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by Psycht on 25 March 2009 - 03:03
I guess I am a poster child for raising puppies as a single person :-p
Raised my first one while in graduate school while living in a one bedroom duplex with no yard. He managed to not only be a well tempermented and happy dog but excelled in performance (obedience, schutzhund, weight pulline, etc) and was ranked nationally in obedience and weight pulling.
Raised three more while working a job that generally goes 8-5. My youngest is 14 months old:
www.youtube.com/watch
However, it takes a significant amount of dedication and time to do it. I work nearby so can go home and let my guys out when they are young and unable to hold it for 8-9 hours. Also, my social life revolves solely around my dogs. I don't go out for drinks after work with co-workers and each evening is filled with my ensuring that my guys get exercise and stimulation.
Can it be done? Absolutely. Is it easy? Nope ;-)
With that said, if you are going to be gone for 12 hours a day I would be hesitant to get a young puppy at this point in your life.
Raised my first one while in graduate school while living in a one bedroom duplex with no yard. He managed to not only be a well tempermented and happy dog but excelled in performance (obedience, schutzhund, weight pulline, etc) and was ranked nationally in obedience and weight pulling.
Raised three more while working a job that generally goes 8-5. My youngest is 14 months old:
www.youtube.com/watch
However, it takes a significant amount of dedication and time to do it. I work nearby so can go home and let my guys out when they are young and unable to hold it for 8-9 hours. Also, my social life revolves solely around my dogs. I don't go out for drinks after work with co-workers and each evening is filled with my ensuring that my guys get exercise and stimulation.
Can it be done? Absolutely. Is it easy? Nope ;-)
With that said, if you are going to be gone for 12 hours a day I would be hesitant to get a young puppy at this point in your life.
by sueincc on 25 March 2009 - 03:03
I think 12 hours alone is WAAAAAAAAY too long for a pup. If you have not previously trained and raised a working line GSD or been involved in the sport of schutzhund, I would caution you to first go out to the club you mentioned, talk to the folks in depth about how much time and what kind of commitment is required to raise and train a dog for sport. If after careful consideration you really are sure you can give a dog what it would need despite your horrific work schedule, I am sure you will be able to find a pup to buy. Just be sure.
by Travel time on 25 March 2009 - 03:03
Sueincc, I have been to the schutzhund club a couple times and also atttended a trial. I got a CGC on my current BYB dog with them. I guess there are alot of people out there that only work part time or have stay at home spouses. I don't really think working a 10hr shift is horrific. I'm home at 5:00pm in the evening like alot of other people, I just go to work when everybody else is in bed. Everyone should remember that I had a post a few days ago about running with my dog. I run about 5 days a week after work, despite my "horrific" schedule, so I'm not exactly lazy. I love being busy and being outside.
by sueincc on 25 March 2009 - 18:03
Did I miss something? I thought you were asking what others thought of your situation:
| I'm afraid my schedule might be a problem. I'm single and I'm gone for about 12hrs a day, 5 days a week. My concerns are about exersice and socializing. will of course, have chances to exercise and socialize after work and on weekends, but didn't know if the extneded hours alone would cause any problems. I might be overly cautious, but I have a BYB male that I got when he was 3yrs, and he has some issues that we continue to work on and when I take the plunge I want to do things right. I do plan on working with the nearby schutzhund club with the dog as well. Opinions please, hanks Oh, and I will most liklely get a working line when the day comes. Not a super high mali drive, but something I can still live with. | |
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Personally, I don't ask for opinions unless I really want ALL the opinions, not just those that reflect what I am hoping to hear. Never forget, opinions are like assholes, everybodies got one, and not everybody will tell you what you want to hear. In the end you will do what you want regardless, good luck with your future new pup.
Regarding what you wrote in previous posts, I have not read your other posts and I do not make it a practice to go back and read everything anyone ever posted to be sure I have a complete history in case they left something out of the information they posted when asking a question. This is a very good example of why when someone asks a question about a possibly dangerous dog situation we should be very hesitant to suggest any course of action other than recommending a good trainer. People leave stuff out all the time.
by Travel time on 25 March 2009 - 18:03
You're right, I did ask for opinions, and I got them. It sounds like the general consensus is that I need to make some type of special arrangements if I decided to get a pup in the future. Thanks again to all. :)
by hodie on 25 March 2009 - 20:03
Travel time,
As pointed out, you asked for opinions. Sorry you did not hear what you wanted to, not only from me, but from others too.
I gave my opinion based on considerable experience with not only the breed, but in doing GSD rescue for more than 14 years. You can take it or leave it, as you wish. But don't ask if you are unwilling to really consider what others here tell you. As someone also pointed out, yes, there can be exceptions, but you gave information and all of us responded with our take, some based on personal experience. You might be the exception, but leaving a pup alone for 12 hours is a long time to be alone at such a young age. So, if you are not willing to wait, to gratify some yearning you have, at the very least, consider what people here say that it is too long and make some sort of arrangement so the pup is not so isolated for so long each day.
As for me, I hope you make the right choice and that is all I care about. Good luck.
As pointed out, you asked for opinions. Sorry you did not hear what you wanted to, not only from me, but from others too.
I gave my opinion based on considerable experience with not only the breed, but in doing GSD rescue for more than 14 years. You can take it or leave it, as you wish. But don't ask if you are unwilling to really consider what others here tell you. As someone also pointed out, yes, there can be exceptions, but you gave information and all of us responded with our take, some based on personal experience. You might be the exception, but leaving a pup alone for 12 hours is a long time to be alone at such a young age. So, if you are not willing to wait, to gratify some yearning you have, at the very least, consider what people here say that it is too long and make some sort of arrangement so the pup is not so isolated for so long each day.
As for me, I hope you make the right choice and that is all I care about. Good luck.
by Mystere on 25 March 2009 - 21:03
Traveltime,
I am sort of in the same boat. My first sch dog was alone for hours at a time. Not crated or in a kennel, but having the run of a small yard. She had "stimulation" from squirrels who taunted her, a flock of some kind of strange-looking fowls on the property behind us, and engaged in a running war with crows. She also had a yard full of every dog-toy imaginable. In the evening, we had a few minutes of quiet time when I got home, then "excursions" to the mall, neighborhood walks, parks, fairgrounds, etc. for socialization and stimulation. I went home to check on her at lunch-time and spent her entire 16-20 month old "fear period" at home with her, taking her for "excursions" to the park, the mall, and neighborhood shopping areas. She was the most social ambassador for the breed and schutzhund imaginable--most of the judges in the local municipal, superior and district courts knew her, and the entire State Supreme Court was acquainted with her, as well. She was fine and did fine for seven years...alone.
until she was seven years old...and tried to ignore his very existence for the first two years.
My male had her as a "companion, " until she went to the Rainbow Bridge 3 1/2 years ago. But, for the past year, he has had a Devil Child bitch as a "companion" duriong the day whom he tries to ignore the very existence of....
My dogs have all been the happiest damn dogs on Earth. Would they like things better if I were at home all the time? Hell, yes! So would I! That just aint reality right now...
I am sort of in the same boat. My first sch dog was alone for hours at a time. Not crated or in a kennel, but having the run of a small yard. She had "stimulation" from squirrels who taunted her, a flock of some kind of strange-looking fowls on the property behind us, and engaged in a running war with crows. She also had a yard full of every dog-toy imaginable. In the evening, we had a few minutes of quiet time when I got home, then "excursions" to the mall, neighborhood walks, parks, fairgrounds, etc. for socialization and stimulation. I went home to check on her at lunch-time and spent her entire 16-20 month old "fear period" at home with her, taking her for "excursions" to the park, the mall, and neighborhood shopping areas. She was the most social ambassador for the breed and schutzhund imaginable--most of the judges in the local municipal, superior and district courts knew her, and the entire State Supreme Court was acquainted with her, as well. She was fine and did fine for seven years...alone.
until she was seven years old...and tried to ignore his very existence for the first two years.
My male had her as a "companion, " until she went to the Rainbow Bridge 3 1/2 years ago. But, for the past year, he has had a Devil Child bitch as a "companion" duriong the day whom he tries to ignore the very existence of....My dogs have all been the happiest damn dogs on Earth. Would they like things better if I were at home all the time? Hell, yes! So would I! That just aint reality right now...
by Kandi on 25 March 2009 - 22:03
I would be extremely reluctant to sell any of my pups to a couple who both worked long days 5 days aweek, never mind a single person. The only instance in which I would is if they were VERY familiar with the needs of a young working line GSD puppy and were fully prepared to spend nearly every non-working moment with the pup. If they are a first time puppy owner have young kids?? forget it.
by Trafalgar on 25 March 2009 - 22:03
In my opinion MVF was spot on when he suggested that 2 dogs were a better idea than one in your situation.
Since you already have a dog - I'd suggest that it would be important that the pup you get be one that your current dog would enjoy as company. Opposite sex would be a good idea.
We live in a world where more and more people are single, hence; creative solutions are not only necessary but ocurring around us all the time.
You might want to consider a different breed though.
There are other breeds that are more likely to be social and friendly with less than optimal exposure to novel stimului and be less fretful wth lack of activity.
Furthermore; the basic question is not what a dog needs.
Purebred dogs don't "need" to exist at all. They are bred to allow humans the pleasure of pet ownership.
All people aren't ideal owners. That's a given.
Heck, all children don't live ideal lives with ideal parents. Just as people don't deny themselves children because they fall short of perfection - people shouldn't deny themselves the pleasure of a dog because they work outside the home. As long as the home situation is ADEQUATE, people should have a dog if they want one. Of course sacrifice is in order and the folllowing is my list of necessities:
If you will really be gone 12 hours - make it an older puppy AND you'll have to have a dog walker for mid day
You must have more than one dog - dogs are NOT solitary creatures. Isolation is totally unnatural
The time you are home - MUST be devoted to the dog as your highest priority and that time must be SYSTEMATICALLY enriching
Finally, IMO that young guy who wanted to leave the dog in four different places wil be a great dog owner. That life would be great for a dog. Ever notice that dogs who live in fraternities (or any situaton where they interact with dozens of people) are notoriously good natured and bomb-proof? Many people drop their dog off at relatives, day care centers etc....It is FAR from damaging to the creature to become accustomed to many of lifes variables.
Good luck
Since you already have a dog - I'd suggest that it would be important that the pup you get be one that your current dog would enjoy as company. Opposite sex would be a good idea.
We live in a world where more and more people are single, hence; creative solutions are not only necessary but ocurring around us all the time.
You might want to consider a different breed though.
There are other breeds that are more likely to be social and friendly with less than optimal exposure to novel stimului and be less fretful wth lack of activity.
Furthermore; the basic question is not what a dog needs.
Purebred dogs don't "need" to exist at all. They are bred to allow humans the pleasure of pet ownership.
All people aren't ideal owners. That's a given.
Heck, all children don't live ideal lives with ideal parents. Just as people don't deny themselves children because they fall short of perfection - people shouldn't deny themselves the pleasure of a dog because they work outside the home. As long as the home situation is ADEQUATE, people should have a dog if they want one. Of course sacrifice is in order and the folllowing is my list of necessities:
If you will really be gone 12 hours - make it an older puppy AND you'll have to have a dog walker for mid day
You must have more than one dog - dogs are NOT solitary creatures. Isolation is totally unnatural
The time you are home - MUST be devoted to the dog as your highest priority and that time must be SYSTEMATICALLY enriching
Finally, IMO that young guy who wanted to leave the dog in four different places wil be a great dog owner. That life would be great for a dog. Ever notice that dogs who live in fraternities (or any situaton where they interact with dozens of people) are notoriously good natured and bomb-proof? Many people drop their dog off at relatives, day care centers etc....It is FAR from damaging to the creature to become accustomed to many of lifes variables.
Good luck
by Kandi on 25 March 2009 - 22:03
I should have written at the end of my post "first time puppy owner with long work hours and young kids"...
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