h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hullo

I see you have a lot to do with dogs & have written some entries on training them.

I love German Shepherds & desperately want one. However, I live in a 1st storey flat, don't drive & the local buses are full (& I mean overflowing) of students. There is a park opposite which could be the 'normal' walk (again crammed with students & the locals with their dogs, especially in the summer), but I feel that would be severely restricting the dog's experience. . Although, when I'm off (3 days a wk), I would have all day to interact with the dog, & would spend all my time with it.

As they are essentially trotting dogs, I appreciate their exercise needs doesn't match collies (I grew up with Border Collies as working dogs, then had GSs), but they still need a lot of stimulation mentally & physicallly).
Due to my job & living on my own, the dog may be left for 9hrs (day shift) to 13 hrs (night shift) on their own & I'm not fully reconciled with this, although I know different dogs have different needs. If I'm going to commit to a big (or any) dog, I need to provide fully for them.

I genuinely feel any life I could give a dog may be restricted, although my friend (who has done both Jan Fennell(sp?) courses thinks I am "a natural with dogs"), & would make a good owner. I initially thought of volunteering for working with dogs in kennels eg. German Shep Rescue etc. but time constraints with work & reliance on public transport may be a problem. Years ago, I applied to Customs & Excise with regards to being a dog handler, but was rejected as being "over qualified"!!!! I would have spent my time doing tax returns - oh joy!

I would appreciate your input, any advice?

A frustrated non-dog ownwer

No point in a bribe is there, cos I need an honest reply.

Anne

Hi Anne, nicetameetcha!

I've really got two 'hats'. One is my dog walker hat, where if dogs weren't left alone during the day when the owners are at work I wouldn't have a job. The other is my rescue hat, where I agree it's not ideal to leave a dog for more than 4 or 5 hours at a time. I've stopped taking new dogs onto my service because to do so would mean my dogs are left alone for more than 5 hours on some days.

Gardens are largely irrelevant to a dog if it gets the right amount of exercise and mental activity. Admittedly they do get a lot of pleasure from them, but really it's the owners who find them more convenient, and I know lots of dogs who are happy to live in flats. My dogs sometimes stay with my brother for the weekend and he lives on the 6th floor. My first dog lived with me in a 1st floor flat for three years before I moved to a house.

Your night shift is quite long, and it's unlikely you'd find a dog walker to visit in the middle of the night. I only do up to 9pm, and I don't know anyone who does later than that.

GSDs need a lot of exercise and as a working breed they need a job - originally they had the same job as a BC, but to protect as well as to herd, and from what I hear they don't do well in flats or being left alone for long periods.

What is it about the breed you like? There may be other more suitable breeds that you could look into. Otherwise if your 3 days off are altogether you may be able to do short term fostering instead.

My only other comment is that if you don't have time to help out a rescue, ask yourself, do you really have the time to look after a dog? Because a dog really is quite a big inconvenience. Bless 'em.

How rude of me, hello, nice to meet you too

Have been pondering your answer & come to a logical(?) conclusion... well, a conclusion anyway.
I did initially have someone willing & able to look after the pooch when I was at work, but due to a big change in their personal circumstances, that has had to be kyboshed.
So exercise *would* have been no real problem, as my 'big' walks can be up to 3 hrs. Just long distance travelling could have been a bit tricky.

What do I like about the breed? Would be easier to say what i don't like eg. excessive slope on show types, much prefer the old-fashioned types with a straighter back. I love the dots on eyebrows which are so expressive, intelligence, the way they tend to be a wee bit reserved until they get to know you, then they are totally loyal. (Or maybe that was just me?)

So, perhaps the best thing to do is to scope out things at a rescue centre, see how the land lies & take it from there. It would only be on a P/T basis due to other work. Thank you for taking the time to answer me fully, & to be fair, you confirmed a lot of what I was already thinking, unfortunately

Anyway, or whatever you fancy.

Cheers, Anne

It's very sad when you want a dog and can't have one. One of the many reasons I started dog walking was because my dogs can come with me.