Question for Day Shift Nurses Who Own a Dog

thimba · Apr 21, 2016

Doggie door? Or pay a neighborhood kid to let the dog out when they get home from school

westieluv · Apr 21, 2016

We don't have a fenced in yard, so a doggie door won't work, although it's a good idea.

The kids in our immediate area are all pretty young, like early elementary age and I honestly don't like the idea of neighbors coming in our house while we're gone because I've known of people who had a set up like this and then things ended up missing, etc. and it caused a huge problem between neighbors. I would trust the older lady, but she just isn't in any shape to do it and I wouldn't want to ask her.

sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN · Apr 21, 2016

I have a 6ft tall, six foot wide, by 12 feet long doggie pen, it sets partially under a side carport, and bungee cord hold down small tarp to protect from increment weather.....so far it works......

good luck, and best wishes for your new job

westieluv · Apr 21, 2016

Thanks, that would be a great solution except that we live in an area where it gets very cold in the winter and she would literally not survive outdoors all day. I'm afraid I would come home and find a little pupsicle.

I would really like it if our daughter could take the dog when she moves out, since it is technically her dog (birthday gift eight years ago) but she will likely end up renting at first and probably couldn't have a dog or would also end up working days so the problem would still exist.

I do know that I am not willing to pay for doggie day care, which I'm sure is available in the city where I will be working, although I'm not sure if I could even drop her off at 5 am. That would probably be just about as expensive as having a child in day care, which I never did either, and it would probably just stress her out.

Thanks for the good wishes with the job. :)

Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN · Apr 21, 2016

You could train the dog to go in a specified spot indoors on a puppy pad or in a littler box.

whichone'spink, BSN, RN · Apr 21, 2016

I have a small dog. During the warmer months, I put him in the garage, which has a service door to the backyard. My yard is fenced, but this helps with bathroom issues and if he wants, he can play while I'm gone. During colder months, I put him in the laundry room with chux pads so that he can go bathroom. He does not pee on the pads, actually he doesn't pee at all. I've only seen one poop. Another option to consider could be doggie day care. I'm considering it for my dog, because my other dog passed away and my remaining dog is left all alone when I go to work.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Apr 21, 2016

Congrats on your new position.

You could fence off a portion of your yard and use the dog door. Or find someone with references to do the job. I think the mutt would want some companionship, more than having to "use the facilities".

Good luck, let us know how it's going.

LetMeGrabSomeGloves · Apr 21, 2016

So you have an 8+ year old Westie who you need to leave alone for 12+ hours a day, but based on prior suggestions and responses you don't seem very willing to explore reasonable options. This dog could technically live for another 8 years, so installing a fence seems to be something that makes a lot of sense. Even if it is just a small area that the dog can be given access to through a doggie door.

As someone who used to work in a dog daycare, most well socialized dogs actually enjoy it quite a bit. You might want to look into that for her one day a week (maybe the second of your three shifts) so that she has something to break up that period. I would not try training her to go inside as it could potentially lead to her going elsewhere in your house where you don't want her to. I understand your wanting your daughter to take her, but ultimately you were the one who purchased the dog and are therefore the one who is responsible for the dog. Perhaps once your daughter is set up and established she can take her, but until then it definitely should be what is best for the dog as she is the innocent party.

Good choice on dogs by the way, Westies are adorable and so smart.

Shagce1 · Apr 21, 2016

I would hire someone to come let the dog out and walk it once per day three days per week. Place an ad, get references. People do this for a living. You never know what you might find. Check with your vet they may know someone. Care.com has pet sitters/dog walkers I think. You can browse for someone or place your own ad.

Edit to add: how about checking with the local high school. Teenagers are always looking for money. Someone not involved in after school activities would probably love a very part time gig like that. Pay them $10 per outing. That's pretty good money for very little work.

alissa8168 · Apr 21, 2016

I know when I was younger I went to the town youth bureau and they set us up with odd jobs, I did babysitting and cleaning jobs through them. Maybe see if your area has a youth bureau around and you can get a high school kid to come after school to let her out.

westieluv · Apr 21, 2016

So you have an 8+ year old Westie who you need to leave alone for 12+ hours a day, but based on prior suggestions and responses you don't seem very willing to explore reasonable options. This dog could technically live for another 8 years, so installing a fence seems to be something that makes a lot of sense. Even if it is just a small area that the dog can be given access to through a doggie door.
As someone who used to work in a dog daycare, most well socialized dogs actually enjoy it quite a bit. You might want to look into that for her one day a week (maybe the second of your three shifts) so that she has something to break up that period. I would not try training her to go inside as it could potentially lead to her going elsewhere in your house where you don't want her to. I understand your wanting your daughter to take her, but ultimately you were the one who purchased the dog and are therefore the one who is responsible for the dog. Perhaps once your daughter is set up and established she can take her, but until then it definitely should be what is best for the dog as she is the innocent party.
Good choice on dogs by the way, Westies are adorable and so smart.

I must have given some kind of impression that I look at our dog as a burden of sorts, but I really don't. She is a part of our family and we all love her dearly. That is why I am so concerned about leaving her for long hours on end, because of both the physical discomfort associated with having to relieve herself and not being able to, and because of the loneliness aspect of it because she is a very social dog.

My idea of our daughter keeping her has to do with the idea that she is truly her dog and she will miss her when she moves out, but it would also alleviate this problem of having to leave her home alone for long hours.

I actually just found out that the dialysis clinic where I would be working has three shifts of patients, six days a week, meaning that there are also nursing shifts that start later and run later into the evening. They called today and set up a face to face interview with me and I am going to ask if my shifts could possibly start later in the day as opposed to my husband's, so that there is a shorter window of time when no one would be home to let her out. I still don't like the idea of someone coming in while we're gone, I just don't think it's a good idea, so I would be more willing to explore the fence option than paying someone to come in every day that we both work. I also do not want to get her used to going indoors, even on doggie pads, because she is awesome about only going outdoors and I don't want to ruin that.

You sound like you are a real dog lover, which is great, and I agree, Westies are wonderful little dogs. She is a blessing, which is why I am concerned about finding the best possible option for her.

Thanks!