German Shepherd puppy and working

joinmeindeath · 01-28-2012, 03:12 PM

Hi

Myself and my partner want to get a German Shepherd pup. We both work full time. I work Mon-Fri, whilst my partner does shift work. On the days we are both out all day I will arrange someone to come in and let the dog out for a break and fed ect... Do you think this would work? We also are taking a month out of work when we find the right puppy to help train him/her. I would walk the pup every morning and when I get home. I also plan to crate train. The reason we want a pup is so we can socialise the puppy properly from a young age. We have 3 cats and would want the pup to be ok with them. I have experienced owning a GSD before. We had a rescue GSD last year, she was great in the house, but would of killed our cats if she could of got them. Plus was very aggresive with dogs so we couldn't keep her. I know how important socialisation is, as our rescue had none. It was very sad but she was older and didn't seem to know of anything of the outside world. It hasn't put us off the breed at all. Just looking for advice and any tips, thank you

jennyp · 01-28-2012, 03:21 PM

Hi!
I struggled with this as well and I was able to negotiate with my work to be able to go home during my lunch break. Would this be an option for you? If not, getting someone to let the dog out to pee/eat/play is definitely a must. Good luck!

joinmeindeath · 01-28-2012, 03:23 PM

yes my partner works quite close to where we live so he can come home during his lunch, if not possible i will have someone come to let the dog out ect to break the day up. Can i ask, was it a pup you had also? And did it all work out in the end? Would love another GSD such a great breed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jennyp

Hi!
I struggled with this as well and I was able to negotiate with my work to be able to go home during my lunch break. Would this be an option for you? If not, getting someone to let the dog out to pee/eat/play is definitely a must. Good luck!

JoMichelle · 01-28-2012, 03:32 PM

Hi there

I don't have loads of experience but I've had a few puppies including my new GSD puppy. It will be hard whilst it's young as I've found it. I'm only out the the house 2 full days a week, and even though I have a dog walker to come during the day it's making things very difficult.

At this age, my puppy really needs letting out of her crate every 2 hours to toilet, but the days I'm out she's having to wait 4-5 hours as the dog walker comes in the afteroon. Of course she cannot hold it this long and messes the crate. This is causing lots of toilet training problems with us. I'm sure we'll get there, but just to warn you how often they need seeing to.

Regards, Jo x

**JakodaCD OA** · 01-28-2012, 03:36 PM

well the OP says they would be taking the first month off for training/etc. So this could very well work..figure you get an 8 week old puppy, you take a month off by the end of the month the puppy is 12 weeks old.

I would still at that time have someone come in at the most 4 hours to take them out, get a little exercise/potty break.

TheActuary · 01-28-2012, 03:38 PM

It is definitely doable... taking a month off between 8 weeks and 3 months is important tho. It would be even better to get a pup that is already 3 months old. By 3 months they begin to have better bladder control... 4-5 months they can hold it during the day.

Do you have a room you could dedicate to the puppy? You could keep her in this room with some pee pads and a bunch of toys while you are at work. This would be ideal.

I don't have an extra room so I use an ex-pen for my pup while I'm at work. I bought a remnant piece of carpet to put over my actual carpet to keep her from chewing it up. Then I put in a bunch of toys and a bed. (I've had to do some custom reinforcing of her pen tho... they definitely don't come sturdy enough for a 4 month old gsd). At almost 5 months, she can hold it until I get home at 5.

You have to be dedicated to working with and training your pup while you are home tho. It is very tiring.. but at least you'll have some help. Even when you just want to go home and relax after a particularly hard day at work, you have to take care of the pup, play and exercise her, etc. It's not fair to leave her all day then come home and ignore her.

Even though it seems that many people on this forum are able to stay home all day with their dogs... most people cannot do this and must work. It does not mean you can't have a dog.

joinmeindeath · 01-28-2012, 03:39 PM

I hope it will pay off in the end! I know an older dog is still an option. I understand that their bladder won't be strong as a pup. Hopefully by the time we go back to work the pup will be over 4 month if we work out our holidays correctly.

joinmeindeath · 01-28-2012, 03:45 PM

When we do find a puppy. I am going to ask the breeder to get the pups injections done, I am willing to pay extra for this and if the breeder can keep the pup until its had all injections it will be that bit older. If this is possible I think it would make it a lot easier. This way I can take the pup into the outside works and meet new people and animals without having to worry about catching anything.

01-28-2012, 03:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
joinmeindeath New Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 4	German Shepherd puppy and working Hi Myself and my partner want to get a German Shepherd pup. We both work full time. I work Mon-Fri, whilst my partner does shift work. On the days we are both out all day I will arrange someone to come in and let the dog out for a break and fed ect... Do you think this would work? We also are taking a month out of work when we find the right puppy to help train him/her. I would walk the pup every morning and when I get home. I also plan to crate train. The reason we want a pup is so we can socialise the puppy properly from a young age. We have 3 cats and would want the pup to be ok with them. I have experienced owning a GSD before. We had a rescue GSD last year, she was great in the house, but would of killed our cats if she could of got them. Plus was very aggresive with dogs so we couldn't keep her. I know how important socialisation is, as our rescue had none. It was very sad but she was older and didn't seem to know of anything of the outside world. It hasn't put us off the breed at all. Just looking for advice and any tips, thank you

01-28-2012, 03:36 PM	#5 (permalink)
JakodaCD OA Moderator Join Date: May 2000 Location: Old Lyme, CT USA Posts: 14,237	well the OP says they would be taking the first month off for training/etc. So this could very well work..figure you get an 8 week old puppy, you take a month off by the end of the month the puppy is 12 weeks old. I would still at that time have someone come in at the most 4 hours to take them out, get a little exercise/potty break. __________________ Diane Danger Danger vom Kleinen Hain aka Masi "Angel" Jakoda's Bewitchen Sami CD OA OAJ OAC NGC OJC RS-O GS-N JS-O TT HIC CGC "Angel" Steinwald's Four x Four CGC HIC TT Harmonyhill's Hy Jynx NA NAJ NAC NJC RS-N JS-N HIC Jakoda's Jagged Edge

01-28-2012, 03:38 PM	#6 (permalink)
TheActuary Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 118	It is definitely doable... taking a month off between 8 weeks and 3 months is important tho. It would be even better to get a pup that is already 3 months old. By 3 months they begin to have better bladder control... 4-5 months they can hold it during the day. Do you have a room you could dedicate to the puppy? You could keep her in this room with some pee pads and a bunch of toys while you are at work. This would be ideal. I don't have an extra room so I use an ex-pen for my pup while I'm at work. I bought a remnant piece of carpet to put over my actual carpet to keep her from chewing it up. Then I put in a bunch of toys and a bed. (I've had to do some custom reinforcing of her pen tho... they definitely don't come sturdy enough for a 4 month old gsd). At almost 5 months, she can hold it until I get home at 5. You have to be dedicated to working with and training your pup while you are home tho. It is very tiring.. but at least you'll have some help. Even when you just want to go home and relax after a particularly hard day at work, you have to take care of the pup, play and exercise her, etc. It's not fair to leave her all day then come home and ignore her. Even though it seems that many people on this forum are able to stay home all day with their dogs... most people cannot do this and must work. It does not mean you can't have a dog. __________________ Remy - 9/3/11

01-28-2012, 03:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
jennyp Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Somerville, MA Posts: 191	Hi! I struggled with this as well and I was able to negotiate with my work to be able to go home during my lunch break. Would this be an option for you? If not, getting someone to let the dog out to pee/eat/play is definitely a must. Good luck!

01-28-2012, 03:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
JoMichelle Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Derby, UK Posts: 200	Hi there I don't have loads of experience but I've had a few puppies including my new GSD puppy. It will be hard whilst it's young as I've found it. I'm only out the the house 2 full days a week, and even though I have a dog walker to come during the day it's making things very difficult. At this age, my puppy really needs letting out of her crate every 2 hours to toilet, but the days I'm out she's having to wait 4-5 hours as the dog walker comes in the afteroon. Of course she cannot hold it this long and messes the crate. This is causing lots of toilet training problems with us. I'm sure we'll get there, but just to warn you how often they need seeing to. Regards, Jo x

01-28-2012, 03:39 PM	#7 (permalink)
joinmeindeath New Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 4	I hope it will pay off in the end! I know an older dog is still an option. I understand that their bladder won't be strong as a pup. Hopefully by the time we go back to work the pup will be over 4 month if we work out our holidays correctly.

01-28-2012, 03:45 PM	#8 (permalink)
joinmeindeath New Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 4	When we do find a puppy. I am going to ask the breeder to get the pups injections done, I am willing to pay extra for this and if the breeder can keep the pup until its had all injections it will be that bit older. If this is possible I think it would make it a lot easier. This way I can take the pup into the outside works and meet new people and animals without having to worry about catching anything.

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