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GW misses our labrador retriever, Midnight. I mean REALLY misses her. To be honest, I miss her too. GW is a dog person, though, much as I am a cat person. The cats know it, and while they accept her, they prefer me. They ignore GW when she comes home, which is usually before I do, but often come to greet me when I arrive. I would like for us to get a new dog sometime in the next few months.

BUT, and it's a big one, we are not home for ten hours of the day. With the kids gone, there's no one around for that period. We feel that it would be unfair to the dog to be alone that long, especially when we first get him/her. We have no problem with crating during the day for house training. We did that with Midnight. We're more concerned about the length of time the pooch will be alone. The kids got home between 2:00 and 3:00 for Midnight, so she wasn't by herself for as long.

We don't know what kind of dog we'd want. Middling-sized (although GW is fond of Newfies, I prefer dogs I can't ride and that don't outweigh me), but purebred or mutt is uncertain. We've kind of thought about rescue dogs, also either purebred or mutt. The pooch also needs to be good with cats in the house. I don't want to come home to a massacre, on either side.

Any suggestions on how to solve the aloneness (is that a word?) issue, which is the most vexing to us? The adoption wouldn't happen mid-June at the earliest, and may be postponed until late autumn, if it happens at all. Thanks for any help.

gsabc wrote:GW misses our labrador retriever, Midnight. I mean REALLY misses her. To be honest, I miss her too. GW is a dog person, though, much as I am a cat person. The cats know it, and while they accept her, they prefer me. They ignore GW when she comes home, which is usually before I do, but often come to greet me when I arrive. I would like for us to get a new dog sometime in the next few months.

BUT, and it's a big one, we are not home for ten hours of the day. With the kids gone, there's no one around for that period. We feel that it would be unfair to the dog to be alone that long, especially when we first get him/her. We have no problem with crating during the day for house training. We did that with Midnight. We're more concerned about the length of time the pooch will be alone. The kids got home between 2:00 and 3:00 for Midnight, so she wasn't by herself for as long.

We don't know what kind of dog we'd want. Middling-sized (although GW is fond of Newfies, I prefer dogs I can't ride and that don't outweigh me), but purebred or mutt is uncertain. We've kind of thought about rescue dogs, also either purebred or mutt. The pooch also needs to be good with cats in the house. I don't want to come home to a massacre, on either side.

Any suggestions on how to solve the aloneness (is that a word?) issue, which is the most vexing to us? The adoption wouldn't happen mid-June at the earliest, and may be postponed until late autumn, if it happens at all. Thanks for any help.

How do you feel about a pet sitting service? When I had my cat and had to travel, there was a guy who lived down the street who charged me $8 a day to stop in, feed, play with, clean up after, etc. You might even be able to find a neighborhood kid, but this guy was insured and all of that.

Or there is always doggie day care. One of my old co-workers used to use that...drop off on the way to work, pick up on the way home...not sure how much it costs but it's supposedly a full day of activities, interaction and fun for your pooch!

[Edited to fix my post within a post when quoting...I hate when that happens!]

In the meantime... have GW become the kitties' meal server. They'll be her bestest friends in no time flat.

First, I'd recommend that you adopt an adult dog, as training a puppy would be difficult when everyone else is gone for long stretches of time. (The cats will refuse to take over that job for you.)

If you narrow it down to specific breed preferences, start looking for breed rescue organizations in your area. Most of these groups will test the dogs around children and small animals, so they can tell you which dogs are cat-safe.

Retired racing greyhounds are trained to remain in their crates for 10-12 hours a day, and they seem to recognize a good deal when they get a real forever home. I'm just sayin'....

SC's right -- there are lots of rescue doggies that will be better off with you than in their current situation.

I keep that in mind when we have to leave Casey alone four or five hours at a time. Miraculously, SteelersFan has a job that takes him right by the house twice a day, so it doesn't stretch to eight or 10.

Get two dogs.

silvercamaro wrote:First, I'd recommend that you adopt an adult dog, as training a puppy would be difficult when everyone else is gone for long stretches of time. (The cats will refuse to take over that job for you.)

If you narrow it down to specific breed preferences, start looking for breed rescue organizations in your area. Most of these groups will test the dogs around children and small animals, so they can tell you which dogs are cat-safe.

Retired racing greyhounds are trained to remain in their crates for 10-12 hours a day, and they seem to recognize a good deal when they get a real forever home. I'm just sayin'....

That is really good to know. I always wondered if it was mean to leave dogs in those crates for so long.

I'm not yet dog-ready, as my current condo complex prohibits dogs...but depending where I end up, a dog may be in my future, but I am gone for many hours during the day. It's good to know that they can be trained for that and are happy that way.

If you get two dogs they can play with each other during the time when no humans are around.

Sisyphean Fan wrote:If you get two dogs they can play with each other during the time when no humans are around.

Great, so double the destruction!

Plus, I don't think they can let each other outside, can they?

sunflower wrote:

Sisyphean Fan wrote:If you get two dogs they can play with each other during the time when no humans are around.

Great, so double the destruction!

Plus, I don't think they can let each other outside, can they?

That's why God invented doggie doors.

Or they can just encourage each other to 'hold it'.

Sisyphean Fan wrote:

sunflower wrote:

Sisyphean Fan wrote:If you get two dogs they can play with each other during the time when no humans are around.

Great, so double the destruction!

Plus, I don't think they can let each other outside, can they?

That's why God invented doggie doors.

Or they can just encourage each other to 'hold it'.

OK, this made me laugh out loud.

Have you thought of a squirrel as an alternative? Small. Friendly. Resourceful. Artistic.

ulysses5019 wrote:Have you thought of a squirrel as an alternative? Small. Friendly. Resourceful. Artistic.

And delicious to cats. No thanks.

gsabc wrote:

ulysses5019 wrote:Have you thought of a squirrel as an alternative? Small. Friendly. Resourceful. Artistic.

And delicious to cats. No thanks.

I guess we all can't get along.

Humane Society is also a worthy alternative, if you have any issues locating rescue organizations. You can visit a prospective dog as many times as you need to decide if it's a good fit, the only problem being if you fall in love and don't claim her, someone else might. But if you fall in love you will want her right away, so that won't matter.....

I also vote for the petsitter. $8 a day seems reasonable. Might be able to get a reliable college student or recently out-of-work person, if you can't find a licensed petsitter.

Good luck!

sunflower wrote:

silvercamaro wrote:First, I'd recommend that you adopt an adult dog, as training a puppy would be difficult when everyone else is gone for long stretches of time. (The cats will refuse to take over that job for you.)

If you narrow it down to specific breed preferences, start looking for breed rescue organizations in your area. Most of these groups will test the dogs around children and small animals, so they can tell you which dogs are cat-safe.

Retired racing greyhounds are trained to remain in their crates for 10-12 hours a day, and they seem to recognize a good deal when they get a real forever home. I'm just sayin'....

That is really good to know. I always wondered if it was mean to leave dogs in those crates for so long.

I'm not yet dog-ready, as my current condo complex prohibits dogs...but depending where I end up, a dog may be in my future, but I am gone for many hours during the day. It's good to know that they can be trained for that and are happy that way.

Have you considered a squirrel? They can get along well unsupervised.....

lb13

littlebeast13 wrote:

sunflower wrote:

silvercamaro wrote:First, I'd recommend that you adopt an adult dog, as training a puppy would be difficult when everyone else is gone for long stretches of time. (The cats will refuse to take over that job for you.)

If you narrow it down to specific breed preferences, start looking for breed rescue organizations in your area. Most of these groups will test the dogs around children and small animals, so they can tell you which dogs are cat-safe.

Retired racing greyhounds are trained to remain in their crates for 10-12 hours a day, and they seem to recognize a good deal when they get a real forever home. I'm just sayin'....

That is really good to know. I always wondered if it was mean to leave dogs in those crates for so long.

I'm not yet dog-ready, as my current condo complex prohibits dogs...but depending where I end up, a dog may be in my future, but I am gone for many hours during the day. It's good to know that they can be trained for that and are happy that way.

Have you considered a squirrel? They can get along well unsupervised.....

lb13

Hey! That's what I said and I went down in flames.

littlebeast13 wrote:

sunflower wrote:

silvercamaro wrote:First, I'd recommend that you adopt an adult dog, as training a puppy would be difficult when everyone else is gone for long stretches of time. (The cats will refuse to take over that job for you.)

If you narrow it down to specific breed preferences, start looking for breed rescue organizations in your area. Most of these groups will test the dogs around children and small animals, so they can tell you which dogs are cat-safe.

Retired racing greyhounds are trained to remain in their crates for 10-12 hours a day, and they seem to recognize a good deal when they get a real forever home. I'm just sayin'....

That is really good to know. I always wondered if it was mean to leave dogs in those crates for so long.

I'm not yet dog-ready, as my current condo complex prohibits dogs...but depending where I end up, a dog may be in my future, but I am gone for many hours during the day. It's good to know that they can be trained for that and are happy that way.

Have you considered a squirrel? They can get along well unsupervised.....

lb13

The only squirrel I've had here is the one that was pulled dead out of the chimney or some roof vent that was dead and smelling like ass, about a month after I bought the condo.

sunflower wrote:

littlebeast13 wrote:

sunflower wrote: That is really good to know. I always wondered if it was mean to leave dogs in those crates for so long.

I'm not yet dog-ready, as my current condo complex prohibits dogs...but depending where I end up, a dog may be in my future, but I am gone for many hours during the day. It's good to know that they can be trained for that and are happy that way.

Have you considered a squirrel? They can get along well unsupervised.....

lb13

The only squirrel I've had here is the one that was pulled dead out of the chimney or some roof vent that was dead and smelling like ass, about a month after I bought the condo.

You're lucky they didn't charge you extra.

ulysses5019 wrote:

littlebeast13 wrote:

sunflower wrote: That is really good to know. I always wondered if it was mean to leave dogs in those crates for so long.

I'm not yet dog-ready, as my current condo complex prohibits dogs...but depending where I end up, a dog may be in my future, but I am gone for many hours during the day. It's good to know that they can be trained for that and are happy that way.

Have you considered a squirrel? They can get along well unsupervised.....

lb13

Hey! That's what I said and I went down in flames.

That's because you don't represent the NSAS.....

lb13

CharlesFoxSingers wrote:There's something stuck up in the chimney
And I don't know what it is,
But it's been there all night long.
Well, I waited up for Santa all Christmas night
But he never came and it don't seem right.
And there's something in the chimney
And it doesn't make a sound,
But I wish you Merry Christmas.

There's something stuck up in the chimney
And I don't know what it is,
But it's been there all week long.
Well, the dog keeps barking up the chimney flue
And we don't know what we're going to do.
Cause there's something in the chimney
And it doesn't move around,
And it's been a week since Christmas.

There's something stuck up in the chimney
And I don't know what it is,
But it's been there all month long.
Well, it's jammed up tight above the fireplace
Now the house smells funny, such a big disgrace.
That there's something in the chimney
And it doesn't talk at all,
And it's been there since last Christmas.

There's something stuck up in the chimney
And I don't know what it is,
But it's been there all year long.
I'll been waiting up for Santa like I did last year
But my brother says, "He's already here."
And he's stuck up in the chimney
And he doesn't say a word
And he'll be there every Christmas.
And we'll have him every Christmas.

Santa Claus is a squirrel?!?!?

ulysses5019 wrote:

CharlesFoxSingers wrote:There's something stuck up in the chimney
And I don't know what it is,
But it's been there all night long.
Well, I waited up for Santa all Christmas night
But he never came and it don't seem right.
And there's something in the chimney
And it doesn't make a sound,
But I wish you Merry Christmas.

There's something stuck up in the chimney
And I don't know what it is,
But it's been there all week long.
Well, the dog keeps barking up the chimney flue
And we don't know what we're going to do.
Cause there's something in the chimney
And it doesn't move around,
And it's been a week since Christmas.

There's something stuck up in the chimney
And I don't know what it is,
But it's been there all month long.
Well, it's jammed up tight above the fireplace
Now the house smells funny, such a big disgrace.
That there's something in the chimney
And it doesn't talk at all,
And it's been there since last Christmas.

There's something stuck up in the chimney
And I don't know what it is,
But it's been there all year long.
I'll been waiting up for Santa like I did last year
But my brother says, "He's already here."
And he's stuck up in the chimney
And he doesn't say a word
And he'll be there every Christmas.
And we'll have him every Christmas.

Santa Claus is a squirrel?!?!?

Don't tell Sprots. She'll board up the chimney next December.....

lb13