Doggie on the Go!

So you’ve wanted a dog since you were little, but your mum wouldn’t let you or your sister was allergic and that dream dog never came. Now that you are an adult, it’s time to make that dream come true. You go out to the pet store and find this adorable puppy that you can’t say no to and bring them home. You have all the toys ready, their little bed ready to go and you and your pup are very excited. And then you jet off to a 12-hour client meeting and come back to a house in pieces. Is there something wrong with this picture?

Besides the obvious training that an owner should do, a common mistake many people make is choosing the wrong breed. They don’t do their research beforehand and end up realising that they made a mistake. In other words, you got the wrong pooch!

Dogs are like humans too, with feelings and personalities that have to be compatible to you and your lifestyle. No matter how cute the dog may be, if they’re a dog that gets sad every time you leave for 10-12 hours of work, this could cause major problems. Many behavioural problems can arise when your dog is feeling neglected.

So if you want a dog, but you are out all day, almost every day, here are a couple breeds to start. They won’t mind too much you being gone and being alone, so long as you reward them with some much needed attention when you get home each day.

Great Dane:
These massive dogs can actually make good pets for the time poor people out there. Although control and training is required (like every other dog under the sun) these dogs are not aggressive and require little exercise, compared to other dogs. In fact, many people over-exert them as puppies, which can lead to other developmental problems as they get older. What makes these dogs a match made in heaven for busy lifestyles is the fact that they are couch potatoes. They are not the ones that will jump on you all the time and want you to play. They much prefer to sit on the floor and stretch out. But as puppies (like most dog) have a lot of energy, so make sure to have toys to occupy their time.

Basset Hound:

This type of dog can be classified as very easy-going, which may help to cope with you not being at home. Because of their history in hunting, they will pick up a scent and follow it, which can keep them occupied for hours on end. Overall, they are calm and do well indoors, just as long as it does get a chance to go outside each day.

Mi-Ki:
These dogs are almost catlike. The way they play and interact with others, you may find yourself thinking that you have a cat in your house, not a dog. Small and calm, these dogs have a low activity level and are very much laid-back.В  Their high level of intelligence makes them easy to train, an activity which can be time-consuming for other breeds.

These are just some of the possible options for you people out there with long work days. While these are just examples, you can conduct your own research to find the breed for you. Looking up breeders in your area and talking to pet stores can be a good starting place.

And of course, if you are just too busy, maybe it is not the right time for you to get a dog. Remember dogs commonly have an average lifespan of 10 to 13 years. They take a lot of responsibility and time that you may not be able to give right now.В  Maybe a cat would be a better choice. Or maybe it’s even better to wait a little until you think you have the time and space in your life and home. However, if you are gone all day, but know someone who can come over to check in on the dog or even play with the dog, then you just opened up more options.В  What weeds out many dogs for hectic lifestyles is the lack of human interaction and boredom they will receive from owners.

To find which dog breed is best for your lifestyle, try this online quiz.

Mi Ki image by SignalPAD.