Working and having a chihuahua :)

[banoffee]

This is my first post so be gentle ;D

I have been lurking here and reading everyone's posts and looking at all your pictures which are making me jealous!

I'm thinking of getting a chihuahua possibly next year (depending on circumstances) and just wondered if anyone works and has chis?

I am currently working full time and also running my own business in my spare time and I hope to be able to go down to part time working and the rest if the time running my business from home. But I'm wondering if a chi would be ok left at home at all - I work close to home and would go home in my lunch hour and could take the chi out for a quick run etc... I haven't had a dog before so I don't know if that would still be too long to leave him/her for?

I'd love to know if any of you are in a similarsituation or any advice would be brilliant as I'm trying to find out as much as possible before I even think about contacting the breeder

[Sarah]

Personally I don't think any dog should be left at home all day alone but I understand people have to work! I would probably consider getting an older dog if you're going to be away all day as puppies can get hypoglycaemia etc.

I'd consider getting someone to come in and walk the dog or something too so it doesn't get bored and distructivr

I tend not to leave mine the max I've left them is 4 hours and that's once in a blur moon normally no more than 2 hours I'm very wary my dogs are at home when I'm out it's like Leaving my daughter lol

[Paula]

I work, but I live very close to my work (less than 5 minutes away by car) and I come home at noon for lunch for an hour. I also have 2 chi's so they have each others company. I personally would not get a dog if you are going to leave them alone all day. I also still wouldn't leave 2 dogs home alone all day either. Probably best to wait until you're working part time or running your business from home. I should also add I take mine into work a few days a week as well. I'm lucky to be able to do so. Chi's are very social little ones and really need to be with their people. Welcome to the board btw.

[banoffee]

Yeah hypoglycaemia would be a worry... I don't mind getting an older dog at all if the breeder had one they had kept to show but didn't quite make the grade

The other option for me would be to take the chi to work but that would totally depend on the dog and it's personality.

I guess I'll just work even harder at my home business so that I can do that full time it's just at the moment it's nowhere near profitable to live off but if I have to wait until I can do that full time and stay home then that's what I'll have to do!

[banoffee]

Oh yeah I also meant to ask if 2 would be better than one - at least they have company I suppose but I don't know if I could handle 2!!

If I did still work a full day I would definitely go home for my lunch hour as I work close to home too. My boss has a dog and I'm sure he wouldn't mind me bringing a dog to work as he brings his sometimes bur it would depend on how hyperactive the chi was lol

[Therese]

Welcome
Getting a dog who is a bit older (6-8 months) from a Breeder is a great idea. I brought Jerry home at 6 months old, and his littermate Tabitha at 7 months. Jerry was a bit lonely that month that he was the only dog. Now, they are great company for each other. I'm not working, but I am routinely gone about 3-4 hours a day. That seems to be fine for 16 week old Evie--she naps a lot at this age. If you can get into a part time (4 hour) shift, I think you could work it out with a young dog. I would certainly start during a vacation period where you can be there all the time during the first 10 days. After that, stress on the puppy from going to a new home should have dropped off; and, you will have your routine down. Good luck with getting your home business off the ground and with your decision

[Hollie]

Dogs are pack animals and enjoy other dogs company, but there can be problems too, they can be a breeze or they can take alot more time and effort cause you can get dogs that fight, have to be fed seperately, dominance issues, issues with marking to compete with eachother. I have also heard that getting two puppies out of the same litter can lead to problems as they grow dependent on eachother and not on you, and that they can be harder to train. Personally I wouldn't considder getting two dogs together if you haven't even had one dog before. One can be a challenge enough in itself. If you get one dog it may need a lot of work doing with it and need a lot of individual attention if it has any issues and alot of time put into it. Going to training class and trying to train two puppies at the same time will not work. I would say don't get dog number 2 until you have trained and socialised the first one to completion.

[Sarah]

I would never get two at the same time either as they tend to bond to each other more than you.. You always want to be number one. Mine are bonded to me but are in love with each other lol