Puppies And 9 To 5 Jobs

[Kifaya]

Hi

My husband and I want to get a puppy (Husky) but we both work 9 to 5 jobs.

Can we still be good parents and leave the puppy alone during the day? We are prepared to do everything we can to be good parents! Walks every day, puppy school, keeping her close to us every minate when we arn't at work...

From reading about puppy care it looks like puppies need 3 meals a day up until 6 months... How do puppy owners who work manage that??

[bikle]

I have always wondered this as well.. Was going to organise someone visiting him everyday to make sure he is ok and to give him his lunch feed.

I am planning to have a week off work when the new pup comes to help him settle in.

I'll add some questions..

How long are pups on 3 meals a day??..

Are automatic feeders ok for the lunch time feed??

[BrunoBella]

I worked full time when Bella was a pup. Locked her in the laundy when she was little and came home at lunch time to check on her. Bella (GSP) has only ever been on two meals a day and so is my new puppy (Bruno).

Bella was fine by herself for the day and didn't have too many problems. When the weather was good I left her in an outside pen which she preferred. They get used to it pretty quickly. I spent my lunch hours at home for the first few weeks to make sure she was happy.

My friend has a husky which is an outside dog. She locked him in a fenced off area of her yard with shelter in one corner. He was fine there. Husband takes the dog for a 10km run in the mornings and my friend takes him out in the afternoon. They need a lot of exercise to stop them from barking. Her only complaint about the husky is that he doesn't like to cuddle.

Re the Automatic feeders for lunch time: I think a visual check is much better. It's not about the feeding, it's that 8 hours is a long time for a dog to be alone (Bruno jammed himself behind the washing machine this morning). You need to work the pup up to this so might need some help for the first few weeks.

Re the three times a day feeding. I'm not sure as my two have always eaten twice a day (till they get to once).

It is hard work but well worth the effort .

[articpower sibes]

Hi there I wouldn't recommend getting a husky if it's going to be left alone all day every day they were bred for company as well as hauling cargo & a bored husky can be distructive digging holes chewing on things etc and the breed is known for being escape artist because that's their nature, many huskies end up in rescue and escaping is one of the reason for it. Not all sibes will try to escape mine never have but I have 4 so there's plenty of company for each other but I'm able to be home with them much of the time as I have a neck injury so they are also company for me but I wouldn't recommend buying 2 to keep each other company 2 bored sibes can be double distruction. Sibes are a beautiful breed they are loyal and loving to their family unfortunately they are not suited to everyones life style.

Some may disagree with me but from the research I've done over the years the majority of websites and books etc with say if the dog will be alone all day everyday then a husky is not for you.

I had a litter of puppies last year and my first question to all my enquires was will the puppy be alone much of the time if so I told them straight out that I'd like my puppies to be in homes where some one will be home much of the time of course they don't need some one there every minute of every day a person with a part time job would IMO be able to successfully own a sibe.

Hope this helps

Cheers,

[Devo]

I have an 11wo staffy X atm and i work full time.

i use to put devo in the laundry but now he has progressed to the backyard which he loves alot more..

I also have housemates that are home sometimes during the day so they talk to him as wel..

but Devo has only had 2 meals a day.

[Mel774]

When we got our goldie pup, we took a few weeks off to establish a routine. So in that time we left him for short periods, praised for quiet behaviour and slowly extended the time alone. This way he didn't go from all attention to no attention during the day. My OH took the time off and I continued going to work - so I was tempted to play with him all day! I felt so bad in the beginning, but it ended up being the best thing for him as he settled into his routine really well. I'd get up an hour early and play with him, get his breakfast ready and then go to work, then come back and play with him again.

When OH went to work, he got fed in the morning and then before we left he got a bowl of dry food which he munched on during the day, then got dinner when we got home. The breeder started this routine with all the pups, so he never gulped down the dry, it was always just there during the day. We know he never gulped it because sometimes we'd come home and find a bit left.

[kaywoman68]

Definitely research the breed first.

Can I ask what are the reasons that have led you to wanting a Husky? I'm sure a lot of DOLers can tell you a Husky is a LOT of work....

Edited May 1, 2006 by kaywoman68

[ravensmyst00]

For 8 months my mother in law came over to feed my Bullmastiff his lunch and to let him out for a play. Now that he is on 2 meals a day she still comes over to check on him daily and play with him.

[kaywoman68]

It's definitely a good idea to take a week or 2 off so you can spend time with the pup and try to establish a routine. Try to find a dog that suits your lifestyle. I must say I first chose a cocker spaniel because I liked their look but I did consider things like the size because I knew OH and I wouldnt' have time for a big dog. I didn't do too much research but it turned out great in the end because now their lifestyle is just like mine (my 2 like to sleep like me :rolleyes: )

When I first got Orson, I didn't take any time off work (I work 2 jobs). I was allowed to take him to my job in the mornings which was .

I would take him home when I finished my morning job and feed him his lunch before heading off to my afternoon work. My afternoon job is only 3 hours and I was close which meant I could get home quickly. I left him in the bathroom with blankets and toys. Most days I'll come home and he'll still be sleeping.

He's now 1 year old and a menace but I would never trade him for anyone else.

[Dog_Horse_Girl]

A few thoughts about your intentions:

1. Breed - the Siberian Husky is not for the "average" person but a committed and experienced handler who is willing and able to put in plenty of time in obedience work (for starters), and who is prepared to house the dog in a safe and comfortable manner. These dogs are excellent escape-artists and will scramble over fences 12 feet high (and more!). An anti-climb bias installed to the top of your fence is a very wise investment IMO. Where you live (climate) has a say in whether this dog is suited to you as well, b/c they don't do very well in extremely hot conditions. The amount of physical work these dogs need is substantial or you may end up with behavioural problems. They are bred to pull sleds. They need to have some kind of activity that replicates this workload. If you're not already involved, can I suggest you join a breed club and perhaps a sledding club?

2. Puppy raising - is not something to skimp on. You need to put in the time to train a pup...to socialise it...to nurture it...to teach it your rules of the household...to show it leadership...to engage its natural drives and instincts so that it works with you rather than against you. Pups need three feeds daily until at least 16 wks of age...some breeds and/or individuals need this for longer than that. If you can't get home, then someone you *trust* needs to do so.

You can do this if you are willing and able to put in the effort. But please research the breed - source registered breeders in your area, visit their kennels, discuss the pro's and con's of the breed (and if the breeder says there are no con's, run away!), and take your time in deciding whether an arctic working dog is right for you or not.

Oh, and if you do decide on the Husky, get some earplugs! Their howling is something else.

[cowanbree]

I have an 11wo staffy X atm and i work full time.

i use to put devo in the laundry but now he has progressed to the backyard which he loves alot more..

I also have housemates that are home sometimes during the day so they talk to him as wel..

but Devo has only had 2 meals a day.

Please tell me you mean 11 month old. There is no way a 11 week old baby should be on 2 meals a day. At that age my puppies are thinking about coming down from 4 meals a day to 3

[Natashja]

I have a 14 week old mini Poodle - if my OH didn't work from home, we never would have got him.

A friend of mine who works long hours bought 2 Beagle pups on the rationale that they would keep each other company. Surprise, surprise, they've grown into completely destructive and uncontrolable dogs.

[Ons]

my pups have been fine except I have made sure that I can come home at lunchtime. but as Matilda-Rose is getting a tiny bit older have been coming home a bit past lunch later and later, just in case i get tied up one day and she won't panic. I was locking her in the bathroom but she is getting a bit big for that now. I have begun to let her and my older dog mingle in the afternoons so that she can gradually go to being with him all day outside. I leave her with biscuits but I think she may eat them as soon as I leave

anyway tomorrow I have to leave home at 7 am so I have got Rachel who minds pets whilst you are away coming in at lunchtime to feed and play with her.

I think if you can come home at lunchtime, it just makes it a long day for pups otherwise especially if they dont' have a companion.

[KOE`VU]

Have PM'd u.

I also wanted to add tho that I dont recommend taking too much time off to accommodate your new puppy. if u have to take time off work to start with, then a dog of such character might not be for u.. also it can encourage seperation anxiety. I think it is best if you start puppy on the same routine that they will be on when it is grown with regards to going to work although Mel774 had an excellent way of slowly introducing the pup to periods of being alone.

Maybe have a look at some husky breeders on here and give them a call to have all of your questions answered properly and u can give them your full story and background.

Stop on Rosepetals and Lilly'smum

[ephereal]

i don't have any tips but i am really interested in this topic as well

we're finally bringing our golden home in just over 2 weeks now & we both work fulltime

i've booked a few weeks off work and will take longer lunchbreaks to come home and feed him for the first few months as well.. does anyone know how long they need to have 3 meals a day for?

[kaywoman68]

I fed Orson 3 meals till he was around 5 months (I think) before starting to introduce him to 2 meals a day. It wasnt' like he was getting strict 2 meals though because he got lots of treats too in between.

He's still a healthy weight at 1yo (he's a heavy bum compared to when we first got him. he was like 1.5kg, now he's 14kg).

ephereal, You might want to contact your breeder to advise on the meals. I'm sure it would be different for every dog. Some dogs are still classified as puppies until they're nearly 2 years old I think due to their growth patterns etc. I was reading the RC brochure for the recommended dog food and it's mentioned medium dog breeds are adults when they're 12 months.

[Mooper]

If you decide a puppy is too much work, you can always rescue a dog from the pound or from a foster carer :rolleyes:

That's what we did, so I'm afraid I can't offer any advice on puppies!

[Cheyenne_Fury]

I have recently gotten a puppy for the first time in years (I have two adult dogs who were 6months and 8 years old when I got them from rescue) and I was curious as to this as well.

My baby girl Zahra was just over 6 weeks when I brought her home (another rescue) and I was lucky enough to get her on a weekend and had the monday off work so that she could settle in at home for a few days. I live close enough to work that I can go home during my lunch time (only half an hour) and also lucky enough that my brothers girlfriend is home at my place during the day occassionally and can keep her company.

Zahra gets fed her breakfast when I get up and is left with some dry food for lunch. Is fed dinner when I get home from work and then a 4th meal around 8pm. She's now almost 10weeks old and I have started leaving her alone all day. She is locked safely away in the bathroom with her crate, lots of toys, her kong and her food and water bowls. I have left and come back to see if she cries as she does cry when I leave, but she quickly stops. She will cry when she hears me come home and as soon as she is quiet I will let her out.

My two other dogs are inside when I am at work as Murray my beagle has a tendenancy to escape from the yard so even though they are separated in the house she knows that the two bigger dogs are there too.

[articpower sibes]

hi again, I feel the need to clear up some things,

Kaywoman68 you're right to a degree huskies can be a problem if you don't have the time to put into them they are easily bored so they need excersie as any breed does they need training and you need to be creative to keep their attention and their grooming isn't much until they dump their coat, but they are a wonderful companion they really are a loyal loving breed but as I said in my previous reply they are not suited to everyones lifestyle.

I agree with lillysmum she made some great points, however you can't compare a husky left home all day everyday to other breeds, it's in their nature to want to escape and explore & they also want to be with their humans that's what they were bred for not all breeds have the nature & curiosity of a husky so advice from husky owners are the ppl you need advice from please feel free to pm me kifaya anytime I can give you my phone number & we can have a chat I have some information that I have burnt onto a disc which I sent out to all the ppl who enquired about my litter I had recently which is a good honest look at the husky living with a sibe, training etc and 10 questions to ask yourself about your lifestyle to see if a husky will fit into your family I'd be happy to send a copy to you if you like.

Also the NSW Siberian Husky club has a website www.shcnsw.org.au there's lots of info also info about husky rescue and you will be able to contact other husky owners the ppl on the committe will be more than willing to help you with any advice you need or I'd be happy to help you anytime.

Cheers,

[Mum 2 Bailey n Chelsea]

I don't know much about the breed but as far as a puppy goes when we got Bailey I came home for lunch everyday. I would have a big play and give him lunch. Now he is 15 months old and I still come home every lunch time and take him for a walk!! I honestly love spending my lunch break like that

If you can't come home a lunch, is there a friend or family member that can?

Bailey has 3 meals a day until he was 6 months old.........

We have a new puppy arriving on Sunday. I have taken a week off work in order to spend some time introducing the dogs and then will continue on coming home at lunch.

Also get lots of toys like treat ball and kongs, I also give Bailey frozen chicken necks as it takes him a while to eat and keeps him occupied.

Mel