Concerns when adopting Labrador Retriever puppies

Hi, I'm looking for dog as a companion and thought to adopt Labrador Retriever puppy. My concern is about whether my living style will match to the puppy or not.

I'm living alone in apartment which size of 500 square foot. I do not have a garden but I can walk him in the morning if it needs. My working time is 8.30AM to 7PM, in that time he'll have to stay alone in the place. I can ask my neighbour to look for him in emergency but I can't ask him take care him always.

Other than that, I do not have any issue with grooming and do what ever necessary to keep him healthy and happy. But I do not want to keep him unhappy or sad because of my schedule.

Hope you can understand my concern and I'm ready to other suggestions for any breed which will match for me.

And I already tried different sites to find matching breed, so far, I couldn't find any breed which suggested on those sites in my country (Sri Lanka). Most frequent types of breeds available on my country are German Shepherd, Retriever, Terrier, Doberman, Rottweiler, Rhodesian Ridgeback and few others.

Any suggestion, help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

I really do not think it would be right to keep a puppy of whatever breed in such a very tiny apartment, let alone leaving it for so many hours, and your comment that you "can walk him in the morning if it needs" makes me think that you maybe do not understand the needs of a dog.

I accept that I do not understand needs of dog. This is the first time I try to adopt a dog, may be for my life style dog won't be best pet for me. I still love to get a dog, but it looks like I'm out of options.

Sachira - a 500 square foot apartment with no garden is really far to small for a dog. That is the equivalent to 46.45 square metres and my small house is 64 square meters so I do have an idea of the size. I have a living room, two bedrooms, a tiny shower/lavatory and a kitchenette, but it is not an apartment it is a small single storey house, and I do have a yard. Even so and with a dog far smaller than a Labrador Retriever, she frequently gets under my feet.

And you really really cannot leave a dog alone for those many hours each day, let alone a puppy. Puppies need house training not just being taken out for a walk in the morning. They need to go out at regular intervals - as soon as they wake up, as soon as they have eaten etc, and young puppies need feeding four times a day to start with.

They also need to be socialised, not left alone in an apartment all day while you work.

I understand that you want a companion but being honest I do not think any breed of dog would be right for you.

I am sorry but that is all I can say.

I don't have such a problem with apartment or flats or size of property, or lack of garden it can be made to work. But the time the dog will be alone is far too long, how will you toilet train etc and what if the dog become destructive or barks wanting company ?

That is it Julie - the size of the apartment would not be a problem if the OP was home all or most of the day, but I honestly think it is wrong to leave any dog, let alone a puppy, for so many hours.

Hello Sachira and welcome
I agree with the other members, I would say a puppy should not be left alone for so long.
Puppies need contact with people and to be socialised with all kinds of things if they are not going to grow up to be fearful and with behavioural problems . They also need training.

No one would think of leaving a human baby for so long, for me a puppy needs almost as much attention as a human baby.

I am really sorry if you don't want to hear this, maybe now is not the time for you to have a dog.

Hi All, first of all, thanks a lot for your time for answering my question. I can understand now that I'm not ready for adopt a puppy yet. One main reason I asked for help because I did not wanted puppy to be sad or unhappy. I can understand that a puppy need someone to take care of him for sometime. May be I'll wait some more time until I settle down.

Thanks again for your time.

Couldn't put it better than Meg has. Entirely agree and hope you take these comments in the spirit they are intended - to HELP you (and any dog you might adopt).

Here in the UK no rescue would allow someone who is out of the house for such a long time to adopt a dog anyway. So that says it all really. Dogs need companionship. I suggest a cat would be a far more suitable pet. Many cats are happy never to go outside the home (I wouldn't have a house cat myself but many do and they live long happy lives).

Hi Sachira you are to be commended for taking the trouble to check things out before getting a puppy, so many people don't with disastrous consequences.

I hope it will not be too long before the circumstances are right for you to have a dog