Multiple dogs / Work schedule
|
|
I have 4 and they have been left quite often. I have never had a problem(except for Rosco countersurfing, but he always shares) but my dogs have always been together. The only problem is the howling they all do when they think you're gone  One rap on the window and they quiet right down. I think what they really do is sleep all day. |
| We both work full-time and have 2 dogs and, now that Clyde's older, everything's great. I think it really depends on the personalities off the dogs too and how they get along together. Lucy is a 8 or 9 year old Briard/Brearded Collie mix (rescue) that I've had for almost 7 years. Clyde, my OES, is 13 months old. Lucy has never required any supervision and has always loved the quiet time while we were gone. Clyde, typical sheepie, is more clingy. We got him as a puppy and he had a bit of separation anxiety. But, he really turned into a sweet, well-behaved dog-- more when I'm not there than when I am! We crate trained him but we ditched the crate about 4 months ago now and they're left with full run of the house all day together. It's the only time Clyde respects Lucy as his elder! With us out of the house, he doesn't try to show off for us. We spied on him once and saw him lying quietly right next to her without nipping or swatting-- something that never happens when we're around!
As Clyde was being house trained, I went home for lunch to let him outside and play with him a little and went back to work. I also had a dog walker come once a week too break up the long day that we both had classes at night. That worked out great. Once he could hold it through the day, we let him out of the crate and he's been good ever since too. No accidents or destruction. I think Lucy is actually a good influence on him though. Even when we're home, if he's somewhere that he isn't supposed to be, she'll get up and growl in his face. She's awesome! All in all, now that all the training and puppy mishaps are over, it's great. I love having them both around and I think they like each other too, although if they could talk, they'd never admit it! |
| I leave for work about 8:30 am and am home by about 4pm, and the dogs do just fine. In fact, I think they do far better with each other for company than alone. |
| Do any of your dogs have a history of nipping at other dogs? The only thing I can think of is that she has a strong herding instinct and has had puppies before. She nips at ALL dogs and small children. If the other dog isn't a puppy or submissive, it could get ugly. I don't know if I'd be doing a disservice to Annie just for my benefit of having another dog. I guess I'm concerned that I'd come home after work to find a bloody ear or something. |
| If she has dog aggression problems then it might not be a good idea, but if you just mean normal oes nipping I wouldn't worry.
I would say a pup would be better in your situation, but an adult of the opposite sex works well usually for dominant dogs IMO. Of course if you are not using a crate or any other means to separate them when you aren't home then I'm not so sure it would be a good idea. Mine are fine crated or not, but I wouldn't leave them with a new dog, puppy or not, without a crate. Even just in normal play things can get rough bouncing around etc. |
I have two dogs and work. I actually am gone for a long day, leaving at 6;15 and not getting home til 4:40. One stays loose and the other stays in the crate. Seperate but equal  |
| I have 2 dogs, Barney - 1 yr, Maggie - 2 yrs; work 40 hrs / wk as a cashier. My schedule varies every day and week to week. I thought this would be a problem. But they have no problem being in my large country style kitchen for about 9 hrs. whether its 5:30am to 2:30 pm, 8-4:30, or 2:45pm to 12:15 am. If the weather is reasonable and I can leave them out after 6am or get home before 10pm so they don't bother the neighbors if they bark, they stay outside. They have toys, but most of the time when inside the toys are not touched. I think they sleep and play with each other. I was quite concerned about this before I got Barney, and again when I got Maggie; but sheepies seem to be quite adaptable. I've had no problems with chewing things up, accidents, or countersurfing (I do keep potential temptations off the counters).
Good luck. |
Annie's Mom wrote: Do any of your dogs have a history of nipping at other dogs? The only thing I can think of is that she has a strong herding instinct and has had puppies before. She nips at ALL dogs and small children. If the other dog isn't a puppy or submissive, it could get ugly. I don't know if I'd be doing a disservice to Annie just for my benefit of having another dog. I guess I'm concerned that I'd come home after work to find a bloody ear or something.
Clyde drags Lucy around by the neck, does that count? She let him do it as a puppy and she still does, even though he outweighs her by 35 pounds! There's a lot of noise between them but nothing vicious. When she's tired of him, she lets him know. Like I said though, their behavior when they're alone is much different than when I'm here! |
| I am always interested in this subject, too. I think either of mine alone would be okay, not crated, inside the house while I'm gone. But together, they're just too rough and tumble....but that's when I'm home.
I would love to try to spy on them, like you did Jill, when they think I'm gone to see how they'd behave alone. Genevieve has the highest energy level for an OES I've ever seen. I'd be curious to see if she'd settle down and sleep while I'm gone. I know Beaureguard would sleep if she did. For now, though, in answer to your question Annie's Mom, they are either crated (Gen) or gated (Beau) inside the house or they're outside playing in the fenced yard weather permitting. |
| How about Nanny cam? Leave for a short time and see what happens. |
Good idea, Holly! I'm actually looking into something similar called PetCam. Cameras set up around your house that you can check remotely via a website. I could check on them from work and see if they've destroyed anything.  |
| I have a puggle who is 2 and I just got my OES puppy. We bought a pretty bigcage with a divider for when Ben gets older but we have found that leaving them both in the cage without the divider works really well. Ben doesnt bark and carry on when we arnt there and he has fewer accidents. |
Beaureguard's Mom wrote: I would love to try to spy on them, like you did Jill, when they think I'm gone to see how they'd behave alone. Genevieve has the highest energy level for an OES I've ever seen. I'd be curious to see if she'd settle down and sleep while I'm gone. I know Beaureguard would sleep if she did.
I've only got one young one though and I think that helps too. Lucy's kinda like the mom when I'm gone. Clyde's a spaz when we're home but I think, deep down, he knows that without me there, Lucy may kill him if he pushes her too far.  He isn't smart enough to realize how much bigger he is than her!
I've thought about a web cam just to see what goes on all day. I'd hate to catch them doing anything while I'm at work though because it would drive me CRAZY not being able to stop it! |
ButtersStotch wrote: I've thought about a web cam just to see what goes on all day. I'd hate to catch them doing anything while I'm at work though because it would drive me CRAZY not being able to stop it!
I know! I can just see me running out the door yelling "I've got an emergency! I'll be back in an hour!"  |
| No kidding! I assume I'd get about 10 minutes of work done! |
| I'd be more obsessed with the DogCam than I am about this website! |
| I have 3 dogs, and am gone from 8:00 to 4:00PM. My BIL lives with us, though and he works afternoons, so does the mid-day potty thing. Bosley is still crated at 6 months, but he loves his crate and sleeps in it during the day. At nite he is loose in our bedroom, though. What I find the most difficult is keeping up on the training with 3 dogs, as when I am working with one of them the other 2 want in on it, and will bark and howl etc. I need to separate them during those times. I have 3 at different levels. One of was a kennel dog, and is not really trained much (my fault), my pup is, well, in training all day LOL, and my 3rd dog is extremely well-trained, as she is my demo dog when I hold obedience training classes, or do private lessons, or do assessments for rescue dogs. If I had more time I would dedicate it to training. I would recommend that your existing dog is well trained before introducing another one that you will need to spend time with. |
Beaureguard's Mom wrote: I can just see me running out the door yelling "I've got an emergency! I'll be back in an hour!"
LOL... That's funny. Danita and I have full time jobs but have the chance to go home for lunch as we live close by our offices. We've left them inside from 8:00 'till 5:00 when we cannot make it for lunch, and they've been fine. They sleep all day, recharching their batteries for the time we come home and let them run loose in the park. If your doggies are well behaved and they are used to routine, I don't think there's too much of a problem, just play a lot and provide excercise when you get home. |
| Hi,
I always left Shaggy and Blue in the house and never occurred any problems. Of course they were aged dogs and so spent the days snoozing until I arrived home. Now I leave Merlin, Panda and Blue complete roam of the house and never have problems. Working for the school district I've had ample opportunity during holiday times to observe the boys during the day. I found they pattern themselves after my work schedule - they sleep during the day. They've learned not even to follow me down the stairs on the days that I work. It's a different story on Sat and Sundays. My friend related a funny story to me, seemed her dog only became excited when her husband wore sports socks. Turned out they realized that he wore dress socks on his work days but weekends were for sports socks and so "Joey" became a different dog on those days knowing he'd be home with his people.
The best advice I'd give to anyone would be: if possible to schedule the arrival of a new pup or dog during your holiday time so as to familiarize them with the routines of the household. Toilet training is much easier if you have a few days to consistently work on it. It's important that the home is puppy proofed much like someone baby proofs a home to keep them out of harms way. I think Sheepie owners get really good too about keeping counters clean and anything else that these furballs can get into. If one is worried about two or more big dogs roaming their house during their work hours ..doesn't necessarily have to be another Sheepie..just take a look at the relationship between Tasker and his tiny pal Ty whose mom post on this forum.
Sure, there may be times they rough house but again a smart mom would make sure that the priceless chinese ming vase would be out of harms way and up high so as not to get accidently knocked off.
I've never had to crate any of my dogs while away and they have the freedom of going in or out (high fence and locked gate) so as no one can see what's in my backyard. It's been my experience that they never go outside unless they have to go to the bathroom, preferring to live the good life and snooze during my absence. Good luck to you! Marianne and the boys |
Didn't find exactly what you're looking for? Search again here:
Custom Search
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|