working full time and a senior dog?

[Shiaway]

A few years ago I asked for people’s opinions on me getting a dog and the consensus was no. The reason was because of my work schedule. I work full time and a few nights a week I go to the barn to ride after work.

I happened upon a dog on my facebook page (the dangers of following a dog rescue). He’s an old dog–about 10 or 11 years old. Medium size. So I maybe stupidly contacted the rescue and spoke at length with them on the phone (it’s a rescue that’s out of Thailand called Soi Dog). Afterward the interviewer sounded like she really wanted me to adopt the old man.

And I really want to adopt him. He sounds adorable. I think maybe an old dog would be ok being at home while I work? He has arthritis and doesn’t move around all that great. I know he wouldn’t live that many more years but I think I would be ok about it since I can kind of prepare myself for that although it will of course be hard. And I think I can pick him up after work and take him to the barn with me the few nights a week I go.

But I still have to really think about it. I don’t want to make a rash decision. My parents are down quite frequently so I don’t think he would be alone all that often but there are some weeks where they don’t come down. So then I’d have to figure something out for him to be able to go pee at lunch time. Unfortunately I don’t live close enough to my work to come back home for lunch.

I do live in a house and have a nice yard I could fence in so maybe I could make a doggy door he could come and go from my house to the yard. I thought about finding a neighbor to pay them to take him out at lunch but I guess I would worry that they might not be reliable.

I’m wondering what other dog owners thoughts are about owning a dog and working full time. Is it doable? Do you think it would work for a senior dog? The rescue seemed to think it would be ok as long as I could find a way to get him out to pee at lunch time. But I want to be fair to the dog.

[pony_baloney]

Last April I rescued a senior dog, about 6 lbs., pretty tiny. I don’t know if it’s because she’s tiny or older, but she needed to pee about every three hours last summer. Luckily my parents are home with her all day; she needed about seven walks a day. This winter she needs to go pretty frequently as well (and she has no problem with just peeing in the house if she can’t get outside).

So it depends on the dog I guess. My late dog could hold it all day until I got home (she was about 25 lbs.).

And would it be lonely all day when you’re not home? Is an outside visitor once a day enough? Maybe he’d be happy in any situation after his past life. I wouldn’t hesitate adopting another senior dog, but my situation is different. If I wasn’t with my parents, this dog would not have worked out.

[shayaalliard]

I always adopt seniors at this point. I worked full time for a long time with them, then switched to my current traveling job where I am home for a couple weeks then gone for a couple.

The thing that I think makes it work is that they are older and calmer, but also that there are several of them- they keep each other company. I’d be more worried about a single.

Can you make it work? Yes, if you are committed. It’s not as easy as if you are able to be home, but plenty of us do it.

[Bicoastal]

[QUOTE=Shiaway;9037010]
I happened upon a dog on my facebook page (the dangers of following a dog rescue). He’s an old dog–about 10 or 11 years old. Medium size. So I maybe stupidly contacted the rescue and spoke at length with them on the phone (it’s a rescue that’s out of Thailand called Soi Dog). Afterward the interviewer sounded like she really wanted me to adopt the old man. [/QUOTE]

Age aside, has the Thai dog lived in a house before? Housebroken? Leash trained?

Regarding age, once they are on the downward slope they require more time, effort, and money. They need to go to the bathroom more often, or, they may become completely incontinent and you have that mess to manage. Do you have carpet or smooth floors? They may need help navigating stairs or getting up from the floor. They see the vet more frequently and its usually more involved. They may require medication at certain intervals. Often, they have a hard time at night and become restless.

Not a discouragement, just things to think about.

[bdj]

OP, I have to ask, is there a particular reason you’re looking at a dog in Thailand?
I just looked at the Soi Dog Foundation website, and while I appreciate what they’re doing, I think you’d be taking a pretty big risk - you can’t meet him ahead of time, and that could be a tough transition for a dog. There doesn’t seem to be any real “infrastructure” from the rescue in place here in the US (I’m assuming you’re stateside) to support you if things don’t work out, either.

And not to sound too negative about it, but of course the rescue person really wants you to adopt him - and he’s a good candidate for a “nice sweet old guy” sales pitch. Problem is, if he’s in Thailand and you’re taking their word for it, “nice sweet old guy” could easily turn out to be “sad old guy who’s in constant pain and isn’t able to transition easily to life as a house dog”… Not saying that’s him, but it’s a definite possibility.

[Shiaway]

Thanks for everyone’s input. I’ll try to address some of the questions.

I had liked Soi Dog on facebook and so they regularly post pictures of dogs that are either up for adoption or in need of being sponsored etc. This guy has popped up a few times because I think he’s been there for a while. And this last time they posted about him, I decided to inquire about him. I was thinking, ok my life isn’t the ideal for a dog but I’m sure it’s better than being at a shelter.

Although maybe it’s not the case for the Soi dogs. From what I’ve seen they have a pretty nice set up where they are out all day with doggy cabins and other dogs etc. So maybe this wouldn’t be a step up for him. Especially because I live in New England and the weather gets cold in the winter.

I spent a long time on the phone with the rescue person and it sounds like they do have something in place for cases where a dog doesn’t work out. It sounds like they offer quite a lot of support when you adopt a dog. They have a network of foster homes in the US and Canada that can also help.

It’s a good point that they might want me to adopt him like bdj said. I’m just used to it being the other way around from my experiences with rescues. I had once tried to adopt a cat from a rescue and they were very reluctant to let me have a cat even after I had gone through all the paper work and reference checks etc. I suspect because I lived in a studio apartment at the time. But that sort of attitude probably depends on the rescue.

I don’t think he has been in a house before. But he is leash trained. The rescue said the street dogs are actually very easy to house train because they tend to be very clean about where they go to the bathroom and that she has never had an adopter have any difficulty in teaching the dog to not go in the house.

I have hard wood floors with some area rugs. One of my cats pukes if you look at her funny so I generally don’t own anything nice. LOL I can get more area rugs if it’s better for a dog to walk on. And then my cat would have more variety of places to puke. She’d appreciate that.

I will keep thinking about it. It’s a big decision and I am not one of those people who think of a pet as an accessory that can just be thrown away when it becomes inconvenient. So I really want to be sure, if I do decide to adopt him, that I have considered all the possibilities and consequences of owning a dog, especially a senior dog.

[fordtraktor]

I think it would be incredibly stressful for an older dog to fly halfway around the world, to weather that is scary/new for him, to an entirely different living situation/trying to learn to be housebroken at age 10. I would not put a dog through that.

FWIW my senior dogs have always required more time at home because they usually need to pee more often.

Keep in mind, the benefits of a senior are often that they come house-trained (this one wouldn’t) and they don’t require as much exercise. This doesn’t mean they don’t need to get out to potty.

I am sure there are lovely dogs available much closer to you. In your situation I would look for an adult but not senior dog of a low-energy breed.

[fordtraktor]

Also, here if you go the pound and not a “rescue” you can walk in and go home with a dog in an hour or two.

[S1969]

I haven’t read all the posts; I think that adopting a senior dog is a great idea but I would probably never recommend an unseen, international senior adoption to anyone - particularly not someone who sounds like they are looking at a 1st dog.

All dogs are individuals, but senior care is especially unique - the breed, the previous care, any issues/conditions, etc. will all depend on the dog. My 10 year old bitch is years away from being a “senior” dog - but for other dogs, 10 might be already on the downside of life.

I would recommend a local rescue where you can actually get to meet the dog and really know what it needs/requires.

[bdj]

OP, I know I’m coming off as Debbie Downer here, but your second post indicates to me that this dog (I’m guessing it’s Serif, as he fits the age/injury description you gave) would not be a great fit for you. He is really cute and looks sweet and I could completely understand how you could fall for him, but if I were matching you with a dog, he’s not what I would pick for you.

Aside from the concerns I mentioned earlier, he definitely sounds like a dog that won’t do well on hardwood floors - so right off the bat, after you’ve paid (a not insignificant amount of money) to have him shipped over here, you’re going to need to buy more area rugs or runners. (So you’ll be cleaning up cat mess and there’s a high likelihood of dog messes, too - I don’t care what the rescue people say - sure, most of them housetrain well, but what if he’s the one who doesn’t?).

Given his already stated health issues, I’m going to guess that you’ll be spending more money on meds/treatments to make him more comfortable from day one. (And what if it really works - yay for him, but what if your slow, cuddly, couch potato senior turns into a high drive busy-body of a dog? Are you ready for that?).

Related to that, he was a street dog - hopefully he’s OK with cats - but can the rescue tell you that? As much as I’m a dog person, your cat was there first, and her happiness and comfort with the new family member would be a priority for me. Also, as a street dog, I suspect this guy would have some really good food-finding skills - you’ll need to accommodate that. Counter surfing and trashbin robbing may be an interesting part of his skill set (one of my Cardis is ridiculously talented at finding things that she’s not supposed to get ahold of - she will work out ways to get food off the center of the kitchen table, and she’s only 11" tall!).

I know a lot of these things are “what ifs”, but speculation is really all you have to go on in this situation. After careful consideration, you may decide you can totally handle whatever the situation throws at you, and if that’s the case - good on ya. I’ve taken on three dogs based off pictures and owner descriptions alone and it’s worked out well for me, but… there are challenges, and some of the ones that come with this particular dog are not ones that I’d be willing to take on.

Think of it a bit like taking on a CANTER horse - are you one of those folks who could afford (money-wise and mentally) to buy one from a track across the country from you based off of pictures and a few minutes of video (That’s your Soi Dog Foundation)? Or would you be more comfortable with one from a nearby track that you can meet and get a PPE on (That would be like going to your local humane society/animal control)? Or would you be happier getting one from a reseller who’s put a few months of training onto it (similar to a rescue that does fosters)?

Just another way of thinking about it. Good luck with your decision, and don’t let the guilt of “leaving” this dog sway you - as he appears to be safe and well cared for at Soi Dog - and even if you decide he’s not the right dog for you, you can still donate money to the rescue - that will help this dog and others, too.

[S1969]

Oy, just looking at the FB page. Some of those dogs need humane euthanasia. :no:

[yellowbritches]

There are so many elder dogs in the states needing soft landings. Why look on the other side of the world?

Also, senior doesn’t necessarily mean easier. I have a 13 year old dog and while she is very healthy and spry, she does require a bit of extra care, and will only require more as she ages. I ADORE old dogs, but they aren’t always easy, especially if you are new to owning a dog. An adult dog, maybe 3-7 years old, can be great if you don’t have the time to spend on puppy raising, but elderly, special needs type situations may not be best.

[yellowbritches]

Also, regarding the full time job and dogs question, a lot of people would not have dogs if they a full time job kept them from having them. I have two and work full time with a funky schedule. We do just fine. I have altered a few things in my life since getting my second one, but they still get lots of exercise and attention. If we get to the point the older one needs more attention while I’m working, I’ll hire a dog walker. I already do occasionally get some help if I’m gone longer than 10 hours. They sleep most of the time, whether I’m home or not, so a full time job really doesn’t matter.

[Shiaway]

Thanks again for all input. I will consider everything.

[My_Two_Cents]

Need to define “senior”. Depending on the breed age and issues can vary. A Great Dane would be a senior at 7 (?). A little terrier type is only middle aged at 10 and could have many years of love to give. When using the word senior a lot of “old” dog issues come to mind but there are a lot of senior dogs that are quite spry and just need some love. I guess I would look at dogs that originated closer to home but that’s your call. I think it depends how much quality time (only you know) you can spend with any dog as to whether or not you should be looking.

[rockonxox]

I work full time, have 3 dogs (4, 5 & 7), and can not come home for lunch breaks to let them out. My dogs are larger and they don’t have to go out and pee as often as the little dogs tend to need to. They can hold it. If there is a day where I know I will be working late I see if a friend could let them out.

If this dog is potty trained you may be fine. If not, then no I would find one that is potty trained. I would also have a friend on hand you could call if you needed to to let the dog out and maybe play with them. There are some great pet sitters (I used to do it in college) who will take your dogs on walks and let them out and if needed feed them when you may be gone for a longer period of time than a normal day.

Also, didn’t read this in your posts (maybe just missed it) but is this dog travelling from Thailand to you in the US? I would think that travel would be very difficult on this dog and that alone would cause me to say no. Don’t do it.

[Foxtrot_s]

In my dog group there is a father daughter duo that have two dos from
Thailand. I love this couple because of their dedication in trying to help out these two lovely dogs, they are never-ending in their devotion and patience and
our dog trainer is giving them wonderful exercises and experiences to help them out. But they do come with a lot of baggage. One is terrified of people, the other terrified of dogs. Nobody knows their background, except they came off the street. One was caught in a trap and only has three legs.

At home, these dogs are loving, secure and confident. Out and about, they are needing time and care. The one is starting to wag his tail, and this is so rewarding, but it has taken time. The other just shuts down and this is pretty sad to see when he seems to be awaiting whatever fate is to befall him…but both are showing improvement.

My own young dog is everybody’s best friend and is often paired with them as she’s so unworried and seems to project that to them. They are both
completely not aggressive, etc.

I admire anyone who takes on dogs like this, but just offering the above as
another point of view, not advice or anything.

[jetsmom]

I put in a doggie door to a kennel with roof on a concrete pad, or large pavers, and secure kennel to house. Block off some rooms leading to doggie door or close bedroom doors to help protect rooms from accidents. Then I would contact local shelters or rescues and try to find a bonded pair of dogs, so they can keep each other company.
Just make sure kennel is padlocked or nonaccessible to outsiders, can’t be jumped out of or dug under, or pushed away from home so dogs get loose.
Don’t get high energy breeds/dogs.

[Shiaway]

Thanks everyone again for the input. It is especially good to hear from someone who has some experience with the soi dogs.

I took a trip the the local shelter yesterday. They had about 6 dogs all about 2 years old. I did look at a pair that needed to go together but they had the activity levels of puppies.

But I can try some other shelters further away perhaps. Although I’m still quite taken by Serif…

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

My 11 year old senior dog shits in my house every day. While walking. Sometimes 2 or 3 times a day. Often right after he had the opportunity to do it outside. He’s losing feeling in his hind end and sometimes my husband has to lift him (he weighs almost 80 lbs and I can’t do it). I go home for lunch and let him out for 40 minutes too. But other than that, and the $100 worth of monthly medication, he’s a peach and I do love him. But it’s not easy. I don’t know how big of a dog you are looking at, but seniors need lifting into cars, etc. sometimes.