Your Pet and your schedule...

i know lots of you have pets. i'm thinking about settling full time into one job (geez, i'm a recruiters dream at the moment) and also settling down for me means, pets again. i live alone and have always had dogs, but my dogs were the geriatric type that did well with my crazy schedule.

i'm thinking about getting another geriatric dog, but i'm wondering if thats advisable, as i'll be doing 12's. should i stick to a cat??

what do you do, especially those who like me, are single and such...

i have birds; husband allergic to cats, and we couldn't have dogs in our apartment. now we have a house, but we can't agree on what kinda dog to get. doesn't matter, cuz of our goofy schedules.

suebird

I think you may want to settle into your job first and then see how your schedule actually pans out before bringing an animal into your home. I'd be nervous about bringing in a geriatric animal because they will possibly be more likely to have health issues that may cost you time off of work to deal with. However, a puppy demands much time as well in training and stuff, so that is why I'd suggest getting settled in work first before getting a pet.

I am not single but I have two elderly cats, one 14 and healthy, one 16 and near the end of his fight w/ lymphoma; two middle aged dogs ages 8 and 7, five fish and two 6 month old rats. I have husband and kids to help out but I still do most of the caretaking and this has involved a LOT w/ my elderly cat's health. I expect it to only be more caretaking as the others advance in age as well. Right now I'm in school (final semester) and working as well.

I think 12s are too long to leave a dog alone. It works ok for me because I have someone to watch my dog when I work. If you plan on getting a dog, I would first see if there were someone available to let him out at least once while you work.

i agree see how your schedule is first then decide. if you do get a dog i would recommend a lap dog like a chihuahua, maltese, shih-tzu, toy poodle, etc. anything small just NOT a terrier. terrier's like yorkie's and jack russells have alot more energy than other small dogs meaning they will require more attention and exercise and are usually harder to train...this is just due to their original purpose as being rat catchers/ hunters. other small dogs like the toy poodle and chihuahua i mentioned are more laid back and "most" act more like cats than dogs. my chihuahua is like that she usually just watches TV with me and if i'm reading or something she just lays in my lap. Also small dogs can be trained to use the bathroom on a wee wee pad so you don't have to walk them or take them out to use the bathroom. also on the days you work you work long shifts so why not get a kitten when you get your dog? that's what i did and they love each other and keep each other company when i'm in school because they grew up together. dogs and cats only dislike each other if they become adults without socializing with each other. i'm suggesting a kitten because it's much easier to have a cat and a dog than two dogs in terms of training. also i'm just putting in my two cents because i was a dog walker in NYC and worked at a high end pet boutique when i was younger. my last suggestion would be do NOT get a dog from a pet store. they are ALL from puppy mills and are inbred. if they tell you otherwise they are just flat out lying. reputable breeders don't sell their dogs to pet shops only puppy mills do and that means dogs in pet stores are inbred high strung and usually in poor health. if you want to get a rescue dog i would go with a breed rescue. there are rescues for every breed of dog all across the country and they all have websites. typically the rescues know the history of the dog and have nursed it back to health if he/she was sick and also alot of them will start training the dogs as well...usually you just pay a donation of a $100-$200...some are free and some are a bit cheaper. hope this helps.:wink2:

I agree. 12 hours +commute time, plus it's rarely an actual 12 hours, is a looong time, even for a young adult dog. Pets like to have a routine. They like to be fed the same time every day.

Dogs shouldn't be required to hold their bladders for 12 hours. If you can get a pet sitter or friend to come in twice a day when you're at work, that would be helpful. They'll need to be let out and fed.

Cats are a bit easier if they're healthy, but independent as they seem to be, they still like their routines.

You know, I think some of the apartments I am looking at have some sort of dog walker that can come around for an extra fee tacked on to rent.

I'm quite partial to terriers actually..as my last one was I think a Wheaton mix...(Maybe?)http://www.flickr.com/photos/46559484@N00/

But they are more difficult to train, I agree, which is sort of why I was thinking of rescue, older dog...so we will see.

I agree dogs and 12 hr shifts really don't work out unless you have a doggie door.

I like the kitten idea, however, and will seriously consider it...

I have kitties. I would love a dog, but it isn't going to happen with my schedule.

We had one cat, and he was ok. Then we got a kitten, so they'd keep each other company. They are their own best toys.

I am thinking of getting a rabbit. Heard that they're as easy to housebreak as a cat. (Plus- QUIET for my neighbors!! :)) The only thing is leaving it for those long 12-hour shifts in its cage... though it's not like rabbits have to be walked, or anything :)

I'm sure if we looked long enough we could find someone who walks their rabbits....

Oh, I am just in the planning stages here, so I know nothing will happen for a few weeks...or months...the way I make decisions.

12 hour shift are a long time to leave a pet alone. Then don't forget you will also be sleeping 8 hours which leaves only leaves 4 hours for everything else on those days. Your pet will be pretty much ignored on the days you work. Not because you want to but that is the nature of your life. I agree with the others that you should settle into your job and home before you make the committment to have a pet. That will also give you the time to evaluate the age and breed of dog you want to adopt.

I live alone, work 12 hour shifts and have a minature poodle (pierre). He does good when I am gone. When I have to work, I get up and feed Pierre while Im getting ready then let him out right before I leave. He has dry food out just in case he gets hungry but rarely eats it. the first thing i do when i get home is let him out. he does have accidents sometimes but (lucky me) he only has accidents in the kitchen on the tile - easy cleanup. I am worried about one thing - Im getting married in May and moving to an apartment ( i have a fenced in back yard now and if Pierre ever gets loose out front he runs crazy like a mad dog and I have to chase him down). I will have to walk him on a leash when I move. Should I start now walking him on leash everytime he goes out to use the bathroom just so he'll know thats what walking on a leash means?

I know lots of you have pets. I'm thinking about settling full time into one job (geez, I'm a recruiters dream at the moment) and also settling down for me means, pets again. I live alone and have always had dogs, but my dogs were the geriatric type that did well with my crazy schedule.

I'm thinking about getting another geriatric dog, but I'm wondering if thats advisable, as I'll be doing 12's. Should I stick to a cat??

What do you do, especially those who like me, are single and such...

The light of my life in dogs is a Shih Tzu. I absolutely adore them. They are kick back, friendly, stupid, sweet, and usually one person dogs. They don't shed much, don't eat much, don't poop much. At least not compared to a St. Bernard!

I have a mentally retarded Shih Tzu (brain damage before birth) and an OCD 3 pound, 3 y/o male poodle. Did I mention he has OCD. LOL If you don't think a dog can have OCD you are mistaken. I'm not a poodle person by ANY stretch! But I went to a rescue place to look at a Shih Tzu and saw this poor pathetic thing and could not possibly leave him there. He's THREE pounds!!! He's full grown. The other dogs were attacking him and just plain being mean.

So I have him now, (get this, he's on 1.4mg Prozac daily! What a dose! Too bad it isn't working!) and he's settling in finally after a year. I would NEVER suggest such a dog for a person that works 12's. I have neighbor kids that have a key to my house and if I am going to be late I can call them and they come over, let the dogs out, and play with them. It's rare I have to do that but sometimes I do.

Point being, I have a hyper OCD dog on Prozac and a dog that could use a little caffeine to get her moving sometimes. Find out what your shifts will REALLY be like THEN get a kick-back kinda dog. (SHIH TZU!!!)