Would love to get a puppy

[jaabaar]

Hi all,
we used to have a golden red river dog years ago. When I started working we had to give him away as it was too cruel to leave him on his own all day and he was unhappy. We were heartbroken. Now a few long years down the lane we have a 5 year old daughter who is obsessed with dogs.
We dog sit neighbours dog sometimes and she is the happiest she has ever been!

We all would love a dog really but I will be going to work part time and there is no question a dog can be alone at home.

There is no solution to this problem is there? Any solutions maybe?

[CandyAppleFudge]

Could you not put the dog in doggy day care, ask a relative to look after it?

[jaabaar]

Unfortunately we do not have family close by and day care must cost a fortune :(

[basildonbond]

Well the solution is having a dogwalker or daycare or working from home or asking a neighbour to come in etc etc

It very much depends on how long you're out of the house for - if you take the dog for a good walk first thing, leave at 8:30-ish, dogwalker comes in at midday and takes dog out for an hour or two, then you're back shortly after the end of school then the dog is only on its own for short periods of time

It's perfectly do-able and is what many dog-owning families do. Your main problems would be the puppy stage as you'd need someone to be around for house-training etc

[Scuttlebutter]

You simply cannot leave a puppy unattended all day. And if you can't afford doggy day care or a dog walker, then you can't really afford a dog, because looking after it properly means making sure it has company and exercise (and a loo break!) during the day.

If your DD is very keen on dogs, there are many, many options for her to get involved. She can sponsor or "adopt" a dog in a rescue, and many rescues are delighted to welcome family dog walkers to help exercise their dogs. She could find out if there are YKC classes/activities nearby, and how about taking your neighbour's dog (obviously with their permission) into some Junior Handler classes at local dog shows. This is a great, fun way of spending time on the weekends and if she is any good, she will quickly get offers from other dog owners too. At this time of year, there are fun dog shows on every weekend and there are masses of groups on FB with details and info.

[Gillh89]

Would you consider getting an older dog rather than a puppy?
If you were able to go home at lunch time to let it out that would make a difference, and then just make sure you are able to take it for a decent walk morning and night.
A lot of people I know do exactly this with their dogs and don't have a problem, and I do it with my boy too

[HarrietSchulenberg]

What hours would you be working? I'm out from 8.30 to 4 and we have a 4yr old rescue lurcher.

I walk The Hound of the Schulenbergs from 7.45-8.00, we leave at 8.30, my mum brings smallest boy home at 3.30 then the rest of us get back at 4.

Hound has 7 hours on his own, with radio, treats and a Kong for company, and we live in a terraced street so he never feels silent and alone. He's cool with that, although he does do sneaky wees now and again.

I wouldn't leave a puppy that long, though - have you thought about an older, more confident rescue dog?