Real honest answer on right time for a puppy

[croikee]

Hey everyone. First off, I'm not looking for what I want to hear, I'm looking for your honest opinions as boxer lovers.

My name is John and I am looking to get a boxer. I am 28 years old and a Jr. High Pastor. I currently live in an apartment and will be in a condo in a year or two.

I do not take the decision lightly, to get a dog. You are talking about bringing another life into mine and making me responsible for that life. Not something to downplay.

The reason for a boxer? Well everyone says they are such fun dogs. They have a 'pupply' like playfullness most of their lives. They are goofy. Thats exactly how I am, getting to work with Jr. High students.

Also, Boxers do well in apartments, which is going to be my living reality for awhile

My question is this, do you feel my living situation allows me to adequatly care for a puppy? Here is my situation.

I work Tuesdays through Fridays and Sundays from about 8 Am to 12:30. I am lucky in that I have very flexible hours and can work off-site a few hours a week.

My in-concrete schedule, however, is Tuesdays as I am here from 12:30 PM to 9:00 PM (although I could make it home around 4:00 PM for a potty break).
Also, Sundays from that 8-noon time period I can not come back home.

For a full-grown dog that may not be an issue as I've read that people crate their dogs all day. My big concern is not personal time with the dog as my days off and afternoons/evenings would be centered on this.

My concern is a puppy and its potty needs. I won't crate a puppy and leave it to be forced with the choice of getting sick or messing in its 'den' (crate). yet there are a few days I simply can not come home in 3 hour intervals.

I have read where some people section off a part of their room (such as my kitchen) and put down newspaper so the puppy can go and also leave the Crate in that area. That way the puppy has its den but can also go onto the paper to releave itself. Is this harmful to the dog?

I want a dog bad, and would care for this animal without a doubt. But I won't put my desire for a dog above my reality to properly care for it. What are your thoughts on this? Hopefully my heart on the matter came through well. If you feel this situation would be okay for a puppy then I am very excited! If not, I accept that

Thank you!
John

 

[Roscoesmommy]

If you are worried about the potty issues and leaving them for more than a few hours, you could always resuce an older dog. There are many, many older boxers out there that need loving homes. Do an internet search and try to find a local boxer rescue in your area and the rescues will match the best dog to fit your situation. Older rescue boxers are wonderful. Yes, they may have a few issues that need work on, but I can tell you from experience, they offer more love than you could ever dream of. We rescued Blayne in June of this year and she is absolutely the sweetest dog ever. Rescue dogs are so thankful to you for giving them a loving forever home.
If you are dead set on a puppy, I am not sure that your schedule would permit it. Yes, you can section off an area of your house to leave them in if you are gone for awhile, but puppies chew and bark and cry, and in an apartment, that might get you in trouble. I still dont even gate my 2 off, they are in their crates no matter what, when I am gone. If I left them out, I would come home to a disaster...chewed cupboards, paper, rugs, etc. I am not trying to discourage you from getting a puppy at all, just opening your eyes to maybe rescuing also Good luck with your decision and keep us in the loop.

 

[bayleebrndl]

See, and I was thinking otherwise.....I actually think your schedule looks ideal!!! If I'm reading it correctly, Tuesday is really only the day you're gone a long time, but as you stated you could come home around 4 that day. I'm definitely not a puppy expert, as we are on our first one currently, but our schedule was a LOT worse than that and we came through with flying colors! We got our brindle girl at 8 weeks of age, and my husband and I are gone from 7am-5:30pm Monday thru Friday. My husband would go home from around 12-12:30 and let her out to go potty and play for a bit, then back in the crate. The first 2 weeks or so she had an accident here or there, but that ended quickly as she got a little older. If you are still worried about it, is there anyone that you know of that could come and let him/her out for a little break on Tuesdays? or the other days you'll be gone more than 4 hours? I thinks it's awesome though that you are looking for honesty about the situation and really want to do what's best for the dog! I'm not saying what we did was perfect because we do have a long work day, but it worked for us and our puppy so I think you'd be fine if you truly do want one.....that's just my 2 cents....

 

[Jan]

I don't see any reason why you can't have a puppy. It sounds like you have thought it through. You schedule would be pretty good for a dog. You can always arrange a dog walker for times when you can't get home soon enough.

Good luck!

 

[simmons]

I think....if your concerned about leaving your new addition alone for longer hours then normal. You can always bring them to doggy daycare. Or like someone said hire a dog walker, or someone you know to tend to them.

Boxers need lots of exercise so if you can provide this then I say go for it. You seem to already know about everything else that goes along with a new dog. At least you are considering this before "just bringing one home."

Let us know what you decide....good luck!

 

[TwoDogs]

Your schedule sounds great for an adult dog, and pretty good even for a puppy. Just hire a dogwalker for your long shifts. Doggie daycare can be an option, but most require a dog to be completely vaccinated and depending on what age you get your pup at, you may have to wait a bit for daycare. If you go either the dogwalker or daycare route, make sure that your pup will only have contact with calm, tolerant dogs who won't pose a risk to him/her. Socialization with other dogs is essential for a pup, but you want it to be with dogs of the right temperment.

One thing to think about is asking your breeder if they will keep the pup a bit longer for you. My sister left her pup with the breeder until it was 15 weeks old. She had a temporary health issue and knew she wouldn't be able to devote the time to the pup until the issue was past. The breeder was on board with it, the pup got a little extra time to learn more doggie manners from its mom and the breeder's other dogs. The bonus was that the breeder had started introducing the crate, and the pup--although by no means pottytrained--had a bit more bladder control. You might miss out a bit on that sweet puppy breath, but it's certainly an option to consider if you have a willing breeder.

Kim

 

[Noah_N_Brody]

Something you might want to think about before you choose a Boxer.....

They are very, and I mean very clingy dogs. They want to be with you at all times. You get in the shower, they will be by the door waiting. You walk 5 steps, your dog will walk 5 steps. He/she will only take naps in the room you are in. The are 60lb lap dogs. Their playfulness can be a bit boisterous at times. They also mature very slow mentally, but they are smart as a whip. I wouldnt trade any of that though. I love my dogs dearly.

 

[Boworld]

Firstly well done on looking in to it before making a decision. We were in a similar situation when we decided to get Jackson. I work 2 days a week (and one day a week at home) and on those 2 days we are out 8am till 6pm. After looking in to it we decided that our hours were just unfair on a dog and made the awful decision to not get a dog. Luckily I discovered I could bring my dog to work with me which means he will very rarely be on his own.
I think the total maximum you could ever leave a puppy or dog in a crate would be 4-6 hours and that would be extreme. I think gating off an area depends on the dog and how destructive they can be whilst bored. Boxers have a tendancy to be destructive when bored, they are however fabulous dogs. We only got Jackson last week and we have laughed more in the last week than we have in the last 5 years put together!
I would say that your situation sounds ideal for an older dog and certainly do-able for a puppy - especially seeing as you can use dog/walkers or sitters. I also don't think the apartment thing is an issue at all, as long as you have outside space close by for him to get lots of excercise!
Good luck with your decision, please let us know how you get on and what you decide. It sounds like you are going to make a very well informed decision either way.

 

[croikee]

First let me say thank you all for your replies. I was annoyed, at first, at how many hoops I seemed to have to jump through just to post here, but I now realize the result of that work is a knowledgeable and friendly atmosphere of boxer lovers

I don't mean to re-hash what I already said, but let me go into slightly more detail about options as I see them. I'm a newbie at this and don't want to screw it up!

Mondays- Day off
Tuesdays - leave at noon, get home around 9:30PM. Could come home around 4:00 PM, possibly hire a local neighbor to take him/her out for potty around 8:00 PM.
Wednesdays- Depends but am able to come home around noon regardless.
Thursdays - Either same as Wednesdays, or work 1-9:00 PM with ability to come home around four or five.
Fridays - Shortest days usually, not worried about Fridays at all.
Saturday - Day off
Sundays - 8:00 -1:00 (not able to get home during this time)

Now for Crating, I am all for that if done well, I just don't want my puppy messing his home. Thats my biggest concern there. The two options I see are:
1) mark off my kitchen. Put newspaper down with the crate there and lots of toys. There is nothing a puppy could get into in the kitchen, nothing to chew on other than its toys.
2) Stick to the crate, but see if a neighbor or, heck my parents are 2 miles away Icould pay them too, would come oon those couple long days and let the puppy out.

I really DO want a puppy, I just think that full experience would be beyond words. The rescue is an option and, quite honestly, one I had never thought about, so thank you for that idea.

As for the above schedule and options, any additional thoughts? Its funny, don't even have a dog yet and I'm already diggin my mind for a good name .

 

[LucNesbitt]

I'd say you're perfectly set for a puppy. When we got Moab, we were fortunate to have a neighbor's daughter come once a day around noon to let him out and play with him for about 30 minutes. Hubby and I both left the house around 7:30 and didn't return till 5:30 so having that help was huge.

Given your a youth minister, is it possible one of the youth could help you? Or, could you take the puppy to the church with you, perhaps in a smaller crate or set up a small area as a play area. Then, you could take him or her yourself every few hours and have the benefit of interacting and socializing the pup at the same time, if you have an office or dedicated location at the church.

It sounds like you've throught it thru and know what you're getting in to. I say go for it and enjoy all the wonderful things about having a puppy!