To be thinking about getting a dog?

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I desperately want a dog, as do the dc (they have been begging for ages, but I have been outwardly reluctant )

However, I am hesitant as the dog would be on its own for 5 hours a day, 3 days a week, would this be acceptable?

At the moment, we leave for school / work between 8:30 - 9 am, and our (very dog friendly) nanny arrives at 2. Currently she prepares lunchboxes, sorts out activities for the children when they get home etc. However, she has said that she is happy to walk the dog for an hour instead (I'll do lunches and baking etc in the evenings). The dog would have company from 2pm onwards as nanny and are children at home.

Our Nanny (who is very keen on the dog idea) has very kindly offered to spend mornings with the dog in the early puppy stage to keep it company, how long would this need to to continue, and would this sort of routine be ok for the dog?

When I got my puppy I got him a cage, so that when I went to work he was left in the cage with bedding, newspaper for accidents and water.

This was recommended to me by a work friend. I kept him in the cage for a month whilst I was working daily for five hours.

After a month I let him have the run of the house, however when he was teething he did chew my skirting boards and wooden furniture, but after spraying this with teething/chewing stuff it stopped.

Dogs can be left all day, however it is not recommended. Five hours is dandy and there is no need to get your Nanny to nanny the puppy, they get used to it, they cannot tell the time. Training takes the longest, newspaper by the front door if you see them going anywhere else you say no and put them on the paper, doesn't really take long.

Dogs become like their owners, if the house is noisy and boisterous the dog will be too.

I have a Westie, he sleeps all day as we are quiet, however he does like fun when my son comes home and plays catch, he is very loving and loves his cuddles.