lonely dog what should I do?

[jboboxer]

Originally Posted by Caney Creek

The worst reason for getting a second dog is to keep the first one company. If the first dog is really that lonely/bored/misbehaved that probably means it isn't getting enough attention from its owners. If you don't have the time to spend with one dog, how are you going to handle two? Roxy is still a puppy herself, you have a long way to go with her and I think she deserves a little more attention and guidance from her owners before even thinking about getting another dog. And when you do get another dog, THAT one will require a good bit of attention as well no matter if you get a puppy or an adult. Getting a second dog will NOT make things easier for you. They will still both need regular training sessions, daily walks, and several potty breaks throughout the day.

Yes, I would definitely agree that Roxy is probably lonely considering the amount of time she spends by herself each day. But I don't think getting another dog is the answer. She is still going to want attention from you (and so will the second dog) and without your attention bad behavior will likely be the result.

I'd just put the idea of another dog out of your mind right now. Focus on finding a way for Roxy to get more exercise and more potty breaks during the day.

Confining her to one room might help to wean her off of the crate once you're ready to do that, but at the moment there is still the issue of her not being able to hold her bladder for the length of time you're asking her to, so even though she'll have more room to move around she's still likely to have accidents which will only prolong the process of housebreaking her. Again, the BIGGER issue at the moment is that she needs MORE FREQUENT POTTY BREAKS during the day.

Are you suggesting that I shouldn't have a dog unless I quiet my job? Just to get it straight, I would have to give Roxy up then, because I have to have a job and you are telling me I'm not spending enough time with her right now. I'm really not sure what you are even suggesting. I can't take her to dog care, because she doesn't have rabies shots yet. I'm not sure how i feel about a complete stranger coming into my house to walk her for 20 minutes, when I already wrote before I can do this myself, but you are still telling me I'm not spending enough time with her. Please give me a suggestion then

How much should I exercise her, since you are also telling me I'm not exercising her enough? She's 5 months old and 20-30 minutes a day is what I've been walking her and I throw the ball with her every single night for about 20 minutes as well. My vet is telling me I shouldn't do anymore and your telling me I am not doing enough.

[Caney Creek]

Originally Posted by jboboxer

Are you suggesting that I shouldn't have a dog unless I quiet my job?

NO! That is NOT AT ALL what I am suggesting. Many people who work all day can still have dogs, but all dogs require more exercise, more attention, AND more frequent bathroom breaks when they are young. What I am suggesting is that you FIND A WAY to let Roxy out to potty several times during the day, whether you do it yourself or you hire someone. I think that you coming home to walk her at lunchtime is a great idea, and and the one break during the day might be sufficient for some other puppies her age, but because Roxy has a bladder infection she NEEDS to be let out more often. Once she has recovered from it and has gotten a little older then she will be able to "hold it" longer, and who knows, maybe she will even be trustworthy enough by then that you don't even have to crate her anymore.

Strangers aren't all bad. You know how I got the job pet-sitting for the bulldog puppy? By responding to an ad for a nanny position on craigslist. I was a complete stranger when I started pet-sitting for the family with the bulldog puppy... AND nannying for their 8 yr old daughter. I treated those two like they were my own.

If you don't want to go with a professional pet-sitting service, post an ad for the job and set up interviews.

[ehayes21]

Originally Posted by jboboxer

Are these some type of boots? I'm trying to look online and puppy pads or any other name is showing me more training pads

No. LOL...I was talking about the pads on the dogs feet. They are tough enough to handle a little hot pavement.

Originally Posted by jboboxer

Wow 2 years old, I feel kind of bad for her to be alone even roaming the house and back yard until she was two years old.

Originally we were actually going to get two puppies at once and the reason we didn't was because I saw what my sister went through. It seemed twice as hard to housebreak them, twice as hard to train them. It seemed like other people who had one dog and then later got another dog that it was easier to train, because they could follow the leadership of the first dog. It's really the only reason we didn't get two dogs at once.
We knew our schedule before we bought Roxy, well my wifes schedule has changed for the worst, but she's not enjoying the new schedule and probably going to get a job somewhere else anyway. Right now for the most part she's only coming home to sleep at night.

In all honestly it seems every single person I can think of who has a single dog is either a housewife or works at home. If both husband and wife work, then it seems they always have more than one dog.
Of course I know there's people who keep their dogs outside only and people who could care less if their dog is bored or lonely.

During the weekends even when I go to a restaurant I call in advance to see if I can sit outside in their patio and bring Roxy, because since we don't spend much time with her during the weekday I feel bad leaving her even for a minute in the weekends.

There are lots of single dog homes that are perfectly happy. Rowdy was an only dog until he was three years old and did just fine. I worked an 8 hour day, but just made provisions for him while I was away. Don't be fooled that every dog needs another dog in order to not be lonely. You just have to do what you can to make sure they're not bored; like tiring them out before you leave, having some one come in mid-day for a little play time and a potty break, then lots of exercise and play time after you get home.

[jboboxer]

Originally Posted by ehayes21

No. LOL...I was talking about the pads on the dogs feet. They are tough enough to handle a little hot pavement.





There are lots of single dog homes that are perfectly happy. Rowdy was an only dog until he was three years old and did just fine. I worked an 8 hour day, but just made provisions for him while I was away. Don't be fooled that every dog needs another dog in order to not be lonely. You just have to do what you can to make sure they're not bored; like tiring them out before you leave, having some one come in mid-day for a little play time and a potty break, then lots of exercise and play time after you get home.

Are you sure they can handle that kind of heat? I'm not sure where in Florida you live, but I've walked a few times barefoot and as a result had blisters all over my feet. There's been times I've gone to the beach and forgot my flipflops and didn't realize it was so hot and I have to run for shade. The people walking down the street with flipflops or shoes wouldn't have a clue how how the floors are.

I'm not sure if your aware, but sidewalks in my area reach up to 145 degrees, which I can't imagine being a dog having to walk barefoot in these conditions.

Now that we're getting cooler weather it might not be a problem, but I'm not sure how you can determine if your dog is uncomfortable or not?

It's a lot cooler at 6pm for me and I've noticed the few times I've walked Roxy during the day she is about to die. I mean she can go 30 minutes and come back home and want to play fetch and has a little bit of energy. If I take her during the middle of the day, she has trouble breathing really really bad and her tongue just falls out of her mouth the entire walk.

Because of the hot side walks that I feel she would suffer and the humidity, which I've read a few times that boxers don't do too well. I've been trying to walk her when it's a little bit cooler. I've noticed that if I'm sweating from the humidity bad, she is really breathing heavy.

"Because of their brachycephalic head, they do not do well with high heat or humidity, and common sense should prevail when exercising a Boxer in these conditions."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxer_dog

[ehayes21]

Originally Posted by jboboxer

Are you sure they can handle that kind of heat? I'm not sure where in Florida you live, but I've walked a few times barefoot and as a result had blisters all over my feet. There's been times I've gone to the beach and forgot my flipflops and didn't realize it was so hot and I have to run for shade. The people walking down the street with flipflops or shoes wouldn't have a clue how how the floors are.

I'm not sure if your aware, but sidewalks in my area reach up to 145 degrees, which I can't imagine being a dog having to walk barefoot in these conditions.

Now that we're getting cooler weather it might not be a problem, but I'm not sure how you can determine if your dog is uncomfortable or not?

It's a lot cooler at 6pm for me and I've noticed the few times I've walked Roxy during the day she is about to die. I mean she can go 30 minutes and come back home and want to play fetch and has a little bit of energy. If I take her during the middle of the day, she has trouble breathing really really bad and her tongue just falls out of her mouth the entire walk.

Because of the hot side walks that I feel she would suffer and the humidity, which I've read a few times that boxers don't do too well. I've been trying to walk her when it's a little bit cooler. I've noticed that if I'm sweating from the humidity bad, she is really breathing heavy.

"Because of their brachycephalic head, they do not do well with high heat or humidity, and common sense should prevail when exercising a Boxer in these conditions."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxer_dog

I live in Orlando and it's freaking hot. Long walks are usually reserved for early morning and later at night, because they cannot handle the heat. But a potty break and a little play on grass won't hurt a bit.

[BxrMommieNAZ]

Originally Posted by jboboxer

Are these some type of boots? I'm trying to look online and puppy pads or any other name is showing me more training pads

No she's talking about their NATURAL pads on their feet. Dogs are made to walk on ground, concrete, hot, cold, whatever, her natural feet will be just fine.

[BxrMommieNAZ]

Originally Posted by jboboxer

Wow 2 years old, I feel kind of bad for her to be alone even roaming the house and back yard until she was two years old.

.

I had my ONLY Boxer for 4 years before we ever decided to get another dog, and he was very well adjusted very happy, and enjoyed the company of people, and playing with us. He did fine when we got another dog, but I honestly did not see him any happier or sadder before or after getting another dog, it was just simply a change to the household but didn't seem to affect him one way or the other. He still wanted our attention and to play with our son, and to have that human interaction regardless of another dog being here or not. There's nothing to feel bad about.

Honestly, it sounds like you want to get Roxy a "friend" so YOU don't have to feel guilty for not spending very much time with her, when the reality is she's still going to want and need your attention and so is the other dog. You don't have time for ONE dog how in the heck will you have time for TWO???? I wouldn't put an age limit on Roxy (although I agree not before 2 years old), I would put a time limit on when yours and your wife's schedule changes and you have more time for the one dog you already have. Then decide if you want two or not.

[BxrMommieNAZ]

Originally Posted by jboboxer

In all honestly it seems every single person I can think of who has a single dog is either a housewife or works at home. If both husband and wife work, then it seems they always have more than one dog.
Of course I know there's people who keep their dogs outside only and people who could care less if their dog is bored or lonely.

.

I had only one dog and I worked full time as did my husband. I was working 40 hour weeks he was working 50 hour weeks, and we had one Boxer. We made the decision to get another dog, but it had nothing to do with having a friend for our Lucas it had to do with the fact that I wanted another dog. We got her knowing that my husband's schedule was going to change after he completed the law enforcement academy and he was going to be working 4 10 hour shifts, but working mostly nights so we adopted an older dog that could be trusted out of her crate, etc (once we got her re-potty trained).

Our decision to get another dog had NOTHING to do with our then current dog and everything to do with the fact that we wanted (well mainly I LOL) another dog. I also did it knowing that someone would be home more often and that the situation we brought her into wasn't going to be that way for very long.

[jboboxer]

Originally Posted by ehayes21

I live in Orlando and it's freaking hot. Long walks are usually reserved for early morning and later at night, because they cannot handle the heat. But a potty break and a little play on grass won't hurt a bit.

We live in the same city then..... I was talking about coming home around noon and a few months ago I'd feel bad making Roxy walk on the concrete. Now I haven't tested the floor with my bare feet, but just referring to the times I would go to Cocoa Beach and walk just across the street and end up with blisters.

All the dog owners I know around here tell me not to walk my dog during the middle of the day, because of the heat on the sidewalk could cook an egg. The weather has been getting much better though, so I'll try maybe walking her 15-20 minutes during lunch and then the normal 20-30 minutes at 6pm when it's much cooler.

[jboboxer]

Originally Posted by BxrMommieNAZ

I had my ONLY Boxer for 4 years before we ever decided to get another dog, and he was very well adjusted very happy, and enjoyed the company of people, and playing with us. He did fine when we got another dog, but I honestly did not see him any happier or sadder before or after getting another dog, it was just simply a change to the household but didn't seem to affect him one way or the other. He still wanted our attention and to play with our son, and to have that human interaction regardless of another dog being here or not. There's nothing to feel bad about.

Honestly, it sounds like you want to get Roxy a "friend" so YOU don't have to feel guilty for not spending very much time with her, when the reality is she's still going to want and need your attention and so is the other dog. You don't have time for ONE dog how in the heck will you have time for TWO???? I wouldn't put an age limit on Roxy (although I agree not before 2 years old), I would put a time limit on when yours and your wife's schedule changes and you have more time for the one dog you already have. Then decide if you want two or not.

I guess it's just that most people I know who work full time and aren't home seem to have two dogs. I'd imagine if I was a dog I would be lonely while the family was out working and nobody was home.

My sister for instance is single and lives with her two dogs, which seem to keep each other company while she's gone to work each day. She purchased both dogs at the sametime, which if you ask her she will tell you that she thinks it's mean to leave a dog completely alone for that many hours and she feels her dogs enjoy playing with each other and the company, but then again she can't ask her dogs.
Her only regret was getting both of the dogs at the sametime, because it was so hard to train two at once.

Does anybody here actually work LOL

[BxrMommieNAZ]

Originally Posted by jboboxer

I guess it's just that most people I know who work full time and aren't home seem to have two dogs. I'd imagine if I was a dog I would be lonely while the family was out working and nobody was home.

My sister for instance is single and lives with her two dogs, which seem to keep each other company while she's gone to work each day. She purchased both dogs at the sametime, which if you ask her she will tell you that she thinks it's mean to leave a dog completely alone for that many hours and she feels her dogs enjoy playing with each other and the company, but then again she can't ask her dogs.
Her only regret was getting both of the dogs at the sametime, because it was so hard to train two at once.

Does anybody here actually work LOL

Yes I work 2 jobs, one full time one part time, one is my own business the other I'm a sub contractor for. My husband is a police officer and works MINIMUM 40 hour weeks typically closer to 60. I also have an almost 8 year old child, 2 dogs, 2 cats, a home, and yep, I manage to balance it all. But yes, my husband and I both work full time, myself I work two jobs.

[Jan]

I think what your pup really needs is more exercise. You need to get up 1/2 and hour earlier and take her out for some exercise. If you can manage to come home at lunch time too, that would be great. If she gets exercise before you go to work, she will quite happily sleep until you come home at lunch time. The same will be true in the afternoon. Dogs sleep 3/4 of the time and puppies even more. If your dog is only being left alone for 4-5 hours at a time, she has it pretty good. There are many dogs out there that are confined for 8-9 hours at a stretch. My dogs are alone for 10-12 hours a day, but they do have a dog door, so they can go out as often as they please. When your dog gets a little older and has full run of the house, you can get a dog door and then you won't need to come home at lunch.

Good luck!