News0 min ago
Should we get another dog?
Hi there, well my partner and I took in a lovable little stray 3 yrs ago, a Jack Russell cross - he's an absolute darling and we wouldn't change him for the world. The problem is, at that time, I was working days and my partner worked part time from home during the day and several nights a week in another job, but my partner changed jobs just before Christmas past and now our poor dog spends almost all day alone 4 days a week. terrible as this sounds, he is walked as late as possible for 20 mins in the morning, usually before 9.30, if i'm not too busy i'll np home and see him on my lunch and my partner takes him out at 5.15 when he gets home. and then he gets loads of attention all evening cuz we're both crazy about him.
so the obvious question is, would it be right to introduce a 2nd dog into the home as a way of keeping him company? i know in the short term it can be a lot of work to get them readjusted and i would take time off work to make sure they're not alone together for a long period before they are frindly enough, but in the long term would it be a good idea? we live in a spacious 5th floor apartment, by the way so we've no garden, but plenty of space.
i'd just like to say, I'm sure there's loads of you thinkin it's terrible to keep a dog couped up all day, but we love him like mad and we wouldn't have got a dog i the 1st place if we knew we'd both end up workin day jobs - our situation changed which was out of our control - so we're just trying to make the best of the situation.
thanks guys.
Answers
No best answer has yet been selected by DumBlonde. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.
For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.Lots of people keep pets couped up all day, so you are not alone in that regard.
I heard that pets do not keep track of time like humans. If you were left alone for 8 or 9 hours, you'd know it, but the pet just knows you're gone. They also do just fine waiting for their walk. I think most dogs and cats do just fine.
You do not say if you're having troubles now with your terrier when you are gone. How does he do now? If he seems just fine, you might wait a while before making the decision to add a second pet.
It is nice for them to have a companion, but keep in mind they do not always become friends. I've known people who had two dogs who had nothing to do with eachother. They offered no companionship while their human room mates were away.
Terriers are very people-oriented and accept their homes quite readily. Your pooch could be happier than you think. Try to consider how he feels - not how you would feel - as you watch him over the next few days. Is he happy to see you or is he depressed and eating less?
You'll do fine.
I did that when I worked In london.
I don't think it is fair to leave them cooped up al day. It can lead to beahvioural problems.
If you can't get someone to take him out, perhaps someone who could just sit in with him.
Bestnot get another dog. I would never leave even litter puppies alone together for any length of time. They could get into an argument over any trifle and noone there to stop it.
I just want to say well done for doing such a good job with your dog in the circumstances. Getting another dog really depends on what sort of dog you have now. Our first dog is a terrier cross, and loves his own company, is friendly with people, but would prefer to be on his own than with other dogs. Our second and third dogs love being in each other's company! So it's hard to say, maybe if your dog has met another dog of one of your friend's etc, you could try a trial run by leaving them together for a while? See how they interact and whether your dog ignores the other etc...
Good Luck with whatever you choose to do!