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Working & having a pet
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I'm moving into my own place in the next few months and I'd really love to get a dog. I work full time but would come home in my lunch hour, I would also consider getting a dog walker but I have no idea how much this would cost. I just wondered if anyone else here has a dog and works full time and how you manage it? I'm not a cat lover but if I can't get a dog I would look at getting another small animal, although I'd really love a dog.
Hiya. I'm feeling really grotty tonight so this is going to be a hsort post. I really don't recommend that you get a dog, it is unfair to leave it all day, even if you are home at lunchtime. You could be setting yourself up for destruction and seperation anxiety. I would have suggested a cat but you've already ruled that out. Rats make very good pets, maybe you should consider a small mammal along those lines?
Yes I think you're right, It isn't the right time for me to get a dog. I had hamsters as a child which were really tame so that is a possibilty. I hope you feel better soon Kango. 
I had hamsters as a child which were really tame so that is a possibilty. I hope you feel better soon Kango.
If you can really commit to definitely being home every lunch hour and you don't work too long hours then it might be manageable but you'd need to give up your whole lunch hour to spend time with the dog! It would also take the dog quite a while to get used to it and isn't really fair on it, it could be the sort of dog that doesn't like being apart from it's owner for any length of time (which is quite often the case). The best place to get a dog would be a rescue or re-homing centre and they do checks first to see whether the environment is suitable for the animal. You could be in with the chance of finding a dog that is used to spending large amounts of time without company in a re-homing centre, but if you wanted a puppy then it definitely wouldn't be a good idea! It also depends what sort of place you'll be living in and whether it's dog suitable! I think you need to remember that dogs are quite needy animals that love human company and lots of it, that's why they're man's best friend! If you don't want a cat then maybe you could get a house rabbit or a few guinea pigs or something? You can get large indoor cages for them and if you have a garden then you could have a run for them out there. Plus, they're quite good to cuddle too and all animals have personalities, not just dogs! 
My hamster was a right character!
My hamster was a right character!
How about rabbits? You could get a pair - netuered male + spayed female or 2 spayed females go best together. If you could get a pair, they would keep each other company and live quite happily as house pets (chew proof things 
) Or maybe 2 or 3 guinea pigs? Eta should have read the above post properly 
) Or maybe 2 or 3 guinea pigs? Eta should have read the above post properly
House rabbits might be a good idea, as I'm living alone I could really do with the company. Do you have house rabbits NuNu?
Do you have house rabbits NuNu?
Nope Mine have to live outside (but I won with the guinea pig :yay: ) I know of a few people who have house rabbits through a pet forum I use, and they love them. Neutered ones are easy to litter train though, as they prefer to use one area to toilet in. You can get some really good indoor cages for them now, but I've heard of people using large dog crates instead as they are quite a bit bigger and they work out better value for money. I'd love mine to be indoors, as they have brilliant personalities I've trained Archie to "beg" for treats which is sooo cute ETA - if you do consider a rabbit(s) I would look into getting from a rescue, as you get more of a history on them (medical problems etc...) and if you get a pair they've normally done the work of bonding them for you as well as neutering/spaying and vaccinations. Also after Easter sadly a lot of the "Easter Bunnies" will end up in rescues if the kids have got bored of them.
Mine have to live outside (but I won with the guinea pig :yay: ) I know of a few people who have house rabbits through a pet forum I use, and they love them. Neutered ones are easy to litter train though, as they prefer to use one area to toilet in. You can get some really good indoor cages for them now, but I've heard of people using large dog crates instead as they are quite a bit bigger and they work out better value for money. I'd love mine to be indoors, as they have brilliant personalities I've trained Archie to "beg" for treats which is sooo cute ETA - if you do consider a rabbit(s) I would look into getting from a rescue, as you get more of a history on them (medical problems etc...) and if you get a pair they've normally done the work of bonding them for you as well as neutering/spaying and vaccinations. Also after Easter sadly a lot of the "Easter Bunnies" will end up in rescues if the kids have got bored of them.
[FONT=Century Gothic] Hiya, [/FONT] [FONT=Century Gothic] [/FONT] [FONT=Century Gothic] Me and my partner have a dog. We both work full time BUT my mum has her during the day as she plays with my mums dog and she also has out son, so were very very lucky!! [/FONT] [FONT=Century Gothic] [/FONT] [FONT=Century Gothic] If im honest, i always always wanted a dog of our own but wouldnt have got one if it wasnt for mum & dad!! It's not fair to leave a dog at home while your at work and, coming home for lunch, i dont think is long enough for the dog, they also want company!! [/FONT] [FONT=Century Gothic] [/FONT] [FONT=Century Gothic] So no i wouldnt in your circumstances x [/FONT]
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House rabbits might be a good idea, as I'm living alone I could really do with the company. Do you have house rabbits NuNu?
House bunnies are very easy to care for. Do be aware that during the day when unattended they will need somewhere 'safe'. Bunnies will chew anythin and everything so be aware of electrical cords and the like. Best kept in pairs as bunnies normally prefer comapny, some like Harvey (the damn) Bunny don't but they are not that common. Please do go to a rescue to get them as they will be able to give you a bonded pair that need rehousing. They will also provide honest opinion as to the animals traits and charcter so if like most people you want to avoid the Were Rabbit don't get oe that has "plenty of character" (ie Harvey). Also do consider a Large or Giant pair of bunnies as these tend to get stuck in rescues as not many folk want to take them on, as they can be too much for kids and eat like small horses, or in Harveys case an entire herd of soddin great big horses. RSPCA || Latest http://www.rspca.org.uk/ BunSpace.com http://www.bunspace.com/ Rabbit Rehome - Adopt an unwanted bunny from a rescue centre http://www.rabbitrehome.org.uk/
Do you have house rabbits NuNu?
To be totally honest, I'd say not to get a dog if you work long hours (8 hours or more). I really wouldn't reccomend leaving a dog longer than 4 hours at a time, it is unfair. Also if you get a puppy, toilet training would be an ABSOLUTE nightmare if you were working every day. Pups need to go once every 1 - 2 hours (some even more) when they are young, so you would end up with alot of messy carpets/crates etc... which would set you up for failure later on - as it's best when toilet training to get as many of the poo's and wee's in the right place, and not indoors.
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