I was curious to hear about how people with working dogs or any high drive dogs deal when they're at work all day or most of the day?

Am currently just looking after the family pets who get walked twice a day and either sleep inside or chew marrow bones when left alone, no dramas.

If given enough outlets would a working dog be able to chill while I went to work all day(hypothetical, am at uni currently)? with something to chew on etc and lots of attention pre and post work?
Is a dog run vital?

I know this all depends on individual dogs but am just looking for peoples experiences.

Thanks in advance

Eleanor

Buy a crate. My dog is fairly energetic and putting him in a crate all day is fine.

Tucker is a border collie/husky cross and as long as he is exercised enough and I leave him a Kong he's fine all day in the house with no problems. I leave the house at 7:30 and get home by 4:30..and i haven't had one single solitary problem with him. No destruction, getting into garbage, getting on furniture...nothing. Some people think its cruel to leave a dog all day, but I don't agree with that. I know its better than the conditions he was living in before. And matter of fact on the weekends, when I am running around the house doing my cleaning he shoots me a look and goes up into the kitchen to sleep because I am disturbing his normal routine.

I have an energetic border collie (or possibly a mix) and I get up early to exercise him in the morning every day. We either walk or rollerblade a couple miles, then if I have time I do some OB work or throw a ball in the yard for him. I try to tire him out as much as possible, mentally and physically. Then I put him in his crate around 8:30-9:00 with a stuffed kong and he's happy there until 5:30 when my husband comes home. He seems to do just fine and likes his crate. I think the key is being able to tire them out before you leave for the day.

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....... He seems to do just fine and likes his crate. I think the key is being able to tire them out before you leave for the day.

A post to bookmark, IMO! <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I live close to work so I have had the ability to come home during lunch to do a little work with my dogs. So, my dogs get 3 sessions a day in their normal schedule.

My 8-year-old GSD/Lab mix gets the run of the 1st floor and my 9-month-old GSD puppy goes in his crate while we are gone. The pup also goes in a crate overnight while we sleep with the 8-year-old having the run of the house.

Both go out in the morning before I go to work. Depending on how many times I push the snooze button this can be 10 to 40 minutes. I come home at lunch and give them at least 20 minutes. And, when I get home at night they get at least 40 minutes (20min with me and 20 min of just dog time). It is not uncommon for them to get another 20 minutes to an hour after dinner with the entire family and me.

Usually this play/work schedule allows both dogs to be tired by 9:30 or 10 o’clock in the evening as the rest of the household winds down.

Sure, the pup has a little extra energy on some days and I try to make some time for him. Sometimes, it is just easier to practice sit-stays and down-stays in the house. He learns something and is given a “job” to focus on. It is not physical exercise, but it does seem to take the edge off of him.

Do you think it's the fact that they are tired out, or the fact that you are doing something with them that makes the difference? My border collie gets anywhere from 15 min (rarely) to 3 hrs of work/exercise a day, depending on my scheldule. She's ready to work at the drop of a hat, but has an excellent off switch for the house.

I think those who are successful with working dogs have a different mindset/lifestlye when it comes to dogs. They have dogs because they enjoy doing things with their dogs or have a job for the dogs. You tend to make time for whats important to you.

Also, working dogs tend to have lots more training than your average dog. And dogs can be trained to settle in the house or in a crate.

Mara,

I think you are absolutely right. A working dog needs a job. Or, at the very least, is most happy when presented with a task to complete.

My wife and I were thinking about putting a backpack on the pup to carry around bottles and such for our twin boys that are coming soon so that he can have a job when the babies arrive. It just seemed like a good idea. But really looking at it, we are giving the dog another job within the pack. The backpack will be his way of helping the alpha female. And, it will give him something to do.

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Mara,

I think you are absolutely right. A working dog needs a job. Or, at the very least, is most happy when presented with a task to complete.

My wife and I were thinking about putting a backpack on the pup to carry around bottles and such for our twin boys that are coming soon so that he can have a job when the babies arrive. It just seemed like a good idea. But really looking at it, we are giving the dog another job within the pack. The backpack will be his way of helping the alpha female. And, it will give him something to do.

Check out other threads here about this..... GREAT idea, but not for a young puppy. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Thank you for all the replies. All very encouraging, all sounds very do-able. Makes full-time work look a little more appealing!