Puppy Buyers

[Wundahoo]

I think someone, possibly hankodie also made the point that perhaps the odds swaying this way might have a bit to do with the number of people that do work full time. I'd love to see some numbers of dogs housed to full-time workers vs those who stay at home and work out how this actually corresponds and why the dogs were dumped. I know several home situations that are less than perfect but I really do take some offence to being told I'm not a suitable candidate because we work full time (ev

en though there's more to our situation than that) and thatmmy dogs must be miserable.

I'm also quite curious as to why we wouldn't be suited as we are a couple without kids. We don't plan on having any. I make sure my dogs interact appropriately with kids and we have friends who have kids and they're exposed to them often.

If heaven forbid the fertility fairy knocks me on the head we end up with a baby on the way I can tell you now we wouldn't wind up with backyard ornaments. Our dogs are our first kids. We dote on them, they are loved and are family.

I think any situation is workable if you make the effort.

My heart just breaks at the thought of people being turned away for such reasons and (especially bulldogs! A byb bulldog is a sad sad thing health wise quite often) finding what they need in pets paradise or Gumtree.

I understand its absolutely your own prerogative but I'd love for you to come meet my dogs and tell me they're unhappy and are missing out.

The american bulldog next door has people home all day and still wanders the streets and eats chum.

There has to be more to a decision than your work life.

My heart just breaks for those dogs which have found themselves in a situation where home-alone has not worked for them. This is the true and real tragedy.

As a breeder, how am I meant to distinguish between a full-time working family that will be able to manage a young puppy to the point where it is happy, well trained and accepted as an integral part of the family, or one where the time and effort will not be made (in spite of all the promises) and the dog finishes untrained, unsocialised and needs to be found a new home ???? Believe me, in my breed the latter is far more frequent an occurrence than the former.

I dont have a crystal ball nor a clairevoyant to whom I can refer.

I know from experience that in my breed, full-time working families have a high rate of failure for successful ownership and so it would be irresponsible for me to sell a puppy to such a home. It could also be perceived as a breach of the Code of Practice for my State Controlling Body.

"A member shall ensure that persons acquiring dogs from that member understand the requirements for the care, welfare and responsible ownership of the dog, and that they have the time and facilities to fulfil their responsibilities."

For the sake of the dog I would rather err on the side of caution and be carefully selective about where my puppies go.

[Dame Aussie]

I'm not worried that some decide not to sell puppies to people who work full time. There are lots of good breeders who actually find out about the buyers situation and make an informed decision.

I resent the implication that nobody who works full time can raise a healthy happy dog, it just isn't true.

Edited January 1, 2014 by Aussie3

[Salukifan]

As a breeder, how am I meant to distinguish between a full-time working family that will be able to manage a young puppy to the point where it is happy, well trained and accepted as an integral part of the family, or one where the time and effort will not be made (in spite of all the promises) and the dog finishes untrained, unsocialised and needs to be found a new home ????

One rather obvious answer would be that the family had already raised such a dog.

I don't object to breeders placing pups in the homes they consider best suit them. That is as it should be.

However, the "works" or "doesn't work" differentiaton is far too simplistic a divide to make the determination about suitability that some believe it to be. I'd like to think people would be more open minded than that.

Most of us can think of examples of dogs in homes where folk don't work that are not well cared for. Its the generalisation about the works or doesn't work divide that seem both inaccurate and unfair to me.

[cowanbree]

I'm also quite curious as to why we wouldn't be suited as we are a couple without kids. We don't plan on having any. I make sure my dogs interact appropriately with kids and we have friends who have kids and they're exposed to them often.

If heaven forbid the fertility fairy knocks me on the head we end up with a baby on the way I can tell you now we wouldn't wind up with backyard ornaments. Our dogs are our first kids. We dote on them, they are loved and are family.

I think any situation is workable if you make the effort.

As a breeder I have seen time and time again young couples that are excellent homes prior to having children have a complete priority change when they have a family and the dogs are just not a priority anymore. Certainly some family still manage to include the dog in their family but many more don't and when you have been burnt a few times by situations such as this it tends to make you wary. I also don't really like my breed to be placed with young children as I don't think they are suited temperament wise. Over 5yrs is my preference

[GeckoTree]

FWIW I wouldnt get an 8 weeks old if I had to work away 9-10 hrs a day and it remained alone without any contact or stimulation from anything.

Everyone's working situation is different I suppose, for my lifestyle now an 8 weeks old pup would be by my side mostly, or baby sat. But I just wouldn't leave an 8 weeks old to its own devises. I'd probably come back to an eaten out lounge chair or something .

[Salukifan]

FWIW I wouldnt get an 8 weeks old if I had to work away 9-10 hrs a day and it remained alone without any contact or stimulation from anything.

Everyone's working situation is different I suppose, for my lifestyle now an 8 weeks old pup would be by my side mostly, or baby sat. But I just wouldn't leave an 8 weeks old to its own devises. I'd probably come back to an eaten out lounge chair or something .

Neither would I. And yet, I've managed to raise 5 pups working full time whilst NEVER leaving a pup alone for so long.

Its about the level of commitment you're prepared to make to a pup, not whether or not you work.

God knows what some breeders think of those who raise litters while having full time jobs.

Edited January 1, 2014 by Haredown Whippets

[minimax]

I work, so I guess my puppy was just left alone all day with no interaction or company or training or socialisation.

Or maybe she was from a breeder who lived in the real world.

Thats her all work with me. All lonely and neglected as her mother works.

[Florise]

I work, so I guess my puppy was just left alone all day with no interaction or company or training or socialisation.

Or maybe she was from a breeder who lived in the real world.

Thats her all work with me. All lonely and neglected as her mother works.

are you saying you can take your pup to work with you? If so, how does that tie in with the original topic about baby pups being left home alone all day

Edited January 1, 2014 by Florise

[Little Gifts]

I really think employment is the norm in most households so the best thing is to assess a potential new owner's thinking around how they will manage a new dog's needs, what changes they are willing to make from now until the dog dies, because we all know that every age stage has its own challenges. After having a geriatric dog I didn't find a puppy to require anywhere near as much work or worry! And anyone who has a storm phobic dog will also know the work and schedule rearrangement that comes with that!

I took on a rescue pup unexpectedly while working full time but made some changes to my work hours for the first couple of weeks and the new pup also had daily visits from my mum, random visits from my then cleaner (she loves dogs) plus a very mothering older dog at home with her. Unfortunately, within only a couple of weeks I had an accident that left me bed ridden and on pain meds for three months. My sister and her dog moved in to care for me, the new pup and my older dog. She also worked full time so was spread pretty thin. Apart from a long delay on formal training none of it seems to have impacted negatively on that pup who has gone on to become a social butterfly who loves everyone and everything and is my heart girl who has been invaluable helping me raise other foster dogs. In some ways I think she became more sensitive to others in need and in tune with my moods and how I was feeling as a result of all that bed time. She has certainly been very protective of new fosters, particularly the sad ones. If she had've come from a breeder I may have asked for the breeder to take her back when I couldn't care for her, even though it might've broken my heart. But we muddled through and are closer for the experience. You can't predict everything life throws at you!

[minimax]

I work, so I guess my puppy was just left alone all day with no interaction or company or training or socialisation.

Or maybe she was from a breeder who lived in the real world.

Thats her all work with me. All lonely and neglected as her mother works.

are you saying you can take your pup to work with you? If so, how does that tie in with the original topic about baby pups being left home alone all day

The sweeping generalization that those who work leave their puppies home alone to rot and then dump them is how.

[Florise]

The sweeping generalization that those who work leave their puppies home alone to rot and then dump them is how.

Wow, I must have missed that part - can you quote it please? So, I still dont understand how someone who can take their pup to work is the same is someone who leaves a babty puppy home alone all day?

Edited January 1, 2014 by Florise

[aussielover]

The sweeping generalization that those who work leave their puppies home alone to rot and then dump them is how.

Wow, I must have missed that part - can you quote it please? So, I still dont understand how someone who can take their pup to work is the same is someone who leaves a babty puppy home alone all day?

Just read the original post...

Jed has clarified what she meant in further posts but the OP reads like people who work full time shouldn't get a puppy

[korbin13]

If you work full time, please reconsider your decision to buy an 8 week old pup. There is NO way you are going to be able to raise it properly - unless you have some special assistance.

People seem to have missed the 'special assistance' part of the OP.

If someone came onto this forum with an issue with their pup and stated that they left it alone for 10-12 hours a day people would rip strips off them

[trinabean]

silent child

I also work full time and although I hate being away from my dogs, I have never had problems with it.. usually I can juggle my work hours with my partner so the animals are never left alone for too long.

No problem there, the dog does not appear to be alone all day. You have made provisions to cater for his needs

It is ok if you can make arrangements for the pup to have alternatives but not if you can't.

Obviously, some of you don't get it, or can't read. If one person reads this and re-considers getting a pup, it is worth it.

If you are a breeder, and are happy to sell pups to people who will leave the pup alone for 12 or so hours per day, it's none of my business. The person I rejected can go to you to get one. You will be happy, you will have a sale, they will be happy, they will have a pup. Will the pup be happy?

No one cares, really.

It doesn't matter if you are offended because you have raised one dog from a pup - what matters is making people think before they do it. There are far too many teenage dogs dumped. All of them were wanted pups, some of them wanted by people who worked full time and thought they could cope, and found they had a dog with problems, that they didn't want any more. There are far too many poorly trained and behaved dogs. There are far too many unsocialised dogs, too many fear biters. Working full time is not the cause of all these problems, but it can be one cause.

Yep, puppies from me are for people who either don't work, or have something in place so that the pup does not spend 10 - 12 hours a day alone.

I've bolded a couple of bits of Jed's post. It seems that plenty of DOLers have something in place to occupy their dog (eg. a dog walker, taking their dog to work, someone to check on the pup during the day etc).

Many DOLers have more than one dog too, whereas Jed is talking about a single pup, left alone for long hours. I didn't read Jed's post as a sweeping generalisation that all full-time workers are bad owners.

More that working full-time can be a factor sometimes. And the less dog-savvy general public often means there are puppy buyers who have not fully thought through their decisions on choice of breed, let alone how they will go about responsibly raising a puppy. Or occupying it while they are absent.

[_PL_]

Just like everything in life it depends on the home and the dog.

People are clearly getting insulted but Jed is talking about her own puppies from what I can gather, she can choose whatever owners she wants for them.

[Florise]

Just read the original post...

Jed has clarified what she meant in further posts but the OP reads like people who work full time shouldn't get a puppy

I did read the original post, but maybe you didn't. See Korbin13's post.

[Jed]

I work, so I guess my puppy was just left alone all day with no interaction or company or training or socialisation.

Or maybe she was from a breeder who lived in the real world.

Thats her all work with me. All lonely and neglected as her mother works.

are you saying you can take your pup to work with you? If so, how does that tie in with the original topic about baby pups being left home alone all day

The sweeping generalization that those who work leave their puppies home alone to rot and then dump them is how.

That is NOT what I said. Please re-read my original post.

The sweeping generalization that those who work leave their puppies home alone to rot and then dump them is how.

Yes, I would like you to point out where this was said please? It was never said, nor was that intended. So, you point it out, please.

Edited January 1, 2014 by Jed

[Jed]

FWIW I wouldnt get an 8 weeks old if I had to work away 9-10 hrs a day and it remained alone without any contact or stimulation from anything.

Everyone's working situation is different I suppose, for my lifestyle now an 8 weeks old pup would be by my side mostly, or baby sat. But I just wouldn't leave an 8 weeks old to its own devises. I'd probably come back to an eaten out lounge chair or something .

Neither would I. And yet, I've managed to raise 5 pups working full time whilst NEVER leaving a pup alone for so long. Its about the level of commitment you're prepared to make to a pup, not whether or not you work.

God knows what some breeders think of those who raise litters while having full time jobs.

That would classify as "special assistance", would it not? Hmm?

[minimax]

FWIW I wouldnt get an 8 weeks old if I had to work away 9-10 hrs a day and it remained alone without any contact or stimulation from anything.

Everyone's working situation is different I suppose, for my lifestyle now an 8 weeks old pup would be by my side mostly, or baby sat. But I just wouldn't leave an 8 weeks old to its own devises. I'd probably come back to an eaten out lounge chair or something .

Neither would I. And yet, I've managed to raise 5 pups working full time whilst NEVER leaving a pup alone for so long. Its about the level of commitment you're prepared to make to a pup, not whether or not you work.

God knows what some breeders think of those who raise litters while having full time jobs.

That would classify as "special assistance", would it not? Hmm?

I'd hardly call it special assistance, neither is taking a dog to work, or having work hours to suit the dog.

It's life.

[Salukifan]

FWIW I wouldnt get an 8 weeks old if I had to work away 9-10 hrs a day and it remained alone without any contact or stimulation from anything.

Everyone's working situation is different I suppose, for my lifestyle now an 8 weeks old pup would be by my side mostly, or baby sat. But I just wouldn't leave an 8 weeks old to its own devises. I'd probably come back to an eaten out lounge chair or something .

Neither would I. And yet, I've managed to raise 5 pups working full time whilst NEVER leaving a pup alone for so long. Its about the level of commitment you're prepared to make to a pup, not whether or not you work.

God knows what some breeders think of those who raise litters while having full time jobs.

That would classify as "special assistance", would it not? Hmm?

Not to me. Nothing "special" about it. You do what is best for the pup and give it what it needs. That's what responsible, committed dog owners do whether they work or not.

But from the sounds of things you'd have not even given my home a second thought Jed. This is a quote from your original post.

I had an enquiry for a pup from someone who works full time. I said "no", but I know someone will sell them one.I've been breeding for a long time, and it never works. The pup is too much on its own, so personality and training suffers. It is also sad and lonely. Many end up being rehomed as older teenagers.

I'd like to think that quite a few full time workers including me have proven that statement wrong. It works if you're prepared to put the effort into making it work.