Will OES do OK w/ full-time working parents?
So, which group would you put the OES in? Here's some info on what life would be for our OES. Our dog would initially have a fully insulated 2-car garage at his/her disposal throughout the day, with plenty and variety of toys (incl. dog brain teasers, chew toys, etc.). There will be a season appropriate dog bed, of course, and a portable potty for emergency moments. The rest of the time he/she would spend with us, in the house or out for a walk and clicker training sessions. Our house is fairly big (almost 2000 sq. ft.) and the yard is close to 2 acres. I have 4 weeks of vacation days a year, my hubby has one extra day off every other week. We would work on minimizing separation anxiety by turning our comings and goings into a normal and natural part of daily life. For the initial two weeks after adoption I am planning on taking the first week off and the second week - half day off for smooth transition. We understand that adopting a dog is like adopting a child, if not harder due to "language barrier" and there will be adjustment time for all members of the family. Once the dog and the cats get used to each other and start getting along, we will add a pet door so the dog could go into the garage and back to the house. To be sure cats are no dogs, but having them around would add a sense of "team mates" while we are out and working. What do you, the experienced OES owners, think? Oh, and in case you're wondering, we do have experience with large herding breeds - we used to have a Bulgarian Sheepdog (Karakachan). |
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Nice job doing research and asking questions first!  I worked outside the home for many years with my OES. I office out of my house now, but it's not uncommon for them to spend the day at home alone. Mine have always done just fine. Of course there are so many traits that could come into play aside from potential separation anxiety. You won't know if you have a dog that can be trusted alone until you have that individual dog. Some (I think most) are perfectly easy and others are seek and destroyers.  You're on the right track by making sure there are toys and the dog gets a lot of exercise when you are home. |
| Hi! I have the exact same issue. (minus the kids  )Both my BF and I work long hours and before filling out our adoption application, we scoped out a dog walker who can come twice a week in the afternoon to walk the dog for an hour. We also plan to drop off the dog to day care 2-3 days a week. I think as long as they get socialized and exercised one way or another, they'll be fine with being alone at other times. |
| Raquel and Joanna, thank you for the encouragement and for sharing your experience. I totally agree that we'll know for sure how the dog will do home alone once we get her/him. What I'd like to make sure is that the new addition to our family will be happy at our home. I don't see getting a pet dog as an end in itself, but as a way to extend our love to one more beautiful soul. |
| I'm a stay at home mom but I volunteer a lot for my kids high school band so I can be away for 4-5 hours or more at a time. We rescued Ryleigh 9 months ago, she was 7 months at the time. She can be very destructive if left alone to long. I also have 2 labs, they are all inside dogs. The labs are fine being left alone, but Ryleigh gets bored and will shred paper or now her thing is to chew electric cords. So I have to put her in her kennel while Im gone. Even if its just for 30 mins, because Im scared she will hurt herself. I put a bone with peanut butter in it in her kennel with her, this gives her something to do. Now when she sees me putting the peanut butter in the bone she just automaticly runs to her kennel and gets in and waits. I think depending on the age of the sheepie you adopt will determine how they do left alone. Ryleigh even at 1 is still pure puppy. Also training will help alot. Were still working on that...could be a forever going thing. But shes so worth it, and she doesnt mind the kennel. Good luck.  |
Fairy Godmother wrote: We understand that adopting a dog is like adopting a child, if not harder due to "language barrier" and there will be adjustment time for all members of the family. Quite honestly, adopting a dog is nowhere near as complicated adopting a child. Unless the dog has serious issues, I suppose. And it's unlikely that any rescue organization is going to adopt out a truly troubled dog to a family with kids. These homes get your most bomb proof dogs if at all possible. It sounds like you've really thought this through and have put a considerable amount of thought into how to integrate a potential dog and that's fantastic. The biggest question you're going to get (beyond is the yard fenced?) is how old are the kids? OES and young children don't always mix well, depending on the dog. Some organizations have strict rules about never adopting a dog to a home with children under the age of X, others are more on a case by case basis. If the kids are over age ten it shouldn't even be an issue for most dogs/groups. This is a breed that likes to have their humans near at all times. BUT they're also very fond of routine and most adapt perfectly to having owners who work. Or as I tell mine when I leave every morning and they give me "the look": "I gather you're fond of eating? Aha, OK, now you understand why I have to go to work". When I occasionally work from home they think that's wonderful. But, quite frankly, it doesn't take long before it's patently clear that my presence is interfering with their scheduled nap time  I.e. except when very young this does tend to be a breed with a good on/off switch. My rescue dog is the only one with separation anxiety and assorted other issues so she is crated still at age three for her safety. I'd prefer not to have to crate her, my others have been left loose once they left puppyhood shenanigans behind them. But after she broke my kitchen window trying to jump through it, and that was when I was home, just in the yard, that's not a risk I'm willing to take. She's extreme though. Most dogs settle nicely into a routine. Make sure you tell the rescue group you have cats, though. Some OES are great with cats. Others, not so much. Better to know that ahead of time for the sake of the cats' sanity.  Kristine |
| Rayleigh, in my case it will be more like 8-9 hours a day... How could I crate a dog for such a long time? Kristine, so your experience is that puppies adapt better than rescues? Moreover, your rescue has two more dogs => a small pack... Well, at least I have the hope that it's all a matter of personality, right? Life has tought me to be patient. I will get everything ready for my dog and will follow the if-you-build-it-he-will-come pattern... Thank you all for your quick responses. This forum is like Ali Baba's treasure cave  I've learned so much about grooming, health and behavior from the source that it made my buying a book about OES absolutely pointless. |
Mad Dog wrote: This is a breed that likes to have their humans near at all times. BUT they're also very fond of routine and most adapt perfectly to having owners who work. Or as I tell mine when I leave every morning and they give me "the look": "I gather you're fond of eating? Aha, OK, now you understand why I have to go to work". Kristine I always tell mine "I'll see you when I get home. I have to go to work. That's the only way I can afford you guys!" Kristine is correct in the fact that this breeds adapts to your lifestyle pretty easily. They do like to have a routine. Just ask Mariah. She's quite adept at rolling onto her back with all 4 feet in the air if dinner is 1 minute later than 5:30PM  |
| Oh, I L-O-V-E reading stories about Bobtails! Marilyn, you've raised my hopes! Thanks! I'm the queen of routine. My sister calls me "democratic despot" |
Fairy Godmother wrote: Kristine, so your experience is that puppies adapt better than rescues? Moreover, your rescue has two more dogs => a small pack... Well, at least I have the hope that it's all a matter of personality, right? I wouldn't say puppies adapt better than adult dogs because though with puppies you get what you create, more or less, it takes you up to a couple of years to get there and it's a lot of work. With an adult dog the personality etc is usually known. They can stay at home alone for longer, hold their bladder longer, have longer attention spans, are generally past the shark/chewing stages etc. So there are some definite advantages to getting an adult dog. Just be very clear with any organization you deal with what your lifestyle and expectations are like and you have a very good chance of getting a dog that is a good fit for your family - that's really key. Some times it can take a fair bit of time for the right dog to come along. But the same is typically true of puppies from better breeders as well. Kristine |
| Oh, Kristine, I have no doubt that adopting an adult dog has advantages. Not to mention helping a friend in need by providing them with vitally important permanent home full of love. I spoke with the OESCA lady in charge for rescues in my area. She did ask me about kids and other pets, I told her about my working hours. Apparently Bobtails are not popular in my State. There is no official rescue organization. But I'm not in a hurry. I can wait as long as it takes for the perfect match. I'll keep on learning (this Forum is the best source of info re OES), I'll get as ready as possible in the "physical dimension", too. Just like parents do for their children - newborns or to be adopted. At any rate, you all sharing your experience is deeply appreciated and immensely enjoyed. |
| We both work 5 days a week and we're gone for 8-9 hours a day. A dog walker comes after 5 hours and as soon as we get home she gets a 45-60 minute walk. In the mornings she runs right into the kitchen were she is penned, not crated, with an installed baby gate. She has a bed and toys in there and that is just routine. I also get "the look" through the back window as I walk to my car but it's just normal. Days we are home, she sleeps on her bed most the day. As someone else said they get used to routine. We did have her as a puppy so that is all she knows. |
| Ariellehg, how long is her morning walk and how long time does the dog walker spend with her? |
| We've pretty much always worked and had one or two sheepies at any given time. I think that they were happiest when there were two home alone. Currently our Hudson is left in the upstairs of the house...three bedrooms, a hallway, and a bathroom that is closed off (garbage picker dog). He sleeps on our bed all day. I know. It always smells like dogfeet, but you adjust. Our Rudy is his own worst enemy and requires crating still. I hope for the day he can be left out with Hudson, and we now do it for one or two hour outings only, and they seem so much happier together. Since we have to worry about Rudy eating something ELSE that will cost a gazillion dollars to surgically remove again, we leave the two dogs in the bedroom only - no access to other rooms. We've had only dogs too, and they've been fine during the workdays. We instituted a few rules. If possible, one of us goes in earlier and comes home earlier and the other is in later and home later. That reduces the hours. We're not really weeknight partiers, so the evenings are for the dogs. If one of us has plans we really try to make sure the other is at home. There's just the two of us here, but it sounds like you have more bodies to share the time. Lots of people work and have sheepies. I wish I could stay home with them, but I can't. Someone's gotta go to work to make the money to pay for all that kibble! I'm sure you'll find a happy sheepie who will fit in just fine with your family and routines. And expand your search farther for rescues. We live in Winnipeg, and adopted ours from Florida. There are some rescues (not many, but some) that will work with out of town people who offer a great home. Good luck. |
| Thank you, Tracie. I will follow your advice and contact other rescue organizations then. What you have shared is yet another proof that I picked the right breed BTW, neat blog |
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