Should I Get A Dog?

[GingerSnap]

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Hi there,

Me and my boyfriend have been mulling over whether to get a dog for a while now and I'd like some advice. We think that in the near future we'll be moving to a more rural area (obviously we wouldn't get a dog until settled in) and would love a pup in the family!

I work full time but don't start until 10am, my partner is training to be a teacher so has plenty of holidays and gets in quite early, my main question is this: is it cruel to keep a dog in these circumstances? I've heard a lot of opinions ranging from it'll get lonely to guard dogs are meant to stay at home alone and watch the house.

Adam has his heart set on a beagle but I've read these have bad separation anxiety issues, is there a breed that is more suited to a bit of alone time? Could we make the situation better by adopting two dogs?

If you could help me out I would be very grateful, I won't be rushing into ownership without knowing what I'm letting myself in for!

Thanks!

 

[banana]

Hello Ginger Snap - Welcome to the board!

I personally wouldn't get a dog if I were out all day working, however, I have had dogs and then ended up with a full time job and been out all day and they were fine - but there were two and they had a mahoosive dog flap!

I have never had a beagle but Strix has - I am sure she will come along and advise you on their suitability for your circumstances..

 

[GingerSnap]

Hi,

thanks for the quick response! I also forgot to mention that I work a staggered week. So someone would be with the dog Sat, Sun and Mon all day of every week. Does this make any difference? We'd have a garden in the new house and I'd be sure to put in a doggie door!

 

[banana]

I think you can make it work - its what you would do when the puppy was a puppy as they would definitely need more attention that that - have you a relative that could have them during the day initially or when you move look for a good dog sitter that would come in, walk, toilet and play with the pup.

I wouldn't have a dog door again - it makes me shiver thinking of how big it was and how someone could have easily walked (crawled) in!

 

[GingerSnap]

Well Adam's mum is self employed so we could ask her, the only problem is they have a Lakeland terrier who hates other dogs! If we were going to get a little puppy I've suggested to Adam that we do it at the beginning of his summer holidays and I take a week at the end giving us about 8 weeks full on time with the pup, I would be investing in classes too.

The place we're looking at is in the middle of nowhere so maybe a dog door would be ok, but it would probably have me checking every room before bed! :s

 

[lurcherman]

if your not in work until 10 then when the dog is old enough nothing stops you getting up early and giving the dog a hour before your in work, so id say yes it can work, the main thing you have to think of is if you own a dog then at times it must come first a lot of the times, cus they depend on us for lots of things, also if you house is in the middle of nowhere then its a lot easier for a dog thief so make security a tight one, but i do wish the best of luck.. kind regards, lurcherman..

 

[Strix]

Hi

I think the first thing I should say, is that there's a difference between getting a dog, and getting a beagle! No dog owner would have a clue what I'm on about, but every beagle (and basset) owner knows exactly what I mean!

It's easier if you stop thinking of them as a dog, and think of them as a scent hound, then see the world from the hound's perspective

A scenthound is bred specifically for his scenting ability (which overrides ALL other senses, including his hearing), his determination (so if he loses a scent he WILL pick it up again), his destructive power (for when he finds his quarry, in this case hare), and his tenacity (so he can run for the 5 or six hours a hunt usually runs for)

What this gives you in a pet is a monster who will inspect every square inch of your house (or anybody else's he visits), and your clothes if you've been out, and the clothes of anybody who visits you - you'd have to cut his nose off to stop him. Training won't do it. When he's out, if he picks up a really good scent, he'll be gone. If you understand what makes your hound tick and can read every twinge of his body language, you'll learn to pre-empt this, but you have to learn to make decisions before he's made them or you can forget it. His destructive power will be wrought on your home whilst you're out (unless you crate train), and sometimes when you ARE there. His tenacity makes him an obstinate little twerp who is difficult to persuade otherwise once he's made a decision - such as 'this is mine', or 'now is dinnertime'

Beagles don't suffer separation anxiety in the fashion we understand the term. We understand separation anxiety as an anxiety, a nervousness. Beagles are pack hounds, with an unshakeable belief that the pack should stay together. This means that if you only have one, then YOU are his pack. Play to this knowledge and you'll have a happy hound. They aren't house dogs, they are part of your family, and if he goes everywhere with you, he'll be a sociable little animal, absolutely convinced he's a little person, just like his owners feeders. If you leave them home alone they sing to call their pack back together. You're lost. You need to know how to find your way back. Scent marking can be included in this strategy (completely different to house training)

They are sticklers for routine... this is your biggest obstacle. If you were having any other dog, I'd agree that the summer at home would work well, but with a beagle who believes routine is cast in stone, the start of the new term would be a traumatic transition for him, and he would more than likely begin to exhibit all kinds of 'problems' as soon as you were back at work

I've had my hound as a very young pup from a breeder, and I've fostered too. I've quite decided that our next beagle will come from the same breeder, but I'll be asking her for an older pup this time. One that isn't keen on the showring, or has been returned through family break up or somesuch. A six month old pup would suit your circumstances much better too

I've told you all the pitfalls. They are the most amazing little people, and I wouldn't be without one. They have a fantastic sense of humour, have boundless energy, are small enough to take out and about pretty much everywhere, are great with kids (usually), don't smell like dogs (massive advantage that one), and are easy to groom

Beagle Welfare volunteers are always happy to talk to anybody who has the slightest question about their beagle (and it's usually easier if you ask sooner rather than later, before the problem gets really difficult to resolve)

Some people advocate having two beagles as they keep each other occupied. I'd recommend getting one, training the first to your rules, then introducing the second who will see how things are done with your first and slot in more easily

You've made me all broody for another hound now

 

[banana]

I bet you can't wait to get a puppy!!!

 

[DogzRUs]

I wouldn't get any type of dog under say 2/3 years if I was going to have to leave it for long hours alone, a puppy needs an awful lot of training and input, for instance how do you house train if you can't catch it doing what its doing? it would need putting out for a toilet break probably hourly to avoid (most) accidents, plus feeding several times a day.

Personally I would choose a breed known for being nice and calm, not an high energy type of dog, there are loads of dogs that would fit the bill in rescues, or as Strix says dogs returned to the breeder through no fault of their own.

Ex racing Greyhounds are often really good for this type of set up, they are normally quite a calm and gentle type of dog but will still enjoy a fairly good walk a couple of times a day, or equally enjoy more lazy days when its cold out...by the time that most ex racers retire they have run off the energy of their youth, and are not used to constant Human contact anyway so soon adapt to being left alone in the day.