DirtyProfits

How much time do you spend with your dog per day? I'd love to get a dog but I am not sure if it would be responsible behaviour to work 10+ hours per day and leave the dog alone at home. Let's say you have two dogs, can you leave your dogs at home alone for so long?

Spunky

They need lots of attention,walks etc..don't get one if you work long hours..not fair to them

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Rique

Many on this board, I am assuming, get to work from home. Such is the case for me, so I never really 'leave' my dog alone. You would be doing a dis service to the poor dog if you in fact left it alone for such long periods of time. I spend a good 5 hours interacting with my dog per day, that doesn't include taking her out for walks, feeding her, etc. Think of it as having a child. You wouldn't (at least I'd HOPE you wouldn't) leave a child alone for extended periods of time.

GrouchyAdmin

My dog is dead you jerk!

My parents' new dog likes me, though, so, I can live another day.

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baddog

They are a big responsibility. I am just lucky that mine is so understanding.

SarahLLO

Pretty much this exactly.

Dogs are a lot of work.

Catalyst

I just walked in from the dog park.. hehehe..

Since I work at home I spend all day with them and take them to the dog park.. However not everyone is as luck as us.. I think as long as you are active with your dogs ( take them to the dog park, swimming, and spend time with them) that is all that really matters..

tony286

If they got along yeah and if you got a pet sitter to come in the middle of the day.Walk them and play with them awhile. Dogs sleep around 16 hrs a day so its not they need constant stimulation. Like tonight we went out came home, the dogs were excited to see us. Alittle petting good good dog, let them out and now they are on the bed sleeping.if you are rescuing from the pound, its better than them being put to sleep.

SarahLLO

16 hours? That might depend on the breed, maybe, but my Boxer keeps the same schedule as my boyfriend (goes to bed when he does, and generally stays awake the entire time he's awake). I have a Shar Pei/Lab mix that sleeps a bit more than her, but still not 16 hours. MAYBE 12.

Rique

Definitely depends on the breed. My English Bulldog sleeps about 19 hours a day. Obviously, not continous, but she's only active for about 5 hours a day, give or take an hour or two (This includes her eating 3 times a day, and going out to walk/potty). Come to think of it, the bitch lives to eat, shit and sleep.... What a life!

SarahLLO

Yeah, I've thought about getting a bulldog before but I think my two hyper-ass dogs would drive it nuts =P But yeah, it's just not completely accurate to say that dogs in general sleep that long - plenty of breeds have way more energy, so the OP should take that into consideration first. I used to work 8-hour days and my Boxer couldn't even deal with THAT, she would freak out and whine/tear shit up after about two hours, according to my poor neighbor. It's one of the reasons I decided to simply work from home.

miss_bellabellini

I have a french bulldog puppy and you have to dedicate a lot of time to looking after a dog. It takes ages to house train and general training. Prepare to be sleep deprived for the first month and go out walking 8+ times a day until the puppy is a bit older.

I still walk him a lot, about 5 times a day because he loves playing in the park and a happy dog behaves better. He also prefers to spend time with me, so don't expect to leave you dog home alone inside with nothing to do otherwise your furniture might suffer;)

I put him in doggy daycare when I'm shooting all day to avoid extended periods alone. But he is totally worth it

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candyflip

We have a fenced in backyard and our dogs get to come in and out as they please. I take a few breaks throughout the day to go out and play around with them. So long as the weather is nice, they're out there loving every minute of it.

As for how much time we're with them. They are within 50 feet of me 90% of the time.

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Mine sleeps by my side while I am working, then we go outside and play.

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tony286

http://www.dogbedsforyou.com/dog-bed...dog-sleep.html

I was surprised when I read it in a few places but then I started to think about it and thought yeah. They are with us all the time, I even take them when I go to shoot. They sleep all the time. Now if I say wanna go out or play or who wants a cookie they are right up but they do sleep alot.Also mine are older rescues,so I never had the puppy times.

Holly

My beagle is lying in my lap right now and my Australian Shepherd is across my feet. Mine are pretty much with me all day. They get so excited about riding in the car so I also take them with me when I go to do anything that doesn't require getting out for long. They go to cheer practice and softball practice and all the kids love them.

They're 5 months and 3 months, so they're big enough to leave alone now. I got the oldest when she was 5 weeks old, so for the first couple of months I left her with my mom, grandmother, or one of my girlfriends anytime I went off for more than an hour, or so.

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SarahLLO

Yeah, mine are rescues too - both a little under 3 years old, I got one when she was 9 months and the other when he had just turned 2 years old. I think it just must be a breed thing + age thing, honestly. Especially with the Boxer, they're known for being very energetic. I think I sleep more than either of my dogs do, to be honest... they're always playing, snuggling, annoying the cats, or begging to go out/eat/play/get attention, etc. Maybe I just have naturally energetic dogs or something, but neither of them sleep anywhere near 16 hours a day. My life would be far more peaceful if that was the case!