Am interesting in getting a dog next year, out of interest, what does everyone do with their dogs when they are at work. Doggy Day Care?

If you cannot look after your dog 24/7 then you shouldn't get one.

If you like dogs, contact a dogs' home and take one out for a day like I do.

http://www.bernertierschutz.ch/index.php?id=182

ours stays home.
he is a chihuahua so a small breed. He hates it but someone comes home at lunch so he is never alone longer than 3-4 hours. he is fine with it but still gives us the sad eye everytime we go out.... . But I must admit In my jobs I have looked more at jobs working from home than anything else

We have two black labs....I have declined job offers as I cannot leave them at home. Luckily my partner works from home now so he can help, whilst I look for jobs etc. But if I get a full time job despite him being at home the dogs will be walked by a dog walker/ or daoggie daycare.

Its just not possible to elave them for so long without stimulation.

Example: my youngest 15 months never chewed my shoes when in the house or left alone whilst I was upstairs or shopiing. I went to the UK for 4 days and my partner looked after them. She destroyed my shoes and toys because although he was at home he could give her the full walks she was used to.

Its just not fair to leave them alone.

depends what dog you got to though. a little fella like my dog can run around at him and he keeps himself entertained....he throws his treats and toys around by himself. I know cause I recorded him once with my laptop when we were gone. funny to watch ahha.

but I agree bigger breeds should not be left

I work mostly from home but a couple of days a week, I have to spend full days in the city for errands and teaching.

My dog is then left to his own devices on these days. He is pretty good at being left alone after he gets his walk. I make sure that he goes for an extra long power walk before I go out and also, as he is house trained to do his business only outside, I make sure that he isnt left for more than 5-6 hours max on these days, as it really isnt fair to make a dog hold it for much longer. I either make an extra trip home if needed, or coordinate with the husband.

If you are a first time dog owner, its now compulsory to do training courses with the SKN. Do check out the BVET website for more information as well as the nearest trainers to you. Reputable breeders will no longer entertain you if you havent done so.

The first part of it will be theory, which must be done before you get the dog. Part of the theory course will cover the responsibilities required of you as a dog owner - check it out. Will definitely give you food for thought as to whether dog ownership is suitable for your lifestyle.

Good luck with your decision either way.

The laughter, loyalty, and unconditional love a dog brings into one's life is a truly special thing - life is all the richer for being shared with a four-footed friend.

But a dog is also a great responsibility.

Please take Summerrain's advice - before you go any farther, take the SKN theory course. It's the law - and a very good idea, too. And once you have completed the course, do a bit of soul-searching and a lot of research to decide whether you are in the position to take on a dog at this time, or not. If you decide that now is indeed the right time, it's important to be very clear about what you can - and cannot - provide for the dog. It's not just about finding the right dog for you - but also determining if you are right for the dog.

As you are working full time, taking on a puppy is not appropriate. A puppy needs someone at home with him 24/7 in the first months, sometimes the first year; you need to be there on the spot to provide the training and socialization necessary. Leaving a young puppy alone sets him up for behavioral problems later. It simply is not fair to the little dog.

Instead, I would counsel adopting an older dog, one who is accustomed to spending time alone. And even then, you will need to fit the dog's need for mental and physical exercise into your schedule. Are you able to give the dog at least an hour's exercise before work? And another hour or two after work? Are you willing to devote much of your weekend to dog activities? (Don't forget the mandatory practical SKN course as well - this must be done within the first 12 months.) And of course, you will need to hire someone to take the dog midday.

If you read through the various threads on searching for dog care you will see that qualified, reliable care can be difficult to find. So before you acquire your dog, make sure that you have care sorted out. (Any reputable breeder or rescue will expect you to demonstrate that you have organized the dog care issue before allowing a full time worker to buy/adopt a dog.)

One can indeed work full time and give a dog (the right dog) a good life - I've done it, as have many here. It takes creativity, jostling of schedules, a good chunk of one's disposable income - and one must make the dog's needs a priority.



Wishing you and your future four-footed friend all the very best.

----

And because rescue is my thing, may I suggest that you keep an eye on the Switzerland-wide database of animals in need of homes? As a full time worker, adopting an older dog would be the best course of action. You may well find the perfect dog waiting for you here...

http://www.tierdatenbank.ch/cms/tier...unschtier.html


ETA:

Another thing to consider:

Do you have permission in your lease to have a dog? And, even if you have permission, is there a clause that forbids you from leaving the dog alone in the house? This is fairly common in Switzlerland.

And how dog-tolerant are your neighbors?

I must have misunderstood you - you are saying that if a person has to leave the house occasionally and cannot always take the dog, they should not have one?

My partner said that if I stayed at home like that I'd be a house wife lol. You can leave them but you need to make sure they have either someone to come round and check on them/walk them etc or if you can go home at lunch time.

Having a dog is a bit like having a kid. If you feel ready to take on the responsibility of a child then you're ready for a dog. If the thought of having a child sends you running for the hills, then maybe a dog is not a good idea

Hmmmm I kind of agree with that. But I am not really interested in children so a dog was a good substitute. Having a dog takes up as much time as a child maybe?

Training, walks, vets, training, walks, feeding, tantrums (if young dog), season (if a bitch), walking, training...............

I bought my dog (yellow lab) with me from Australia. There he had a big backyard to run around during the day while we were at work. Here we have a dog walker who comes around every (mid)day to take him for walks. (2-3 hours). He is 4 yrs old and has a beautiful temperament with our 9mths old twins. He has a garden but is mostly indoors and is loved equally as a family member. (which is not the same as being treated equally)

I think Melloncollies post has the best advice, especially regarding puppies. They're hard work.

Dogs need to socialise with other dogs, that's really important.

Dont listen to any fool who says unless you can look after it 24/7 dont get one.

These people are idiots, and think that a dog is unable to be independent. Or ill-educated, and feel dogs need acres of land to run free. Again, not true.

Of course, because many Swiss people are stuck up their own backsides and have a completely different outlook to most normal rational people, they may get peeved if they know you leave your dog for several hours a day, despite it not affecting their lives one bit. If they can find something to complain about, they will, so you always have to factor this in.

I used to befriend neighbours, but learned that this English past time is ill advised in Switzerland, unless your lucky. Befriending neighbours gives them an opportunity to gain insight to your life, and routines and thus room for complaint about something that differs from their routine i.e. how you hang your washing, to wear you sit on your balcony, to how you use your canopies.

I use doggy day care occassionally, but its expensive. Twice a week is all i use it for. More so he can socialise and relieve me of travelling home everyday.

The other days I make a trip home for a 15min walk. So he is left 4 hours in the morn, 4 hours in the afternoon.

The trick is dealing with separation anxiety, nip this in the bud early, look on net how to deal with this.

And trust me, a friendly Swiss neighbour asks you a question about your dog, IGNORE THE NOSEY BASTARDS. They will complain once they feel they can because they know you.

My dog stays at home when im at work no problem. Of course he goes for long walks and to doggy parks to socialise. But he has three cats for company so he is never alone

Further to my post, people talk about dogs as one breed. But there is so many differences between breeds and their needs.

For example, labradors, collies, boxers etc will have lots of energy and need long walks a day.

Bulldogs and other flat nosed breeds need only short walks up to 10-15mins two or three times day.

When the weather is really hot, flat nosed dogs suffer even more.

We, as humans have man made certain breeds for our own pleasure.

Myself, I have a French Bulldog. He is not so big as what an English Bulldog gets, so I dont have transport issues. But he too doesnt have the energy of a labrador. Well, he is 10months now so has bursts, but sleeps afterwards.

There are many dogs who are classifed as apartment dogs, Frenchies being one, and I would recommend a Frenchie to anyone.

Of course all animals have to be left from time to time for a few hours. But most dogs (personally I'd say all) should not be left all day for 8+ hours. If you can come home for lunch and take it out- then fine. Most dogs I know that have serious behaviour problems are left for far too long each day - with the owner too exhausted to take it out for proper exercice before and after work, once the novelty has worn off. I cannot understand for the life of me why have a dog if you have no time to enjoy it- and more importantly for it to enjoy YOU. My daughter's dachshund has suffered real trauma because of this - thank goodness her life has changed and he is very happy now. My favourite niece's labradoodle is a disaster. Her girls begged and begged and swore they would take it for massive walks - they did, bless them, for about 2 weeks! Now both at secondary school and mum back at work, it won't be long before they give up on him. It is so unfair- and of course when problems build up, dogs bark and damage furniture and fittings, run off, etc - out they go- left to fend for themselves or dumped at some refuge.

PLEASE PLEASE do NOT take a dog on unless you have suitable accomodation and plenty of time- or are prepared to make proper arrangements for day care. Please. Go and visit any refuge, and they will tell you the stories of the dogs- a great number being abandoned because owners do not have the time to look after them, so they developed all sorts of problems.

When I was working part-time I used to leave my bulldog and staffie the run of the house. They were really close and did keep each other company.
When I used to come home they were always sitting in their beds not looking sleepy at all.
One afternoon when I returned I looked through the sitting room window and they were both laid out looking extremely comfortable on the sofas !!- I walked to the front door and by the time I walked in they had rushed into the kitchen where their beds were and they greeted me by jumping out of their beds like they did daily, thrilled at my return.

Every day I had a peep through the window and yes, they were both asleep on my sofas but by the time I had unlocked and got in- they had got to their beds....

I know what my dogs were up to when I was at work

Jordan our dog was also left for 4 hours at a time- and that was fine. But a whole day is just too unfair.

Normally I would agree with you, but in Switzerland it's taboo to leave a dog at home all day while the owner(s) is(are) at work or elsewhere. And in SKN they will probably teach you that dogs have to be able to go off leash because it's cruel if they don't (bullshit). But this is a reflection of Swiss attitudes, not necessary a biological or behavior fact about the domesticated dog. It's a bit of a paradox though, because you really can't go everywhere with your dog, and you certainly can't just leave the dog unattended in a car or tied up outside in front of a busy shopping center for an hour or more either. So really these social norms don't make much sense to me personally.

As do most Americans, I come from the school of crate training puppies from an early age, and I really don't understand why it is so unacceptable in Switzerland especially since you have to put your dog in a crate in the car and when you bring them over on an airplane. But when you go to work this is considered "cruel". I really don't understand it. I think for raising a puppy a crate is a must, for keeping your sanity, protecting your furniture, for assistance with housebreaking, etc, but it has to be done properly, and you have to be willing to come home at least once per day, and may also have to have help in the first couple of months ( I don't think a year is realistic, as by the time they're 6 months old they're pretty much grown up physically). Socialization between 2-4 months of age will be important, not just taking puppy out but also having people come over. Otherwise you get a very fearful and/or aggressive dog.

And the most important thing to remember -- your time will never be your own -- never again. So if you have a boss that likes to say, "Wilson, I need you to stay late and work on the Belvadere Account." You'll have to say to him/her "Tough, boss, I have to get home to Fido." And then you'll learn what it's like to be a fur-parent and get those disapproving glares because you've let your dog become more important than office stuff. It never gets better, and every time it happens, it's like pissing into the wind...

...but being a dog owner, you'll come to get used to the idea of being covered in piss, too. And once you get home to Fido, you'll know you made the right choice, because Fido will love you more than your boss.

There is no law requiring a crate for the car. The dog must not interfere with the driver, that is the only requirement.