I am thinking of buying a Havanese toy dog for the family, the only trouble
is my wife is disabled and unable to walk a dog and she works part time 4
mornings a week and the kids are at school. My questions are
1) Is 5 hours a day too long to leave a small dog that loves companionship
(We do have 2 cats but I don't know if cats count as companions.
2) If these dogs need companionship so badly how will it get on if we leave
it shut downstairs on its own at night.
3) Will a small dog like this need to go for a walk everyday or will it be
OK to walk it at weekends only.
Note: It will have access to the garden day and night by using the cat flap,
does this count as exercise and will this help to stop it from being lonely
in the day.

Nick

"Nick" wrote:
1) Is 5 hours a day too long to leave a small dog that loves companionship

No. Leave him in a crate with a frozen stuffed kong, and he'll be fine.
Mostly he'll sleep.

(We do have 2 cats but I don't know if cats count as companions.

Sort of. :}

2) If these dogs need companionship so badly how will it get on if we leave
it shut downstairs on its own at night.

Not well at all. Keep it in a crate in your room.

3) Will a small dog like this need to go for a walk everyday or will it be
OK to walk it at weekends only.
Note: It will have access to the garden day and night by using the cat flap,
does this count as exercise and will this help to stop it from being lonely
in the day.

I wouldn't allow him access to the outside when you're not home. When you are,
and you are DIRECTLY supervising him, it's fine. A puppy cannot be left the
run of the house, or he'll chew everything, never get potty trained, and could
hurt himself.

If you have a fenced yard, you don't need to walk him. But you should spend
time with him out there. He won't exercise himself alone.

Canine Action Dog Trainer
http://www.canineaction.com
My Kids, My Students, My Life:
http://hometown.aol.com/dfrntdrums/m...age/index.html

"Nick" wrote:
1) Is 5 hours a day too long to leave a small dog that loves companionship

No. Leave him in a crate with a frozen stuffed kong, and he'll be fine.
Mostly he'll sleep.

(We do have 2 cats but I don't know if cats count as companions.

Sort of. :}

2) If these dogs need companionship so badly how will it get on if we leave
it shut downstairs on its own at night.

Not well at all. Keep it in a crate in your room.

3) Will a small dog like this need to go for a walk everyday or will it be
OK to walk it at weekends only.
Note: It will have access to the garden day and night by using the cat flap,
does this count as exercise and will this help to stop it from being lonely
in the day.

I wouldn't allow him access to the outside when you're not home. When you are,
and you are DIRECTLY supervising him, it's fine. A puppy cannot be left the
run of the house, or he'll chew everything, never get potty trained, and could
hurt himself.

If you have a fenced yard, you don't need to walk him. But you should spend
time with him out there. He won't exercise himself alone.

Canine Action Dog Trainer
http://www.canineaction.com
My Kids, My Students, My Life:
http://hometown.aol.com/dfrntdrums/m...age/index.html

"Nick" wrote:
1) Is 5 hours a day too long to leave a small dog that loves companionship

No. Leave him in a crate with a frozen stuffed kong, and he'll be fine.
Mostly he'll sleep.

(We do have 2 cats but I don't know if cats count as companions.

Sort of. :}

2) If these dogs need companionship so badly how will it get on if we leave
it shut downstairs on its own at night.

Not well at all. Keep it in a crate in your room.

3) Will a small dog like this need to go for a walk everyday or will it be
OK to walk it at weekends only.
Note: It will have access to the garden day and night by using the cat flap,
does this count as exercise and will this help to stop it from being lonely
in the day.

I wouldn't allow him access to the outside when you're not home. When you are,
and you are DIRECTLY supervising him, it's fine. A puppy cannot be left the
run of the house, or he'll chew everything, never get potty trained, and could
hurt himself.

If you have a fenced yard, you don't need to walk him. But you should spend
time with him out there. He won't exercise himself alone.

Canine Action Dog Trainer
http://www.canineaction.com
My Kids, My Students, My Life:
http://hometown.aol.com/dfrntdrums/m...age/index.html

From: "Nick"

I am thinking of buying a Havanese toy dog for the family, the only trouble
is my wife is disabled and unable to walk a dog and she works part time 4
mornings a week and the kids are at school. My questions are
1) Is 5 hours a day too long to leave a small dog that loves companionship
(We do have 2 cats but I don't know if cats count as companions.

5 hours is not too long. My dogs and cats are great companions for each other
though.

2) If these dogs need companionship so badly how will it get on if we leave
it shut downstairs on its own at night.

Why would you shut him downstairs on his own? He should sleep with the family.

3) Will a small dog like this need to go for a walk everyday or will it be
OK to walk it at weekends only.

A daily walk is not essential. Walks aournd here are for entertainment and
exercise, not elimination, and most of all of that is accomplished in my yard
[garden] and at other activities.

Janet Boss
http://bestfriendsdogobedience.com/
http://photos.yahoo.com/bestfriendsobedience

From: "Nick"

I am thinking of buying a Havanese toy dog for the family, the only trouble
is my wife is disabled and unable to walk a dog and she works part time 4
mornings a week and the kids are at school. My questions are
1) Is 5 hours a day too long to leave a small dog that loves companionship
(We do have 2 cats but I don't know if cats count as companions.

5 hours is not too long. My dogs and cats are great companions for each other
though.

2) If these dogs need companionship so badly how will it get on if we leave
it shut downstairs on its own at night.

Why would you shut him downstairs on his own? He should sleep with the family.

3) Will a small dog like this need to go for a walk everyday or will it be
OK to walk it at weekends only.

A daily walk is not essential. Walks aournd here are for entertainment and
exercise, not elimination, and most of all of that is accomplished in my yard
[garden] and at other activities.

Janet Boss
http://bestfriendsdogobedience.com/
http://photos.yahoo.com/bestfriendsobedience

From: "Nick"

I am thinking of buying a Havanese toy dog for the family, the only trouble
is my wife is disabled and unable to walk a dog and she works part time 4
mornings a week and the kids are at school. My questions are
1) Is 5 hours a day too long to leave a small dog that loves companionship
(We do have 2 cats but I don't know if cats count as companions.

5 hours is not too long. My dogs and cats are great companions for each other
though.

2) If these dogs need companionship so badly how will it get on if we leave
it shut downstairs on its own at night.

Why would you shut him downstairs on his own? He should sleep with the family.

3) Will a small dog like this need to go for a walk everyday or will it be
OK to walk it at weekends only.

A daily walk is not essential. Walks aournd here are for entertainment and
exercise, not elimination, and most of all of that is accomplished in my yard
[garden] and at other activities.

Janet Boss
http://bestfriendsdogobedience.com/
http://photos.yahoo.com/bestfriendsobedience