Is it possible to get a dog when everyone works full time?

[DontBiteTheBoobThatFeedsYou]

We would get a dog walker, but is it possible especially in the first few weeks when the puppy or rescue dog settles in.

How do people do it?

Or do people tend not to unless they do short days etc?

And also, it would be impossible to adequately train a puppy if you left it alone all day.

Both me and DH work full time and we have a dog (who is now 12)

Had him since a puppy and have always worked full time. We too a week off each (covering 2 weeks) when we first got him to help him settle in but other than that he is left all day while we are at work.

He gets 1hr walk in the morning and then 1.5hr in the evening when we get home.

Used a dog walker a handful of times when we have been working overtime etc and finding a trustworthy dog walker honestly is worth its weight in gold for those days when it's just not possible to give them the proper walks they need yourself.

We do make sure if we go on holiday we always take him with us (only ever holiday in the U.K. or France)

It's absolutely doable to have a dog and work full time but it's important to consider what you would do if dog needed to see a vet. I'm lucky that I can WFH if needed to take him to the vets. It's a bit like having a child (in that his needs always come before our own)

Can't advise on a rescue as I've never had one but we found al of our local rescues refused to let us adopt because we both work full time which is why we decided to get a puppy.

Well if you get a puppy I think you need to take at least 3 weeks off work to be with it. Puppies need to be fed about 5 times a day and taken into the garden regularly to learn to be clean indoors.

After that I think it could only work if the dog went to doggy day care. That would not be that cheap though. They charge about £25 a day where I am. Also a lot of them won't take dogs under 6 months.

If you got an older rescue dog it could possibly work with a dog walker. A lot of greyhounds would be ok but not all. A friend has a rescue greyhound with separation anxiety and she can't leave her for more than about 20 minutes.

Why not try "borrowmydoggy". I know a couple of people who use this and it works well for them. It's not just walking dogs but also having them stay with you

Why would you even consider this? Its not an entitlement!

We picked our pup up at 10 weeks, so some of her litter mates had already gone to their homes and she’s got used to be alone (she and another litter mate were still to be picked up). We both saved up two weeks of leave and split that over about 3 weeks. The fourth and fifth weeks we split working from home. During the time that we were home, we built up time alone, going out for 10 minutes and then going out for an hour, then 2 - obviously depending on how her toilet training was going. We would also put our shoes on, then sit down. Grab our keys and not go out. So that every time we went out she wouldn’t get separation anxiety.

We introduced the dog walker at about week 4, despite being home, we still paid for her to come. We made sure to walk her in the morning and DH went in an hour later and I made sure I was home at 4, when she’d get walked again. We do a mix of stimulation morning and evening - walks, obedience, scentwork, gundog and playing. When she was old enough we also introduced activities like agility and fly ball and will attend activity evenings after work with her. The dog walker takes her on a mix of walks with other dogs and sometimes solo. If we are out in the evening, she will go to doggy day care and get dropped off about 6pm. She can’t go to doggy day care everyday as it’s just too much for her, she gets too tired.

Weekends are very dog activity heavy. We go to training for socialisation. We volunteer with our dog. We take her on nice walks to different places, giving her room for off lead walking. It can mean that a weekend feels completely devoted to the dog but for us, it’s worth it having the championship of a dog. Our dog does not have behavioural problems, we wouldn’t be able to do our volunteering with her if she did. Our dog gets much more stimulation that the labrador that lives at the top of our street with the retired couple, who walk him to just past our house (200m) and back 3x day and chuck treats along the way to make him walk. They don’t let him off lead, they don’t socialise with other dogs. Just because you’re at home all day, doesn’t actually mean you’re meeting your dogs needs.

It's doable but I wouldn't get a puppy as you need to be there pretty much 24/7 to toilet train and stop eating dangerous stuff ! Where in the UK are you ?! There are some good rescues near me who do rehome with children.

My dog is a low energy breed I work full time , dog walker takes her out for 2 hours at 11-1 then she sleeps pretty much rest of time, does when we are in too. My DD works shifts so is usually around till 2-3pm in the house. We tried 2 walks and day Care for a while but was too much for her. Get an older rescue that isn't a high energy breed.

It is possible, though obviously not ideal. Do you all work the same hours? If not then what is the overlap? Can you work from home? In addition to the dog walker do you have family or friends willing to have the dog for a few hours each day?

We got a labrador puppy when I was still a SAHM to a toddler. I didn't end up going back to work until my youngest started secondary school. I then worked locally, and mornings only, working from home for six months of the year, so it has worked for us (DH has always worked full time).

We still have a cocker spaniel (labrador sadly died last November, aged 15). I still work only mornings, and only have to go into the office for two of those each week.

They thrive much better with regular company, so it needs good planning. They shouldn't be left alone for hours on end.

I am glad you are looking closely into it before getting a dog. Please consider all angles very carefully. Some of what people are saying here may sound brutal, but does need to be taken into account because a dog is a very big commitment, both in terms of the time you need to devote to them and in terms of finances. Food, vet bills, vaccinations, insurance, dog walkers, trainers, boarding kennels if you need to go away.

Very rewarding though. I had my labrador for just over 15 years, from the day he turned 8 weeks old. He was my greatest friend and I miss him terribly. I am so glad I shared those years with him.

We got a puppy during the summer holiday (I work term time) so had about 5-6 weeks at home with puppy toilet training, settling in etc. I felt guilty even leaving him for an hour or two to run errands. We got him when he was 8 wks old and due to vaccinations was almost 12 weeks before he could go for a walk. I then worked 3 days per day and dh full time, but he didn't start til 12 and I was home by 5. We had a dog walker come in in the afternoons and dog was fine. Now that he's older he's left 3 days per week from 9-3 with a morning walk beforehand. Dog walker takes him for 2 hours around 11am.

It is a big commitment. Do you have any family nearby? Dog walkers like everyone let you down sometimes (ours had van trouble and was ill another time ) and I had to leave work early in both occasions.
Dog is amazing and wouldn't be without him but he costs us a small fortune.

No family nearby.

Looks like it's doggy day care or no doggy!

It's really not fair on the dog. They are pack animals, they don't thrive on their own. And it is a massive commitment for the humans too. Getting up at silly o'clock for the first walk is relentless in the winter when it's dark and wet. Then when you come home and just want to relax but you've got to take the dog out again.

@DontBiteTheBoobThatFeedsYou

Looks like it's no doggy, OR doggy daycare!

WHY have a dog then dump him in bloody doggy daycare?!

Doggy daycare is not a place to dump your pet dog every day while you're at work! It's short-term daycare, NOT a permanent, long-term measure.

If you cannot be there for your dog at ALL during the day (coz you are working full-time,) then PLEASE don't get a dog.

I work full time and got a puppy but I already had a dog at home, I come back during my lunch to check on them and feed them and have a walker a few times per week. It has been fine with us but the puppy came to a home with a dog and I took two weeks off work when the pup arrived.

I work in an animal shelter. The dogs there are alone in concrete cells 23 out of 24 hours 7 days a week. A cosy home like yours where people are with them when they wake up, in the evenings, and at weekends, is infinitely preferable.

But they are there hopefully temporarily, not for approximately 15 years.

@happywhips

Not ideal, but if you had a dog ALREADY and then went full-time/had to go full-time, a few years later, that's a bit different to being a full time worker and then choosing to get a dog. Doing that is just every kind of wrong.

And to all you who work full time with a dog left at home alone all day who say 'it works for us' - it may well do, but I can guarantee it doesn't work for your dog ffs.

"But they are there hopefully temporarily, not for approximately 15 years"

I think you underestimate how much of their lives some dogs spend in shelters.

Which is why I said hopefully. Shelters are never meant to be a permanent home, unlike a homed dog.

@UserV although I do intend to agree about using doggy day care every day i.e. why get a dog then he is in day care every day, surely that is what a lot of parent(s) do with children?

One of my neighbours doesn't even work and yet her second child went to play school 5 morning a week from age 2 and as soon as he was 3 he went to 5 full days a week. What's the point of having children then not even looking after them when you are home all day?

What about a cat instead? Once they are passed the kitten stage they are okay during the day as long as they have access to food, water and a litter tray.

Interesting arguments from those saying its cruel and what's the point in getting a dog if you work full time and going to pay someone else to take care of it..

Does that apply to working parents with young children too?

Our dog walker does puppy visits and as many walks as required. So you could pay for multiple visits or walks a day. When we got our rescue dog we agreed not to leave him more than 4 hours (Dogs trust)
If we go out for day grandma has him or he goes to walkers house.

I have a dog and work full time. When I got him I was 3 days. I now work 3 days in the office and 1 at home (other non working day as do consolidated hours). Tuesday and Thursdays he goes to doggy daycare. Absolutely loves it, and has 2hr walk off lead. Friday he has a midday walk as the kids are home by 3.15pm. Tuesday and Thursday he’s home by 4.15 and the kids feed him, i’m home at 5.30.

When we got him (puppy, 8wks) I was off recovering from a major surgery. So I was off for those first few weeks before vaccinations. He was at a different daycare until 9 months when he didn’t walk too far, but glad to move him as he now gets plenty of off lead exercise.

He costs me £220 a month in daycare and fee’s. His insurance is £46 (was £16, he got very sick and nearly died at 13wks, still has health issues). His food is around £40 a month as he can’t change to a cheaper kind as his mystery illness is triggered by food. He’s worth every penny. But believe me you need to consider these costs when you get a dog and work. I knew this when I got him (the insurance not so much), and I’m committed to paying these costs until he’s no longer with us. He’s lives a fantastic life. Yes some people leave their dog at home all day but I find that cruel. You need the minimal of a midday walk, hour at least. For a puppy you need multiple visits per day. Good luck. Cooper means the world to me and my teenagers, pre teen. When you’ve had a bad day and you see that waggly bum it makes it all worthwhile.

Dh & I have a 14 week old puppy and both work full time (me 30 hours Dh 40)

BUT Dh works shifts, so he does an early shift and a late shift so the puppy is only ever left for 3 hours maximum and not everyday.

So when Dh is on a early shift, puppy is walked at 5am home by 5.30 (still only allowed little walks) I get up at 7am get the kids up and ready, play with the puppy do some quick training (eg get bloody down off the table and kids stop feeding the puppy toast) leave at 8.30 am, I’m home around 11/11.30 for an hour (somedays I take the dogs to work) then Dh is Home at 2.15 at the latest. Dh takes dog on the school run, and a walk. If I can’t get home I get a local dog walker to do a puppy visit which is an hour 1/2 walk and 1/2 play at home.

Dh on the late shift so puppy is at home with the dog till 2pm, I pick the kids up at 3 and I’m home not long after. Again if I have a late meeting I get a puppy visit.

It’s all broken down into 3/4 hour segments so puppy is never left too long.

And we have another dog who’s 8, so we have no whining/yapping/crying. I watch them on the cctv and to be honest they just mooch around the kitchen and sleep. Keep each other company.

Both dogs are happy and it works. Most people I know who have dogs and work full time in a 9-5 hours job, have either doggy day care or pay for dog walkers twice a day.

I am getting a puppy when I retire - in twenty years😂. Can’t wait.

@UserV - my dog absolutely loves doggy daycare. They spent some time at her house in the morning, then do 2 hour long walks with dogs that she collects for a midday walk. 2 hours running off lead, chasing other dogs. I get loads of videos and photos. My dogs absolutely loves going and he goes crazy when she arrives. You lot all make it out to be some kind of dog prison. Many of my friends dogs go and all adore it.

As I detailed above my dog has 3 days when we are out from 7.45-4 (kids home first) and I use daycare and a walker when kids home earlier on Friday. I’ve just read all these posts and I really do not agree that a lunch time walk isn’t enough. The days I’m home my dog just sleeps anyway until it’s time for a walk. If owner is prepared to do a walk before work too then that’s fine. My dog is my shadow, he sleeps on my bed and we spend weekends walking miles with his friends. My friends on FB all say what an amazing life he leads. So OP I’d really take these comments with a pinch of salt. You will need a fair bit of time off if you get a puppy, otherwise a few weeks to settle a dog in. I have no family either but have made it work. But believe me it’s not cheap.