Leaving your baby home all day while you work....

[Christinee]

So I have been working at home for some time now. Well, sometimes working at home means unstable work and low pay... The good paying jobs I have had at home, eventually laid me off after being with them for various reason. One because they decided not to hire in my state anymore, and the other decided they could get cheaper labor if they hired in other countries, so they laid off all the workers in the U.S. and outsourced to India and Philippines. So I have come to the conclusion, working remotely just makes it too easy for companies to just fire everyone at any given time since they never really meet you in person. You are nothing to them. i am sure there are good ones out there, but they are far and in between.. and from what I've seen so far, unstable too.

I am currently working, but work has been choppy at best lately. Right when it looks like things are picking up - they slow down again and I am getting tired of the uncertainty. So I am taking my job search out side of the home and am going to find myself a decent job that I know is stable. The problem is, I worry about charlie being alone all day everyday and would love some feedback from those who leave their babies by them self all day while they are at work. Getting another dog so he can have a friend to hang out with isn't an option, since my place has a one pet policy.

[Magnus]

Any neighbors you get along with well and have a dog? If they're home, maybe they can look in on Charlie while you're at work? Daycare? Dog TV?

Maybe you can get lucky and find a job where you can bring Charlie to the office with you.. Rare but I've seen small companies like that. In fact, one of my niece is staying with her current company b/c the owners are BIG animal lovers. All the employees there are allowed to bring their dogs to the office any time they want. They even built a maze type area in the back of the building so the dogs can have fun.

[Christinee]

Originally Posted by Magnus

Any neighbors you get along with well and have a dog? If they're home, maybe they can look in on Charlie while you're at work? Daycare? Dog TV?

Maybe you can get lucky and find a job where you can bring Charlie to the office with you.. Rare but I've seen small companies like that. In fact, one of my niece is staying with her current company b/c the owners are BIG animal lovers. All the employees there are allowed to bring their dogs to the office any time they want. They even built a maze type area in the back of the building so the dogs can have fun.

Wow, your niece is lucky. Sounds like great people to work for. So far, I've applied to one place. I have two I plan to apply to tonight. My daughter would be home at about 230 - 3PM from school everyday. But before that he would be alone. I just hate the thought of him being alone all day everyday. Maybe my landlords would be nice and let us add a cat to the family. They are pretty nice people.

[Christinee]

BTW..Charlie isn't going anywhere. LOL I am not insinuating that in any way shape or from. He is my baby. I am just looking for a solution so everyone is happy... including him.

[tokipoki]

My pups are home alone from like 6:30am to 2:30pm twice a week when I'm having my clinical days at the hospital and they've been fine (even a couple days where they were home alone until 5:00 although I'd work out something else if it was a regular thing). I'm pretty sure they sleep/window watch all day. Like I mentioned, if they were alone regularly for more than 6 hours, I would arrange for one of my neighbors (or pay someone) to come let them out for a potty break around lunchtime and to stretch their legs out.

Hopefully Charlie will adjust quickly when you start to work outside of the home but I think that is great that your daughter will be home to let him out and keep him company after school. He'll be okay until she gets home! And you can always get someone to pop in and check on him to give you peace of mind.

I'd be careful about adding a second pet (if it ends up being allowed) since you're going to be spending more time outside of the home unless you have more time initially to get them acclimated. But I will say that adding a second pet worked out really well for us! Toki and Teddy are good buddies and keep each other company when they're home alone. I brought home Teddy at the end of my spring semester...I had the entire summer to be at home with them (or have my BF be at home with them) a majority of the time so that we could make sure they were getting along well and that Teddy was adjusting to his new home. It ended up being a really great decision!

[Christinee]

Originally Posted by tokipoki

My pups are home alone from like 6:30am to 2:30pm twice a week when I'm having my clinical days at the hospital and they've been fine (even a couple days where they were home alone until 5:00 although I'd work out something else if it was a regular thing). I'm pretty sure they sleep/window watch all day. Like I mentioned, if they were alone regularly for more than 6 hours, I would arrange for one of my neighbors (or pay someone) to come let them out for a potty break around lunchtime and to stretch their legs out.

Hopefully Charlie will adjust quickly when you start to work outside of the home but I think that is great that your daughter will be home to let him out and keep him company after school. He'll be okay until she gets home! And you can always get someone to pop in and check on him to give you peace of mind.

I'd be careful about adding a second pet (if it ends up being allowed) since you're going to be spending more time outside of the home unless you have more time initially to get them acclimated. But I will say that adding a second pet worked out really well for us! Toki and Teddy are good buddies and keep each other company when they're home alone. I brought home Teddy at the end of my spring semester...I had the entire summer to be at home with them (or have my BF be at home with them) a majority of the time so that we could make sure they were getting along well and that Teddy was adjusting to his new home. It ended up being a really great decision!

Good points. Thank you. I've had good luck with my cats and dogs getting along so far. I say a cat because they are more self sufficient, so it would take less time for them to get accustomed to the place and everyone with less effort on my part, but would still be company for Charlie. Plus, I think it would be easier to convince my landlord to let us add a cat over a dog. lol

Thank you for the input. They are good ideas and getting someone to check on him is something I will look into. I have a few family members that don't live too far. The question is, do they have the time. I guess it can't hurt to ask.

[Patti]

I think they adjust pretty easily. I always had a yorkie when I worked full time. They did fine and I always only had one at a time. Once I retired I got in to multiple dogs. I am home all the time and they really do sleep a lot. I think it's harder on us than them.

[Christinee]

Originally Posted by Patti

I think they adjust pretty easily. I always had a yorkie when I worked full time. They did fine and I always only had one at a time. Once I retired I got in to multiple dogs. I am home all the time and they really do sleep a lot. I think it's harder on us than them.

I worry because all this time, I have been home with him. He sleeps under my desk while I work most of the time. LOL Then all of a sudden I am gone all day everyday. I worry since he's use to me being around he will get lonely. lol but you are probably right........ It's worse on us than them. Thanks.

[Britster]

It happens! People have to work, they are fine. I think as long as you compensate for it either in the mornings, evenings and/or weekends, it's all good. I hate the thought of it too as I work short days right now and am usually home by 1pm, so he's only alone for about 4-5 hours. I know when I get a real full time job, things will be different, but he's okay. I've left him for 8 hours before and he is always totally fine. But he gets a lot of attention whenever I am home! He's just the more happier to see me.

[Christinee]

Originally Posted by Britster

It happens! People have to work, they are fine. I think as long as you compensate for it either in the mornings, evenings and/or weekends, it's all good. I hate the thought of it too as I work short days right now and am usually home by 1pm, so he's only alone for about 4-5 hours. I know when I get a real full time job, things will be different, but he's okay. I've left him for 8 hours before and he is always totally fine. But he gets a lot of attention whenever I am home! He's just the more happier to see me.

LOL.. I feel like I've just been put in check! LMAO. But these are the things I needed to hear. So thanks.

[DvlshAngel985]

Kaji is a singleton and I work full time; 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. Kaji just sleeps all day, and since he's potty trained I give him full reign of the house. He has a couch by the front window that he can people watch from, and he gets lots of attention when I and my brothers get home. Walk, play, cuddles and snacks.

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by Patti

I think they adjust pretty easily. I always had a yorkie when I worked full time. They did fine and I always only had one at a time. Once I retired I got in to multiple dogs. I am home all the time and they really do sleep a lot. I think it's harder on us than them.

[Marhcarter]

Huey usually has someone home with him because I work 12 hour nights & hubby works days, but there are times that hubby goes out of town & I have to work 12 (usually gone closer to 14) hour shifts for several nights at a time. Since Huey is so dramatic & acts like he has been left on a desert island for weeks without company when I get home in the mornings, I bought a nanny-cam so I could watch him from my cell phone when he is home alone. Guess what? He slept the entire night each time I watched him with a couple of trips to potty & to the toy box for something to play with. Close to time for me to get home, he moved to the den where he can watch for my car coming down the street. As soon as he saw my car, he ran back to the bedroom & assumed the "poor pitiful me" position-ears down, quivering, high pitched squeeling noises coming from him...the little faker!
Moral of the story-they are sneaky little buggers, but yours will probably do like the rest; sleep.

[ilovejoel]

I'm home WAY too much with Joel since I do the daycare, and the few times I'm out too long he will actually puke I need to get out more haha!

[ColesMommy01]

Originally Posted by Britster

It happens! People have to work, they are fine.

I'm a SAHM now, but when we purchased our first dog I worked and went to school part time. She slept most of the day and when we came home she was just extremely happy to see us. People work how else would she be able to get all those extra goodies