Having a dog during nursing school

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I am applying to nursing school currently. I can't imagine not having my lovely dog with me wherever I end up going. She is three years old, house trained, and pretty mellow....although she LOVES long walks.

Some clinicals may be 12 hours and there is a good chance that I'll end up working 12 hours shifts.

How do your dogs handle being alone for so long?

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My dog temporarily runs away as the intensity picks up during each quarter. He usually returns within a few hours. My dog unlocks our door, removes the board from the sliding glass door, and lets himself out. If we put a chair in front of the sliding glass door, he will resort to the door leading to the garage, which consists of a round knob. As long as the other doors are closed leading into the garage, he can't leave. I don't know how he manages to open that one, but he does.

I'm hoping once I start working, we will be able to install an electric fence.

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I have a dog and two cats, and I work fulltime along with school. However, they are all litterbox trained (separate pans, of course). So, it's not a huge deal if I don't make it home at a decent time. My boyfriend also helps out by stopping by during his break between school and work. Do you have a roommate or neighbor who could help out when things get really busy?

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Specializes in ICU.
I am applying to nursing school currently. I can't imagine not having my lovely dog with me wherever I end up going. She is three years old, house trained, and pretty mellow....although she LOVES long walks.

Some clinicals may be 12 hours and there is a good chance that I'll end up working 12 hours shifts.

How do your dogs handle being alone for so long?

Your dog will be fine, remember they did fine before humans started domesticating them back in the day. I'm sure he'll miss you while your gone but he will still be alive when you get home.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Hire a dog walker to come once in the middle of the day on those long days (it's really not too expensive if you're only doing it once or twice a week for those long clinicals).

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Specializes in Operating Room.

Have a relative or friend, someone you trust, come check on your dog when you are doing those 12's. I live with my parents, so my dog isn't home alone all that often. However, I think she would be fine if she was alone for 12 hours, but the mommy instinct in me can't let that happen. Where there is a will, there is a way.

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My dog temporarily runs away as the intensity picks up during each quarter. He usually returns within a few hours. My dog unlocks our door, removes the board from the sliding glass door, and lets himself out. If we put a chair in front of the sliding glass door, he will resort to the door leading to the garage, which consists of a round knob. As long as the other doors are closed leading into the garage, he can't leave. I don't know how he manages to open that one, but he does.

I'm hoping once I start working, we will be able to install an electric fence.

You need to crate that dog! For his own safety. Not to mention lawsuits if he gets in any trouble when he's out.

To the OP, I agree - hire a dog walker. It could even be a responsible neighborhood kid to come and take him out for a short walk. (talk to the parents too, of course)

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Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Flight.

i have a cat who is very attached to me , he does tend to get lonely when we arent home, and as soon as we come home hes glued to our side. I cant even imagine what he does when im gone all day. probably sleeps lol

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You need to crate that dog! For his own safety. Not to mention lawsuits if he gets in any trouble when he's out.

I just thought of an idea that may work for my dog. We used to crate him until he figured out how to unlock his crate, so we used a pad lock with a key, but he managed to loosen the sides and metal clips, that hold the sides together, to escape. We could use a pad lock on all corners of the crate. There's no way he would escape then.

Thanks for the advice.

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Specializes in Operating Room Nurse.
I am applying to nursing school currently. I can't imagine not having my lovely dog with me wherever I end up going. She is three years old, house trained, and pretty mellow....although she LOVES long walks.

Some clinicals may be 12 hours and there is a good chance that I'll end up working 12 hours shifts.

How do your dogs handle being alone for so long?

seriously?? A dog in a nursing school? you can't concentrate during interviews, exams, lectures if the dog is always on your side..maybe it time to adjust :)

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Specializes in RN CRRN.

I know this is icky but between work and classes I was gone about 12 hours too. I ended up having them stay in my linoleumed kitchen with a baby/doggy gate up to keep them in there. That way if there were accidents they were easily cleaned up. I went through a lot of lysol floor cleaner and bleach. I had a lot of those puppy pads down and I even tried the doggy litter box. Actually what worked BEST was the tray you use with the puppy pads (try Doctors Foster and Smith online). It keeps the liquid from running off of the pad. It is great! I had a very nice doggy bed out there. Just don't leave chews with your pup while you are gone they could choke on them when you are gone. I left a radio on quietly. It actually made me feel better knowing they were in the kitchen. If there was a fire, the sticker on my front door said "two beags in kitchen." There was no chance they would run hide under the bed or couch in an emergency. Firefighters could find them easily and quickly. Yes I think of those things. No kids just dogs! Gotta love em!

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Specializes in RN CRRN.

Also as an aside, always make sure your vet has a sprinkler system in place if you board them there. Again, I think of these things...

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