Could SWMBO take dog and child for a walk earlier, or perhaps collect child from school by walking the dog there? My kids and dogs walked miles.
I also fitted a dog flap, having made sure the garden was dog proof.
NB. Springers can jump an inch higher than whatever fence you've just erected ;>(
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We had several years when we could not have a dog due to our erratic life, so we got a guinea pig for each child. Friendly, talkative and strip-mow a small lawn, while fertilizing it! Better still, very popular house guests when you go away, as other families are keen to 'borrow' them for the odd week.
Perhaps a cat would suit for now, until someone is around more often, they quite like their own company.
Dogs are wonderful - we have two now - but do need time and attention or they can become a problem. One compromise can be an elderly neighbour who would enjoy 'sharing' your dog, by walking it during the day. This works very well for a friend of ours, who does not want his own dog as he enjoys the freedom of being able to go away on a whim - but loves having a dog around on his terms! Bit like some grandparents, I suppose.
I second the comment about height of fences - our older collie sailed over a 4 ft fence when he was quite young, and finds 6 ft fence a bit of a bore as he has to actually touch it as he goes over!
Funnily enough, the son who most wanted a dog when aged 7-9, is the one who is most reluctant to walk/feed the dogs now.
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SNIPQUOTE!I want my son to have a pet but worry about the practicalities. How do others cope and am I being too careful ?
I have had dogs for virtually all of my life and I cannot imagine living without one. Dogs adapt, but must be treated with care and respect. They are, in the main, great friends and companions. Some of mine have been pets and some have worked. One of each at the mo'. They can be left for extended periods...6 hours, but MUST be 'emptied' ADEQUATELY before etc. Not rocket science AND when one returns the Dog, like an Adult or child needs some quality time with you. It is all do able, but also needs to be worked at.
Your Wife out alone in the dark walking Dog............................NO
Child alone in house whilst she does.......................................NO
Child alone in house (dependant on age and other factors).......NO
Go for it, but Dog ownership is NOT to be treated lightly and if you do the job properly is very likely to be quite expensive.
Labradors are best..............or so the Lab's tell me!!
Mail me if I can be of any help. Mods will give address.
Very best regards..............Martin D
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 29/01/2009 at 00:59
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Kids and Labradors are a marvellous combination - a Lab has the most wonderful temperament and will tolerate high activity youngsters without complaint.
However, a Lab, just as with so many breeds, is a working dog and needs the exercise levels to suit.
We've had several Labs over the years - the first was trained for the gun - and all would walk with us for miles and miles and still be prepared for more.
However, the best compromise may well be a mongrel - unlike pedigree dogs they are much "tougher" and less prone to illness or common problems in later life.
The local RSPCA or animal rescue centre is as good as start as any to find a new companion.
Some info on choosing a dog:
www.dog-breed-facts.com/Choosing-a-Dog.html
dogs.about.com/od/becomingadogowner/a/choosingdog....m
articles.directorym.co.uk/How_To_Choose_a_Dog_for_...l
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Thanks for the replies so far. The wild card I haven't mentioned is that being self-employed and mainly based in my own car, I suppose I could take a pooch with me a lot of the time. Overnights and foreign trips would be more difficult I know but even long day trips in the UK could be OK maybe. I always had a dog as a kid and really enjoyed their company. It's been a long time but I think I'd be OK with training and so on.
Edit - forgot to mention SWMBO works full time so the big problem is that occasionally the dog could be alone from 8.00 until 6.00 which would not work I guess.
Edited by Humph Backbridge on 28/01/2009 at 20:32
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Thanks for the replies so far. The wild card I haven't mentioned is that being self-employed and mainly based in my own car I suppose I could take a pooch with me a lot of the time.
SNIPQUOTE again!
All things are do-able. Kennel? Kennel in garage? Place to soil? Stretch? Day light?
But that Dog deserves the best co's they ARE part of the family and will repay you tenfold, but if you haven't got the time then you haven't. I got in tonight and needed to talk to somebody (SWMBO) badly. For some reason she had her backside in her hand and went off on one. I retaliated big time. The older of the two labs was nowhere to be seen and the 'Pup' Ten months and v.v.v. clever sat in the corner just switching glances twixt the two of us. They know for sure what is what. They are not dumb. I have never had a dog that didn't come to me when I was visibly unhappy. If you think you'll have to cut corners then maybe don't do it. It may be hard on the Son, but fairer in the long run.
Best regards...........MD
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 29/01/2009 at 01:00
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We have two dogs - one an ageing Springer, the other a young Cocker which we had this time last year to replace another Cocker we had to put down. The plan was for this one to live out with the Springer who is an anti-social cuss and ploughs his own furrow - however didn't go quite as planned. The Cocker lives in the house now (after what is best described as "ugliness") - Routine as follows. Gets up at 6.45 - 20 minute walk (he won't pee or pooh on his own doorstep ! - quite common apparently) breakfasts and then is caged for the day - Mrs P then walks him when she comes home at 3pm and he has his second meal. He then hangs out (mainly with me) until bedtime 11.00pm and then the whole thing starts again ! He has never messed in his cage or in the house - enjoys monster walks every weekend. He can go 8 to 10 hours without asking to go out. He is on high quality low residue food and has no scraps other than the odd piece of chicken occasionally - oh an gravy on a Monday (its either that or call NIREX in). He isn't high maintenance and is full of life and vigour and loves chasing ducks. He was car-sick when we first had him, he comes in the car but only tolerates it but is no longer ill.
The old cocker was far easier to live with in many ways, she would happily stay in the car with me in the daytime - no need for a dog guard - wouldn't risk that with this one ! This one, however, isn't a thief and won't attempt to open a close door. They are characters and as individual as people (and far nicer in most cases). Spaniels are super intelligent and are live wires and thrive on hunting games - totally taskable, this one would fetch the newspaper to the letter box on hearing it arrive - just for the hell of it.
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When you mention a cage PU, is it outdoors or in and how big is it ? Does the dog have room to move / run about or is it fairly confined ?
I might be, no, make that am, speaking from ignorance, but a cage sounds fairly unpleasant ?
Must be OK though I guess ?
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No a cage is not cruel. you train pups from a cage. The cage needs to be big enough for the dog to stand and turn round in. It becomes in effect the dogs lair, its own space.
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No its big enough for him to turn have his bed in there and a separate area which he can lie in, it almost fits perfectly into the Roomie (with the seats down and not out !) he likes his cage and will go in there of his own accord at the relevant times and occasionally in the daytime at weekends if he feels like it. The cage door is open at night but he's shut into a downstairs room - never any complaint. Vet was of the opinion that it was OK for him for extended periods - certainly no physical or mental (apart from Spanialism) issues seem to have become apparent in the last twelve months. He won't sleep out (tried it howled for three nights), whereas the other won't sleep indoors. The old Cocker "insisted" on sleeping with us in the bedroom (although would tolerate the landing at a push) but she was a rescue dog and had been abused. He has never fouled his cage. Doesn't chew (only his bones - won't destroy his toys) so he's happy I'm happy. He's hanging with me at the 'mo - perfect man dog symbiosis.
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Humph, I urge you to get a rescue or a rehome dog. there are plenty just cying for a home.
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Very good advice. Thanks all.
I suppose we have a biggish and largely unused enclosed back garden which could easily accomodate a run and large kennel / shed / shelter. I also like the suggestion of a rescue dog or maybe even two of them if compatible ones could be found. Company for each other on the days they might be alone perhaps ? I have no breed preconceptions and a mongrel would be fine.
The odd thing about my way of life is that I do have a lot of free time punctuated by extreme periods of very long days and weeks. Some of the time for extended periods I would have more than adequate opportunity to care for an animal or two whereas at other times of the year I genuinely work 18 hours a day seven days a week.
To come back to breeds for a moment, I have never had a Lab but as a child there were a couple of Retrievers, a Border Terrier and a Jack Russell, but like I said, I wouldn't really mind what it / they were as long as we all got along.
A chap I knew who did what I do used to take his Border Terrier everywhere with him. It would sleep in his car if he was in a hotel or something. It didn't seem to mind.
I suppose as in any situation where you add another mouth to a household be it human or animal you just have to adapt and if you want to you will.
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www.dogstrust.org.uk
Not only will a lot of the information on there help you decide whether you really do have time for a dog, but I echo AE in strongly suggesting a rescue dog. There are too many dogs in shelters, in my opinion, to justify anyone spending money on one, unless it's for a specific job or you're going to show it at crufts.
The problem you're going to have is that they wont rehome a dog to you that is going to be left for ten hours at a time. Dogs need attention, and being alone for ten hours a day (putting the logistics of it needing to go out aside) is just too long, in my opinon. But you may feel that bending the truth slightly when you approach the rescue centre works in your favour - I think if I was a dog and it was a choice of being in a little pen at a centre or being in a home but being left for a long time, I know which I'd choose.
Occasionally, rescue places get in slightly older dogs who can be left, and are happy on their own just snoozing for hours at a time, and don't require long walks (retired greyhounds being a classic example). I certainly wouldn't leave a young dog for the amount of time you're suggesting.
Talk to someone like Dogs Trust, see what they say. We've certainly never been put under any pressure one way or the other when visiting them, and in fact I've been a few times just to visit the dogs (I've got a sponsor dog at one of the centres) - might be an idea, so you can see if your son actually likes dogs, and what sorts!
I agree with you - we've always had rescue dogs as a family and when I moved into my own place it was suddenly very quiet - no happy face waiting for you when you get in, and no reason to pull your coat on and get some fresh air. So after much soul searching and "but I don't like cats, I'm a dog person", I got a cat. From www.cats.org.uk
He's 13 (so again is an older cat who can be left, not a young animal who needs occupying all the time) and has a much better life here with me than he did after being abandoned to a shelter after 12 years in someone else's home. And while at heart I am still a dog person, he is pleased to see me when I get in, and does like affection (on his terms!). I had to recognise I couldn't have a dog at the moment, so got a cat instead.
I think really you only get the companionship you're after from a dog or a cat. I had guinea pigs, hamsters and fish as a child, but only really formed bonds with the dogs.
I'll stop rambling now!
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Resuce dogs seem strangely grateful for a good home, our family usually go down this route when re-dogging (the current cocker being the exception) the only one who hasn't is our rescue Springer, who is uniformly ungrateful about everything.
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> think really you only get the companionship you're after from a dog or a cat. I had guinea pigs, hamsters and fish, but only really formed bonds with the dogs.
thats really not a nice way to talk about Passat man now is it ;)
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Miaow !
;-)
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Get a retired racing greyhound. Loving and lazy.
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"Get a retired racing greyhound. Loving and lazy."
There's a lovely one - very friendly, docile and apparently just needs a bit of a walk each day - on our road - I'm sure I recognise it as one (of many!) I lost money on at Walthamstow dog track before it closed.
See
www.retiredgreyhounds.co.uk/index.asp?pageid=40
Incidentally - and widely off topic - "the dogs" was a real good (and cheap!) nights entertainment . Daughter lived near track and we went as a family betting a quid each on each race. Using such sophisticated techniques as "that dog's got a nice waggy tail, I'll back it" we usually broke even and sometimes made a profit!
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Oh dear, the Cocker caught a duck this afternoon - one of those ruddy faced absurdities - you could almost hear the Mallards cheering - I swear they set it up deliberately.
Edited by Pugugly on 29/01/2009 at 18:38
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"the Cocker caught a duck this afternoon - one of those ruddy faced absurdities"
Good dog!! Give it a choccy treat! (Or a nice bit of duck!)
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Got any of those pancake thingies ?
Once went to a Chinese restaurant with some Rugby buddies on one of those eat all you want for £15 or something like that deals. We ate them out of crispy ducks and they barred us from coming back unless we agreed not to take the £15 deal in future.......
Bit churlish in our addled view given the magnitude of the beer bill. Makes you thirsty,duck...
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Humph, if you're sure you can spare the time and space do get a dog - they're great company and if you get one your son will think you're the best. The threat of having their things chewed by our pup even makes our kids keep their rooms tidy...
I was somewhat anti-dog until I met my present partner - she came with baggage in the shape of a collie, and our family has expanded since to include a lab/springer cross puppy - but I wouldn't be without one now.
As I leave early for work, she gives the dogs a quick walk in the morning, and they have another in the evening with me when I get home. They have huge walks on weekends and seem to thrive on this routine. They're sometimes left in the house for up to four hours, but don't seem to mind and usually don't make a mess, although the puppy does chew, and being part lab will empty any dustbin within range.
As regards travelling in the car, dogs vary - the pup loves going out in the car while the collie usually throws up every 20 miles, so travelling long distances on regular basis could be difficult if you get a dog that dislikes travelling.
Edited by AshT on 29/01/2009 at 19:40
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My other half was very fearful of dogs anti consequently very anti-dog. She and our previous dog were close, and she was very, very upset when we had to put her down. She and the new dog have a somewhat different arrangement but they like each other - she and the Springer live in a state of alert but they have a mutual respect. Otherwise its a happy canine home.
As for a previous poster suggesting that a woman and dog shouldn't go out together is wrong. The Cocker is very protective and would not put up with any crap from anyone.
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Must say the retired greyhound link was interesting. Thanks for that. I might feel a certain empathy with one who was once a sylph like athlete.... cough.....splutter....
Joking aside, thanks to all for the good advice and indeed the reality checks. I'd like to make it work and won't take any rash decisions I promise.
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Retired racing greyhounds are, indeed, regarded as proving marvellous companions, mostly because they are very laid back, enjoy company and, surprisingly, don't require as much exercise as many other dogs.
However, it should never be forgotten that a dog is a pack animal and must be brought up to recognise that the owner (and indeed most other of the house occupants) are the pack leader(s).
Studying dog behaviour through a suitable book (plenty in the libraries) will pay dividends.
TV programmes such as The Dog Whisperer (Sky3) and those many years ago by Barbara Woodhouse on BBC1 emphasise the way to ensure your dog behaves properly and proves a valuable member of the family.
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Miaow indeed.
Funny though :)
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