What do dogs do all day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It really depends on the dog — partially breed dependent but also personality. My brothers German shepherd is in movement almost all day. I have a neighbor whose golden retriever er spends the day trying to hold their hand or watching out the window for neighbors. Here is my golden’s typical day:

7 am walk
8-9 am, squirrel monitoring and maintenance
9-10:30 am — morning nap.
10:30-11–watch food container
11 — lunch
12 — afternoon walk
12:30-2:30 afternoon nap
2:30-3 watch food container
3 — afternoon snack
3-5–afternoon snack perhaps punctuated by squirrel maintenance or will play soccer outside if anyone will play with him
5–short walk, followed by monitoring of food container and humans preparing dinner
7 — dinner, followed by additional monitoring of human food consumption
9–short night walk, followed by 15 minutes of tug or throwing chew toy h in air and demands for butt scratches
Bedtime.

Lol. I understand squirrel monitoring but can you explain squirrel maintenance?

Keeping them in their place. If they are on the fence, lawn or furniture, they need to be chased back up into the trees. Maintaining the social order is very important when it comes to squirrels. Number 2 priority after ensuring proper feeding including payment of cheese tax and other applicable import duties. This is my dog’s world view.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It really depends on the dog — partially breed dependent but also personality. My brothers German shepherd is in movement almost all day. I have a neighbor whose golden retriever er spends the day trying to hold their hand or watching out the window for neighbors. Here is my golden’s typical day:

7 am walk
8-9 am, squirrel monitoring and maintenance
9-10:30 am — morning nap.
10:30-11–watch food container
11 — lunch
12 — afternoon walk
12:30-2:30 afternoon nap
2:30-3 watch food container
3 — afternoon snack
3-5–afternoon snack perhaps punctuated by squirrel maintenance or will play soccer outside if anyone will play with him
5–short walk, followed by monitoring of food container and humans preparing dinner
7 — dinner, followed by additional monitoring of human food consumption
9–short night walk, followed by 15 minutes of tug or throwing chew toy h in air and demands for butt scratches
Bedtime.

Lol. I understand squirrel monitoring but can you explain squirrel maintenance?

Keeping them in their place. If they are on the fence, lawn or furniture, they need to be chased back up into the trees. Maintaining the social order is very important when it comes to squirrels. Number 2 priority after ensuring proper feeding including payment of cheese tax and other applicable import duties. This is my dog’s world view.

Lol! This is my dog's world view, as well!

My dog's schedule is very similar to yours. Lots of squirrel correction, staring at food containers, napping, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Trying to see how a dog would fit into our family (mom, dad, 2 teens). Do dogs sleep a lot? Or play by themselves? There’s an adult home everyday except Wednesday when both adults are at work so maybe we need a dog sitter for that one day. Do you take your dog when you run errands or leave them to roam around the house for a few hours?

Why are you getting a dog? It really depends on the age of the dog and the breed. Yes, they do sleep a lot but, dogs are expensive and they need food, training, exercise and mental stimulation. Plus vet bills are very expensive! Most dogs would rather stay at home than go to Target with you. Did your 2 year old enjoy errands? Probably not!

So, if you are just getting a dog because you want it to sleep all day than maybe get a plushie? Dogs are living beings with needs of their own!

Op here. I will an empty nester soon and was hoping having a companion who would ease the transition. I’d love to go on walks and maybe hikes with a dog. But also want to make sure the dog would be ok at home for a few hours when I’m at dinner or the gym.

Totally ok! Never understand when people say having a dog is like having a baby. No, not at all. Even during the puppy stage, which is challenging, you can put them in the crate as needed.

Well then you lack imagination. Taking care of a puppy is taking care of another living being.

I don't lack imagination. A puppy is just much easier than a baby, much. I have owned five puppies in my life time and had four babies. They don't compare. And to the person who said a crib is like a crate... you can't put a baby in a crib while you run errands (like the OP asked).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Trying to see how a dog would fit into our family (mom, dad, 2 teens). Do dogs sleep a lot? Or play by themselves? There’s an adult home everyday except Wednesday when both adults are at work so maybe we need a dog sitter for that one day. Do you take your dog when you run errands or leave them to roam around the house for a few hours?

Why are you getting a dog? It really depends on the age of the dog and the breed. Yes, they do sleep a lot but, dogs are expensive and they need food, training, exercise and mental stimulation. Plus vet bills are very expensive! Most dogs would rather stay at home than go to Target with you. Did your 2 year old enjoy errands? Probably not!

So, if you are just getting a dog because you want it to sleep all day than maybe get a plushie? Dogs are living beings with needs of their own!

Op here. I will an empty nester soon and was hoping having a companion who would ease the transition. I’d love to go on walks and maybe hikes with a dog. But also want to make sure the dog would be ok at home for a few hours when I’m at dinner or the gym.

I would suggest you foster a dog. That way you could test out whether being a dog owner is for you and you are giving a dog a break from the shelter. You could start with breed specific rescues and that way determine which breed of dog is good with your lifestyle. I rescued a dog and he can be left alone for a few hours while I do errands/go out to dinner or the movies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Trying to see how a dog would fit into our family (mom, dad, 2 teens). Do dogs sleep a lot? Or play by themselves? There’s an adult home everyday except Wednesday when both adults are at work so maybe we need a dog sitter for that one day. Do you take your dog when you run errands or leave them to roam around the house for a few hours?

Why are you getting a dog? It really depends on the age of the dog and the breed. Yes, they do sleep a lot but, dogs are expensive and they need food, training, exercise and mental stimulation. Plus vet bills are very expensive! Most dogs would rather stay at home than go to Target with you. Did your 2 year old enjoy errands? Probably not!

So, if you are just getting a dog because you want it to sleep all day than maybe get a plushie? Dogs are living beings with needs of their own!

Op here. I will an empty nester soon and was hoping having a companion who would ease the transition. I’d love to go on walks and maybe hikes with a dog. But also want to make sure the dog would be ok at home for a few hours when I’m at dinner or the gym.

Totally ok! Never understand when people say having a dog is like having a baby. No, not at all. Even during the puppy stage, which is challenging, you can put them in the crate as needed.

Well then you lack imagination. Taking care of a puppy is taking care of another living being.

I don't lack imagination. A puppy is just much easier than a baby, much. I have owned five puppies in my life time and had four babies. They don't compare. And to the person who said a crib is like a crate... you can't put a baby in a crib while you run errands (like the OP asked).

Yes, of course. But, if someone has never had a dog, much less a puppy they don't realize how much work they are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They only lightly sleep at night because they are keeping one ear open to protect you since they notice everyone in the house is sleeping.

So during the day they do their deep sleeping. But they'll also go watch out the window, take a little stroll through the house to check things out, see if any food magically fell, check on their toys, etc.

Some people only take the dog in the car when needed. I think it's good to take your dog places so they don't associate the car only with the vet.

Generally you either gate off part of the house for the dog, or train them very well to behave, or crate them when leaving them home. Some dogs are fine home alone for 8 hours, some can only handle two, etc.

Just like people, dogs have personalities and emotions.

This was generally accurate, except my dog sleeps like the dead from 9-6 every night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Trying to see how a dog would fit into our family (mom, dad, 2 teens). Do dogs sleep a lot? Or play by themselves? There’s an adult home everyday except Wednesday when both adults are at work so maybe we need a dog sitter for that one day. Do you take your dog when you run errands or leave them to roam around the house for a few hours?

Why are you getting a dog? It really depends on the age of the dog and the breed. Yes, they do sleep a lot but, dogs are expensive and they need food, training, exercise and mental stimulation. Plus vet bills are very expensive! Most dogs would rather stay at home than go to Target with you. Did your 2 year old enjoy errands? Probably not!

So, if you are just getting a dog because you want it to sleep all day than maybe get a plushie? Dogs are living beings with needs of their own!

Op here. I will an empty nester soon and was hoping having a companion who would ease the transition. I’d love to go on walks and maybe hikes with a dog. But also want to make sure the dog would be ok at home for a few hours when I’m at dinner or the gym.

Totally ok! Never understand when people say having a dog is like having a baby. No, not at all. Even during the puppy stage, which is challenging, you can put them in the crate as needed.

Well then you lack imagination. Taking care of a puppy is taking care of another living being.

I don't lack imagination. A puppy is just much easier than a baby, much. I have owned five puppies in my life time and had four babies. They don't compare. And to the person who said a crib is like a crate... you can't put a baby in a crib while you run errands (like the OP asked).

I think my four infants were all easier than my three puppies.

-- Babies pee and poop in one place, their diapers.
-- Puppies pee and poop everywhere.

-- Babies are content playing in one room while the adult plays with them.
-- Puppies run around all over and always want to be somewhere else.

-- Babies can usually be consoled with a breast, bottle, or pacifier.
-- Puppies are harder to console at night.

-- Babies don't have razor-sharp teeth and talons.
-- Puppies have razor-sharp teeth and talons, much like a velociraptor.

-- Babies can be brought almost everywhere.
-- Puppies are not welcome very many places.


As difficult as puppies can be, they are amazing little creatures who are often super-cuddly, sweet, and loving. I wouldn't trade my puppy experience for anything, but I also acknowledge that it was hard!

[Anonymous]

Our labradoodle is 3 and pretty chill for her size (70) lbs. She will sleep in a chair or her bed when we are not home and is not destructive. She gets two 1-2 mile walks on a week day and 3 on a weekend or if k am working from home. Loves playing in the yard with our kids, chewing on a bone, and snuggling. She does sleep in the bed with us which is like having another human in there but we love cuddling with her!

[Anonymous]

Yeah my baby was way easier to integrate into my life than my puppy.