Single and raising a pup? - Page 2

I don't know what you do for a living but this is what my friend did with her pup. She drives a suv so she had a crate in the back of the suv. The pup would stay there while she is at work. She would go out in between patients to let the dog relieve himself and walk around a bit and then put him back into the crate. Also, you need to be catious with the weather.

Single and raising a pup alone?
A young pup at  8-9 weeks NEEDS care, attention, basic training for being in the home, in the car, with a family. They need hands on, one-on-one love and supervision.
I just had a young man that was buying his first home that applied for a puppy. He stated he was gone 50-55 hrs a week with his job. He said his yard was 60x80 and he had plans to build a kennel and run. He stated since he was alone, no planned roommate or girlfriend, he was planning on putting the puppy in puppy day care twice a week, then with his mother once a week and then one day a week with his old roomies from college that had a dog and were renting nearby. He stated he would be the perfect home and that his GSD would just be the first of many dogs he planned to have in the future.
My suggestion to him was to go to a local shelter and perhaps rescue an older dog, one housebroken and one that would really appreciate the time he was home with the older rescue dog and that he should see how this experience with "dog ownership" (his first) went before he went out buying an 8 week old pup, and that I was sorry but that I wouldn't feel comfortable placing one of my pups with him. I also told him that if I allowed him a puppy, that puppy would be needing to truely Bond to his new person or family and by subjecting a young pup to 4 different new homes weekly that there was a chance that his pup could bond with his x roomie or someone at doggie day care and he would never have the relationship with that puppy that he could have if he waited awhile and see if perhaps his lifestyle would change. This was my decision and how I felt about the situation and it's one I feel I had to make.

 Thank you HareValley for having some sense and not simply being interested in the dollar. Having the pup in four different places, with four different people each week, if indeed he even followed through with that plan, would be confusing to the pup and chances are the pup would end up with no obedience skills and sooner or later, he would be trying to find a rescue or a shelter in which to dump the dog. I turn people down all the time. Too many people won't do the right thing.

Trailrider, yes looking for an older dog, mabybe something 6 months to a year, has as crossed my mind. RDH, the vehicle thing would not be an option for me.

OUCH! "Hodie", so your saying that because I'm single work for a living that my life is not suited for having a dog....? We all have opinions I guess. I ahve lived on my alone for over 5 years now and have to admit since getting my current dog I am much happier and even more active than before. Thanks to those with the positive posts. Finding someone to come over during the day will be something that I'll have to arrange when the time is right. Until then I'll just keep surfing the web drooling.

It would be cruel to a dog of any age to be left alone for 12 hours a day, and it would drive a puppy insane if left alone that long.  You really should consider two older pups or young dogs and at least they would have each other in an outdoor or indoor/outdoor pen.  They could then spend the other 12 hours with you inside the house, interacting with you, and at least sleeping with your scent and sound around.  But 12 hours alone would be much too much for a puppy to survive well.  S

Sorry for the bad news.

While I wasn't single when we had our pup - my husband's schedule was such that our female was alone on average for 5-6 hours per day.  I even took some time off of work to spend with her initially.  She was with us constantly when we were both home and we were always doing something to keep her stimulated.  We had always heard that a "bored German Shepherd could be a bad German Shepherd" (destructive etc).  We certainly didn't want our first experience with a German Shepherd puppy to be that.  We weren't disappointed in the least. 

With our male - we brought him home when he was 7 months old.  I still treated him like an 8 week old puppy for housebreaking because he had not been raised indoors for the first 7 months.  In comparing - I would probably say I preferred the age of our male.  I loved the puppy stage and all that went along with it.  I do think having a young puppy was definitely a lot more work.  Unfortunately, our work schedules had changed somewhat so an older "puppy" fit our needs better at the time. 

I'm also fortunate in that I have a petsitter who lets my dogs out every day while we're at work.  I wouldn't hesitate to get another puppy but would certainly have to weigh all of the options.  I do think it would be hard on any dog (no matter the age) to be alone unattended for 12 hours a day.  Can you imagine having to hold your bladder for 12 hours at a time?  Could be difficult.  When the time is right and you're ready - maybe you'll be able to find someone (a friend or a petsitter) that could let the pup out for a bathroom break and a little play session.  

TWO older pups or young adults really do make the most sense.  It would be mindnumbing and harmful for one dog, much less pup, to be alone for 12 hours a day, but two older pups (6-18 months) in a pen together may work out okay.  You would have to be a person of energy and character to come home after a long day at work and greet puppies who are eager to begin their day at your dinnertime.  But I suppose it could be done.

So, the OP doesnt have time for 1 dog, and people are suggesting 2? That's just crazy. Have you ever seen what happens when 2 dogs grow up together, bonded to each other more strongly than to their human family?  Training is a nightmare.  You never, NEVER let your dogs raise each other! A GSD especially should be bonded most strongly to YOU.

Travel time- don't give up hope. I have many clients who work a lot and bring their young puppies with them to work, hire a dog walker, or even get a neighbor/friend/family member to watch the dog during the day. Heck, I have quite a few 20somethings who drop the dog off at their parents house for the day! I've even gotten the "grandparents" involved in the training. If you can make absolutely certain this dog will have excercise, socialization, and stimulation while you are at work, you can make it happen. If you cannot, then no, now is not the right time.