Working full time and owning a Cocker Spaniel

Family, Education, Health and Pets
21
Dogs are an animal, if you want to treat them like humans you can go ahead and do it, why ask the rest of us to follow? As for comparison, would I leave my baby unsupervised for 2 hours? Def not. Would I leave my dog unsupervised for 2 hours? Absolutely I would!

22
While I have no problems leaving the dog alone for two hours (or indeed longer), your statement implies that it's ok to disregard their needs just because they're animals.

If you don't know enough about dogs to provide for their social needs, or if you don't have the time/money, you shouldn't get one. Period.

(same goes for kids, by the way; hence I don't have one)

23
2 hours alone is fine for most dogs- once they have been trained properly and are used to their surroundings and been left for short periods of time, increasing slowly. Leaving an un-trained dog,especially a puppy - for a whole day when at work is just asking for trouble- a disasterin the making.

And then it ends up at the Refuge because it has peed in the house or chewed furniture ... and is a 'bad' dog

24
Yes, dogs are indeed animals - no one here is saying otherwise. We are all dog lovers, certainly - and we love our dogs as dogs, because they are dogs. This is actually the first requirement of responsible dog ownership.

Dogs, and all animals, are entitled to an 'artgerecht', that is, species-correct, life. When we take on a dog we bring him into our human world. It is therefore our responsibility to provide whatever is necessary to give our pets the kind of life that is correct for their species and fulfills their individual needs within the context of our human world . That includes both the necessary physical and mental stimulation, the socialization and training needed to fit into Swiss society, as well as the appropriate living conditions, food, and medical care also needed for their well-being.

This is not only a moral obligation but also a legal one as anchored in the TSchV.

We make the decision to include pets in our lives - so prior to bringing a pet into our families we MUST ensure that we have the necessary free time, resources and, most importantly, knowledge, willingness, and ability to ensure that we can provide that 'species correct' life. This should be thought through carefully as the first step towards dog ownership.

There are many ways to provide this 'species correct' life, just as the needs of the individual will vary widely from one dog to another.

But the bottom line is clear: If we are not able to provide everything a dog (or any pet) needs to be happy and healthy - at every stage of his life from puppyhood to old age - we should not embark upon pet ownership at this time in our lives. We must wait until we are sure we can do it right. Anything else is irresponsible.

That is what this thread is about. Thinking ahead, trying to determine if what we can provide meets what a dog needs, for his entire expected natural lifetime: this is all fundamental to responsible ownership.

25
@ nicholplated, why the groan?