for people that work, what do you do about your dog?

[Shaner]

Shaner, do you have any suggestions on how to mentally stimulate a dog? Thanks.

Tons. I have 2 German Shepherds, so I spend a lot of time trying to come up with ideas to exercise their mind.

What type of dog do you have? It can make a difference in some of the things you can do. Do you have a large yard or other large area you have access to nearby?

[manyapples]

Tons. I have 2 German Shepherds, so I spend a lot of time trying to come up with ideas to exercise their mind.

What type of dog do you have? It can make a difference in some of the things you can do. Do you have a large yard or other large area you have access to nearby?

I have a beagle cross, I have a yard, but no fence. I can take him to a dog park, though.

[i6s1]

When my wife is on evening shift she takes him to the park and throws his ball for an hour, then she leaves at 230 and I get home at 630, so he's got his exercise and he's only alone for about 4 hours. When she's on day shift, she takes him to day care. It's a rural place and it's $17/day.

I don't think it's ethical that a dog is left alone all day every (working) day. If you have no choice, get another dog so she has some company.

[r1lee]

our dogs go out 3 times a day. Like one of the other posters, they use to be put into a gated area, but once they were able to hold their pee, they were allowed to roam around. We have no accidents, unless they have eaten something that's not a part of their diet.

8:30am
5:30pm
11:30pm

[amz155]

I have a beagle cross, I have a yard, but no fence. I can take him to a dog park, though.

Things you can use to mentally stimulate the dog:

-clicker training (you can use this for everything from obedience training to tricks to games you make up on the spot to challenge the dog)
-fetch games
-hide and seek....hide something in house or yard for dog to find
-puzzle toys (like the Nina Ottoson ones....I've never bought one bc they're $$ but heard good things)
-interactive toys (ie Kong Wobbler, Tug a Jug)
-home made puzzle toys ie cut a flap into an old yogurt or cottage cheese container and put a few treats inside and the dog has to work to get them out
-set up obstacles in yard and teach dog to go up/down/through/around/over

[setell]

I don't think it's ethical that a dog is left alone all day every (working) day. If you have no choice, get another dog so she has some company.

Isn't it a little judgemental to criticize anybody that works the typical working day hours and leave their dog home alone unethical? I do it and love my dog dearly. It's not the best to have him home alone while I'm at work as I rather not have to work but we both want to be fed. Thus I need to work and bring home the bacon. Think of it this way, I give my dog a air condition/heated home, lots of toys, lots of beds, lots of love, high quality food, and the best care I can offer. It is hardly the life of a dog that is being mistreated. There are far more dogs in worse living conditions. My dogs paws gets cleaned EVERY time he goes outside. I can't say all dogs get that type of care but I don't judge people that don't clean their dog's paws after every outing. Or how about people that don't take good care of their dog's teeth? So yeah, do not judge because you have a partner that works night shifts. Would you just get another dog if your wife had to automatically work the typical 9-5 Monday to Friday job? There are far worse things out there than leaving your dog home alone while you're at work.

I wonder what your feelings are like with people that have children and take them to daycare while they are at work. Will you say it's unethical and you shouldn't have children because you can't be there to care for them? Similar analogy.

[Zamboni]

If possible find a trustworthy young teenager or adult to walk your dog mid day. My 12 year old daughter eats lunch at a neighbours place most school days, lets the dog into the back yard and then takes him for a walk/run to the park. Find the right kid and they will love your dog also, many days my daughter walks the dog again after school at 3:30-owners not home till 5:30.

[Spidey]

When my wife is on evening shift she takes him to the park and throws his ball for an hour, then she leaves at 230 and I get home at 630, so he's got his exercise and he's only alone for about 4 hours. When she's on day shift, she takes him to day care. It's a rural place and it's $17/day.

I don't think it's ethical that a dog is left alone all day every (working) day. If you have no choice, get another dog so she has some company.

Why isnt it eithical. Are the dogs in pain, danger, etc. Are they left hungry or thirsty or with no shelter. If they are protected and have toys to play with, I dont see what the problem is. Some people dont have time to take their dogs to daycare every day they work, maybe they have kids to take care of and to get places in the morning and after work/school

Maybe its cost, $17 a day can get pretty expensive if you are doing it 5-6 days a week

[amz155]

When my wife is on evening shift she takes him to the park and throws his ball for an hour, then she leaves at 230 and I get home at 630, so he's got his exercise and he's only alone for about 4 hours. When she's on day shift, she takes him to day care. It's a rural place and it's $17/day.

I don't think it's ethical that a dog is left alone all day every (working) day. If you have no choice, get another dog so she has some company.

Not ethical based on what? How is 4 hours ethical but 6 or 8 hours is not?

Isn't it a little judgemental to criticize anybody that works the typical working day hours and leave their dog home alone unethical? I do it and love my dog dearly. It's not the best to have him home alone while I'm at work as I rather not have to work but we both want to be fed. Thus I need to work and bring home the bacon. Think of it this way, I give my dog a air condition/heated home, lots of toys, lots of beds, lots of love, high quality food, and the best care I can offer. It is hardly the life of a dog that is being mistreated. There are far more dogs in worse living conditions. My dogs paws gets cleaned EVERY time he goes outside. I can't say all dogs get that type of care but I don't judge people that don't clean their dog's paws after every outing. Or how about people that don't take good care of their dog's teeth? So yeah, do not judge because you have a partner that works night shifts. Would you just get another dog if your wife had to automatically work the typical 9-5 Monday to Friday job? There are far worse things out there than leaving your dog home alone while you're at work.

I wonder what your feelings are like with people that have children and take them to daycare while they are at work. Will you say it's unethical and you shouldn't have children because you can't be there to care for them? Similar analogy.

Well said. Yeah you're dog reallllly sounds like its being treated unethically. Just like my dog is being treated unethically when I leave him home all day and he alternates between our bed, sun spots on the stairs, and the big comfy couch in the family room (*eye roll*).

[redgrandam]

When my wife is on evening shift she takes him to the park and throws his ball for an hour, then she leaves at 230 and I get home at 630, so he's got his exercise and he's only alone for about 4 hours. When she's on day shift, she takes him to day care. It's a rural place and it's $17/day.

I don't think it's ethical that a dog is left alone all day every (working) day. If you have no choice, get another dog so she has some company.

Wow.

We foster dogs in our home because people give them up, abuse, or neglect them. Their options are for the most part the pound or euthanization. Several times a week the dog(s) are left home for 6-10 hours, (of 10 the. Someone comes by to let them out), however I hardly think that is unethical. For many dogs going to dog day care can be stressful and one might argue that is far WORSE for the dog than staying home as many don't tolerate change well.

Besides, $17/day for a month is about $340 a month. That's a LOT for most people.

Your comment about a second dog as a companion to the first is a great thing however. There are plenty of amazing dogs in our rescue agencies that would do great in those settings.

[setell]

Well said. Yeah you're dog reallllly sounds like its being treated unethically. Just like my dog is being treated unethically when I leave him home all day and he alternates between our bed, sun spots on the stairs, and the big comfy couch in the family room (*eye roll*).

My parents tell me my dog has a better life than a lot of children in China with what he has.

My dog loves lounging on the floor by the balcony window as the sun is right there AND it's right under a vent so he gets the sun and then a blast of AC every so often so he's not hot at all. He knows where to pick the most comfortable spots to lounge.

[dux]

I have a 70lbs Husky/Boxer and I live in a small condo downtown. I have no problem leaving him home alone for 8-9 hours a day, but it was not always like that when I first got him. Watching the Dog Whisper on tv helped me a lot. I've picked up lots of tips from Cesar on ways to deal with dog's anxiety. It has also helped me get closer to my dog.

[Cytosol]

If you sufficiently exercise your dog in the mornings (maybe an hour walk) then it will be much less inclined to bark and tear your condo up.

Another option is to bring your dog to daycare during the days, but most of these run about $30/day and it can add up pretty quickly. If you just do 2 or 3 times a week it helps a lot with boredom and they are often still tired the day after as well.

Another option is to hire a dog walker who will come to your place and take your dog for a walk. I think this runs around $15/20 per session, but you can phone around.

Finally, there are entertaining things you can give to your dog at home. There are TV stations that have dog channels, supposedly supposed to work pretty well. You can also stuff a bunch of good stuff in a kong and freeze it; that usually keeps dogs busy for a while.

[Kimmsey]

Tons. I have 2 German Shepherds, so I spend a lot of time trying to come up with ideas to exercise their mind.

What type of dog do you have? It can make a difference in some of the things you can do. Do you have a large yard or other large area you have access to nearby?

Just to piggy-back onto this original thread, do you have any ideas to mentally stimulate a Golden Retriever? She's about a year and a half now, but she's so energetic all the time, even though we walk her pretty much 2x a day, and my brother runs with her 4x a week after work.

[AudiDude]

Every dog we've had roamed the house. They mostly just stayed on their pillow or wherever else they liked to sleep. The dog we currently have is too stupid to let roam the house, so he is crated. If you make the crate the dog's home, you will find that they go in the crate by themselves and don't care much if you close the door. Sometimes when I can't find him, he is on there. He is also very tiny (13 lbs) and I can exercise the crap out of him until he is ready to keel over by playing fetch in the house.