Would it be cruel for me to get a dog?

[vibez]

Wow i'm impressed by the responses here.

I'm still in two minds as to whether I would make a good dog owner.

Yes I have a yard surrounded by 10ft fences all the way round. (heterosexual) The previous owners even converted the shed into a kennel with a heater inside.

I will be away for 8hrs a day, but I always pop home for half hour during my dinner, so I could take him for a quick walk during that time.

I was talking to my parents about my idea. My dad thought it would be a good idea & even offered to walk the dog everyday while i'm at work. I know they would also look after the dog if I went away on holiday.

To be honest there won't be many nights during the week that I can't spend my free time with the dog. I only go out maybe one night during the working week to play pool and at the weekends i'm mostly at home during the day.

The one big bugbear I can't stand, is knowing the dog will be at home barking or whining while i'm at work. Our old neighbours used to leave their doberman alone allday & night. It was heartbreaking hearing it cry all the time.

If I got a puppy, maybe that would be fairer as it would learn from an early age to cope with being left for such a long time. Although that in itself could be classed as cruel. Puppy's need a lot of attention & training when they are young & if I'm leaving it alone while I'm at work, who knows what kind of effect that could have.

Another problem could be that I watched a few programs on dog training. They used a reward & punish method. Basically if the dog behaves well, give him a treat/love/attention. If the dag behaves bad, take away love/attention. Now if I use that method of training, what kind of message does it give to the dog if I leave it on its own for 8hrs.

I think the best bet would be, If l pop down to one of our local dog rescue homes in the UK and have a chat with the people down there & see what they think. By the sounds of it, beagles or hounds would be the best breed for me.

[Santoro]

We have two dogs (Cavalier King Charles Spaniels) and they can make it eight hours every so often if we need to take a day trip.  I believe that leaving them every day would be pretty unfair, they really do thrive on attention and companionship.   

[ChadTower]

I tell you what.  Take a couple of weeks and put yourself in solitary confinement for 10 hours each day, where you're not allowed to touch anything, have limited food that's been sitting out for hours, and can't urinate or crap.

That is what the dog will experience.

[duffjr]

is a dog self-aware?

[ChadTower]

Erm, yes, a dog is self aware.

[vibez]

I tell you what.  Take a couple of weeks and put yourself in solitary confinement for 10 hours each day, where you're not allowed to touch anything, have limited food that's been sitting out for hours, and can't urinate or crap.

That is what the dog will experience.

So from that statement, I have concluded that the dog will experience the same miserable existance as I do at my workplace.

That seals the deal for me. There is no way I would let a dog go through what I go through at work.

Cheers guys 

[Santoro]

I tell you what. Take a couple of weeks and put yourself in solitary confinement for 10 hours each day, where you're not allowed to touch anything, have limited food that's been sitting out for hours, and can't urinate or crap.

That is what the dog will experience.

You are quoting the worst case though.

[vibez]

I do agree that there isn't much point for owning a dog if you are only going to see it a few hours a day.

I think that is the main point. The dog will rely on only me for company. I'm not willing to own two dogs. My dad did offer to walk it maybe twice a day. But he is getting old, will he be willing to do it in say 5yrs?

I'm at the age where my life isn't exactly stable. I'm fairly sure my life will change dramatically over the next few years. Maybe I should wait until I'm married & settled down before I rescue a pup.

[Santoro]

I'm not willing to own two dogs.

IMHO owning two small calm dogs is easier than owning any big dog.

[RayB]

Look bottom line is you need to let them out for a piss at least every 4 to 6 hours. That severely restricts what you can and can't do. Hell, you won't even be able to ever go home with a woman for the night, or pass out at a friend's place anymore.

It's nice that your dad offered to walk it, but after a while that's going to feel like a "job" to him. It's the type of thing that HAS to be done every day, for the rest of the dog's life.

I own one of the most easy-going, laid back dogs in the world. She sleeps all day and rarely wants my attention. I work from home. But if we should happen to go out somewhere on the weekend for a few hours, we come home to find her crying and chewing up furniture. So even with a good temperment, dogs need to "know" they are not alone.

**you just posted as I was writing this...**

[vibez]

Yeah that definitely settles it. I want a dog that fits round my life, not the other way round. That is all wrong. As you have mentioned, the dogs must come 1st.

Jesus, if I put this much thought into having a dog, imagine what I will be like when I consider kids!1!!!

[Santoro]

I my experience kids can go 8 hours without food, water, companionship, or bathrooms.

Just Kidding People, Relax

[DrewKaree]

Just Kidding People, Relax 

Good disclaimer.  I was about to bash you for that comment.  Mine have gone WAY longer than 8 hours!

[Harry Potter]

I my experience kids can go 8 hours without food, water, companionship, or bathrooms.

Just Kidding People, Relax 

Tried and tested.

Go for it.

[ChadTower]

I my experience kids can go 8 hours without food, water, companionship, or bathrooms.

That's what school is for...

[shmokes]

They are obviously still not as advanced as a real, live, flesh-and-blood dog,

Okay, the implications of this statement make my head explode, repair itself, then explode again.

Everyone keeps saying stuff like "yeah, if you're only gone 8 hours, then come back and walk it, it won't kill your neighbors".  Well, sure, it may not go Godzilla on your block, but will it be happy all alone all day?

I'm totally lost here.  I honestly cannot fathom how your response relates to my post.  The whole point of my post was that getting an Aibo (a $1500 robot dog) would give him some of the benefits of having a dog and relinquish him from worries about his pet becoming depressed or unhappy after being left alone for 8-hours.

[RayB]

Robosapien is cheaper.

[dmsuchy]

Find a dog that hates you and it will be happy when you are not at home!

[duffjr]

or a dog that's so old it's lost its olfactory and doesn't have enough strength to lift its head to care who is around

you should go to the pound and get one of those mean dogs that is likely to be beat by a mean owner.  get all of them while you're at it.  then buy a couple of pos cars, so the dogs have somewhere to sleep in the backyard.

[whammoed]

Hmmm, I have a 13 year old dalmation.  All she does is sleep and fart and snore.  Want her?

[ChadTower]

I'm totally lost here.  I honestly cannot fathom how your response relates to my post.  The whole point of my post was that getting an Aibo (a $1500 robot dog) would give him some of the benefits of having a dog and relinquish him from worries about his pet becoming depressed or unhappy after being left alone for 8-hours.

The concept that you would compare a technological feature to a living being is scary.  I suppose it's coming, but living beings don't have "features".  You can't say that the AIBO is "almost as advanced as a real dog" because a real dog is not advanced, it is a real blipping dog.

[shmokes]

Well...now, "almost as advanced" is an uncharitable way of intereting, "obviously still not as advanced," but I think you're reading into my post.  The fact the dog has real emotions that could be hurt by someone who doesn't have sufficient amount of time to spend with it is exactly what makes me suggest an Aibo.  I suggested the Aibo, not because I consider technology a perfectly good replacement for living beings (though it is, of course, in many situations), but because I care about the living beings.

Judging by your position in this thread, I'm pretty sure that in your heart of hearts you also support him getting an Aibo over a real dog.

[dmsuchy]

Just get a dog, with your family close and willing to help you out this is a no brainer. A dog that gets to see you a couple times a day is better off than being stuck at a animal testing facility.

[ChadTower]

Judging by your position in this thread, I'm pretty sure that in your heart of hearts you also support him getting an Aibo over a real dog.

If he spent $1500 on a little mechanical dog I'd drive over there and insert it in him.

[duffjr]

and you won't look weird in front of the neighbors if you're into any kinky animal games.

[ChadTower]

That's not kinky it's violent.

[Stingray]

Amazing. Most people here seem to think that if you have a job you don't have time for a pet. Nonsense.

I agree with the suggestion about getting two. They'll keep themselves company, and when you're around, that's a bonus.

-S

[duffjr]

get 4 as goz suggested.  they can form their own pack and way of life.