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Miniature Dining
Single male, workin 8hr/day.living in 2BR townhouse no yard. Would a miniature schnauzer do ok here?
Hi I am looking to buy a miniature or standard schnauzer. I am single and work 8 hours a day. I live in a multi-level townhouse with big 2BR / living / dining areas. I’m wondering if this type of dog will be alright alone for this amount of time running free in the townhouse.
Plenty of people will tell you you shouldn’t have a dog if you work full time. I agree that it is not the ideal scenario, but life rarely is the best case scenario. I happen to be single, living alone in an apartment and working full-time, and I have a very happy and well adjusted 7-month-old puppy at home. It is possible.
However, when I was having the same debate you are currently, I ultimately decided that part of the package had to include paying a dog walker to come by and take the dog out during the work day. I brought my pup home when she was 10 weeks old. For the first two weeks of her life with me, my sister was able to spend most of the day with her, gradually arriving later and leaving earlier as the days went by. Until she was fully vaccinated, I was lucky enough to have a friend living nearby who was able to pop in and let her out once or twice a day, as required. Once she had all her shots, I hired a dog walker. (Had I not been so lucky in terms of family/friends being around, I could have hired the dog walker to stop in once or twice a day while the pup was little.)
If getting home at lunch, having a friend or neighbour stop in, or hiring a dog walker is not in the cards for you, then I suggest you think long and hard, because 8 hours is a long day for a young pup. An adult dog used to being alone, however, would do just fine.
Being in an apartment, I don’t have a yard either. There are, however, lots of dogs in the apartment buildings in my area who tend to congregate and play in the greenspace between our buildings. I also live close to the largest park in the city and am able to walk her a fair bit. I don’t think she misses a yard (though I hope to one day have one for her!)
I can’t speak to the Schauzer breed specifically, as I don’t have any experience with them, but do your homework and make sure the breed is compatible with your lifestyle (energy, exercise / grooming requirements, etc) I think if you are really sure that you are ready to add a dog to your life, your living arrangements / employment status are certainly not reason to live without the joy and company of a dog.
