Have you adopted a dog from a NOVA area rescue org?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Friends of Homeless Animals--foha.org--is great. They are a no-kill rescue out in Loudoun County with lots of trails and play areas for you to interact with individual dogs.

You do have to have a phone interview and an in-home visit/interview before being approved to adopt, but I'm glad they do it. It wasn't an issue for us. I wonder why you're getting rejected--they don't give you a reason?

OP here - in the first instance, they felt that the dog was likely to jump our fence and run away. It was a mix, but mostly hound, and we have one section of fence that's lower than the rest. (I think they envisioned us letting the dog into the back yard and then ignoring it, which is not our intention at all. We would like to eventually be able to just let the dog out, but I assume that for a long time - maybe even a year - we will need to be right there with the dog when s/he is out in the back yard.)

The second time, they said that they have found that the particular dog is very unhappy when by itself, and that we were going to be leaving it alone too much, due to our work schedules. (Again, it's sort of a yes & no. We currently are gone from the house for up to 9 hours at a time, but starting in July it will be more like 6 hours)

Thanks to everyone for the feedback & suggestions - we are going to continue to look and to refine our expectations!

If they tell you that, they know the dog has anxiety that manifests in destructive behavior when left alone for too long. Some dogs can not be left alone for a few hours. They are just that way. The rescue was trying to prevent getting the dog back or it being sent to a shelter. And you consider yourself lucky bc I grew up with such a dog and it really was a pain dealing with cleaning up and fixing up all the messes. As the dog aged, the amount of time he would tolerate being alone began to shrink.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Friends of Homeless Animals--foha.org--is great. They are a no-kill rescue out in Loudoun County with lots of trails and play areas for you to interact with individual dogs.

You do have to have a phone interview and an in-home visit/interview before being approved to adopt, but I'm glad they do it. It wasn't an issue for us. I wonder why you're getting rejected--they don't give you a reason?

OP here - in the first instance, they felt that the dog was likely to jump our fence and run away. It was a mix, but mostly hound, and we have one section of fence that's lower than the rest. (I think they envisioned us letting the dog into the back yard and then ignoring it, which is not our intention at all. We would like to eventually be able to just let the dog out, but I assume that for a long time - maybe even a year - we will need to be right there with the dog when s/he is out in the back yard.)

The second time, they said that they have found that the particular dog is very unhappy when by itself, and that we were going to be leaving it alone too much, due to our work schedules. (Again, it's sort of a yes & no. We currently are gone from the house for up to 9 hours at a time, but starting in July it will be more like 6 hours)

Thanks to everyone for the feedback & suggestions - we are going to continue to look and to refine our expectations!

You will need a dog-walker, no question. Did you tell them you would have one?

You do not need a dog-walker while out working a normal day if your dog is well-trained. There is absolutely no need. Perhaps that one dog they were looking at would be unhappy, but most dogs are fine. (OP, it's probably good you didn't get that dog--you don't want a dog with separation anxiety!) We don't have a dog walker. Neither do our friends with a small dog. We walk the dog in the morning for exercise and let her out in the yard when we get home from work and play with her. The dog is free to roam the house during the day and all she does is sleep. She is very happy.

OP, the fence things sound a bit ridiculous. I hate to suggest this, but perhaps stretch the truth a bit. Say you'll get a dog-walker. Don't tell them you'll have the dog out in the yard unsupervised. But, do take warning if the rescue says that the dog gets unhappy when it's by itself--you'll have a lot of work ahead of you.

I disagree. It is cruel and I humane to leave a dog for entire workdays, every week. Ask your vet, who will tell you about the UTIs he sees in dogs made to hold it every day for all those hours. Not to mention, the loneliness - dogs are social creatures, not like cats.

And you are telling OP to lie?

You are ridiculous and probably a helicopter dog parent. It is not "cruel and inhumane" to leave a dog alone for a workday because they have to "hold it."

I work at home so I'm with my dog all of the time and only allow her the typical bathroom breaks --morning walk, early evening, and before bed. She is fine. I do this to keep her on a regular schedule so if others watch her while I'm on vacation, she's used to it. She sleeps all day long and doesn't care to go outside til it's time.

It's all about training, people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Friends of Homeless Animals--foha.org--is great. They are a no-kill rescue out in Loudoun County with lots of trails and play areas for you to interact with individual dogs.

You do have to have a phone interview and an in-home visit/interview before being approved to adopt, but I'm glad they do it. It wasn't an issue for us. I wonder why you're getting rejected--they don't give you a reason?

OP here - in the first instance, they felt that the dog was likely to jump our fence and run away. It was a mix, but mostly hound, and we have one section of fence that's lower than the rest. (I think they envisioned us letting the dog into the back yard and then ignoring it, which is not our intention at all. We would like to eventually be able to just let the dog out, but I assume that for a long time - maybe even a year - we will need to be right there with the dog when s/he is out in the back yard.)

The second time, they said that they have found that the particular dog is very unhappy when by itself, and that we were going to be leaving it alone too much, due to our work schedules. (Again, it's sort of a yes & no. We currently are gone from the house for up to 9 hours at a time, but starting in July it will be more like 6 hours)

Thanks to everyone for the feedback & suggestions - we are going to continue to look and to refine our expectations!

You will need a dog-walker, no question. Did you tell them you would have one?

You do not need a dog-walker while out working a normal day if your dog is well-trained. There is absolutely no need. Perhaps that one dog they were looking at would be unhappy, but most dogs are fine. (OP, it's probably good you didn't get that dog--you don't want a dog with separation anxiety!) We don't have a dog walker. Neither do our friends with a small dog. We walk the dog in the morning for exercise and let her out in the yard when we get home from work and play with her. The dog is free to roam the house during the day and all she does is sleep. She is very happy.

OP, the fence things sound a bit ridiculous. I hate to suggest this, but perhaps stretch the truth a bit. Say you'll get a dog-walker. Don't tell them you'll have the dog out in the yard unsupervised. But, do take warning if the rescue says that the dog gets unhappy when it's by itself--you'll have a lot of work ahead of you.

I pretty much agree with this. We hired a dog walker to come 2-3 times a week for the first 6 weeks while our dog was getting used to living in a home (she had been a street dog) and to crate training. She will now willingly go into her crate when it is time to leave, and the neighbors report they don't hear a peep out of her. She gets a long walk as soon as she gets home and spends a lot of time playing in our yard. Did we lie and tell the nervous nellies from the rescue that we would have a dog walker all the time? Yes. Sadly, you have to tell some fibs to get past their crazy requirements. Honestly, if we thought we needed the walker to keep our dog happy, we'd keep doing it - but we don't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can't remember the name but they were at petsmart. Did only an on- site interview at the store. Left with an adorable beagle and still crazy about him 4 yrs later! My husband and kids are huge dog lovers ( I became one) so I guess the service got lucky that we were/are such good caretakers. But really, no interview. Although now that I love our dog so much I can see why these places want to and should do interviews -- so no abuse and to a good home. There are so many dogs in need of a good home. I hope you get one soon.

Lost Dog and Cat - same experience we had.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Friends of Homeless Animals--foha.org--is great. They are a no-kill rescue out in Loudoun County with lots of trails and play areas for you to interact with individual dogs.

You do have to have a phone interview and an in-home visit/interview before being approved to adopt, but I'm glad they do it. It wasn't an issue for us. I wonder why you're getting rejected--they don't give you a reason?

OP here - in the first instance, they felt that the dog was likely to jump our fence and run away. It was a mix, but mostly hound, and we have one section of fence that's lower than the rest. (I think they envisioned us letting the dog into the back yard and then ignoring it, which is not our intention at all. We would like to eventually be able to just let the dog out, but I assume that for a long time - maybe even a year - we will need to be right there with the dog when s/he is out in the back yard.)

The second time, they said that they have found that the particular dog is very unhappy when by itself, and that we were going to be leaving it alone too much, due to our work schedules. (Again, it's sort of a yes & no. We currently are gone from the house for up to 9 hours at a time, but starting in July it will be more like 6 hours)

Thanks to everyone for the feedback & suggestions - we are going to continue to look and to refine our expectations!

You will need a dog-walker, no question. Did you tell them you would have one?

You do not need a dog-walker while out working a normal day if your dog is well-trained. There is absolutely no need. Perhaps that one dog they were looking at would be unhappy, but most dogs are fine. (OP, it's probably good you didn't get that dog--you don't want a dog with separation anxiety!) We don't have a dog walker. Neither do our friends with a small dog. We walk the dog in the morning for exercise and let her out in the yard when we get home from work and play with her. The dog is free to roam the house during the day and all she does is sleep. She is very happy.

OP, the fence things sound a bit ridiculous. I hate to suggest this, but perhaps stretch the truth a bit. Say you'll get a dog-walker. Don't tell them you'll have the dog out in the yard unsupervised. But, do take warning if the rescue says that the dog gets unhappy when it's by itself--you'll have a lot of work ahead of you.

I pretty much agree with this. We hired a dog walker to come 2-3 times a week for the first 6 weeks while our dog was getting used to living in a home (she had been a street dog) and to crate training. She will now willingly go into her crate when it is time to leave, and the neighbors report they don't hear a peep out of her. She gets a long walk as soon as she gets home and spends a lot of time playing in our yard. Did we lie and tell the nervous nellies from the rescue that we would have a dog walker all the time? Yes. Sadly, you have to tell some fibs to get past their crazy requirements. Honestly, if we thought we needed the walker to keep our dog happy, we'd keep doing it - but we don't.

Having a dog-walker is not a crazy requirement. Moreover, every single animal welfare organization out there agrees that it is cruel and inhumane to crate a dog all day, every day while you are at work. It compromises their health (physical and mental).

You can tell yourself whatever you want, but you should not have a dog at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Friends of Homeless Animals--foha.org--is great. They are a no-kill rescue out in Loudoun County with lots of trails and play areas for you to interact with individual dogs.

You do have to have a phone interview and an in-home visit/interview before being approved to adopt, but I'm glad they do it. It wasn't an issue for us. I wonder why you're getting rejected--they don't give you a reason?

OP here - in the first instance, they felt that the dog was likely to jump our fence and run away. It was a mix, but mostly hound, and we have one section of fence that's lower than the rest. (I think they envisioned us letting the dog into the back yard and then ignoring it, which is not our intention at all. We would like to eventually be able to just let the dog out, but I assume that for a long time - maybe even a year - we will need to be right there with the dog when s/he is out in the back yard.)

The second time, they said that they have found that the particular dog is very unhappy when by itself, and that we were going to be leaving it alone too much, due to our work schedules. (Again, it's sort of a yes & no. We currently are gone from the house for up to 9 hours at a time, but starting in July it will be more like 6 hours)

Thanks to everyone for the feedback & suggestions - we are going to continue to look and to refine our expectations!

You will need a dog-walker, no question. Did you tell them you would have one?

You do not need a dog-walker while out working a normal day if your dog is well-trained. There is absolutely no need. Perhaps that one dog they were looking at would be unhappy, but most dogs are fine. (OP, it's probably good you didn't get that dog--you don't want a dog with separation anxiety!) We don't have a dog walker. Neither do our friends with a small dog. We walk the dog in the morning for exercise and let her out in the yard when we get home from work and play with her. The dog is free to roam the house during the day and all she does is sleep. She is very happy.

OP, the fence things sound a bit ridiculous. I hate to suggest this, but perhaps stretch the truth a bit. Say you'll get a dog-walker. Don't tell them you'll have the dog out in the yard unsupervised. But, do take warning if the rescue says that the dog gets unhappy when it's by itself--you'll have a lot of work ahead of you.

I pretty much agree with this. We hired a dog walker to come 2-3 times a week for the first 6 weeks while our dog was getting used to living in a home (she had been a street dog) and to crate training. She will now willingly go into her crate when it is time to leave, and the neighbors report they don't hear a peep out of her. She gets a long walk as soon as she gets home and spends a lot of time playing in our yard. Did we lie and tell the nervous nellies from the rescue that we would have a dog walker all the time? Yes. Sadly, you have to tell some fibs to get past their crazy requirements. Honestly, if we thought we needed the walker to keep our dog happy, we'd keep doing it - but we don't.

Having a dog-walker is not a crazy requirement. Moreover, every single animal welfare organization out there agrees that it is cruel and inhumane to crate a dog all day, every day while you are at work. It compromises their health (physical and mental).

You can tell yourself whatever you want, but you should not have a dog at all.

Thanks for your opinion. Not that I care. My dog is well-loved and well taken care of. Just like every damned dog I knew growing up with 2-parent working households.

Jeff, we really need a "cuckoo" emoticon for folks like this. I guess eye roll will have to do.

[Anonymous]

Objective, unbiased, research-based info on crating a dog all day long below. I am guessing you won't read any of this, though, because you prefer to believe what you need to believe in order to subject your dog to crating for such long periods of time every day.

http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/crate_training.html

http://www.aspca.org/Pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-articles/weekend-crate-training

http://www.animalbehavior.org/ABSAppliedBehavior/article-applied-behavior/the-right-2013-and-wrong-2013-way-to-use-a-dog-crate

http://moderndogmagazine.com/articles/trainers-truth-about-crates/174

http://www.dogchannel.com/dog-information/dog-trainer-morn/dog-being-crated.aspx

NO animal welfare organization thinks it is acceptable to crate a dog all day, much less all day every day. Not a single one.

[Anonymous]

Dr. Fox, DVM, whose weekly column appears in the WaPo, on the practice of crating a dog all day:

http://www.chron.com/life/article/Locking-a-dog-in-a-crate-all-day-is-cruel-3459711.php

"Please think twice about getting a puppy. Instead, consider adopting two litter-mate kittens.

I would like to know how many poor puppies and dogs suffer the kind of fate you are contemplating. This cruel practice of crating dogs while their owners are at work is becoming widespread. This is disgusting.

Dogs are pack animals that need social stimulation and will suffer separation anxiety, boredom and loneliness while caged.

Having to hold urine and feces for the long hours of confinement, especially for active young dogs or older dogs with kidney problems, is animal cruelty and neglect.

I have seen the results of long-term crating - poor muscle tone, deformed limbs, splayed feet, neurotic obsessive-compulsive self-grooming, paw chewing and nervous tics like repetitive movement behaviors.

A crate should be used only for house-training pups. Leave the crate open to serve as a secure den once the dog is house-trained.

Anyone working long hours should leave the dogs in a safe, open room - ideally with a window - and have a dog walker visit at least once per day. Leaving on a TV or radio can help alleviate separation anxiety and, hopefully, associated barking and destructive behavior. "

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dr. Fox, DVM, whose weekly column appears in the WaPo, on the practice of crating a dog all day:

http://www.chron.com/life/article/Locking-a-dog-in-a-crate-all-day-is-cruel-3459711.php

"Please think twice about getting a puppy. Instead, consider adopting two litter-mate kittens.

I would like to know how many poor puppies and dogs suffer the kind of fate you are contemplating. This cruel practice of crating dogs while their owners are at work is becoming widespread. This is disgusting.

Dogs are pack animals that need social stimulation and will suffer separation anxiety, boredom and loneliness while caged.

Having to hold urine and feces for the long hours of confinement, especially for active young dogs or older dogs with kidney problems, is animal cruelty and neglect.

I have seen the results of long-term crating - poor muscle tone, deformed limbs, splayed feet, neurotic obsessive-compulsive self-grooming, paw chewing and nervous tics like repetitive movement behaviors.

A crate should be used only for house-training pups. Leave the crate open to serve as a secure den once the dog is house-trained.

Anyone working long hours should leave the dogs in a safe, open room - ideally with a window - and have a dog walker visit at least once per day. Leaving on a TV or radio can help alleviate separation anxiety and, hopefully, associated barking and destructive behavior. "

They say the same thing about people sitting at desks all day. Life isn't ideal.

I've never left a dog in a crate all day, but I have left a dog home all day (not alone, one had cat companions; others had dog companions). They do fine. They get lots of walks and exercise, so their muscle tone is great. No separation anxiety.

One dog, when he got older, slept all day when I was home on the weekend, so it didn't matter!

Most people don't let their dogs out to pee in the middle of the night, so most dogs have to hold their pee and poop for about 8 hours at night anyhow, even with someone home!

When my dog got older and had issues holding it, I used pee pads, and it worked well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dr. Fox, DVM, whose weekly column appears in the WaPo, on the practice of crating a dog all day:

http://www.chron.com/life/article/Locking-a-dog-in-a-crate-all-day-is-cruel-3459711.php

"Please think twice about getting a puppy. Instead, consider adopting two litter-mate kittens.

I would like to know how many poor puppies and dogs suffer the kind of fate you are contemplating. This cruel practice of crating dogs while their owners are at work is becoming widespread. This is disgusting.

Dogs are pack animals that need social stimulation and will suffer separation anxiety, boredom and loneliness while caged.

Having to hold urine and feces for the long hours of confinement, especially for active young dogs or older dogs with kidney problems, is animal cruelty and neglect.

I have seen the results of long-term crating - poor muscle tone, deformed limbs, splayed feet, neurotic obsessive-compulsive self-grooming, paw chewing and nervous tics like repetitive movement behaviors.

A crate should be used only for house-training pups. Leave the crate open to serve as a secure den once the dog is house-trained.

Anyone working long hours should leave the dogs in a safe, open room - ideally with a window - and have a dog walker visit at least once per day. Leaving on a TV or radio can help alleviate separation anxiety and, hopefully, associated barking and destructive behavior. "

They say the same thing about people sitting at desks all day. Life isn't ideal.

I've never left a dog in a crate all day, but I have left a dog home all day (not alone, one had cat companions; others had dog companions). They do fine. They get lots of walks and exercise, so their muscle tone is great. No separation anxiety.

One dog, when he got older, slept all day when I was home on the weekend, so it didn't matter!

Most people don't let their dogs out to pee in the middle of the night, so most dogs have to hold their pee and poop for about 8 hours at night anyhow, even with someone home!

When my dog got older and had issues holding it, I used pee pads, and it worked well.

People have choices. Dogs have only what their owners inflict on them.

Home alone all day is not ideal, but it is better than spending all day alone in a cage. With commute time I'm guessing we are talking more than eight hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dr. Fox, DVM, whose weekly column appears in the WaPo, on the practice of crating a dog all day:

http://www.chron.com/life/article/Locking-a-dog-in-a-crate-all-day-is-cruel-3459711.php

"Please think twice about getting a puppy. Instead, consider adopting two litter-mate kittens.

I would like to know how many poor puppies and dogs suffer the kind of fate you are contemplating. This cruel practice of crating dogs while their owners are at work is becoming widespread. This is disgusting.

Dogs are pack animals that need social stimulation and will suffer separation anxiety, boredom and loneliness while caged.

Having to hold urine and feces for the long hours of confinement, especially for active young dogs or older dogs with kidney problems, is animal cruelty and neglect.

I have seen the results of long-term crating - poor muscle tone, deformed limbs, splayed feet, neurotic obsessive-compulsive self-grooming, paw chewing and nervous tics like repetitive movement behaviors.

A crate should be used only for house-training pups. Leave the crate open to serve as a secure den once the dog is house-trained.

Anyone working long hours should leave the dogs in a safe, open room - ideally with a window - and have a dog walker visit at least once per day. Leaving on a TV or radio can help alleviate separation anxiety and, hopefully, associated barking and destructive behavior. "

They say the same thing about people sitting at desks all day. Life isn't ideal.

I've never left a dog in a crate all day, but I have left a dog home all day (not alone, one had cat companions; others had dog companions). They do fine. They get lots of walks and exercise, so their muscle tone is great. No separation anxiety.

One dog, when he got older, slept all day when I was home on the weekend, so it didn't matter!

Most people don't let their dogs out to pee in the middle of the night, so most dogs have to hold their pee and poop for about 8 hours at night anyhow, even with someone home!

When my dog got older and had issues holding it, I used pee pads, and it worked well.

People have choices. Dogs have only what their owners inflict on them.

Home alone all day is not ideal, but it is better than spending all day alone in a cage. With commute time I'm guessing we are talking more than eight hours.

As I wrote, even when I'm home, my dogs (especially older) nap all day, go out at their usual times, go for their 2 walks. And they seem pretty happy.

You're being melodramatic. And frankly, if this is the attitude of the rescue groups, it is the reason why so many people don't adopt and just buy a dog instead. I adopt, usually from the pound, and frankly, I think my dogs have been pretty happy with the life I've given them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dr. Fox, DVM, whose weekly column appears in the WaPo, on the practice of crating a dog all day:

http://www.chron.com/life/article/Locking-a-dog-in-a-crate-all-day-is-cruel-3459711.php

"Please think twice about getting a puppy. Instead, consider adopting two litter-mate kittens.

I would like to know how many poor puppies and dogs suffer the kind of fate you are contemplating. This cruel practice of crating dogs while their owners are at work is becoming widespread. This is disgusting.

Dogs are pack animals that need social stimulation and will suffer separation anxiety, boredom and loneliness while caged.

Having to hold urine and feces for the long hours of confinement, especially for active young dogs or older dogs with kidney problems, is animal cruelty and neglect.

I have seen the results of long-term crating - poor muscle tone, deformed limbs, splayed feet, neurotic obsessive-compulsive self-grooming, paw chewing and nervous tics like repetitive movement behaviors.

A crate should be used only for house-training pups. Leave the crate open to serve as a secure den once the dog is house-trained.

Anyone working long hours should leave the dogs in a safe, open room - ideally with a window - and have a dog walker visit at least once per day. Leaving on a TV or radio can help alleviate separation anxiety and, hopefully, associated barking and destructive behavior. "

They say the same thing about people sitting at desks all day. Life isn't ideal.

I've never left a dog in a crate all day, but I have left a dog home all day (not alone, one had cat companions; others had dog companions). They do fine. They get lots of walks and exercise, so their muscle tone is great. No separation anxiety.

One dog, when he got older, slept all day when I was home on the weekend, so it didn't matter!

Most people don't let their dogs out to pee in the middle of the night, so most dogs have to hold their pee and poop for about 8 hours at night anyhow, even with someone home!

When my dog got older and had issues holding it, I used pee pads, and it worked well.

People have choices. Dogs have only what their owners inflict on them.

Home alone all day is not ideal, but it is better than spending all day alone in a cage. With commute time I'm guessing we are talking more than eight hours.

You have a lot of fucking time on your hands, don't you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dr. Fox, DVM, whose weekly column appears in the WaPo, on the practice of crating a dog all day:

http://www.chron.com/life/article/Locking-a-dog-in-a-crate-all-day-is-cruel-3459711.php

"Please think twice about getting a puppy. Instead, consider adopting two litter-mate kittens.

I would like to know how many poor puppies and dogs suffer the kind of fate you are contemplating. This cruel practice of crating dogs while their owners are at work is becoming widespread. This is disgusting.

Dogs are pack animals that need social stimulation and will suffer separation anxiety, boredom and loneliness while caged.

Having to hold urine and feces for the long hours of confinement, especially for active young dogs or older dogs with kidney problems, is animal cruelty and neglect.

I have seen the results of long-term crating - poor muscle tone, deformed limbs, splayed feet, neurotic obsessive-compulsive self-grooming, paw chewing and nervous tics like repetitive movement behaviors.

A crate should be used only for house-training pups. Leave the crate open to serve as a secure den once the dog is house-trained.

Anyone working long hours should leave the dogs in a safe, open room - ideally with a window - and have a dog walker visit at least once per day. Leaving on a TV or radio can help alleviate separation anxiety and, hopefully, associated barking and destructive behavior. "

They say the same thing about people sitting at desks all day. Life isn't ideal.

I've never left a dog in a crate all day, but I have left a dog home all day (not alone, one had cat companions; others had dog companions). They do fine. They get lots of walks and exercise, so their muscle tone is great. No separation anxiety.

One dog, when he got older, slept all day when I was home on the weekend, so it didn't matter!

Most people don't let their dogs out to pee in the middle of the night, so most dogs have to hold their pee and poop for about 8 hours at night anyhow, even with someone home!

When my dog got older and had issues holding it, I used pee pads, and it worked well.

People have choices. Dogs have only what their owners inflict on them.

Home alone all day is not ideal, but it is better than spending all day alone in a cage. With commute time I'm guessing we are talking more than eight hours.

No, most people work because they have to and they get the best job they can find, which for a lot of us involves sitting at a desk all day.

[Anonymous]

Hey, loser over-melodramatic dog defender, I hope OP's gotten what s/he needed from this thread since you've now hijacked it with your crazy. Go throw some paint on someone or something, and STFU already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hey, loser over-melodramatic dog defender, I hope OP's gotten what s/he needed from this thread since you've now hijacked it with your crazy. Go throw some paint on someone or something, and STFU already.

That's a lot of vitriol for the messenger.

How about responding to the substance of the above posts?

These topics are 100% relevant for OP, who is thinking about adopting a dog. Anyone who works outside the home and wishes to adopt a dog needs to think about these topics.