Chances are, if you are a dog owner, you want to spend every minute with your precious pup. There are not enough hours in the day to pet, play with, and run around with your best buddy. Unfortunately, the reality is that most of us have to work a full-time job to pay our bills, including vet bills and dog food bills. Whether you’re a first time pet owner or have grown up around and had dogs all your life, there are a few things you can do to make your life easier as you take care of your dog and work a full time job at the same time.
Get some help
If you can afford it and find someone you trust, having someone check in on your dog, feed them and play with them while you are at work can take a load off your brain and relieve some stress and guilt. If you know that your dog is being well taken care of while you are toiling away to buy them treats, you will certainly feel better about leaving them for most of the day. There are many services to find a trustworthy dog sitter, such as Craigslist or neighborhood list servs. If those do not work out, feel free to put the word out at work. Someone could know a stay at home parent or retired person who would be happy to take on the task.
Stay on top of appointments
Taking care of a dog doesn’t just mean gracing them with your presence - it also entails scheduling regular vet visits to make sure nothing is amiss, training to make sure they are well behaved and can socialize well with humans and other dogs, and regular shots to ensure they don’t get fleas, ringworm or other diseases common to dogs. If you are working a full-time job, it will not be possible to fulfill these obligations during the work week unless you take time off. Make sure to schedule these appointments well in advance so that you can take time off if necessary. Or, snag a coveted weekend appointment spot.
Make your home a safe place to be
If you need to leave your dog at home alone for long stretches of time, make sure your living space is safe and dog friendly, as much as it is in your power. That means no leaving snacks and possible harmful substances out in the open - if you don’t know all the substances that could be toxic or fatal to dogs, make sure to educate yourself. Make sure your home is safe for your pet by taking care of home repairs and making sure they can’t access any dangerous electrical wires or other hazards.
Love an old dog
Puppies are notorious for being loud, needy and full of energy - just like human babies! If you work full time, are considering getting a dog but do not yet have one, consider adopting an older dog. Not only will they be much lower maintenance in terms of needing exercise and play time, but they will most likely already be house trained and spend the day sleeping in a patch of sunlight. Since they are older and slower, you can even happily put an older dog in an apartment where they don’t require as much space.
With these tips, it’s possible to work full time and also cohabitate with man’s best friend.
