Rotating shifts and a dog?

Virgo_RN, BSN, RN · Jul 7, 2008

I work in an ICU and we rotate shifts. I work 3 weeks of day shifts then 3 weeks of nights. I really would like to get a dog but I am not sure if it would work with rotating. Does anyone have a dog and rotate or know anyone who does? Thanks!

Do you work 12s? That is an *awful* long time for a dog to be home alone.

As others have pointed out, dogs need a lot of attention. They need regular walking, grooming, feeding, training, and just plain being with you. Dogs are highly social animals, and prefer the company of their human(s). Dogs left alone for too long are prone to developing all kinds of behavior problems such as inappropriate elimination, inappropriate vocalization, destructive behavior, separation anxiety, territorial aggression, and so on.

Dogs are also creatures of habit who depend highly on routines. Rotating shifts may not be best suited for someone with dogs.

eternalsunshine · Jul 7, 2008

As a dog & cat owner I agre with so many comments.

Both can be hard work, I find my cat more hard work sometimes (he is an oriental breed incredibly affectionate :heartbeat and demands attention from humans whenever we are around!)

However, working shifts can be very difficult and I find if I do a night shift, when I arrive home (after an hour (+) drive) I then have to take him for a long walk so he is tired and will then settle down and sleep with me.

12 hour shifts is too long to leave a dog. Have you thought about a dog walker? who could look in on him and walk him during the day, we have one who is fantastic (dreadful with people but fantastic with animals:chuckle!!). He is a god send on so many occassions and our dog absolutely adores him.

I would say think long and hard before committing and definately go for an adult dog if you do decide to go ahead. There are so many wonderfu adult dogs in the shelters through no fault of their own . If only I had a bigger house!!!

Bumashes, MSN, APRN, NP · Jul 7, 2008

Yeah, I have a doggy. Couldn't have made it through school without him! Instead of having a doggy-door that opens into the whole backyard, I have one that opens into a sectioned off piece of my yard, so he can't go in front of the part of the house where people could see him outside. I have a privacy fence, but it has an iron gate that you can see through. So my back door leads to an area where I have fenced off a good space that is hidden from view. This way, he can come and go as he pleases without me having to be there to let him out to do his business. And I have those feeding and watering dishes that you can fill up with a lot of food/water that lasts for a few days, so I don't have to be there to open a can of food or refill the water dish very often. Works out great for those 12hr shifts.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jul 8, 2008

i work in an icu and we rotate shifts. i work 3 weeks of day shifts then 3 weeks of nights. i really would like to get a dog but i am not sure if it would work with rotating. does anyone have a dog and rotate or know anyone who does? thanks!

i have pretty much the same schedule, and i have had dogs since 1987. it was difficult when they were puppies -- but then puppies are just plain difficult! it's a good thing they're so cute or we'd shoot them! i've read on a cruising website (cruising in one's sailboat, just in case anyone was wondering!) that dogs can hold their bladders for 24 hours and their bowels for 72 hours -- once they're adults, of course, and barring uti's, overconsumption of turkey grease (now that's a story!) or being on prednisone. i haven't ever had to ask my dog to hold her water that long, but the occaisional 16 hour shift that turns into 18 hours with commute time doesn't seem to cause any problems.

i had two golden retrievers for 14 years. i'd take them for a nice, long walk when i got home from work and it helped me to de-stress as well as exercised the dogs. even when i had a working doggy door, those walks saved my sanity! and they were great company when i was single! i have the world's best husband now, and another dog -- a standard poodle. we're both nurses and 14 hour days away are standard. once we left her for 24 hours -- one small mess when we got home, and she was soooo embarrassed about it! i cannot imagine my life without dogs. if you want a dog, go for it! they truly are "man's best friend!"

Jules A, MSN · Jul 8, 2008

i have pretty much the same schedule, and i have had dogs since 1987. it was difficult when they were puppies -- but then puppies are just plain difficult! it's a good thing they're so cute or we'd shoot them! i've read on a cruising website (cruising in one's sailboat, just in case anyone was wondering!) that dogs can hold their bladders for 24 hours and their bowels for 72 hours -- once they're adults, of course, and barring uti's, overconsumption of turkey grease (now that's a story!) or being on prednisone. i haven't ever had to ask my dog to hold her water that long, but the occaisional 16 hour shift that turns into 18 hours with commute time doesn't seem to cause any problems.
i had two golden retrievers for 14 years. i'd take them for a nice, long walk when i got home from work and it helped me to de-stress as well as exercised the dogs. even when i had a working doggy door, those walks saved my sanity! and they were great company when i was single! i have the world's best husband now, and another dog -- a standard poodle. we're both nurses and 14 hour days away are standard. once we left her for 24 hours -- one small mess when we got home, and she was soooo embarrassed about it! i cannot imagine my life without dogs. if you want a dog, go for it! they truly are "man's best friend!"

ruby i would have to respectfully disagree that it is ok for a dog not to empty its bladder for 14 to 16 hours on a regular basis. they can develop the same urinary issues as humans.

Dr.Nurse2b · Jul 8, 2008

I work in an ICU and we rotate shifts. I work 3 weeks of day shifts then 3 weeks of nights. I really would like to get a dog but I am not sure if it would work with rotating. Does anyone have a dog and rotate or know anyone who does? Thanks!

My wife wanted to be a vet so we are into doggies...we rescue racing greyhounds and train them to be pets, etc...so I speak with some experience...I second the kitty idea.

On of my dogs suffered from separation anxiety...Boomer was on Prozac for several years! Unbelieveable! The dog was great but just could not bare to be alone. He ate through a wall once in an attempt to break out and find me...So I would agree they are just like having children...you need to be there to care for them...the get depressed, lonely...really.

We have three little doggies that are permanent residents and someone is always home with them. We tried to go on vacation for a few days...one of them got so depressed she wouldn't eat or pee. The vet called and said you need to come home...not kidding!

My suggestion is if you must have a doggie then get two and devote either a room or a fenced in yard to them. Learn how to train and become the leader of the pack or you will be miserable.

Our dogs are so good they pee on command...there is no mystery to training...you just need to be consistent. Working rotating shifts might not be conducive to good training.... Here kitty, kitty...

RhodyGirl, RN · Jul 8, 2008

Animals are a sensitive subject for me.

Please, I urge you....do NOT get a dog if you don't have the time or resources for that animal.

Educate yourself about the breed (or mix of breeds) so you are better prepared in regards to personality, health issues, etc...

Become familiar with potty and crate training.

Realize that dogs are expensive.

I have two dogs. I got my first when he was 8 weeks old, and my second dog at 13 weeks. It is a committment that must be taken seriously.

It takes time, effort and patience to train a dog.

My doggies are 2 and 3 years old now and I wouldn't trade them for the world. But I would have never gotten them if I didn't have the time or money to properly care for them.

Buying quality food (I feed my little guys Wellness brand dry food, which is quite expensive), paying vet bills, etc....it all adds up very quickly.

And...yes....it is the OWNERS fault if a dog is peeing and pooing in the house. Potty training is important!!!!

Sorry to go on a rant here...but I hate when I see people get a puppy or dog and don't realize how much work it is. It's a lifetime committment!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And please.....for the love of Pete....DO NOT buy a puppy from a pet store!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dr.Nurse2b · Jul 8, 2008

Animals are a sensitive subject for me.
Please, I urge you....do NOT get a dog if you don't have the time or resources for that animal.
Educate yourself about the breed (or mix of breeds) so you are better prepared in regards to personality, health issues, etc...
Become familiar with potty and crate training.
Realize that dogs are expensive.
I have two dogs. I got my first when he was 8 weeks old, and my second dog at 13 weeks. It is a committment that must be taken seriously.
It takes time, effort and patience to train a dog.
My doggies are 2 and 3 years old now and I wouldn't trade them for the world. But I would have never gotten them if I didn't have the time or money to properly care for them.
Buying quality food (I feed my little guys Wellness brand dry food, which is quite expensive), paying vet bills, etc....it all adds up very quickly.
And...yes....it is the OWNERS fault if a dog is peeing and pooing in the house. Potty training is important!!!!
Sorry to go on a rant here...but I hate when I see people get a puppy or dog and don't realize how much work it is. It's a lifetime committment!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And please.....for the love of Pete....DO NOT buy a puppy from a pet store!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yep! Yep! Yep!

Remember doggies need well visits and dentals too. My Wendy Dog had a portal liver shunt -- surgery required...Almost $2000 at U of T to keep her alive...we've spent a total of almost $5000. Shes 6 now and doing great.

Point here is they are as expensive as kids. I know a few people who have the general attitude "They're just animals"...but what they fail to realize is WE domesticated them so these "animals" are dependant on us for survival.

I have a "Care Credit" account which is a credit card specifically for vet care. If one of my pups runs a fever it's off to the vet. Dentals are $150 and you need to do this at least once a year. Good food is expensive...vitamins, etc. Also grooming...time or money...or both. I use a dremel once a week to keep nails trimmed.

They become your life...not part of it. I can't imagine living without my little friends.

Jules A, MSN · Jul 8, 2008

Dentals are $150 and you need to do this at least once a year.

Wow, Dr.Nurse2b I need the number of your vet, lol. My cat's dentals run $500 and my geriatric dog who had to see a specialist for extractions cost $2,000! I have done a double TPLO, knee replacement, on one that was $8,000 and an I131 treatment on a cat to the tune of $1,200.

They are expensive, worth every penny, but know what you are getting into. They really require a lifetime committment of time and energy as well as the finances to care for them properly. That said, for me, life would not be worth living if I didn't have my critters.

Dr.Nurse2b · Jul 8, 2008

Wow, Dr.Nurse2b I need the number of your vet, lol. My cat's dentals run $500 and my geriatric dog who had to see a specialist for extractions cost $2,000! I have done a double TPLO, knee replacement, on one that was $8,000 and an I131 treatment on a cat to the tune of $1,200.
They are expensive, worth every penny, but know what you are getting into. They really require a lifetime committment of time and energy as well as the finances to care for them properly. That said, for me, life would not be worth living if I didn't have my critters.

I live in a rural area...you can walk your horse up to the vet's door. :)

Is your cat Siamese? I know the more gas that is used the more expensive the dental...I never had an extraction done.

The vet we use is big on preventative treatments and I believe since we are regulars he gives us a break. I just had ran a lab to rule out hypothyroidism on a greyhound...charged me $40.

I took in a rat terrier a year ago ... my mother-inlaw has her now ... The poor dog was abandoned...we think it was because she was prenant. She was living on the median of a major road for two weeks before being rescued. Ms. Minnie had a barrel chest and a mean "honking" cough and was scheduled for the pink potion...so I grabbed her. Anyway...we had to treat her for heart worm which is why her chest was enourmous...$200 for the two week treatment WITH board. She looks like a show dog now!

I find great peace in my pups...they are like therapy for me so I feel the least I can do is provide good health care and a good living environment.

I would like to train a German Shepherd for nursing home duty. I think the shepherds are pretty intuitive and would work well with the aged...sniff out those who are depressed and give them the old wet nose treatment. Who wouldn't be a little happier after a big wet one from a doggie! :chuckle

AND...for those who think doggies are smelly and dirty and wonder how people live with animals in the house...

My home has light fawn covered runs, white walls, a hospital white kitchen, and leather furniture...there is no hint of pet odor or pets for that matter...other then the furry squeaky toys around the house. Why?

The pups are crate trained and have a designated area where they hang out...I trained my dogs to pee on command...they will pee on a napkin if I direct them to. I say "pee pee" and point to an area... I am so proud! Accidents do happen and thats why their is "NATURE'S MIRACLE"...

But really...if you are dedicated you can do the same. Animals are SMART and their only desire in life is to please YOU...You just need to show them how.