What to do?

My old job called me and wants me back. I haven given them my answer yet because I am worried about leaving Raven. The hours are long.......
12hrs (7pm-7am) Mon-Wed and every second Sunday.
I already know that the a bad idea to leave a dog alone for that many hours and I am sure all of you agree.
But I want to hear your opinion anyways.

If you decide to take the old job back, Please consider a dog walker. It is not fair for a dog to be alone that long of a period.

Agree with Rottielover. 12 hours is way too long.

Do you currently work away from home. For someone who doesn't get a day off and works a minimum of 11 hrs a day I would have to say that only working 3 days a week most of the time sounds great.
See if you could hire someone or get a neighbour, friend or family member to come over at bed time to take him out, really only a couple hours after you leave. What time does he usually go to bed.
I know 12 hrs is a really long time and usually too long to leave them but I would say that your schedule is slightly different than having the same number of hours in a day shift. If your dog is usually sleeping during this period of time anyway I wouldn't be as worried.
You will still be able to feed, play and exercise him before you leave. If you are not able to as much because you are sleeping you may want to send him to daycare one or two of those days but remember this is only 3 days a week.

Do you currently work away from home. For someone who doesn't get a day off and works a minimum of 11 hrs a day I would have to say that only working 3 days a week most of the time sounds great.
See if you could hire someone or get a neighbour, friend or family member to come over at bed time to take him out, really only a couple hours after you leave. What time does he usually go to bed.
I know 12 hrs is a really long time and usually too long to leave them but I would say that your schedule is slightly different than having the same number of hours in a day shift. If your dog is usually sleeping during this period of time anyway I wouldn't be as worried.
You will still be able to feed, play and exercise him before you leave. If you are not able to as much because you are sleeping you may want to send him to daycare one or two of those days but remember this is only 3 days a week.

I'll be coming home after my 12hr shift and Raven and I will be able to play and walk in the mornig and just before I leave. Its just I need some to give her 10:30pm walk and give her a light snack and some attention. Just probably for an hour. But after some thinking....I dont think i'll take the job, mainly because I think it would be unfair for Raven ( i love her to much). I had several family member offering to help me but am I Raven's "Mommy" and I want be there with her most of the time. 12hrs is too long me anyways.
The only way I would take the job if the pay me alot so I could pay someone to take care of raven.

I don't think 12 hours is too long if it's not too many days each week. Last semester I had 2 days where I was gone 10 hours, and the day before the 2 days and the day after, I ran my doggies to death so they didn't mind (they spent the whole day sleeping). They know I'll make up for it. Then again, my doggies are used to being flexible... I'd rather a couple of long days and then the rest be short days or off (the joys of being a studen and picking your schedule..).

I didn't realize you were also keeping a day job.

For anyone who thinks 12 hours is not long: Get up at 7:00a.m., go to the bathroom then don't go again til 7:00p.m. and let me know how long it is.;)

good post, luckey rescue, im with you

For anyone who thinks 12 hours is not long: Get up at 7:00a.m., go to the bathroom then don't go again til 7:00p.m. and let me know how long it is.;)

:highfive:

And not only that,but no eating for that 12 hours also......;)

So if we leave for 12 hours and don't pee and don't eat the whole time, it's ok?:o

I think 3 days in a row of that is too much, but the occasional 12hr stretch is workable for some dogs. On rare occasions, about once every few months, ours get stuck at home for that long. They greet us at the door blinking and stretching their legs as if to say, "oh, is nap time over already?" But I couldn't imagine doing that to them day after day. It's just not fair.

I would love to take a 12 hour shift at work, but with hubby already working them, I just can't do it. So, rather than having these perfectly sychronized work schedules where we both work 7-7 shifts, we're like 2 ships passing in the night most times.

I'm lucky I do occasionally work 14 hour days but mostly in the summer and because my HB is a farmer he's home sometimes to look after the dogs or the kids are home too. If not the pups spend their time outside in a kennel. If someones home they can run free, but if not, into the kennel they go.

I think it depends on the dog. For some dogs it would be way too long and others really wouldn't care. Some dogs can hold it for a very long time and other not long at all. I think the pottying issue is bigger than the feeding issue. 1/2 of my dogs eat every 24 hours (water always available) and the other 1/2 every 12 hours.

I think this is a slightly different case as it is over night, not during the day. Yes 12 hrs during the day is a long time but it is different during the night. The same as house breaking. Your puppy will always be better at night than during the day because they sleep through the night.