The simple answer to the question posed in the title is “yes.” Anyone can have a dog. Even if you don’t own your own home, many landlords will allow pets with a pet deposit. The bigger question you should ask yourself is if you should own a dog. Owning a dog isn’t the right choice for everyone, and sometimes knowing that is better than attempting to bring a dog into your life only to create unhappiness for everyone.
If you have a full-time job, you can still have a happy and healthy pup, but you need to know how to do it. Here are some tips for having a dog and working full time.
1. Exercise
Crates are popular with dog owners who work outside the home because they prevent accidents. If there is an accident, nothing gets stained. However, crates don’t provide an opportunity for exercise, and just like you, your dog needs exercise.
The best thing you can do is find an alternative to a crate, such as having a reliably fenced backyard. But on the hottest of days, that might not be a good option.
If you must crate your dog, make sure your pooch gets lots of exercise when you’re home. Having a swimming pool can provide fun exercise for both of you. If you don’t have one, this might be the catalyst you’ve been needing to investigate affordable pools for your home.
2. Supervision
If you’re not there 8 hours of the day, who’s going to make sure Fido isn’t chewing up important items such as the remote or the couch?
Many pet owners find their anxiety is relieved when they install indoor cameras to help them keep an eye on things. With cameras, you can make sure your big ball of fur is being a good boy. And if he looks lonely, many cameras have a feature that lets you speak through them.
3. Dog Walkers
Not all dogs adapt well to being alone for long periods of time. An easy solution to this conundrum is to hire a dog walker. If you live in a big city an online search can help you easily locate a dog walker. If you don’t you may need to enlist the help of a friend, family member, or youth next door who yearns for extra cash.
Even if your dog does fine being home all that time, a dog walker could provide benefits to her mental health. Socialization isn’t just for humans. Dogs appreciate it, too.
4. A Friend
Having more than one dog isn’t the answer for everyone, but if it is it could be the solution to your pet’s loneliness during the day. If you don’t have the energy for two dogs, and not many people do, a feline can also provide companionship.
The sad truth is there are thousands of cats needing homes throughout the United States, and many of them won’t have the pleasure of finding one. If you adopt a cat, your canine gets a friend, a cat’s life is saved, and you have more fur babies to make your life complete.
5. Emergencies
Nobody wants to think about anything bad happening while they’re away from home, but the truth is disasters happen when you least expect them. The best thing you can do is be prepared, and this means making sure first responders and emergency crews know you have a beloved pet inside.
You can do this by placing a sticker on a door window or near the door so it’s obvious to anyone approaching the home. First responders look for this type of information, so even if it’s just a sticker with a picture of a dog print they will know.
Any pet is a big responsibility and not a decision to be taken lightly, whether you work full-time or not. There are many considerations to make before deciding if a pet is right for you. The one thing that is for sure is that a dog can add value to your time at home. Make sure you add value to his.
Photo credit: https://unsplash.com/photos/MUAjN1w9lUA
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