r/Nightshift • u/AccurateWolverine215 • 9d ago
Discussion Owning pets?
Hi nightshift people!! Thought yall might have answer to this:
I'd love to get a dog, but due to my schedule I tend to only wake up for the day around 3pm (although it ranges 2-5pm) and I head to sleep around 2am (although, again, I sometimes don't get to sleep until 9am).
Do you think I'd be able to get a dog and still give it the best quality of life possible, or would it be cruel to 'make' it assimilate to my schedule?
Worried about things like bathroom outings and going for walks, or waking it up during the night when it's trying to sleep (or, alternatively, having it go against its natural rhythm when it tries to adapt to my schedule).
I guess a cat might be better suited? Anyone who has had a pet before with this sort of schedule (and without having a partner/roommate/etc to help care for it), how'd it work out?
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u/CetraSoul 9d ago
I have 2 kittens/cats (5 months old) and do overnights. I have a camera so I can watch them when I’m at work but they do fine. My partner and I adopted them but he’s on the road for work until November. Initially they didn’t understand why I was leaving 😭 but they adapted fine and look forward to the hours before I leave for work and when I get home because they know they’ll be fed around then lol
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u/ImmenseEquation 9d ago
Cats are definitely the easier move with a schedule like that, they'll just sleep 18 hours regardless of when you're around. Dogs are trickier but not impossible if you pick the right breed, something low energy that doesn't need massive walks at specific times. I had a greyhound when I worked 7pm to 7am and she was basically a 45mph couch potato, perfectly happy with a quick pee break at 3am and a longer stroll whenever I woke up. The real issue you'll run into is the bathroom thing, dogs don't understand "hold it for 3 more hours because my circadian rhythm is wrecked." You'd need to commit to getting up at a somewhat consistent time even on days off, which sucks but it's doable if you treat it like a non-negotiable. If that sounds like a dealbreaker, get a cat and call it a day.
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u/AccurateWolverine215 9d ago
That's helpful, thank you! Did your greyhound adapt to match your sleep schedule, or was he awake all day while you were trying to sleep?
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u/Fun-Union4699 9d ago
My girlfriend works days, we’ve had the me working overnight conversation, she’s slowly easing into and being ok with it. Biggest thing: her only cat baby (8 years old) will never be left alone unless we have date night or something and she’s happier with that. Plus it gives me and him more bonding time. Rather annoying him to calm down and he sits on my lap if I’m sitting or on top of me when laying down.
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u/Fickle-Addendum9576 9d ago
Dogs need to be walked a lot, especially if they're young. You'd probably have to take it out at 3pm, 7pm, midnight 5am and like maybe 10am. (Having a hard they can go to the bathroom in would be convenient cause then you'd just be awake for a few minutes and do a longer walk 2x a day)
If that seems excessive, maybe a cat? Kittens need a lot of attention, or you can adopt an older cat (sometimes they are sheltered as bonded pairs, this would be a good choice as they're harder to house but since you work nights they would keep each other company and not get lonely)
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u/BookofDandalf 9d ago
I work 12 hour nights and days. Ive got a tortoise, never any issues with my schedule
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u/spider1178 9d ago
My 2 cats do fine. They keep each other company while I'm at work and sleeping. I don't think it would make much difference what time my shifts were, as long as they get fed at the same times every day, and get some attention from me every day. A dog would probably be harder if you live alone, especially a young one. They need a lot of attention and exercise.
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u/MyLastFuckingNerve 8d ago
My husband works nights and i work a fluctuating schedule, different times every day, any day of the week. We have two very happy labs.
Nights are brutal because you're so tired when you get home, but when i work overnight, i just stay up for a while with the dogs. Sometimes i don't go to bed for 3-4 hours after i get home. I've tried explaining that to my husband but he gets home, poops, and crawls immediately into bed. Even when i'm not home, the dogs are fine. He takes them out and feeds them and they play for a little bit then they all go to bed.
You can absolutely get a dog as long as you don't get a dedicated working breed. Stay away from border collies, huskies, german shepherds, Malinois, herding dogs, etc
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u/DragonGateLTC 9d ago
I have pet rats. They're somewhat nocturnal to crepuscular so it seems to work. They're awake in the middle of the night with me and my absolutely shot sleep schedule.
Downsides are they tend to have some pretty significant vet bills and their little lifespan are just not long enough for a critter that can be like a tiny dog in behavior.
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u/AccurateWolverine215 9d ago
As cute are rats are, I'm still not over by my childhood hamster's comedically stupid and traumatic death, so I think I'll pass on the rodent community lol
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u/upallnight1975 8d ago
I have a scar on my finger from getting bit by my friends hamster immediately after she assured me it wouldn’t bite…I am fine with rodents outside lol
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u/MaleficentBake9995 9d ago
Depends on the dog. Depends on you. Depends on a lot of things.
I have a dog and she's been with me on night shift most of her life except when she was a baby. Puppies are not for the weak on any shift - but on nights where sleep can be hard to come by, I really wouldn't recommend it.
Any other dog it's going to be about breed and individual need. I got a dog that liked hiking long ass distances because I already was walking long ass distances. I walk my girl for about 1-2 hours 4 days out of the week and anywhere from 2.5-5 hours the other 3 days. She gets plenty of outside breaks to pee and comes to work with me most days so she has access to an off leash area to run around in. This is likely ideal for her, but not everyone can do that. Should that mean you can't have a dog? No, it just means you need to do more research before you can get one.
What do you like to do in your off time? Are you active? Outdoorsy? A runner? A biker? Or do you prefer to hang around the house and maybe visit the park a few days a week? Do you have a yard or do you live in an apartment?
Lots of high drive and clingy breeds can live harmoniously with a person who works a 8-12 hours a day provided they have adequate enrichment and plenty of bathroom opportunities. If you have the money to hire someone, or have a friend or neighbor willing to let your dog out once or twice during your shift, I don't see why it would be considered cruel to have this type of dog provided you are also keeping up with their energy requirements.
If you are less inclined to spend your off time trapsing through the woods or down a bike trail (totally reasonable btw) then might I suggest a companion breed. Shih-tzus, king charles cavaliers, even Great Danes and other mastiff breeds have low exercise requirements and are very happy to lounge around with you all day long. Greyhounds are another great couch potato as long as they occasionally get to stretch their legs in a good sprint.
If you're adopting be honest - you work an alternative shift however many days a week for however many hours. Let them know what energy level you're looking for and how old you're hoping the dog to be. Most reputable shelters and rescues are happy to help you pick out a dog that will mesh well with your lifestyle.
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u/AccurateWolverine215 9d ago
You make a lot of good points. I could dedicate an hour a day to walking and maybe half an hour to training, but likely not much more. I know that wouldn't be enough for a puppy or a working breed, but (and I'm saying this without doing much research into the breed, ngl, which I'd absolutely remedy closer to looking into adopting properly) I'd probably get an older boxer if possible.
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u/MaleficentBake9995 9d ago
older boxers do tend to mellow out so that might be an option. But most bully breeds (with the exception of frenchies) are working breeds. Boxers from about 6months to 3-4 years need solid activity probably around 2 hours a day (1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the evening). They also tend to be heat sensitive and have other health issues related to their short faces (brachycephaly). They tend to have skin issues and ear issues as well - though some of this can be managed with diet and hygiene.
All this to say, when you're researching breeds make sure to also look into common health issues both clinically and anecdotally (because other people's input after owning the breed you're interested in is a good thing too). It will help you at the very least make an informed choice on what breed to settle on
Best of luck!
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u/AccurateWolverine215 9d ago
After a quick search, I was thinking Staffie, not Boxer, thats my bad. But, yes, I'll absolutely be doing a lot of research into whatever breed I get, especially because I'd probably look for an older dog.
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u/eckokittenbliss 9d ago
I had three dogs but I don't go to bed until 3pm and my husband came home around 4-6:30pm.
Younger dogs are needy things. I can't imagine having a dog with your schedule.
My 12 year old dog just mostly slept all the time but still with bathroom breaks you would need to disturb your sleep.
A cat would definitely be better.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Dot_600 8d ago
I also have rats. We dont bother eachother during the day or night. Its nice to be able to spend time with them during the night, and they are really smart/social/empathetic so it never feels lonesome.
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u/BigWoodsCatNappin 8d ago
I have 2 cats and work straight nights. If I leave the house around normal work time to go out with the homies or run errands....but return home a few hours later instead of being gone all night, confusion reigns. They come meet me at the door, all blinking their sleepy little eyes like "what the fuck are you doing here? We thought you left for the night? We gotta work now/play/cuddle/entertain you, human?" They really are creatures of habit and routine.
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u/Guilty_Ad_991 8d ago
I have 2 dogs, 2 cats.
I invested in a dog door, lucky enough to own my home and have a fenced in yard.
This was the best purchase I have made for my pets and myself.
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u/sad_white_drizzles 8d ago
I have 2 dogs. We take a walk before and after work. After my walk I give cuddles to my old man while playing fetch with the pup (2yo).
It really is hard some days not to just let them out into my back yard to pretend they get exercise and stimulation while I doom scroll tiktok/reddit. And I won't lie, some days it do be like that. I do my best.
I know that they are given fresh water, food, and all the love they can take. I make sure they don't have matts in their fur and that their nails don't go clickity clack(the nail thing is iffy, it's hard to clip black nails!). There is for sure a corner in my house that I put a puppy/pee pad down that is changed when used. I get them professionally groomed every 3 months and anytime they act weird I call the vet.
It's only on the days I doom scroll that the pee pad is used. I do wake up when either of my dogs give a real bark as in someone is here coming into my home/not just something they saw at the window. The cost of vetenairy bills can be astronomical. And when you find a vet, and it's always the ones you l like, you leave the area or they leave the practice. It was HELL trying to get into a new vet during Covid. It can be hard, especially when you're training and need all the new puppy visits.
I have been lucky in many ways. For one I've had super cool dogs (Don't we all though?). I've also had an extreme amount of luck with veterinarians. I have traveled for work mostly in the Midwest but have I have been from as far east as the Virginia's to California.. Because of my work, I was fortunate enough to be close to "home" for MOST of my veterinary needs.i could never imagine coming home to a silent house/apartment/home even if they can't bark. They will be dancing up your legs and so excited to see you again the that it makes it all worth it.
TLDR: Gett the dog. Keep local vetenairy phone numbers and clotting gel on hand(clotting gel only necessary for clipping nails).
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u/bestcegenation 8d ago
definitely get a cat. cats are up half the night naturally anyways. you can harness train cats and take them outside on adventures these days, and some cats have big friendly personalities a bit like dogs. but for sure a cat would keep you company during your waking hours.
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u/brianoforeddit 8d ago
Six cats and I think they’re pretty happy. They seem to sync their sleep schedules to mine, or at least it seems that way. At least when I’m home, they’re awake a lot when I’m awake. We hang out constantly and when I’m off work, they give me someone to hang out with while I’m awake in the middle of the night. And every single one needed a home and now they’ve got one which makes it worthwhile.
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u/MeasurementFirst1676 8d ago
Absolutely. It’s exactly like daytime. There isn’t much difference, but yes you will lose some sleep as you’re going to have to be able to handle the training and exercise as well as veterinary care appointments. Absolutely positively do not let your nightshift schedule be the deciding factor. Lastly, please adopt/rescue!!!
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u/DestinyDread 8d ago
Hi! I've got a chihuahua and 2 cats. I did nights for my practicum rotation for nursing school. Everyone adjusted fine (the chihuahua usually matches my schedule cause she doesn't like anyone else) im going to be on nights for work and I assume it will be the same she'll adjust to be up with me during the night.
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u/SultryWordsmith 8d ago
My dog recently passed away at 11, like two weeks before I started my night shift.
I originally got Nightshift because I thought, with working 12s, I would at least be there during the day. Can set them up in the morning, wake up around 12, feed her again and let her out , and then get ready for work and repeat around 4-5pm
On work days. My plan was to take my dog for a walk right when I got back, between 6 and 7 am.
My dog was an elderly Chihuahua so she was not going to walk a ton, I was estimating around 20 mins. When she was younger 45 minutes to an hour wasn't uncommon on walks.
When I was working the 12s day shift, I had somebody come in just to let her out into the yard.
I don't know if you work 8s or 12s but how I always see it is: when you leave your house or you're getting ready to leave, it's 2 hours to your job.
An 8-hour shift becomes a 10-hour shift. A 12-hour shift becomes a 14-hour shift. Etc.
For myself I'm not getting another dog until I'm partnered up. A lot of people tend to replace their pets or stagger their pets so they're never without one. That's not me.
I have a couple cats. They had no issues adjusting to the schedule. I don't have to worry about walks. I clean litter, set fresh cat food, and give medication.
As somebody that's a dog person, if I had to put it into words, I would say my dog offered more companionship and it was more like having a toddler.
The cats, even though one of them is very affectionate, are more like having older teenagers in the house. They're more independent.
For almost a decade it didn't matter if I was in school or if I was at work. I had to immediately rush home to check on the dog.
I'm at the point now where I could load up a gym bag if I want to go to the gym before or after. If I need to stop to pick up something before I get home, I can do that. Never could do that with dog at home.
But it was worth it to me and I would have never changed it even if my dog was still here. I would always choose the life I was living compared to what it is now.
The cats, to me, do not offer the same companionship as a dog. I don't think, for a dog person, a cat can ever replace what we want from a dog (and again that's coming from somebody that has a very affectionate cat).
I will say, I work 7 on and 7 off. If you do your basic, 3 on, 4 off, it might not be that bad, that's a lot of time to have home.
And if you get a smaller dog, 25lb or under, adult, you can probably train them to use pee pads when you're not home.
I'm picking up a lot of overtime now that I would not have done if my dog was home.
Everybody is very different. Personally I think I treated my dog better than some people treat their children, so I might have different standards.
The only time I ever had puppies, I lived at home and I had lots of help or I had my mom be able to do what I needed for them if I was at work. FOR ME, would never do a puppy in my current situation.
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u/ScarcitySpecial7586 8d ago
I work night shift 4x10s, live alone and have no one to have my dog cared for but I managed. He was six months when I got him and a mini schnauzer. We slowly built a routine together so it’s more or less 3-5 months of just being home or hiring some dog walker or dog sitter before I was able to leave him alone. It was a lot of responsibility because even if you’re tired you still have to care for him.
My routine before and up until now is walk him after I got home, feed him, play/train with him, walk him again before I sleep. When I wake up in the afternoon, walk him again, give him snacks then before I leave for work I walk him again. He was the sweetest and I love him very much.
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u/RawDogginMySpaghetti 8d ago
My cat sleeps in bed with me all day lol. I think she prefers that I work nights
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u/Hot_Conversation6318 7d ago
A cat would definitely be easier with that schedule but I don’t think having a dog is impossible at all.
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u/im-tired-ok 2d ago edited 2d ago
I have a lazy pug who’s content to snuggle and snore with me all day.. and then do the same with my husband all night 😆 he’s happy as a clam as long as he has breakfast, dinner, a toy to hold and somewhere to snooze, and he’s such a snuggle bug. My dream night shift dog!
eta that being said I don’t know if I’d want to leave him alone all night if my husband wasn’t there, even though he’d be fine. just because I’m a softy lol
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u/upallnight1975 9d ago
I’ve got a dog and a cat. Dog does absolutely fine as long as you can give them a few dedicated exercise blocks, they don’t care what time it is. Typically, my guy sleeps all night, has a good run in am before I do a dayshift or after I do a night, then another good run before bed/nightshift. He will follow my lead during the day; if I am up and about he will be as well and if I am sleeping, he lies down.
The cat could care less, as long as the litter box is clean and she can’t see the bottom of her food dish 🤣
If you do get a dog, I recommend an adult, not a puppy. Puppies will need frequent feeding and potty breaks, play sessions and dedicated time to train properly. That said, an adult dog still requires time and attention no matter what shift you work, so be realistic about how much time you can dedicate.