People Who Work Fulltime And Have A Puppy.

[Whipitgood]

Im wanting to give advice to a family member who has recently acquired a small puppy. She works fulltime so the pup (11weeks) will be on its own all day. What do people do to ensure that these pups dont fret, are kept amused, dont get bored?

Ive never had a dog and worked fulltime so i have no idea. I generally dont sell my puppies to people who work fultime either, so i dont know what advice to give.

[Wazzat Xolo]

Im wanting to give advice to a family member who has recently acquired a small puppy. She works fulltime so the pup (11weeks) will be on its own all day. What do people do to ensure that these pups dont fret, are kept amused, dont get bored?

Ive never had a dog and worked fulltime so i have no idea. I generally dont sell my puppies to people who work fultime either, so i dont know what advice to give.

I know there are some excellent Doggy Day care centres if they are worrid and generally the Pet Sitters that can drop in to keep an eye on the pup at times and for the midday feed, I too Whipitgood am lucky like you and never worked full time with a puppy or had someone to look after them for me!

[MalteseLuna]

I have found that kongs filled with food/treats are very useful also everlasting treat balls are fantastic.

Puppies sleep alot anyway so in my mind it's not a huge problem as long as there are some toys/distractions available to the puppy.

I didn't work full time during the time Luna was a puppy but I do now and kongs/treat balls help to keep her occupied while I'm away. I take them away when I'm there so that they are a 'special' treat for when I'm gone - avoids separation anxiety.

Luna loves it when I leave in the mornings since it means she gets her treat ball (which I put liver treats into).

[Lady Flying Furball]

I imagine that the main thing is to keep the pup contained and safe with everything it needs. It will probably just sleep a lot, and will have to adjust to the alone time.... but full-time working...I have never worked full-time with my dog.

[Gayle.]

I have worked fulltime for years and always had pups/dogs. Last puppy I got I took 2 weeks off work to settle her in and she slept the whole 2 weeks. Waste of time really.

Tomorrow I am picking up a new puppy, he will be inside on his own til he's big enough to join the big kids outside. He will have a crate with the door tied open so he can't shut himself in their by accident. A warm bed in the crate. A few toys, a bowl of water and some paper on the tiles for his toilet. He will be fed at around 7am, before I leave for work, and around 5pm when I get home. Then a small snack in the evening before bed.

My husband will drop home during the day if he can, and will try and get home before I do so the little bloke isn't alone for too long at a stretch, but I'm not overly worried, I think he will be fine and if I rotate the toys each day, he'll find something new to amuse himself with. He will be near a low window where he can see the other dogs too, so that should keep him amused and make him feel like he has a bit of company.

[rubiton]

Think GayleK has nailed it - and they have to learn that you will go out and not come back for hours at some stage may as well be as puppies.

[Dame Aussie]

It upsets me when breeders say they won't sell a puppy to someone who works full time. How else are people supposed to pay for vet bills, food, training etc??? I'd much rather sell a pup to someone who works?!

Anyway, JMO....

We both work full time and both ours were kept inside as young pups, with kongs and toys etc. Never had any problems and they are both well adjusted dogs now.

Just out of interest for all those who don't work full tim, how do you pay the bills??

[caninefriend]

I work full time, in hindsight I would have taken a few days off , more to cope with the sleepless nights of letting him outside for the toilet

But I think if you work full time it's good that they get used it as a normal part of their day. Just make sure if winter lots of warm blankets and somewhere warm to sleep and plenty of toys including treat toys. And in summer I just make sure he has plenty of water sources. He has a dog door so he lets himself in and out which helps with keeping him warm and cool. Just make sure you play lots when you are at home and wear them out.

I have used a dog day care a couple of times - it's great but a little expensive but if you can afford it i would definately recommend it.

Never had any troubles - in fact if i get home early i usually get dirty looks for waking him up (he is only 11 months old).

Tell your friend good luck with their puppy and not to forget they are resilient.

[Gayle.]

It upsets me when breeders say they won't sell a puppy to someone who works full time. How else are people supposed to pay for vet bills, food, training etc??? I'd much rather sell a pup to someone who works?!

Anyway, JMO....

We both work full time and both ours were kept inside as young pups, with kongs and toys etc. Never had any problems and they are both well adjusted dogs now.

Just out of interest for all those who don't work full tim, how do you pay the bills??

The two breeders I bought my dogs from don't have a problem at all selling to people who work fulltime, and in fact one of them....the one the new puppy is coming from......has them on 2 meals a day by 8 weeks of age so that if they are going to f/t workers, they will already be used to going a long stretch without a meal.

Working fulltime is my lifestyle, that is how I support myself and my daughter, and in the past my other 3 kids. It's a fact of life for many many families and I personally would not have it any other way.

Funnily enough my dogs know the difference between me going to work and me going somewhere they might be able to come. They sit and watch out the gate while I'm leaving each morning, and they're usually wandering off by the time I'm at the end of the driveway. But if it's a weekend or a day off and I'm going somewhere else, I get the pleading eyes and "can I please come too?" looks and the little buggers know I'm going somewhere else.

[KZs Mum]

Ours were at home alone during the day apart from the first few days. Toys on a rotational basis, chew toys etc. were the way to go. Initially the pup was indoors only - and they're fine. We did the newspaper toilet training thing....and it worked....mostly.

Our two know when we're going to work, and they have a sleepout and a huge backyard to access, they have toys, each other and different bones a couple of times a week. I also walk them before and after work so they get some 'quality time' prior to us heading off for work. If I sneak home even an hour before I am due: they're asleep! and most times don't even hear me come in!

It works for us.......IMO breeders that say they won't sell to people that work fulltime are kidding themselves - wouldn't you much rather have dogs who are still happy/health and their owners be able to afford proper care and food for their dogs?

[Agility Dogs]

I've had my two from 6 weeks (oops, I know....now) and 12 weeks and have not had any problems. They get used to the fact that they are going to be alone for 9 to 10 hours a day.

They get heaps of age appropriate activity before and after work (my two are now 4 odd years old and get 1 to 1.5 hours before work and go to training almost every night) and the new pup we get next year will fit in with that routine and get part of the 1.5 hours each day.

They always get a treat as we leave and occasionally I come home at lunch to lock them inside for the afternoon.

The neighbours tell me the only time they bark is when the security light comes on. We don't have a security light, that is them barking because I've arrived home. LOL.

[lanabanana]

My boy has never been alone. When we got him I was studying and only attended the odd class but there was always someone home with him, plus another dog,

Our wee girl we got in August last year and all are out during the day at work and school. We try to ensure we get puppies at least right before a weekend and preferably when someone is off. She wasnt big enough to go out with the big dog so spent a few months inside duringt he day by herself. She had the spare room to herself. A warm bed, some water, a bit of munchies and toys on a rotation - usually 4 or 5 toys in the room with her. I also used to put boxes in there because she enjoyed chewing them. She was paper trained initially for during the day.

She slept alot, and still does even now but she did have toys to keeo her occupied and very quickly developed a fave toy - which she still loves to this day even though it is really just a scrap of cloth now.

She also goes out with the big dog now whil we are at work.

[sas]

I took 2 weeks off work to settle pup in and everyday I would put him in the dog run he would be whilst I was at work. I'd feed him in there, play with him there etc so he got used to it and saw it as a fun place, he'd be in there a minimum 2 hours per day if I were home as a build up.

He'd have chew toys in there etc.

Pups sleep ALOT so it's not like they're running aorund 8 hours a day trying to find something to do

[Kanati Whippets]

It upsets me when breeders say they won't sell a puppy to someone who works full time. How else are people supposed to pay for vet bills, food, training etc??? I'd much rather sell a pup to someone who works?!

Anyway, JMO....

We both work full time and both ours were kept inside as young pups, with kongs and toys etc. Never had any problems and they are both well adjusted dogs now.

Just out of interest for all those who don't work full tim, how do you pay the bills??

I am married and my husband works full time so i can stay home with the "kids". It has been that way since we got together...

I judge each and every person who applies for one of my pups on their individual bases. Not on just how many hours a day they work or do not work.

EVERY case id different as we are all different.....

Just because i don't work does NOT mean my animals go without....

Edited June 5, 2010 by Kanati Whippets

[Spot.]

It works for us.......IMO breeders that say they won't sell to people that work fulltime are kidding themselves - wouldn't you much rather have dogs who are still happy/health and their owners be able to afford proper care and food for their dogs?

I am also interested in that answer. A lot of rescues also won't give dogs to people who work full time So who do they give dogs to???

I will be getting a new puppy in a few weeks and shock horror I work full time. She will be getting the laundry, kitchen and a bathroom to herself during the day and can sleep in with me and my other dog at night. I always spend my spare time with my pets and all of her needs will be attended to. Everything that needs to be done will be done (just at weird hours of the night). She can join the other dogs outside during the day once she is older.

[Whipitgood]

It upsets me when breeders say they won't sell a puppy to someone who works full time. How else are people supposed to pay for vet bills, food, training etc??? I'd much rather sell a pup to someone who works?!

Anyway, JMO....

We both work full time and both ours were kept inside as young pups, with kongs and toys etc. Never had any problems and they are both well adjusted dogs now.

Just out of interest for all those who don't work full tim, how do you pay the bills??

My babies - my choice who i sell them to. Im sure not all breeders have this policy just as im sure not all breeds would fret if you left them at home all day every day. In my opinion, Whippets are not the sort of breed to be left on their own all day every day. Im sure there are some whippets that do - but its not the sort of home i want my babies to go to, i have a waiting list as long as my arms before my pups are even conceived - i can afford to be choosy!

For those who dont work fulltime like myself - maybe we have other ways of paying bills, maybe we have children and dont have the option to work full time. Just because one does not work full time, doesnt mean their pets are neglected.

It works for us.......IMO breeders that say they won't sell to people that work fulltime are kidding themselves - wouldn't you much rather have dogs who are still happy/health and their owners be able to afford proper care and food for their dogs?

I am also interested in that answer. A lot of rescues also won't give dogs to people who work full time So who do they give dogs to???

I will be getting a new puppy in a few weeks and shock horror I work full time. She will be getting the laundry, kitchen and a bathroom to herself during the day and can sleep in with me and my other dog at night. I always spend my spare time with my pets and all of her needs will be attended to. Everything that needs to be done will be done (just at weird hours of the night). She can join the other dogs outside during the day once she is older.

Not kidding myself at all really - like i said - my choice, my babies go to who i want them to go to, never had problems with homeing them, ever!!

There is nothing "shock horror" about working full time, i did it for many years. I dont have anything against people who do. They just have to go elsewhere if they want one of my whippets!!

Thankyou everyone for the replies i asked for. I will pass onto mum the info about Kongs etc. She has a crate and a buster ball, similar to a kong, lots of toys etc. Im sure the pup wll learn to cope on its own eventually.

[Gayle.]

To be honest, if a breeder was against selling a pup to someone who worked fulltime, I probably wouldn't want a pup from that breeder anyway.

All dogs should be bred to be of sound body and sound mind, and if a breeder isn't confident that their pups can cope with being alone for a period of time, then breeding for sound mind isn't near the top of their list.

Move on to someone who will not only consider you for a pup, but who will discuss methods of helping the pup settle in and cope with the periods of solitude.

[Spot.]

Not kidding myself at all really - like i said - my choice, my babies go to who i want them to go to, never had problems with homeing them, ever!!

There is nothing "shock horror" about working full time, i did it for many years. I dont have anything against people who do. They just have to go elsewhere if they want one of my whippets!! :D

It was just an honest question. If you don't sell to people who work, then who is getting your puppies? From your post I am going to assume stay-at-home mums or retired people or people on some sort of pension.

Thanks for answering the question though......

[Whipitgood]

To be honest, if a breeder was against selling a pup to someone who worked fulltime, I probably wouldn't want a pup from that breeder anyway.

All dogs should be bred to be of sound body and sound mind, and if a breeder isn't confident that their pups can cope with being alone for a period of time, then breeding for sound mind isn't near the top of their list.

Move on to someone who will not only consider you for a pup, but who will discuss methods of helping the pup settle in and cope with the periods of solitude.

How utterly ridiculous! I dont have to justify to anyone how well adjusted and socialised my babies are. Whether i choose that they only to go people who work partime or not at all is purely my choice. If people are not happy with that then im more than happy for them to go elsewhere, their perogerative, makes no difference to me. Like i said, i can afford to be very choosy who they go to and i am. Every breeder has their own set of criteria who their pups go to, this is one of mine. FYI i am not selling them to unemployed people who cant afford them, they generally go to families with children where one parent is home some of the time, one partner works fulltme the other doesnt, part time workers, retirees, people who work from home, the list is endless. Not everyone works 9-5!

As im sure you are aware, different breeds have different temperaments and personalities. Some breeds suit some families better than others, it has nothing to do with whether they are of sound body or mind :D

But anyway, thats not what this thread was about, its not a debate i need to get into as the decision ends with me. Condemn me if you wish, all my pups have lovely homes that i am still in contact with the owners, we have regular meets at the beach and they are all very well adjusted, happy, outgoing, confident whippets. Thanks for your concern though! Maybe you would like to meet my dogs before you judge them being of unsound body and mind. I wont be offended at the insult as it has no merit whatsoever

Edited June 6, 2010 by Whipitgood

[Lowenhart]

I work full time (plus study at Uni) and RAISE litters just fine.

It takes concerted effort on my part to ensure the pups are handled enough and have the fundamentals of house training.

I have a pen set up for the pups to sleep in during the day and while I'm at work. I get up at 5 to take pups out for the first toilet break (and outdoor play session) while I make their breakfast.

I take them outside as soon as I am home again and they get free run of the house (once they have toileted) while I prepare their meal (and mine).

Final meal and toilet is just before I roll into bed.

I have no qualms selling to full time workers, infact I guess my pups are better suited to those types of homes because they are raised that way.

I've sent pups off with the basics of house training in place, who are outgoing and well socialised, even managed to get the beginnings of lead training as well. It takes effort on my part to do right by the pups.

I suggest anyone looking to get a puppy while working to have a crate set up and use it. Lots of toys and a structured toileting program going.