How does the dog handle your 12 hour shifts?

[SnowStar4]

*I meant HOW*

I'm most likely going to be switching to 12-hour shifts soon. Although I am happy about it for me, I worry about leaving my two dogs alone that long. I don't really have family close enough to let them out, and I am leery of hiring a dog walker because the idea of giving a stranger a key to my house creeps me out.

So, I am just wondering how your dog handles the day. Mostly, can they "hold it" that long?

[crb613, BSN, RN]

I have always worked 12's. I used puppy pads for my dog when no one was able to let her out. I also made sure she had plenty of food, water, and toys to play with. I left the tv on for her as well as a light at night. I had a bench fixed and all padded up in front of the window so she could lie and look out.

If at all possible, a doggy dog is the best solution. My baby is dead now, but if I ever have another one, I will make sure to have a door. It's not their fault we work 12 hr shifts!

[MERRYWIDOW46]

My dog is 7.5; I've worked 12s since my daughter gave her to me at six months old. We get up, and she goes out while I get ready for work. I leave food and water; some mornings, she eats; others, she doesn't. I leave at 6 am and return at about 830pm. She has NEVER had an accident. She usually goes and gets in either her own or my bed. I find her mostly upstairs and sometimes down in the den when I get home. She's always happy to see me. She knows my days off as we don't have an alarm clock at 0515. Those days she gets 2-mile walks unless the heat and humidity prevent that. Dogs are adaptable, my vet tells me. Good luck.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Dogs are adaptable. I've worked 12-hour shifts since 1983, and I've had dogs my whole life. They rarely had accidents once they got past the puppy stage. I was fortunate enough to have a doggy door when my goldens were elderly, and our last dog died of cancer well before old age. The dog we have now is a year old, and he's had a few accidents, but I suspect that was more the result of the contraband he'd eaten than the 12-hour shifts!

[foreverLaur]

I'm wondering the same thing. My dog has a bladder of steel!! Overnight he typically goes 12-13 hours without going out, and he's always fine and never that into going to the bathroom quickly when I do let him out. Even after 13 hours, he's not whining or pacing near the door. I will, however, probably put him in doggie daycare on the three days I'll work. In central Ohio, it is only $20/day, and they give discounts for buying in bulk. Bathroom issues aside, the dogs will get sad and lonely, which could lead to destructive behavior.

I cannot hire a dog walker because you need a key fab to enter my building, and it is close to $300 to get a spare one, and per the lease, we're not allowed to give them out to people not on the lease so no one could even gain access to my apt to let my dog out!

Gotta love doggie daycare. I know my dog does!!

However, no doggie daycare places around me allow late-night pickups. They are all open from 7 am-7 pm. If you need to pick it up after 7 pm, it has to wait until the next morning, and you are charged $30 for an overnight visit.

Ideas?

[highlandlass1592, BSN, RN]

Try working night shifts! I have not found a doggie daycare that will come overnight and let my kids out. I am now utilizing a friend's daughter who is looking for spare money. She comes over on the nights I work and lets them out, gives them a couple of treats, and then they go to bed. I was going to have someone from my vet's office do it; I know her well, but she ran into personal issues which wouldn't allow her to come over at the times I needed.

I pay $15 for the night visits, and when I have to work a day shift on the weekend, she comes over twice during the day, and I give her $30. I hate doing the dayshift thing; rather be home with the kids. They have adjusted well to my night shift schedule (been on nights for 12 years now).

Just lost a couple of kids to the Rainbow bridge; they had health issues that made it hard for them to even hold it for more than 4 hours. For those guys, I just used doggie pads, and it worked out well. Actually, they trained themselves to use them, which was great for me. I miss Simba and Sis..they were awesome dogs, but they are with my husband now. I have no doubt they are in heaven in great health, cavorting in open fields. Well, anyway..didn't mean to get off track.

[highlandlass1592, BSN, RN]

ruby vee said:

dogs are adaptable. I've worked 12 hour shifts since 1983, and I've had dogs my whole life. they rarely had accidents once they got past the puppy stage. I was fortunate enough to have a doggy door when my goldens were elderly, and our last dog died of cancer well before old age. the dog we have now is a year old, and he's had a few accidents but I suspect that was more the result of the contraband he'd eaten than the 12 hour shifts!

Contraband huh?? Maybe your baby is now related to the dog I just adopted from the rescue! He's gotten into quite a bit of food. Now I've got it blocked off with a kiddie gate. He'd eat everything in sight, then throw up and get diarrhea. This rescue dog cost me a new sofa and a new bed. But he's a heartbreaker. I have grown to love him. Isn't it amazing what we go through for our babies?

[itsmejuli]

I'm fortunate in that my neighbor comes over to let my dogs out a couple of times while I'm working 12s. But I still put a puppy pad down for my miniature dachshund; she just can't hold it for long.

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

I used to have a large doggy door which meant they could come in and out as they needed.

Doggy walkers don't cost an awful lot and would put your mind at ease.

[krimicrat]

We have a doggy door, and I block off the carpeted area of the house. B/c my husband works 8 to 5, she is rarely alone for my whole shift, though.

[happy2learn]

Just because a dog can hold it doesn't mean it's good for them.

Holding urine causes concentrations of pH that encourage bladder stones and crystals to grow, which is a bladder infection. If a dog gets so many bladder stones, the bladder will have to be removed.

Personally, I'd hire a dog walker. Get a bunch of references and lock up small valuables.

[Jules A, MSN]

happy2learn said:

Just because a dog can hold it doesn't mean it's good for them.

Holding urine causes concentrations of pH that encourage bladder stones and crystals to grow, which is a bladder infection. If a dog gets so many bladder stones, the bladder will have to be removed.

Personally, I'd hire a dog walker. Get a bunch of references and lock up small valuables.

Thank you!! Their bladders can lose tone, which leads to retention etc.  

[Jules A, MSN]

foreverLaur said:

I cannot hire a dog walker because you need a key fab to enter my building and it is close to $300 to get a spare one and per the lease, we're not allowed to give them out to people not on the lease so no one could even gain access to my apt to let my dog out!

How do housekeepers etc. get in? in the big picture, $300 for a key isn't all that much to sell out if that is your only option.