To get a rescue dog under my circumstances?

[Gamechanger12e3]

Long one but don't wanna leave anything out.

So i live on my own(own my house). Mid twenties. Work full time hours but job is flexible in terms of WFH if/when needed (like today!).

I have been seriously considering getting a rescue dog for over a year now. An older one of 5+ and a small breed. I can financially afford it.

I suppose the cons are:

1. I work full time so mon - fri there will be at least 2 days a week it will be on its own for 7 hours.
2. I'm young so i know life does change quickly in your twenties. However ive worked the same job for several years now and have a mortgage etc, so not likely to up sticks as much as anyone else. I also have no desire too.
3. Dogs are tying and it is a lifestyle change.

My reasons for wanting a dog is.

1. Companionship- lived on my own many years, would like the company. I'm happy to go for daily walks.
2. My mental health, i do suffer depression im medicated for and heard dogs can be great for mental health.
3. I feel i have a lot to offer a rescue dog in terms of love, affection, stability, nice warm home.
4. I think living in my home, with me spending 2 days a week in work for 7 hours would still be a lot better than life in a rescue kennel?

There are no kids/other animals to consider. I've also been back and fourth with this idea for well over a year. I keep reading its so 'tying' so dont do it'. Then when i really think about it, i don't ever actually go anywhere unplanned or spontaneously stay out/go places and i have no desire too. I'm away this weekend with friends, but this trip has been booked over a year. I also go on holiday with my boyfriend in august. That's been booked 8 months in advance. All my trips are the same.

What are your thoughts fellow dog lovers?

Working at a rescue centre several days a week, I see first hand how miserable and lonely these dogs are.
7 hours alone twice a week in a cosy home is a million times more preferable than 23 hours a day alone in a concrete cell.

Good luck OP! I hope you get approved and matched with your doggy soul mate

To be honest I'd be surprised if a rescue would consider you a suitable home unless you sent the dog to daycare for those two days or at least part of them and you have to give that dog time to settle with you before you can even think about doing that so that means taking time off of work.
I've been home checking for rescues for a long time and it's something that every good rescue will ask - and will fail an applicant on. A rescue dog will have been through a lot of stress before it comes to you even it's it's only been in one home before so it's not a thing to just jump into and 7 hours is definitely too long to leave any dog.
If you can take a couple of weeks off to settle the dog then introduce it slowly to a dog walker or daycare - and I'd be willing to bet that there are lots close by if you look (try asking on local buy and sell sites for recommendations) - then go for it. There are hundreds of furry friends waiting all over the U.K. fir a home.

Meadowland - I agree. Being miserable and lonely 2 days a week is better than being lonely and miserable 7 days a week.

Unfortunately, the more people who announce that their dogs are fine left alone for a full day, the more people like the op will believe it because it's what lots of people do.

The rescues we use have always been very particular about dogs not being left at home all day. Some aren't.

To those who insist dogs can't be left alone for 7 hours- how do you deal with the dog at night? Do you set an alarm for 230 and pop down to walk the dog and play with it so it isn't lonely in the night? Or does the dog manage perfectly well.

To those who insist dogs can't be left alone for 7 hours- how do you deal with the dog at night?

Well that’s a bit of a silly question! People are still home!

To those who insist dogs can't be left alone for 7 hours- how do you deal with the dog at night?

But they're not alone at night, are they?

Yes this is do-able OP! Of course it is! Every dog is different and there will be one that fits your needs. See if there is a dog walker in your area to break up the day for it.

I live alone and work full time. I pay a dog walker but to be honest it is more for my benefit (conscience) than the dogs - there have been several times the dog walker has gone in and the dog has flat out refused to get out her bed (extremely lazy little whippet) to go out haha!

And times when I have been at home for the day - working from home for example the dog has literally slept ALL> DAY> LONG.

I have had working dogs who of course have needed alot more and also had to work with a dog who had seperation anxiety (NOT leaving a dog with SA alone is one of the worst things you can do! The best thing for it is to gradually train it into knowing that it is ok to be left alone for short periods and provide the security it needs)

Many of the folk who will say no you shouldn't have a dog if you work full time - have likely never owned a dog.

I am not saying go out and get the first dog you like the look off and just expect it to adapt but yes it is possible and I am sure you can provide a lovely home for the dog. Unfortunately if no FT workers had dogs there would be many more being PTS or living out their days in concrete kennels. Just take your time in finding a dog that would suit your needs. many of the smaller/local rescues and charities do tend to be considerably more realistic about rehoming to those who work. Agree with a PP about greyhound rescue - literally the most chilled out and lazy breed!

Researching breeds is a good place to start to see which breed characteristics might suit your circumstances (but of course every dog is an individual so there are no guarantees but it might help whittle it down)

Speak to your local rescues, be clear about your situation and they will know their dogs and which one would suit your lifestyl!

Night time is for sleeping! (Though of course dogs that have been sleeping all day through boredom may not be tired at night ...)

Of course dogs know if there are other people around on a night and that will give them a sense of security.

My old dog will come and find me and nudge me awake during the night if she feels ill or needs to be out. She's clearly aware I'm in the house and can come to me for help.

The other two. Well they sleep wrapped round DH and me so I guess they don't feel lonely ...

What difference does it make to the dog if it's left downstairs while everyone else is upstairs silent for 8 hours straight? Do you really think the dog can tell the difference between alone because you're at work and alone because you're asleep? People argue the dog can't go without a pee for the length of a working day, someone said they can't cope with more than 4 hours alone. So do they break up the long night for the dog? The dog gets used to being alone at night and some dogs can cope with having an owner that works. And I know the correct place for a dog to sleep is in the bed with you preferably under the covers, but some people stick them in awful cages:(

Many of the folk who will say no you shouldn't have a dog if you work full time - have likely never owned a dog.

I think you'll find it's the other way round!

Op the main issue is no dog can be left for 7 hours!! EVER.

Someone really needs to tell my dog that..
If I come home during the day he just stares daggers at me. How dare I interrupt his 7 hours of sleeping time.

I honestly think that most people who haven't owned dogs before who THINK they want a dog actually want a cat.

We have two absolute dopes who moon around us when we are there (and actually do miss us during the day and night, I think), but we have no issue leaving with a feeder for an overnight, no need to walk them, and easy to have a cheapish sitter on holiday.

OP if you aren't accepted for the local recipe have a think about adopting from abroad.

We rescued a dog from Romania and the criteria was much less strict. We had a child under 5 so some UK places weren't interested. It's a great way to give a dog a new life and they are so loving.

Our ddog is amazing - he's so lazy he loves to sleep all day! I can put you in touch with some places if you want.

I think you'll find it's the other way round!

Not in my experience

We rescued a dog from Romania and the criteria was much less strict

Well, isn't that nice. In order to get a dog (because you are, of course, entitled to have exactly what you want to make your life perfect) not only did you bring one from abroad (I hate this practice) they also had lower standards so that you could be accepted. Aw, what a heart-warming story

I do home checks for a dog rescue and they do not accept people who work out of the house, end of story. They have no way to 'test' if the dog will be OK on its own and many dogs are not. Even if they look OK, that's not enough, dogs are pack animals and they need their pack around them.

I too have had a dog who slept LITERALLY ALL DAY when I was home. Aw, so he sleeps all day?
Nope, as soon as I stepped foot outside the house he would cry and howl. He could not be left alone for ten minutes. He was another who followed us round the house.

They all show stress in different ways, so 'not barking' does not necessarily = all fine then. It just means 'not barking'.

I'm sure some rescues do put dogs to sleep, ours does not, but so what? There are too many dogs born, pts is actually sometimes the kindest option.

And no, 'any home' is not better than no home. Dogs don't have that thought process. They don't think "well, here I am on my own, I am sad, scared and lonely, but hey, it's better than that kennel I was in last week and I'm sure someone will arrive home from their terribly important job soon so I can have company".

Nope, the only bit they feel is the now - the sad, scared and lonely part.

I'm sure some rescue will let you have a dog, they are not all terribly scrupulous about who they accept. Because, you know, ££££

I think that the U.K. has very specific ideas about how dogs should be looked after which are quite different to much of the rest of the world, which is why overseas dog rescues may have different criteria.
Overall I don't particularly enjoy having our dog personally but he is very chilled at home during the day, doesn't need to pee during the day and doesn't want to go outside at least six months of the year due to the weather.
He is equally happy whether or not I am at home. For the last couple of years I haven't worked but I have in the past. I got a dog walker in but that was for me more than him I think.
With the right dog this sounds a perfectly sensible life for a dog.

Thanks for everyones replies. Upon doing further research into the breeds mentioned i think a whippet/greyhound may be more compatible? However my house is on the smaller side and stairs are steep/narrow so i would worry about the dog falling as they have long dangly legs.

Ive found a dog walker nearby who could do a 1 hour walk/stay during my 7 hour days. It seems thats perfect for the whippet/greyhound type?

foreverhome awh your dog is gorgeous!! I know a couple who've adopted 2 dogs from romania. Theyve had them a good couple of years now!!

vangoghs your clearly an avid dog lover so i am taking your opinions on board. I will not get a dog if this particular rescue (extremely strict) says no and it would never work. As a dog lover myself, the last thing id want is to purposely put an animal through unnecessary distress.

Dogs can be left for 7 hours people are so precious about this. I always think a rescue will either be PTS or could have an amazing life with you.

Be careful about the breed, be wary of separation anxiety and I can help with anything else as I work for an adopters and do the interviews for rescue dogs.

For what it is worth - I work full-time and have a rescue dog (she was an adult when I acquired her). She has a large window to gaze out of on a busy cul-de-sac, grass, trees, neighbours' cats, birds, etc. She has a dogwalker come in middle of the day and take her out for an hour and share cuddles with her. I take her for 30 mins' walk before I leave for work and she gets an hour or more in the evening when I get home (and she sleeps with me - not sure how that came about as last dog not allowed in bed or on settee!). You must get a proper dogwalker - a neighbour popping in would not be spending much time with your dog and the company is the main thing. Also, it is bit of an imposition on your neighbour. Dogflap would be good entry point for a burglar and dogs are very often stolen from even secure gardens and it would be SO lonely. Make sure you are honest with the rescue organisation (I was and they were fine once they knew the dog had a window to look out of at local life and dogwalker arranged and that I would be home 90% of the time I wasn't at work - not out every evening!).

for all those wondering about night time.

When we are properly asleep, the body's production of urine is slowed down by hormones, so our bladder full sup more slowly.

My dog is flat out fast asleep as I speak after a manically daft walk and play this morning. But if I move a muscle form my desk, he is by my feet in an instant. Not so at night. Then he sleeps differently.

Having said that, he has a bladder of iron, occasionally we need to be out for the whole school day - 8 - 4. My friend comes over at 12 and lets him out for a wee and has a play (he has a long walk in the morning before we go) Nowadays, he rarely wees when she comes over. He goes until we come back at 4, so 8 hours without a wee.

OP Another place to seek advice would be on the Dog thread of the horse and hound forum or another specific dog forum - a bit more realistic and with sounder advice, alot less holier than thou MN hysteria on there.

If you have further questions feel free to PM me. I don't work for a rescue but have had and trained many dogs over the years. From working dogs, farm dog, pampered pets, rescues etc. OH and I currently have 2 farm dogs, one very pampered little whippet and a young huntaway who is somewhere in the middle - in training to work but floats between snuggling in in front of the Rayburn to refusing point blank to even come in the house :)

I work full time and my dog gets more than a fair few people I know with dogs who have more time on their hands than I do...... it is do-able. Everyone's situation is different as is every dog!

I wish my dog would wake up when I move. My old dog did and he was so affectionate and would snuggle and follow me about. The current one doesn't give a s* lol She doesn't move. I can go out and come back and she in the exact same position as when I left. opens an eye to see its me then thats the only reaction I get lol. She would make a rubbish guard dog! Very cute though

a dog cannot be left for 7 hours

Except in a rescue, which apparently doesn't count. Most rescue dogs are lucky if they get a fraction of the attention the OPs hypothetical dog would get.

Don't get wrong, I wouldn't recommenddog ownership for someone who was out of the house 57 hours x 5 days/week but that'snot what the OP is suggesting.

Eh? They're not alone in a rescue!