Should we get another dog?

[DumBlonde]

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.

[rampart]

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.

[Goofy]

Is there any way you could hire someone to come in every day and take him out for a walk?
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.

[cat woman]

hi, I've never owned a dog only cats because of the home we are living is private, we keep our cats in all day while we are at work, ( its incase anything happens to them while we're out ) We leave the radio on for them for back ground noise, could you do this and see how your dog is, it might keep him from feeling lonely. :-)

[Bexxybex123]

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!

[druiaghtagh]

I do not really have an answer for you, just wanted to say its nice that you are so concerned for you loved animal, my dog sometimes is on her own for 4-5 hours during the day due to shifts we work and we leave radio on for her and she seems to get on just fine although she goes crazy with joy when someone arrive home, good luck whatever decisionyou come to.

[butter1]

Hi, I live on my own and I have a dog.  When I first got my dog, which was 5 years ago I was in a relationship and didn't think I would be on my own.  My dog is now 5 years old now and I have to leave her on her own during the day.  I leave the tv on for back ground noise and she is fine.  She just sleeps all day.  Dogs are very good at adapting.. I think your dog will be fine.  I have a dog walker which takes my dog out for an hour every other day... I find they are quite expensive otherwise I would hirer the woman everyday but at least it breaks my dogs week up slightly.

[Trillipse]

i think you might find it to be more trouble than it's worth. as has been said above, there would probably be (at the least) a period during which the dogs would have to adapt to each other and in which they would have to establish a pecking order. As was also said above, dogs do tend to veg out when there's no stimulus, so i don't think yours is in any danger of emotional harm. certainly by the character of your question, you sound like the best sort of "parent" a dog could wish for. personally, my two 3yr old retrievers tend to lie on top of each other most of the day if no-one's there, with the odd playfight thrown in: (verified through covert observation...!) but i'm sure the single dog will be just as chilled while you're away...

[Sasha13]

I think that it also depends on how old the dog is.. my mum has an 11 yr old border collie cross (he's gorgeous... we rescued him 9 yrs ago from a farmer who obviously used to beat him 'cos he couldn't round sheep). He's left on his own during the day while mum works and is fine... we asked neighbours to peep through the window every so often to see if he was distressed and he was taking advantage of the leather sofa to snooze on!!! I know it's not ideal to leave dogs on their own for any length of time, but I honestly think that most of the time, they're fine.