Quote:
Originally Posted by Britster  Nobody would ever be allowed to have a puppy if we couldn't have them while working full-time. Is it always ideal? No. Do puppies need a ton of work? Yep. But dogs are also very adaptable creatures.
When they are young - definitely would not leave a pup for longer than a few hours. In the beginning, you may need to utilize a dog walker. Or forever. I am a dog walker and we have many different types of clients. Some just want their dogs to have a 15 min break/stretch in the yard. Others want a 30-45 min walk etc. Puppies will sometimes have 2 let outs in the beginning depending on how long the person works.
As an adult dog, Jackson is okay to stay home for 8-9 hours even though I prefer not to go over 6 hours. Also, he has always been outdoor potty trained, so we immediately began that at 9 weeks old (I got him a bit too early)-- can't imagine waiting until 5-6 months to potty train.  Just be smart about where you take pup (I'd avoid pet stores, dog parks, etc if a young dog that is not fully vaccinated yet).
It's up to you on the puppy vs. adult thing. They are both great for different reasons.  |
Very well said! I, unfortunately, leave Kaji alone 10+ hours a day. (9 hour work day, 30 mins to 1 hour commute to work, 1+ hour commute home, and a few days a week I hit the gym before I go home because it will take me just as long to get home anyway, traffic
, sometimes I go home, hang out with Kaji and run in my neighborhood, depends on the day)
Is this ideal? No. It's not. I wish I could bring Kaji to work with me, and the gym, and everywhere, but that's not possible. I also wish I could stay home with him, but no one wants to pay me the big bucks to stay home with Kaji.
So, we make do. When I'm not working, Kaji and I are together doing everything. In fact, we're hopping on a plane on Thursday to go explore a new city. Vacation = Kaji time!!!
You've already received great advice. A schedule is VERY important. It helps the pups adjust and lets them know what to expect and when. Kaji definitely knows when the weekend rolls around. He's ready to play, vs on the weekday, we get a few snuggles in after breakfast before I leave for work.