Dog rescues... Why do they hate working people?

I adopted both my dogs before my husband and I got married or moved in together. The first I got while still in college, so they didn't give me a hard time. The second I got since I've been working full-time, and the woman did ask if that would impact the dog's care. Aside from explaining how it works just fine with my first dog, I also had planned ahead of time to take a long weekend to help the new dog adjust for the first 4 days. I think that made her see that I knew what I was doing.

I've never had a pug, so I'm not sure what their energy level is, but my pom and my chihuahua mix use the time I'm at work to sleep for the most part. My husband has been off between band tours lately, and even with him there, they still sleep while I'm at work. I would say that your dog will probably adapt to your schedule after a month or two.

I hope you have success adopting a wonderful dog. Rescue dogs are the best.

I am single, live in brooklyn with no yard, and work eight hour days. I had no luck with rescue groups. I filled out many applications and got no responses. I ended up adopting my little mutt from the BARC shelter. The ASPCA and Animal Care and Control will definitely adopt out to you too. I saw a puggle recently on the Animal Care and Control Web site, but you have to be really quick with them. Little dogs get adopted fast!
My dog is part jack russell so he needs lots of exercise. Because I have no back yard, he is a TON of work. I have to take him to the park for off-leash hours every morning before work for an hour. I pay a dog walker $12 a day to walk him while I am at work. I walk him when I get home, I take him to the park again almost every night at 9:00 too. I also try to put him in doggy daycare about twice a week, which can get pricey. I also have to take him out for bathroom walks, rain or shine. It's definitely turned out harder than I thought it would be. I have friends who can leave their dogs alone in their house for eight hours with no problem. My dog would tear the place apart, so I had to crate train him. Luckily he doesn't have separation anxiety and seems to like his crate.
I guess what I'm saying is every dog is different. You never know what your dog will be like until you get it home. But be prepared to do a lot of walking, and possibly spending money on dog walkers,trainers to help you with separation anxiety, and other things you never thought you would need. But you may end up adopting the perfect little pet that does just fine away from you all day.

sorry, i missed the question in the first post.

i have a pit bull terrier and i work 9 to 5 monday thru friday. i crate her all day when im at work and she's fine. i take her out twice in the morning before i leave and i take her to to prospect park for at least an hour and a half every day when i get home.

I think it depends a lot on the breed of dog. I'm answering the second part of your question, not having had experience with pet adoption agencies purebred or otherwise. My chow mix dog did fine at home all day (though I did hire someone to walk her once a day when she was young and being housebroken and at times afterward) and that is because her personality, part of being the breed she is, tends to be independent and in fact one of the pros of having a chow or a chow mix (and I like to talk the pros up because the cons are so notorious) is that they are not particularly needy or dependent dogs. She was delighted to see me at the end of the day but she did not absolutely need, as many dogs do, to be with her owner or have an area to run around in during the day. And then I tried to balance it out by having her with me nearly all the rest of the time. It sounds like you have your heart set on a pug, and I don't know that much about their need for attention/company, but it doesn't seem to me to be a dog that needs outdoor space.

Stuygal
I have been out of town for awhile and just got back, so I have just seen this post. I have a pug (six years old and have had her since puppyhood), so I thought I might be able to offer some insight.

My pug is very happy and healthy, but does not like to be left alone for long periods of time even though I have two cats to keep her company. When my husband and I both used to work a lot she started going to the bathroom in the house (even though we knew she could hold it) to show her annoyance with being left alone. When I fostered another dog, she was fine when us humans left, but once the dog got adopted she started acting out again.

Luckily, hubbie and I were able to work out our schedules so she is never left alone too long. All dogs are different, but my pug certainly desires lots of time and attention. I love my pug and certainly recommend the breed, but am also glad that you want to make sure you can give the dog all it needs and deserves!

Good luck with your ongoing search!

mr. met wrote: i don't understand why people don't just go to the pound to get dogs. all these rescue dogs will get adopted and theyll be OK. there are so many great dogs at the city pounds that die every day. if people have so much trouble with rescue agencies, go to the pound!

Actually, you might not have known, but a lot of the rescue group dogs are from the pound. One of my two, Foxy, was found by animal care and control wandering in Wash. Heights. He was then taken in by a rescue group because he was too frightened to be shown to regular people coming in to view, and was slated to be euthanized without even being given a chance to be adopted. Fortunately, the rescue group that took him in works with the regular pound to take in dogs like him that they wouldn't even bother showing to the general public.

So there are some rescue groups that I would say save the dogs that are the most desperate--that not even the city pound wants.

And if you met Foxy now, you would have no idea he was once frightened of everyone