night shift and dogs

[adnstudent2007]

First, I guess I should change my login name because I'm not a student anymore. I recently graduated and have been offered and accepted a night position at a local hospital (assuming I pass the NCLEX of course). I don't really want to do nights but I'm hoping to move to days as soon as a position becomes available.

I've been reading some of the threads about night shift working, but I didn't see one addressing how to train dogs to allow for that. I'll be working 7pm until 7 am. Then I'm going to want to go home and sleep. My guys are used to going in and out pretty frequently, esp in the evening. I'm the only adult in my house and don't have anyone to come and let them out.

Has anyone else had to deal with this. I'm a single parent and I think I've come up with a way to care for my daughter on these nights, but I can't figure out what to do with my dogs.

Thanks for any advise! I love this board.

[LadyEJ BSN, RN]

Aww...the babies. This is one of my biggest concerns about going into nursing. I plan to get another Yorkie soon and I don't want to leave her alone for so many hours. The good thing about small dogs is that you can pee-pad or litterbox train. Well good luck and I hope you find a solution. :wink2:

[queenjean]

I would third the recommendation of doggie day care or a friend letting them in and out.

When my kids and hubby aren't available to help, I usually pay one of my kids' friends a small amount to come and let her in and out once or twice during the day. When I was working a huge string of days, I also paid them to walk her once.

I would take her for a quick walk in the am when I got home from work, before bed.

I usually paid the kid (11yo) 5$ a day to come to let her out into the yard at about noon . Depending on weather, she could leave her out or let her back in after she used the facilities (if it looked like rain--my dog is scared of thunder).

I would let her out and take her foranother quick walk in the afternoon. I would usually leave her out at this point.

Then the kid would come back and let her in at around 9 pm. Then she would sleep all night until I get home.

Our dog is a pretty big dog with a secure outdoor area. She is not crate trained, but it used to our strange schedules. We do have a cat with whom she is quite close, and they keep each other company and play together. I would definitely advise having a friend for the dog--that's alot of time alone with no one to play with otherwise.

Also, on the days that I'm not working, I try to get in a loooooooong walk and a lot of play and cuddle time.

[walk6miles]

I have always worked nights - and have always had plenty (that's all I will say) of rescued dogs. My dogs stay in a "dog room" (large play room with tiled floor). They sleep with me during the day when I have to sleep.....

They RARELY make a mess but if they do, it's on a towel in a corner of their room.

I would try the doggie litter box .. I may just try it to see if they would use that instead of a towel.

Crating a dog is a good thing -- it makes them feel secure. I rarely use crating unless it's a new dog to the pack.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

We have a large kennel outside and our dog spends every night there anyway. So I wouldn't have a problem.

steph