilet training. id say a older dog would be better but still could become bored been alone for this length of time so id say a good long walk in the morning. a frozen filled kong and somebody to come in to maybe walk the dog. And then in the evenings a nice long walk again.
    i think to have a dog with these working hrs will mean a lot of dedication from ye to make sure that when you are home you give him plenty of time, no matter what the weather is like, no matter how hard your day was that you will keep to early mornings and evening walks. no more stopping for a drink after work. so yeah think it could work but there will be a lot of hard work but would be well worth it.


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    #5
    angeldelight
    Registered Users Posts: 5,175 ✭✭✭angeldelight


    Thanks for the replies so far...

    Pets are allowed in our apartment complex and we checked with the landlord too, he has no problem with us having a pet as long as we fix any damage they may cause.

    I would say, realistically, neither of us would walk the dog in the morning. I'd like to say sure I definitely would but knowing what I'm like in the mornings I know that it wouldn't happen. An hour or so in the morning/early afternoon if I could get a dogwalker and the same in the evening would be what walks the dog got more than likely. Again if this means we're not suitable to have a dog we won't get one, I just want to be honest so we can get the best feedback and make the most informed decision


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    #6
    angeldelight
    Registered Users Posts: 5,175 ✭✭✭angeldelight


    I've been doing some research and just wondering if anybody knows of a dog walker they know/use in the Maynooth area? We would be looking for someone to walk a dog for about an hour on 4 weekdays a week, thanks


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    #7
    Toulouse
    Registered Users Posts: 2,413 ✭✭✭Toulouse


    Everything except the amount of time you'd be away is fine for owning a dog but not a puppy.

    The only way around the amount of time you spend away would be as you're going to do and use a dog walker. I know an excellent walker in your area and have PM'd you.


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    #8
    pH
    Registered Users Posts: 4,188 ✭✭✭pH


    I understand what folks are saying it does seem like a long time to leave a dog on its own, however ...

    Some dogs are far more independently minded, I have 3 dogs at the moment (one a foster), one is quite content on his own, the other two much less so, so if a rescue could recommend such a dog it might make sense.

    I say this because in Ireland we're still putting healthy dogs down every year, so this isn't necessarily a question about some "perfect" environment for a dog, it literally comes down to the fact that if the OP takes a rescue dog it's one less dog being pts in Ireland this year.

    That said, some rescues might not rehome into that situation anyway.


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    #9
    billyhead
    Registered Users Posts: 9,544 ✭✭✭billyhead


    Hi,

    When you say not to leave a puppy on its own for that length of time. What would be the minimum age that the dog would have to be in order to avoid this situation i.e out of the initial puppy stage. Also what sort of breed of dog would you recommend to avoid in this scenario.


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    #10
    cocker5
    Registered Users Posts: 3,274 ✭✭✭cocker5


    OP,

    I am in the same situation as you guys...

    I leave by 7am, each day and am home no earlier than 7.30pm each evening... my hubby leaves around 7.30am.. and is home around 5.30pm...


    I am only in my current job 14 mnonths and our dog was 4 1/2 when i got my new job...

    we have a dog walker 2/3 times per week plus my hubby parents take him the other days...

    without a dog walker my hours would be terrible on my guy... he would be soo lonely... it would be cruel...

    keep in mind a dog walker can cost around €20 per day etc...

    here's who i use :

    www.walkies.ie

    Best Of luck :D


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    #11
    portgirl123
    Registered Users Posts: 657 ✭✭✭portgirl123


    billyhead wrote: »
    Hi,

    When you say not to leave a puppy on its own for that length of time. What would be the minimum age that the dog would have to be in order to avoid this situation i.e out of the initial puppy stage. Also what sort of breed of dog would you recommend to avoid in this scenario.
    think this would depend on each individual pup. the reason been if a pup is left at home all day on his own who is going to socialise the pup, toilet train it etc. also a little pup id imagine would be come very bored, resulting in barking, crying distructive behaviour.


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    #12
    moving_home
    Closed Accounts Posts: 517 ✭✭✭moving_home


    angeldelight wrote: »
    I would say, realistically, neither of us would walk the dog in the morning. I'd like to say sure I definitely would but knowing what I'm like in the mornings I know that it wouldn't happen.

    Just wondering are you fully aware of the commitment that you need to have a dog??

    you will still have to get up earlier than your usual time to spend time with the doggy, feed it and bring it out for toilet. If you are leaving the dog for the full day you will need to spend time with it in the mornings - you can't just shove it outside and leave it in the garden with no interaction till you get home at 6pm or whatever.

    Also you will need to think about your schedule during the evenings - do ye both go to gym / go for drinks / go out to cinema or gigs etc regularly. If so I would say that you are not suitable for a dog. If the dog is going to be left alone all day you need to spend the full evening with them. Obviously the odd evening would be fine to be doing things you can't put your full life on hold but if ye are out and about most evenings during the week it would not be suitable.

    Do ye go away for many weekends? who will mind the dog then?


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    #13
    angeldelight
    Registered Users Posts: 5,175 ✭✭✭angeldelight


    Thanks for all the replies so far - it's really helping us to make our decision. I've been PMd the name of a reliable dog walker too so am thrilled with that
    moving_home wrote: »
    Just wondering are you fully aware of the commitment that you need to have a dog??

    you will still have to get up earlier than your usual time to spend time with the doggy, feed it and bring it out for toilet. If you are leaving the dog for the full day you will need to spend time with it in the mornings - you can't just shove it outside and leave it in the garden with no interaction till you get home at 6pm or whatever.

    Also you will need to think about your schedule during the evenings - do ye both go to gym / go for drinks / go out to cinema or gigs etc regularly. If so I would say that you are not suitable for a dog. If the dog is going to be left alone all day you need to spend the full evening with them. Obviously the odd evening would be fine to be doing things you can't put your full life on hold but if ye are out and about most evenings during the week it would not be suitable.

    Do ye go away for many weekends? who will mind the dog then?

    We are indeed aware of the commitment required - I have no problem getting up a bit earlier to spend some time with the dog before I go to work but I know I wouldn't get up early enough to go for a walk before leaving.

    We'd leave the dog inside during the day most likely, and if we are out all day, as I said above, we'd make sure there was someone who could walk the dog and spend a little time with it. In terms of going out in the evening, we'd usually go out at the weekend when my OH would be off on the Saturday anyway so would have spent all day with the dog, or it might be on a Thursday when I would only have left for work at 1.30 and we'd be home early enough. As for when we go away, for a weekend my dad would take the dog or for longer I would research a good kennel


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    #14
    reeta
    Registered Users Posts: 246 ✭✭reeta


    angeldelight wrote: »
    Thanks for all the replies so far - it's really helping us to make our decision. I've been PMd the name of a reliable dog walker too so am thrilled with that



    We are indeed aware of the commitment required - I have no problem getting up a bit earlier to spend some time with the dog before I go to work but I know I wouldn't get up early enough to go for a walk before leaving.

    We'd leave the dog inside during the day most likely, and if we are out all day, as I said above, we'd make sure there was someone who could walk the dog and spend a little time with it. In terms of going out in the evening, we'd usually go out at the weekend when my OH would be off on the Saturday anyway so would have spent all day with the dog, or it might be on a Thursday when I would only have left for work at 1.30 and we'd be home early enough. As for when we go away, for a weekend my dad would take the dog or for longer I would research a good kennel


    I think you really need to look into this more thoroughly. I have an 11 month old dog and did not realise the amount of work getting a puppy involves. I have no choice but to get up at 6.15 to walk her before I go to work as she has a bundle of energy, like most dogs, first thing in the morning. Then no matter how tired I am I have to walk her for approx an hour and a half in the evenings and then about 20 mins at night. I dont think it is fair leaving a dog in the house all day, unless the walker is going to bring her out for at least two hours a day. It is a long time to be left alone even on the Thursday when you leave for work at 1.30pm if you are going out that night I cant imagine you would be home before 9/10 which is way to long to leave a dog on its own. I appreciate the effort you are putting in re getting info, but please remember while it is definitely worth getting a dog, they are very hard work, particularly a puppy.


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    #15
    doubleglaze
    Registered Users Posts: 405 ✭✭doubleglaze


    I wish more people were like the original poster and thoroughly thought out the long-term implications of having a pet. You truly are a breath of fresh air.

    Is there any possibility you might ever have a child? If there is, best wait a few years more. Imagine juggling the care of a dog and a crawling baby in a house, no mind a rented flat??!:eek:


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    #16
    doubleglaze
    Registered Users Posts: 405 ✭✭doubleglaze


    Also, for a typical working couple requiring the odd dog-walking service, budget a minimum of €1500 per dog per year. More if you travel or go away for holidays. Note that even for those who are saving up for a house deposit and budgeting, one is still usually required to go away a few nights a year (funeral/wedding/family occasion), etc.

    There will always be times when neither person is able to be at home in the evening with the dog (overtime/social engagement-most people have some sort of social life!/evening course...). The services of a dog-sitter will probably be necessary at this point.


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    #17
    IreneCleary
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9 ✭IreneCleary


    You can read some advice by the Dublin SPCA http://www.dspca.ie/dspca/BeforeYouGetADog , I personally think it is cruel to leave a dog stuck in an apartment all day on it's own or in an apartment garden, I have friends who live in apartments and while they are lovely people you don't know who will end up living beside you, at least in a house you can have a secure back garden. Also the fact that you have said quite truthfully you won't walk the dog in the mornings would show me you are not ready to have a dog at the moment as they have to be walked even if it is bad weather and have lots of company throughout the day, dog walkers are very expensive as well so I would work out how much a year you will pay for having a dog and think of that as well. Why don't you and your husband volunteer with dogs, Ashton pound has volunteers walking their dogs so why not do that instead, that way you choose your hours and get to spend time with some dogs who could use the affection you could give to them?


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    #18
    Inexile
    Registered Users Posts: 583 ✭✭✭Inexile


    You could also look into using a dog creche for the days it would be alone longest. Check out if there is one near you and if its opening times and costs suit.


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