My plan to get a CSW

[Apache]

Hi,


I've never had a dog as my sister and mother are allergic to dogs. Now that I'm living on my own (in an apartment) I'm thinking of getting a CSW. I work a full time job so I won't be able to spend the day during the week with my dog. Here's the plan I came up with to own a CSW. Feel free to tell me (brutally) honestly whether it's a good idea or not.

- I was thinking of having a 6 week old puppy and take 3 weeks off from work. During this time I would try to socialize my little puppy as much as possible without going too far. After all the puppy is still weak and is prone to disease as it didn't receive all its vaccines yet.
- After this 3 week period I would be going back to work. I was thinking of dropping off my dog at a dog day care center and pick him/her off after work. The day care center would basically be a place where my dog could be playing outside with other dogs. Now I understand that for a young dog this might not be possible because of immunity problems.
- During the week I would walk my dog once in the morning (before dropping him/her off to the day care center) and once after coming back from work.
- Twice a week I would go to a training school so as to educate both the dog and myself.
- During the weekend I would take my dog with my on my trips/hikes. I like to walk so at least during the weekend I know my dog would have plenty of exercise ... and attention from me.


So is this realistic? Would a CSW be happy with this kind of schedule and attention?


As I said earlier be as brutally honest as possible. After all I don't want my dog to be unhappy or to raise a socially unstable dog.

[Rona]

Welcome Apache, nice to to see you here

Originally Posted by Apache

As I said earlier be as brutally honest as possible. After all I don't want my dog to be unhappy or to raise a socially unstable dog.

As you wish Detailed plans rarely work out for CSVs. In other words - though your plan sounds OK at the superficial level, it may or may not match the personality, character, nature of the pup you'd get.

One of the first thing vlcaks teach their new owners is the necessity to develop quite a few contingency plans

[Apache]

So it's possible that a CSW would not fit in a or any day center? Or at least the probability is not negligible? I don't have a plan B in case that fails

[vila]

I think what Rona was trying to say is that the problem isn't that the puppy won't fit in a daycare, it's just that Vlcaks are really special in many ways and there has to be room for some improvisation along the way because things often don't turn out as planned. But the most important thing I see here is that you seem to be highly motivated to make this work and won't give up that easily. So my advice to you is jump in with both feet, don't give up and keep an open mind and room for improvisation

I had a similar situation - all odds being against me, but when you know you want to have a Vlcak you will make it work, because they are worth it

[Angelika]

Rona, don´t you think you were a bit too diplomatic?

[Rona]

Originally Posted by Angelika

Rona, don´t you think you were a bit too diplomatic?

Haha, I love your comments Angelika

So my advice to you is jump in with both feet, don't give up and keep an open mind and room for improvisation

One should be VERY cautious with such advice unless he/she knows the person it's given to very well. Some owners would perservere under difficulties, but don't forget the vast majority of young vlckas from "CSVs looking for new homes" section had owners who didn't manage.

So it's possible that a CSW would not fit in a or any day center? Or at least the probability is not negligible? I don't have a plan B in case that fails

Everything is possible: your pup might be most happy at the dog centre without any problems, but it might also miss you badly and howl for hours annoying other dogs and carers. The puppy, and later a young dog may also bully other dogs in the dog centre to the point that you'll be asked to stop bringing him/her there. It may withdraw and stop developing or become aggressive to humans, keep escaping from the place, or may develop a closer relationship with somebody at the dog centre than with you, etc. etc.
I'm not saying that any of these will happen, but that you should be aware of such possibilities and take them under consideration. IMO there is nothing worse than wishful thinking when getting a vlcak. Better to be prepared for worse and then be nicely surprised than the other way round.

[tupacs2legs]

Hi

Honesty?.... Ok,personally I don't think this setup would suit

Working full time and leaving your dog in day care imo is not suitable for this breed,u need a lot of time and paitence for a young vlcak,they need guidence,is it fair to leave all the important stuff to a day centre? I don't think so they are a specialist breed and can be very 'testing' when young,also as the dog matures if there are a lot of different dogs in and out your vlcak may not be accepting to this.

Because I chose to have this breed I only work 3-4 days a week and sometimes they come with me.

Also,I don't think its a good choice for a first time dog owner that works full time ....sorry

[vila]

I totally agree with everything said, and I am very sorry for the dogs whose owners haven't thought things through or lacked the motivation to make it work and the dogs ended up being put up for adoption. But coming from my personal experience, I know it's difficult when you don't have all the answers yet and everyone is telling you it will be a disaster (especially "experts" in Slovenia, who haven't even seen a Vlcak in person ) but if you know you're committed to make it work, you will. My Vila's personality is adored everywhere we go and I'm glad I wasn't discouraged to get her by everyone else. But I sadly would have to agree with the others that the plan should be one of the possibilities and not the only one :/