i'm kind of struggling with something... please help!

[Chels*Claud*Midas]

Hello everyone! I am struggling with something and it may seem like it doesnt have anything to do with my doodle, but it does.

       Okay, so I have an 11 month old goldendoodle.. he is our only dog. i live with my husband and my doodle. my husband goes to work around 2 everyday until 8ish (except sat and sunday when he doesnt work).. i work from 9-5:30 monday thru thursday.. so our puppy Midas is home alone mon-thurs from 2-5:30 on a normal day.. i have been wanting to join a gym again and get back into working out...but i am feeling extreme guilt at the thought of leaving Midas home alone for another hour or two a few days a week while i work out. My husband usually walks him once while he is home and most days i try and walk him when i get home before i cook dinner... he is always let out in the back yard for run throughout the day. on weekends we always try to take him on long walks, to dog parks.. and on thursdays he is enrolled in a obedience class for adult dogs, because he got so advanced the trainer moved him up! (blushing :) hehe) i want to know eveyones opnion on me coming home an hour or so later when i go to the gym.. those nights i may not be able to take him for a walk because i will be getting home later..have to cook and shower and get things ready for work the next day. my co workers said i should take some time for me and my health and go to the gym and not worry about him being home a little longer some days... what do u all think? is this not fair to Midas? i dont know what to do.. im asking on here because i know u are all dog people and maybe you can give me some advice on your schedule and how long and often your dog is left alone.. (also keep in mind midas doesnt have any siblings)... also my concern isnt about Midas being able to hold going to the bathroom..its more about him being upset that he is bored and alone..or maybe dogs dont think like that and they just sleep?  im torn..please help

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

I don't think that your going to the gym a couple times a week would be bad for Midas. You do need some time for you and it sounds like Midas is getting plenty of exercise and attention on a regular basis. Does he stay in a crate while you are gone? If Midas is trustworthy on his potty training you might try letting him stay in a bathroom or someplace a little larger than a crate that he cannot destroy. I give Daphne a bit more freedom now. She gets to stay in my bedroom when I leave. She has the cool bathroom tile of the bathroom to lay on or she can sleep in the bed. I think mostly she sleeps when I'm gone. I do leave the TV on for "company" for her.

[Chels*Claud*Midas]

Midas is spoiled rotten and he gets to roam the whole apartment except the kitchen! lol.. he also gets the tv left on to the disney channel and a back room glass door to look out!! lol thank u for commenting..i feel a lot better... i felt like i was going to be neglecting him..but its true..i need to keep healthy to be around for him! :)

[Christine & Shelby]

I don't think coming home later and leaving Midas for an hour longer is a problem.... If I read your post correctly, that would be 4.5 hours and he should be fine. I agree working out is important, however what concerns me is the "so I might not have time to walk Misdas when I get home". If you can't walk Midas due to going to the gym.... Find a way to make your evening walks with Midas more of a workout. Midas relies on you for his exercise.... And he needs his evening walks/exercise too. Consider making your walk into a circuit training course.... Do push-ups at the benches, do a long stretch of squats, stop and do some crunches. You'll both get out, both get your exercise and it's a lot cheaper than joining a gym.

At my household it is just me and Shelby.... I work full time and am the person responsible for her care and exercise. There are nights I have to work late and while I may be exhausted.... It is a priority when I get home to walk Shelby and play our evening game of fetch in the yard.

The other thing to consider is if Midas doesn't continue to get his exercise nightly, you may start to see some behavioral issues pop up due to lack of exercise.

If you want to join the gym... Go for it, but be sure you keep your commitment to Midas and that he gets your time and effort to exercise him when you get home.

[Marcy, Apollo & Phoebe]

I think Midas will be fine. If you don't take care of yourself, you can't take care of  Midas. :)

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

midas will get used to it. dh and i used to be on opposite shifts (he worked 7-3 i worked 2-10.30). now we both work the same shift, and cooper got used to the new schedule in a few days only. he will be fine

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Walking Midas is exercise and cheaper than a gym.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Go to the gym.  It will be good for you and Midas. 

[Lynda Kamrath]

Well, just thinking, but we have had issues with scheduling for years (even now that we are retired).  Your husband is home until 2:00, so did you ever consider going to the gym in the morning before you go to work?  I am suggesting that because I used to go swimming in the morning before work because I just couldn't get to the gym after work.  There was always some excuse, so I started swimming at 6:00 in the morning.  Then I would take my shower, get dressed, and arrive at work at 7:30 in the morning totally refreshed and ready for the day.  It worked for me.  Now that I don't need to be at work in the morning, I go swimming about 10:00.  Of course, I am a life-long swimmer and have been swimming for 50 years.  But do you have a passion?

Even though I am retired, I still have a busy schedule (classes, volunteer work, and of course exercise).  My dogs are my excuse to get plenty of exercise.  I am taking them in a little while to the Veteran's Memorial Park for a good walk (there are 180 stairs) this afternoon while my husband changes out his art display at a gallery.  Tomorrow after my classes, we are taking them to another Veteran's Park and going on a bike ride with them on the BTL(bike tow leash).  They are my reason to make sure I get outdoors every day and get plenty of exercise.  They need it and so do I, so we are always thinking of things we can do together.  Even better if it is my dogs, my husband (a bicycle racer) and me.  We have a bike trek we do near here where I drop my husband off at a school, go to the end of the road, take off walking with the dogs, and when he catches up, he takes the dogs to the top of the hill and back.  We are always looking for something new and different to do.  Think about what is your passion and figure out a way to get the your dog also involved.

I guess I need to add that we live in a spectacular area with the perfect climate.  The beach, where we are romping on Sunday, is Carmel Beach, the most dog-friendly place around.  We live on the central coast of California where the temperature is 55 to 75 degrees pretty much year round.  There are lots of natural areas to play with the dogs and everyone loves doodles.  So maybe a few things in my favor.

[Chels*Claud*Midas]

wow u are very active good for u!! the gym i was going to join is woman only and they open at 8 and i have to be in at 830.. :( and its the cheapest and closes gym around..so i couldnt go before work.. boo lol... today the weather was horrendous... torrential down pouring and VERY high winds that were even moving my car while i was driving! so unfortunately we arent as lucky... enjoy that goo weather for us! hope we start to have some soon...spring is coming.. im from oceanside ny.. :)

[Puppy Love]

Your a sweet doodle mommy. I hope you enjoy the gym. It might give u that little time to unwind after work and an adrenaline rush and u will feel happy and energized to play with or walk your midas;) best wishes!

[Chels*Claud*Midas]

AW thanks so much! xoxo i think im going to sign up! lol :)