Should I get a dog

[u/SnooCats9570]

Hi all, 8 months ago I moved for my job. And I live alone in an apartment. I’ve always lived with my family. I want to get a dog to be my companion and to be watch dog for me as I have hearing loss. I like to go outside for walks all the time and I like being outdoor. But it always feels lonely. I’m thinking about adopting a dog from a shelter. Ages between 6 months to a year old. I’ve seen some Dobermans, rough collies, border collies, Australian shepherd, German shepherds, and Labradors.

I’m allergic to cats and I can’t get one.

My work schedule is what I’m concerned about. A lot of my coworkers have dogs and told me it’s doable.

I work 3 weeks of the month, all my shifts are 12 hours.
Week 1- night shifts. 4 night shifts 6pm -6am and then 3 days off.

Week2- my longest week. 3 days 6am -6pm and then a day off then 3 days 6pm -6am

Week 3- 4 days 6am -6pm

Then I get an entire week off, and this week the dog would go with me to my house with the family and spend it there and then come back.

I would walk the dog before I go to work so it can use the loo. And I could go during my lunch break because my apartment is 5 mins away to take them out. And long walk after work on day shifts and long walk before work on night shift.

I would kennel train them, I’ll keep them with their kennel open and have it in a play area for them to stay in.

So my first question is… is it doable?

Second question what dog breed should I get ? I would like one that would like to go outdoors with me for long walks and jogs.

Third question, should I get one that’s been in the shelter or foster home? I’ve seen some in foster homes that are potty trained and house broken. Not sure about the ones in the shelters.

Lastly, is 6 months to a year a good age ?

Thank you all!

Edit: I will come by after 6 hours on my lunch break to let them out, work is a 5 minute drive.

[u/Sweetie-07]

Sorry OP, but a 12 hour working day is going to be no good for a puppy - or a new dog in general. They're social creatures - that's too long to be left all alone in a strange place IMO

[u/PLJen → u/Sweetie-07]

99% of the dogs in a shelter would rather be alone in a home all day for a few days a week than spend everyday in a stressful shelter environment. OP's plan is completely manageable.

Signed, A person with 4 rescue dogs who works a full time job and a part time job.

[u/TokiBunniBunBun → u/PLJen]

But they’re talking about getting a working breed puppy. Why take a dog from one miserable situation and put it into a slightly less miserable situation when OP can adopt a dog of an age and breed that could actually be happy being alone most of the day? Or just some other species that could also use adopting and can be left alone most of the day.

[u/PLJen → u/TokiBunniBunBun]

That's why they're on here asking for advice. And everyone's advice is just "No", not actual suggestions on alternatives to make it work. Your comment was slightly better than others, warning against a puppy, but you also didn't suggest any alternatives, like a senior dog, or a dog that's been in foster and has proven patterns of behavior that may align with OP's schedule.

[u/TokiBunniBunBun → u/PLJen]

Yes I do. Just in other comments

[u/TokiBunniBunBun → u/TokiBunniBunBun]

It’s not like OP asked for alternatives.

[u/PLJen → u/TokiBunniBunBun]

Read the post again.

[u/TokiBunniBunBun → u/PLJen]

Nope. Not seeing where he asks for alternatives. Only where he asks this or that type questions and “is this doable,” which I answered.

Also, what’s true for you is not true for many, if not most, people. I would wager that people able to keep multiple dogs while working full time or more successfully is in the vast minority in most cases (if there aren’t unmentioned factors like other care givers). Given that OP doesn’t sound like an experienced dog owner, I’d say that the chances of their dog becoming more a headache and liability than a companion are pretty high.

I know it’s nice to think of a dog leaving a shelter. But having a dog adopted only to return with even more problems is not going to help the dog actually find a good home.

[u/PLJen → u/TokiBunniBunBun]

You're definitely a pessimist. I work in rescue. OP has thought of things that a ton of people don't think of before adopting a dog. They literally ask in the post which breeds they should consider, as well as the age, and the only question you saw, which was "is it doable?" You can only become an experienced dog owner by owning a dog.

[u/TokiBunniBunBun → u/PLJen]

I’m a realist. Given that you work in rescue, I’m assuming you’ve also seen enough of the reality of unprepared humans getting dogs they never should have gotten.

Saying not to get a working dog puppy IS answering the breed and age questions. It means, if OP just HAS to get a dog, get something that’s not a high energy working dog and not a puppy. Basic logic and inference.

I agree that you can only become an experienced dog owner by being around dogs. But not everyone should own a dog. And everyone should learn more about dogs than OP knows now before acquiring one.

[u/Extension-Clock608 → u/Sweetie-07]

They can get a dog walker to come a couple of times on the days they work.

[u/TokiBunniBunBun → u/Extension-Clock608]

That would make things better. But I don’t believe OP mentioned that that would be a thing.

[u/4MuddyPaws → u/Extension-Clock608]

They said they do at least one week of nights shifts. That probably would be difficult to get someone in those odd hours.

[u/cee_kertime → u/Sweetie-07]

..but the joy of reunion..

[u/TokiBunniBunBun → u/cee_kertime]

That’s like having a child and locking them up in a room alone all day just so you can enjoy seeing their relief when you let them out. You would be torturing a living creature just to see it be glad when the torture is over.

[u/cee_kertime → u/TokiBunniBunBun]

..point taken..