Dog and working full time

DeadlyByDesign · 12-10-2010 2:22pm #1

Hi Just following on from a topic I briefly touched on from an exisiting topic. Will be getting my Great dane over xmas and after I settle it for the 3 weeks I have over xmas I plan to have it stay in a doggy day care while I work 9-5. I work in dublin and live in Clonsilla to travelling back at lunch is not an option.

So ho8w to a lot of 9-5ers here handle this scenario?

andreac · 12-10-2010 2:25pm

Can you add an option of "Bringing them to work" as i get to bring my dogs to work:).

Tranceypoo · 12-10-2010 2:26pm

I would LOVE to bring my dog to work, God knows it would make the day less tedious!! I think doggie day care is the best option, if I had any near me I would go for that, luckily hubby is in and out of the house all day so doggie is happy out.

**Vai** · 12-10-2010 2:26pm

Option D is to get 2 dogs. Long as your yard is well fenced 2 dogs can quite happily keep each other company while you're in work.

DeadlyByDesign · 12-10-2010 2:29pm

erm cant edit poll for some reason?! Anyway I'll take that into account:) How the hell do you take your dog to wrk?"! I presume it's not an office job lol!
Will be doggy day care for me as well. Will cost a fortune. 12 quid a day

ah well it will be worth it.

DeadlyByDesign · 12-10-2010 2:30pm

**Vai** wrote: »

Option D is to get 2 dogs. Long as your yard is well fenced 2 dogs can quite happily keep each other company while you're in work.

I have 2 cats, would that work? if they are socialised well? Not sure i would trust leaving a cat with a young dog. Rocky (my cat) takes no sh*t from no one.

tulipi · 12-10-2010 2:31pm

I'm able to wfh one or two days a week. 2 days a week my puppy goes to daycare and then the other 1 day (occassionally 2) I go home at lunch.
I try to stagger the daycare so that the next day either I'm home with her or she'll be on her own. She's usually tired the next day.

Some people say that going to daycare every day isn't a good idea because they get used to so much activity. Dogs need down time as well just like we do. But I guess it depends on the activity level of your dog. If your dog is very active they would probably be fine. My dog is a pug and she wouldn't be able for it every day.

andreac · 12-10-2010 2:37pm

DeadlyByDesign wrote: »

erm cant edit poll for some reason?! Anyway I'll take that into account:) How the hell do you take your dog to wrk?"! I presume it's not an office job lol!
Will be doggy day care for me as well. Will cost a fortune. 12 quid a day ah well it will be worth it.

Would you believe, technically its is:D I work on a stud farm but im in the office.
I get to leave the dogs at the stables, so they are safe and secure until i go to them at lunch, where i walk them around the fields for a while, then back to the stables until i collect them at 5pm. So they are never on their own for longer than about 4 hours.:)

mymo · 12-10-2010 2:38pm

I'm at home a lot, so my two get loads of walks and attention, but my friend does work 8.30-5 4 days a week and her solution is doggy day care 2 days and neighbour calling and walking the dog at lunch the other two days. Her girl gets a morning and evening run along side her owner on a bike, or a walk and game in the garden on dark mornings.
If I have to go out for the full day I get up at 6, walk dogs, and leave stuffed kongs and toys when I'm going. I usually arrange someone to let them out at lunchtime and give them fresh water and another kong each. Then a big walk again in the evenings and early night for me;)

egan2020 · 12-10-2010 2:48pm

I usually leave my dog at home on his own. He has two cats to keep him company so he's not completely on his own. During the extreme cold spell last Winter, I couldn't bear to leave him outside so he was kept inside and I came home at lunch to leave him out for bathroom break etc! This isn't really ideal as most of my lunchtime hour is spent driving. I don't think there's a doggy day care option in my area but my dog seems just fine at home on his own. He gets loads of attention once I arrive home in the evening and at the weekends too.

**Vai** · 12-10-2010 2:48pm

DeadlyByDesign wrote: »

I have 2 cats, would that work? if they are socialised well? Not sure i would trust leaving a cat with a young dog. Rocky (my cat) takes no sh*t from no one.

Have no experience with cats so I wouldnt even try answer that one.

Tranceypoo · 12-10-2010 2:50pm

I've actually worked in 3 separate offices where people brought their dogs in, most recently in about '98 when the MD used to bring his 3 dogs in, a big mastiff called Elsa and two little Scotty dogs, can't remember their names, they used to tear about the place and Elsa would just lie under the desk, the guy I worked for was terrified of dogs so I used to bring the 2 little ones in just to annoy/scare him cos he was a bit of an a*hole. Happy days.

adser53 · 12-10-2010 3:38pm

I'm with Vai on option D, 3 doggies at home all day with themselves for company and up until recently a neighbours cat that used to pop in and tease them from the top of the fence. They get plenty of attention in the evening and don't mind being left to their own devices during the day

Wisco · 12-10-2010 4:11pm

I'm with the take your dog to work crowd- I take mine for 45mins-ish of a walk on the way to work and then he's behind the desk with me or upstairs in the break room if it's busy.
I'd say as a pup you'll definitely have to do the doggy day care thing, but as he gets older you may be able to just get a dog walker, especially if you're able to take him out before and after work.

cocker5 · 12-10-2010 4:19pm

haveto say either doggie day care / dog walker or take your dog to work.. they are the best way forward... its not fair leaving a pup from 9-5pm.... plus im sure he'll will love going to work with you

DeadlyByDesign · 13-10-2010 8:10am

interesteing results so far. Anyone else wanna coin in?

belongtojazz · 13-10-2010 8:25am

When I was working, my 2 got a quick run in the morning, then they were home alone and a long walk in the evening. They were absolutely fine with that.

I reckon once a dog has an established routine they're happy

toadfly · 13-10-2010 9:20am

When I lived near to work I went home everyday at lunch until Tilly was a year and half then I went home maybe 2/3 times a week at lunch as we moved further away and was a stretch to make it in and out in the hour but now we bought a house half hour away from work I dont get home anymore.

My OH has very flexible hours so he comes and goes so its only maybe 2 days a week they are home alone all day when he is away working.

But then on weekends when they are awake all day, they are shattered so I'm sure they just sleep all day when we are at work.

lrushe · 13-10-2010 9:32am

I have 3 dogs and work revolving shifts, if I'm on the early one I get up at 4:30am and bring the dogs in while I get ready, I leave at 5:45am (I'm only 15 mins away), the dogs will go back asleep until I get home at 2:15pm. When I get home I get changed and we go out straight away for an hour or so, then back for dinner and I have the rest of the day with them.
If I'm on the late shift I get up at 9:30am and go out with them for an hours or so. They are in with me then until I got to work at 1:45pm and then when I get home until I go to bed.
If I worked a regular 9-5 I'd probably find it hard to leave them alone but this way has worked for me for the passed 10+ years. Plus I only spend 15 minutes commuting as I'm never in 'rush hour' traffic.

andreac wrote: »

I work on a stud farm but im in the office.
I get to leave the dogs at the stables, so they are safe and secure until i go to them at lunch, where i walk them around the fields for a while, then back to the stables until i collect them at 5pm. So they are never on their own for longer than about 4 hours.:)

By the way, JEALOUS, that would be my dream job. Some people have all the luck!!!:D

seamus · 13-10-2010 9:37am

I work full time, but my wife works all sorts of hours so Monday - Friday, she will generally look after the dog and take her out for a proper walk before lunchtime. Then my wife usually does something workwise in the afternoon, so the dog sleeps till I come home and take her out again and chill out on the couch for the rest of the night.

On Saturdays the roles are reversed; my wife works all day, so I take the dog out.

On the occassional day that we're both out all day, my sister-in-law works five minutes up the road and takes other people's dogs for walks so will usually pop down at lunchtime and after work to take her out and knacker the dog out.

liquoriceall · 13-10-2010 9:41am

Wish I could bring my dog to work with me but dont think the patients would appreciate it!! When he was small we lived at home on my parents farm so he spent all day playing but since we moved usually I walk him in the morning for 20-30 min then again in evening for 45 min and once a week he goes out with dog walker. Am seriously thinking of getting another dog now that he at 3 is nearly lead trained!!

mcdoogle · 13-10-2010 10:20am

Hey folks, is there a list of dog minders anywhere? I know google is my friend etc but cant seem to find one in the areas that I need. Would be looking in a line from Firhouse to Kildare approx.

Thanks!

toadfly · 13-10-2010 10:59am

www.ohmydog.ie have a doggy directory, lists groomers, walkers, kennels, rescues etc.

Phenix · 13-10-2010 4:48pm

my doggie does a bit of A & B!! he goes to day care Mon/Wed& Friday. Tues & Thursday he stays home, to be honest, he's so wrecked after being in DC the day before he sleeps all day! i get up every morning and bring him out before work but tues and thurs i bring him out for much longer, hes VERY happy go go back to bed with his kong while we go out to work

would LOVE to be able to bring him to work though. he could be the company mascot!!

Dog and working full time

Working full time and owning a dog 23 votes

Comments