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I really need some advice.
I have two dogs (beagles) and I wonder if anyone else has dogs and works 12 hour shifts. I do the night shift, right now the dogs stay with my boyfriend but if that were to no longer be an option ~ I would feel cruel leaving them alone from 630 when I leave at night until 815 when I came home 3 days a week.
Does anyone else have this dilemma and find a way to work it out. Normally if I was at home they sleep from 9pm until 7am. They have free rein of my finished basement, but occasionally are crated for short amounts of time. I would just feel so guilty. I don't have family close by to really help.
Is it possible to have my dogs and still work12 hour shifts. Thanks for any advice.
I really need some advice.I have two dogs (beagles) and I wonder if anyone else has dogs and works 12 hour shifts. I do the night shift, right now the dogs stay with my boyfriend but if that were to no longer be an option ~
I would feel cruel leaving them alone from 630 when I leave at night until 815 when I came home 3 days a week.
Does anyone else have this dilemma and find a way to work it out. Normally if I was at home they sleep from 9pm until 7am. They have free rein of my finished basement, but occasionally are crated for short amounts of time. I would just feel so guilty. I don't have family close by to really help.
Is it possible to have my dogs and still work12 hour shifts. Thanks for any advice.
I have four dogs! And I work 12 hour shifts! In our case, we have a dog door and a fenced yard, so they can get out to potty. I also work only two shifts a week, so I'm here more often than not.
Funny, we have a bigger problem with destructive chewing at night than when they're home alone all day! I think they feel "neglected" when they know we're home, than when they know we're not!
You are NOT cruel! Maybe look into doggie day care or a dogwalker for a couple days a week? Call your vet, SPCA, dog training group, etc for a reference....and trust your dogs to tell you if you've found the wrong person! When we go away, we have a dogsitter who comes three times a day to feed , pet and play with them. He doesn't have to walk them because of our dog door, so it's all funtime when he comes! My dogs LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE him....you can just tell that he's good to them by the way they react when he comes by. (And I was also lucky....an RN coworker who I know adores her dogs told me about him--he's her husband and has owned his own dogsitting business for over a decade!)
Good luck! And kiss the puppies!
Andrea
I'm glad to see that you're so concerned about your dogs, but since it's a night shift and they'd be sleeping most of the time I think they would be fine at home by themselves. I don't think them needing to pee would be a problem either as I'm sure you don't get up in the middle of the night to take them outside all of the time. We've had dogs forever, and they don't seem to have a problem staying home alone, whether it's inside or outside. Plus, having the two of them together will never be lonely!
Good luck!
Hi,
I have 4 Jack Russell Terriers and I work 3 12.5 hour nights a week. I house them in 4 separate indoor/outdoor runs. Inside is 4x4 heated and airconditioned. The outside is 4x8 on concrete and shaded. Both areas have beds. Of course they have toys - stuffed Kongs are a favorite. I always take them on a 2 mile run just prior to going into work - that helps too. This is the only way I would own/house dogs. The set up also works well when I travel I just pay my neighbor to feed and clean each day I'm gone.
Alisha
By suggesting that one considers a beagle rescue is not the "sleazy" way out. Is anyone considering the dogs here? Dog rescues are simply that, a "rescue" from an inappropriate living situation. Many people give their dogs up to rescues because they love them and want them to have a good home to be adopted into. I rescued both of my beagles. One of them I rescued from a research lab. I'm concerned that so many people think it is just fine to leave an animal home alone for 12+ hours day after day or in a cage for hours. What kind of a life is that for the dog? I'm not trying to be judgemental or flame anyone here, just concerned for the animals. I will not post any further on this subject or respond to posts. Thanks
I feel sorrier for the dog of my SAHM neighbor who I have NEVER seen walked around the neighborhood. She spends all of her time in front of her house outside smoking and talking on the phone, says she doesn't believe in vet care, etc. I think that the OP's taking her dogs to the park most days for exercise and socialization and her looking into sources of company for the dog is a good thing and not quite up there with animal abuse.
I have a vet tech friend who works 12-hour shifts, runs a dog agility school, and has 8 dogs of her own. She lives out in the country and has a doggie door on her house and a secure fenced yard so that her dogs can go in and out during the day when she's at work. (That might not work if you're in the suburbs where neighbors might complain about dogs barking, etc.)
Doggie daycare centers have become popular here in Indianapolis. There are several that have started up over the past few years and prices are very reasonable. An afternoon dog walker would work too. Vets or rescue groups in your area could probably give you some referrals or recommendations.
I don't know what the beagle rescue situation is like, but I've been a volunteer for sheltie rescue for years and we have a waiting list of dogs trying to get into the program. There are WAY more needy dogs than available foster homes, and not enough people to adopt the dogs available. It's especially hard to find adopters for older dogs or dogs with any kind of medical problem (even insignificant ones).
I really need some advice.I have two dogs (beagles) and I wonder if anyone else has dogs and works 12 hour shifts. I do the night shift, right now the dogs stay with my boyfriend but if that were to no longer be an option ~
I would feel cruel leaving them alone from 630 when I leave at night until 815 when I came home 3 days a week.
Does anyone else have this dilemma and find a way to work it out. Normally if I was at home they sleep from 9pm until 7am. They have free rein of my finished basement, but occasionally are crated for short amounts of time. I would just feel so guilty. I don't have family close by to really help.
Is it possible to have my dogs and still work12 hour shifts. Thanks for any advice.
I'm very interested to know this as well, my hubby and I are interested in adopting a pet in the future.
i'm glad this thread has come about, i've been stressing over this alot lately. usually if i'm not home my boyfriend is, vice versa, and we have a roomate. we are getting out on our own AND he's going to start college, i'm just worried sick...no she cant have full run of the house, she's a crate-girl; although it's huge, i'm worried sick about what to do, i too was thinking of finding a better home, but i couldn't do that to her. i'm figuring a neighbor could be paid to walk her a bit... but that would entail someone coming into my home when i'm not home, and i KNOW they would root through my stuff!!
Give your dog to a rescue organization because you have to work? Give me a break! The OP is obviously a loving, caring, responsible pet owner. Most people who have pets do have to work, and while 12 hours is a long time, she is home 3-4 days a week with them and she is working nights, so they will be ok. I have three dogs and when they are home alone, they do great with a dog door to go in and out as they please. I also make sure they stay in my great room/kitchen area, as it is all tile, so any accidents are easy to clean up.
Good luck!
Sometimes breed rescue groups have lists of available resources for dogsitters familiar with the breed. On days when my greyhound would otherwise be alone for over 8 hours, she stays with a lady who has 4 greyhounds and is great with the breed. This has worked out for over a year, for only $15/day. She is walked, fed and has the run of an acre of fenced yard, with constant indoor access if the weather is bad. It feels like taking a kid to daycare when I have to wake her up and load her into the Forester :).
You sound like me! I have a similar arrangement with a dog walker in my city. My dog absolutely adores her and I don't know what I'd do without her:)
I do think it's cruel to crate a dog for 12+ hours, but I know several people who leave their dogs home alone in their home for that amount of time without problems.
I too have three pups, a Beagle with epilepsy, a jack russell, and a greyhound/pittbull (yeah, he's not too pretty, lol) mix. When I do 12h shifts, they're usually fine being kept in the kitchen (tile floor), but occassionally have an accident or three. Seems if one goes, the other two see it and immediately have to evacuate their bowels and bladder also, lol. Just don't get upset if there is an accident. I'm actually more worried that my beagle will take a siezure with no one home than I am leaving them alone for that long. Just give them lotsa' love when you're home with them, they'll adjust. Also, it's NOT cruel to leave them alone, so please don't consider giving a beloved family member to a rescue operation, from your post, I think you can give your pet all the love she needs!
LaNICUnurse
83 Posts
Since you love your dogs, don't let anyone tell you they are better off in a rescue situation. Dogs are loyal animals, and deserve your loyalty also. Working 12 hours is difficult, no matter what. Dog walking services are wonderful, but like someone said, check them out thoroughly.