I'm a new grad and recently started working (in the NICU, yay!). I am working three 12 hour shifts a week, and I have a young border collie.
So I'm wondering what other nurses do with their pups during these long shifts! I currently have a kennel set up for him in the garage, and it's a decent size for him to run around. I put plenty of food and water out there when I'm gone and it's warm enough in the winter. I try to take him for a walk before work, and play for a while after my shift. But, I'm feeling so guilty leaving him in there for my long shifts!
I've looked into doggie daycare or having a dog walker come by. But I've heard doggie day care can cause your dog to learn bad habits from other dogs and they get pretty smelly and grimy after being with so many other dogs for 12 hours. And I'm hesitant with a walker just because I'd have to allow someone into my house while I'm not there.
Or possibly getting another dog so he can have a friend while I'm gone?
If anyone has any thoughts or has dealt with this with their own dog, please share your experiences and advice!
Thanks for the opinions! Yep, I would never crate him for 12 hours. He has a 5 by 15 kennel in the garage with about 500 toys, food, water, and music playing. He's only been alone for 1-2 days a week since I graduated and then started working about 3 or 4 weeks ago. My boyfriend has been home almost every day I've had to work, and vice versa. I found a doggie daycare that he'll go to when we both work!
Update: We started doggie day care and he LOVES it. It's only about $14 a day because I bought a package deal and the local hospital employees get a discount.
The downside: I'm going to nights after orientation. Nights at doggie daycare mean the dogs are separated for sleeping, so no point in taking him there when he can sleep at home in his own bed. Trying to decide if I should take him during the day when I get off work, so he can play while I sleep! The downer is it would be a lot of driving around because the daycare is right by my work, and about 15minutes from home. That means if have to pick him up after work, drive to daycare for drop off, then drive home again. But that's the plan at the moment!
The complicated life of a nurse/puppy mama [emoji28]
Not that you want to be awake longer than necessary after a night shift... but is there a dog park closer by where you live than the doggy daycare? (and I'm not a super advocate for dog parks, but some of them are very nice) There was a dedicated daily morning crew of dog park people at the park near me and I know some of the owners were night shifters who exercised their dog in the morning before going home and getting some sleep. Just a suggestion! :)
NICUnurse91
32 Posts
Thanks for the opinions! Yep, I would never crate him for 12 hours. He has a 5 by 15 kennel in the garage with about 500 toys, food, water, and music playing. He's only been alone for 1-2 days a week since I graduated and then started working about 3 or 4 weeks ago. My boyfriend has been home almost every day I've had to work, and vice versa. I found a doggie daycare that he'll go to when we both work!