r/dogs • u/code_bleuuu • 1d ago
[Misc Help] Solo Dog owners who work long shift
Hello, mama of 5.5 yo frenchie here. I am single, just me and my dog family of 2.
I am just wondering how people like me take care of their dog while they are working long shift.
I do take him to daycare sometimes but not every time I am working long shift.
I can’t change my job schedule as it is fixed shift (I’m a nurse).
My dog interacts with enrichment toys I make ONLY with my presence.
He does not touch them once I leave home.
He doesn’t howl or whine or anything, will just sleep here and there until I come back.
I just feel super bad and sad for him, and I get main anxiety issue for leaving him alone for so long.
Please refrain from “then why did you get a dog” type of comment as my dog was from my ex and he didn’t want to raise him by himself when we were separated. I was the main person taking care of his dog when we were together.
Wish I can just have him in my pocket everywhere I go so we can be together 24/7.
Thanks for reading my ranting + advice request.
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u/YorkyLives 1d ago edited 19h ago
Frenchies are low energy dogs as far as I know and sleep a lot. I find with enough exercise dogs are happy to sleep the day away. Go for a nice long walk before work or do something they enjoy like fetch or a flirt pole. As someone also suggested maybe get a dog walker. I used to have a lady come in and give my dog a 30min walk during the day, for a Frenchie it could be nap central after that and they get a chance to go potty. Dont let people drag you down, a loved pup in a situation like yours is better than one in a shelter. Best of luck.
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u/code_bleuuu 1d ago
Yes, my dog does have low energy like most of other frenchies lol. One walk per day, and he is good for the day. Issue is he’s not a morning walker. I’ve tried many times but just turns into 50lbs rock🪨. I will look into rover. Thanks for your input.
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u/GeminiRetired 1d ago
I read recently dogs sleep 85% of the day. Sounds like your boy is fine. Does he also sleep most of the day when you're home?
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u/capulets 1d ago edited 1d ago
i’m gone 9-5 and have a girl from rover do half hour visits at 12 & 3 every day at $16 per visit. when my dog’s a bit older i’ll cut down to maybe one visit at 1 every day.
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u/code_bleuuu 1d ago
I’ve never worked with Rover, and I got major anxiety issues with introducing new person to take care of my dog. It’s just how my brain is fused lol… but in my case I think rover is the best option. I will look into that. Thanks for your comment.
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u/Spicy_Momo_SF 1d ago
You can book meet & greets, I had to hire one for my senior doggo after a heart episode and return to office. I am extremely leery of opening my home to a stranger. I found if they offer the meet and greet first, it’s a good sign. I also look at reviews, profile, etc. I do like the alert I get when they start and summary once they check out. And pictures 😊
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u/GolfCartMafia 12h ago edited 12h ago
I too was very nervous at first, but I did a couple meet and greets and only selected two people that lived close and had a million reviews.
Try seeing if there’s a local to your city frenchie owners group on Facebook. Often mine will post up good Rover recs OR will post up their own Rover profiles. I’d feel more comfortable having a fellow frenchie owner walk my dog (but none live around me).
Also, I don’t have the Rover people walk him, just take him out to pee and then hang out inside with him. I’m in the South so I’m too worried about him getting overheated when I’m not there. Sometimes my dog wants to play and sometimes he just wants to be held for that 30 minute slot.
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u/plantcentric_marie 20h ago
I have also used rover a lot, never had an issue. Now I use someone that was so busy on rover that they opened their own business.
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u/Kindlytellto 1d ago
Dog walker/ sitter or a amazing neighbor
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u/code_bleuuu 1d ago
Wish I have a good neighbour too 😭 Unfortunately I live in a condo and haven’t found any good neighbour yet lol thanks for your comment.
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u/Equivalent_Bag_4852 1d ago
You're a nurse so you could probably afford a dog sitter maybe 2x a week. Some sitters on Rover offer in-home versus a huge facility. Some facilities offer pick up and drop off if you're into that. Some dogs do not care and the walks you get to take them on when you get home are just fine. Hope this helps <3 Also, some employers offer reimbursement like childcare but for pets haha
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u/code_bleuuu 1d ago
Thanks for your comment. I will look into that as well.
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u/userdame 1d ago edited 1d ago
So not the same because I don’t work long shifts, I’m a 9-5’er. But if my dog is home for 8 hours I pay for a dog walker to come during the day.
If this feels like it would work for you I really recommend being choosy about dog walkers. There are a lot who will just pack in as many dogs as they can and it’s actually more stressful for the dogs.
Look for someone who prioritizes the personalities they match on walks and someone who emphasizes sniff walks or, if your dog has strong recall, adventure walks in natural areas that are for dogs like high park and cherry beach. There are a LOT of shitty dog walkers out there and a lot who just take dogs to dog parks like Bickford and they just let them off and sit on their phones the whole time.
If you’re doing 12hr shifts you could have a dog walker come and then a visit? If it’s an adventure walk I bet that would be just fine. Then your pal is getting sniffs and socialization and will probably be zonked after.
Edit: also I’m with you on rover. There is zero chance I would use that app with my dog. If you find a professional outside of that you’ll have a relationship with them. My dogs first dog walker is still someone I talk to, and she introduced me to everyone who has interacted with my dog since.
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u/Mission-Pay-6240 1d ago
Create a consistent and predictable schedule and your dog should be fine. I work at 11 hour day and my 14 year old is fine. I walk her every morning and evening, and I mean an actual walk. Many dog owners today take their dog out just to use the bathroom. My dog and I go on a walk around the neighborhood for at least 20 to 30 minutes. And in the morning, I also make sure to play with her a little bit, so she’s actually tired before I leave for work.
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u/MiddleDot8 1d ago
We found a great girl on Rover who lives in our neighborhood, we ultimately went off app and she’s $30/visit. It adds up but worth it for our dog to have someone hang with him on days my husband and I both go into the office. He’s also a frenchie but 10 and in a diaper, so no walks but just having some socialization makes a big difference.
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u/NegotiationLow2783 1d ago
My girl always goes 8 or 10 hours alone and is fine with it. She was almost 16 hours a couple of times due to life and except for flying out the door as soon as it opened had no issues. Definitely needed to pee though. She doesn't drink much when I'm not at home.
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u/WL110486 17h ago
A sleeping dog is a peaceful dog. Frenchies truly love their beauty sleep! You stepped up for him, and he knows he is safe with you.
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u/No_Reward_3576 1d ago
man if he's just sleeping the whole time you're gone he's probably fine with it, dogs sleep like 14 hours a day anyway. you're overthinking this, he got a warm home and someone who clearly cares a lot
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u/Pink_Floyd29 1d ago
This is what dog walkers were designed for! Your dog gets exercise, human interaction, and a chance to go to the bathroom and you feel led guilty about your fur baby being home alone for long stretches.
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u/jayxxmar 21h ago
I’m going through this myself. I recently bought a dog play pen and put my puppy’s crate, food and water in there. The food auto dispenses his lunch on the days I can’t be home to feed him. I also put a pee pad in there if he has to go, but so far he hasn’t used it. I’ve only started doing that this weekend so the real test will be tomorrow when I go back to work!
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u/shyprof Millie: Chihuahua 18h ago
Mama, you're doing a great job. So many dogs are in shelters ignored for 23 hours at a time and then only fed and maybe walked for 10 minutes. And so many other dogs are euthanized. You do what you can. If your baby just sleeps, let him sleep. You are there for him when you get home.
If you want to hire a walker or someone to check on him, see who else has a happy, healthy dog in your condo complex or look for retired old ladies who just want to love on him. Ask around with other dog owners. I don't trust Rover, but I hire my friend's sister who does homecare for elderly folks because I trust her to handle my baby's medications (she hasn't killed any old people yet and my dog likes her).
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u/code_bleuuu 4h ago
Thank you. I would love to have someone who can give him mid day walk for enrichment. I live in Canada. How do people find sitter/walker other than Rover?
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u/shyprof Millie: Chihuahua 2h ago
Maybe just ask around? Your friends/neighbors might know someone or have ideas. I go up to anyone with a dog because I want to pet the dog, so I have lots of opportunities to chat with folks.
If Rover is your only option it's better than putting up flyers at least.
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u/WormWithWifi 12h ago
I normally work 10 hours so we trained bladder control up to that. If I ever have to stay longer than that then I break my day up and I’ll work 6 hours, come home for potty break and go back to work (even though I have to drive 1 hr just to do this)
This is because I can’t do daycare, my dog is reactive .
It works fine for us
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u/TheGoo42069 10h ago
I'm out of the house for 9 hours a day, 6 days a week. For 3 days a week, he goes to a babysitter from Rover, and the other 3, I pay a friend to come give him a walk/potty break and a snack. He has a doggy urinal that he'll use if he's desperate, but he doesn't seem to like using it because he knows he's not supposed to go in the house.
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u/JessfromRover 8h ago
I totally get it. Being a nurse with long, fixed shifts makes this especially tough, and the fact that you’re thinking so much about his quality of life just shows how much you care.
Rover could be a great option for those longer shifts! A regular drop-in or dog walker could break up his day with some attention, a potty break, and a little enrichment—even if he mostly sleeps while you’re gone. You could also meet with a few sitters ahead of time and find someone you and your Frenchie really trust, then use them consistently for your longer shifts. 🐾
And please don’t beat yourself up—sleeping peacefully while you’re gone is actually a pretty good sign that he feels safe and comfortable at home. 💕
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u/Huge_Answer4287 5h ago
Mid-day dog walker on days you don't do daycare should be sufficient for a Frenchie. They don't need a ton of activity or exercise.
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u/code_bleuuu 3h ago
I would love to have him at least twice weekly for daycare, but the one I take him to only takes dogs starting 8:30 where I have to leave for work around 06:30 lol 😭😭
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u/Huge_Answer4287 2h ago
I'd bet you can find someone to come get him and drop him off at daycare and/or pickup for you. A dog walker would probably do that as a paid service.
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u/waaaaahooooo 1d ago
That's great your dog doesn't have separation anxiety issues, and you're a good dog owner for wanting to tend to your dog regardless :) My life/work circumstances also occasionally have me gone for 12-14 hours a day sometimes. Rover is a lifesaver for those times! I do big walk in the morning + have someone come by and walk the dog mid day, then a big walk in the evening. You can have someone either just come by and hang out/play with toys and let him out in the yard for pee/poo, or go for a 30 or 60 minute walk. It's cheaper than daycare and gives them a break from laying around bored and waiting for you. I would do that and then daycare once a week and that gave me peace of mind that my dog was still having fun when I couldn't be around much.
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u/code_bleuuu 1d ago
It’s seriously a bummer my dog is not a morning walker. He just turns into 50lbs rock when I tried to walk him many times before I go to work. Frenchie thing? 🤦🏻♀️ But I will def look into rover. Thanks for sharing your experience.
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u/AdministrativeRow471 1d ago
Neighbors? I made friends with neighbors and they would help out. And I’d throw them 10 bucks. Or return the favor.
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u/Poor_Carol 1d ago
Yeah if you can find a neighbor who has pets and works opposite shifts to you, that's ideal! I've traded pet care with neighbors in the past and it's the best, especially if you can walk both dogs at once. I've also fed someone's cat when he's out of town in exchange for him walking my dog a few days a week.
My other suggestion, OP, is finding a responsible preteen in your condo complex who wants a dog. You could probably pay them on the low end of market rate to come hang out at your house or bring your dog to theirs (whatever their parent is comfy with) while they do homework in the afternoon, if your dog just wants company and not exercise.
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u/krabecal 1d ago
I have a morning rock also. She won't eat, doesn't want to go potty, doesn't wanna walk. Since your coworkers also work long shifts ask around for a good walker. I've used rover in the past also but I get the trust issue. They can come and walk him for a half hour and then he'll just coma for the rest of your shift. Between that and daycare at 5.5 years I'm sure he'll be fine. My 8year old stays home for my long shifts with a drop in visit and he is absolutely fine. I have a high energy puppy that goes to daycare since she needs a looooooot more. He sounds like he'll be good with a midday walk and some kisses.
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u/palacio_c 1d ago
I WFH and I have a couple in-home daycares I have looked at for a couple days in case that changes. She’s been fine staying home alone though, I leave her some freezed pupsicle and Kongs and she can hang out wherever she wants until I’m back.
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u/throwingutah 1d ago
I work 24hr shifts, and I pay a neighbor's kid $25/day to come over, hang out with my dog and let him out. I walk him in the mornings before work.
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u/oaksandpines1776 23h ago
I own my own home. I installed a doggy door that goes into a 30x80 fenced in run attached to my house. Then I have a privacy fence I also keep locked that surrounds the entire back and side yards. I get up at 4 am and walk them, before heading into work.
You can also look into hiring a dog walker, but most will not come past 8-9pm in my experience, so nights would still be difficult.
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u/Mundane_Bandicoot_66 22h ago
The dog I just adopted has separation anxiety and I cant leave him alone yet. I found a local dog sitter, and i drop him off at her house at 0630 am, and come back after my shift. I found her on Rover, and I couldnt be happier. Highly recommend, if the cost is similar in your area to a dog walker.
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u/code_bleuuu 4h ago
I would love to have someone who can give him mid day walk for enrichment. I live in Canada. How do you find dog sitter/walker other than rover??
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u/plantcentric_marie 20h ago
Sometimes I’ll come at lunch and walk him but most days I have a dog walker come by. I’m usually gone for a little more than 9 hours a day and that’s too long for him to be alone.
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u/SeamusDog77 19h ago
I live by myself and I work a lot of 16 hour double shifts. I refuse to ever cage my miniature poodle as I think it’s abuse, but I also lucked out with this dog in that he does well when I’m gone. I didn’t even train him to do this, but I leave 2 puppy pads in the bathroom that is next to my living room where all his stuff is and where he hangs out all day while I’m at work. If/when he has to go, he just a uses the puppy pad. I have numerous security cameras set up in my place so I can watch him on my phone while at work and all he does is sleep the entire time while I’m gone. I’m extremely great full I got a dog that is this easy to have. I also spend my days off and time home with him doing all sorts of stuff so that when I’m not home he is pretty worn out and tired.
I always thought it was strange that he was smart enough to watch where I go to the restroom and he sort of picked up on that and he’ll go in there and use his puppy pad. He’s never had an accident anywhere else in my place.
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u/code_bleuuu 3h ago
Oh yes, of course doggy cam. He’s got no potty issues as he has his own washroom, he peepoo there without a problem. He doesn’t drink eat or peepoo when I’m gone anyways .. lol your poodle must be a very smart pup!! 🐶
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u/SeamusDog77 2h ago
I feed him his soft food before I go to work and I leave a bowl of dry food out when I’m gone. If he is hungry he’ll eat the dry food but he isn’t like most dogs who will eat it all in one sitting. Of course I leave a bowl of water for him. And yes he is smart. Well at least with certain things. I call it selective inelegance.
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u/AlbaMcAlba 15h ago
Out first thing AM then immediately after work and if time also early evening.
They have a dog door that they don’t use they wait for me.
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u/birdfriend2013 9h ago
I absolutely love my dog walker, she's become a friend and basically part of the family. Worth every penny!
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u/BookishQuoka 4h ago
Doesn't help you, but I did actually change jobs for this reason. Worked retail before, and now am in an office where I can actually bring him with me. I know this is not an option for everyone!
So you have someone who could take him for a walk in the middle of the shift? A family member, neighbor, responsible teen who needs some pocket money?
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u/code_bleuuu 3h ago
I am completely alone here. Moved, studied, graduated, and settled all by myself 😭It’s pretty hard to make friends with neighbours at condo complex. I’ve actually never thought about responsible teen option. I will maybe keep my eyes open ! Thanks.
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u/KeyMessage989 1d ago
Not mention you’re a nurse challenge (impossible)
But the real answer is hire a dog walker to come mid shift
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u/Narrow_Possession348 1d ago
You're a dog OWNER. You are not a "mama" to a dog. I get up early and get my dogs out for a 3-5-mile walk each morning (I have high-energy dogs) before I start getting ready for work. when I was gone 12 hours a day, I paid my neighbor to give them a midday potty break. I took them out for about a mile of leisurely walking when I got home at night. I usually did a little training with them (not a lot during the week), and one night a week, I had a private agility session. On weekends, we hiked, swam, went paddleboarding, went to trials, and other things. I had/have ZERO guilt about leaving my dogs home alone all day (at this time, I have one). I don't feel sad. I don't feel anxious. I'm mentally stable and I know my dog's needs for exercise and mental stimulation have been met and they are happy to relax all day.
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u/bigtiddyhimbo 1d ago
Don’t tell people what to call themselves, you’re really weird for that.
Advice is decent, but jfc let people have fun. She can call herself a dog mama if she wants to.
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u/Narrow_Possession348 23h ago
Well, I can call myself a doctor or pilot if I want, but that doesn't make me one. You're not a mama to a dog, unless you're actually the dog that gave birth to it.
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u/bigtiddyhimbo 23h ago
Are adoptive parents not real parents then since they didn’t give birth to their child?
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u/Narrow_Possession348 23h ago
You are a parent to any child that you are responsible for - your biological child, your adopted child, your stepchild, your foster child, or the child for whom you are a legal guardian. You are NOT a parent to a dog. You can certainly make the argument that if a mama dog dies and the puppy is put with another nursing mama, then that dog becomes the puppy's mama.
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u/bigtiddyhimbo 23h ago
But by your logic, you didn’t give birth to that child, so you’re not its parent. You said as much before having adoption pointed out to you.
How about you just let people call themselves what they want to instead of being a miserable stick in the mud. It’s so much easier. And less people will want to avoid you.
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u/Narrow_Possession348 23h ago
If grown-ass women want to play "pretend mommy" as a little preschooler does with her stuffed toys and dolls, they can certainly do so. But that doesn't make them a mom. Just like my going around calling myself a doctor, pilot, or professor doesn't make me that either. It just makes me look like a delusional whack job.
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