I travel a lot. Is it fair to get a dog if others care for it?

Adult dogs can generally be crated 8-10 hours so this schedule could be fine provided the dog does not having anxiety issues....etc. Dogs do require A LOT of time. It's almost like having a child. They require at least an hour of exercise every day (especially when they are young). They require training and affection. They need to be fed on a schedule, let out on a schedule and you will need to have them examined periodically by the veterinarian. Having a dog is very rewarding but it sounds like now is maybe not the right time to have a dog if you family is very busy. I recommend to wait until the time is right. There are pets who can be equally rewarding but require less care than a dogs. Cats make great pets and are far less dependent on humans. Though they still require attention...etc. Many people are grossed out about rats but pet rats actually make very good pets. They love their humans (if you get them as babies) and can even be trained to do tricks. You need at least 2 and they will still want your attention. I hope this provides some guidance and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Wow, what a tough situation you are in at the moment! First off, I'm quite sorry that your marriage didn't work out, and I hope things turn out better for you in the future. As for Sophie, I wonder if there is anyway you can take Sophie with you when you are out of town for work. Find a hotel that accepts pets or an apartment that will let you have her with you. That way, you don't have to leave her with a pet sitter, and she will likely enjoy being with you more. Otherwise, I would find a pet sitter to be in the home with her, as being in her own environment with familiar surroundings will much less stressful for her.

This is certainly not a common occurence, so I would say no. However, if the pet has an underlying illness that can be exacerbated by the stress of being away from the owner, then it could coincidentally lead to the pet getting sick. If your pet is seen regularly by your vet and deemed healthy, then the risk of this happening is also very low. Most pets, as long as they are properly cared for by the relatives, will do well when their owner is away. Now if your pet gets particularly anxious or has separation anxiety whenever you leave the house, then I would advise getting her on an anti-anxiety medication while you are away, to help keep her calm and stress free. You can certainly ask your vet for a prescription or look into a product called Zylkene, which is available online without a prescription b/c it is a supplement. I hope that this helps and best wishes with your pet Mitzy. Take care. : )

These are very long days to expect a dog to be left alone, especially in such a hot climate and you should think very carefully before adopting any dog (puppy or adult) on a tight budget with limited access to veterinary facilities - it is important to always expect the unexpected. It may be worth contacting local shelters to see if they need volunteer help when you are not in college or if they have dogs which need fostering (ensure that they would then be providing back up for veterinary fees and other expenses if required)

Whether or not it is safe to leave your dog at your sisters will depend on your dog. If he has never been around children before or has shown any aggression towards children, then it is less safe. No dog should be left unattended around children, so it is best if your dog hasn't been around the baby to keep it in an area separated from where the baby will be- either a separate area of the house or outdoors. Some dogs are fine with babies, others may be made anxious by the presence of a baby or they may view the baby as a prey due to small size and the funny noises the baby makes. Since your dog is so small, perhaps putting it in a pen inside your sister's house would work. He shouldn't be hard to contain due to his size. Whether you should bring him with you is going to depend on where you area going- do they allow dogs? will it be very hot outside? will you have to leave the dog in a car? It can get hot VERY quickly in a car in warm weather even with windows rolled down, so it is not recommended to leave a dog in a car in the summer with warm weather, so unless the places you are traveling allow pets it may be best to leave him behind. Keeping him cool will involve providing access to fresh water, shade, and not leaving him in a car or outdoors for extended periods of time in the warm weather. I am not sure what type of products you are looking for recommendations for? More information is needed from you for that type of recommendation.

You are looking for the perfect dog, and he doesn't exist. Dogs do not want a "well clean comfy dog house." they want to be with their people (or, as you state, "a family dog"). A dog that primarily stays outside will not be a family dog! You mention wanting a "guardian." If your dog lives ourdoors much of the time, that area may become his "trerritory" and, if a killer got past the yard to the front door, your dog might do nothing since he may believe that the house is not his territory to protect. Very often separation anxiety is created inadvertently by the owner. Another concern I have is that you state, 'I am busy." A new dog, regardless of breed or size, needs a lot of care in order for him to acclimate to new surroundings. It does not sound to me as if you are ready to have a dog just now. Perhaps you could volunter at a vet's office or shelter to get an understanding of just how much work and time a dog can require in order to be well-adjusted and happy. If you would like to talk about this, you can click on the prompt and start a consult, where we can discuss your situation. It may be that, with a few adjustments, things might work now.

That is a good question, and my answer is - that depends on the dog, and also the farm workers. There are some dogs that are very independent and dogs that are very needy. What matters most is the level of bonding you have while you are home and the attention the pup will get from the farm workers. If the dog gets significant time and attention while you are home, but not while you are away, that might be hard and lead to behavior problems and acting out.. If plenty of affection and attention is given by the farm hands, then my guess is your pup will be happy and loyal when you come home, and the farm hands will become part of the family.