To think it’s fine to get a dog if you both work full time?

[chatterbug22]

As above, not about our situation but about a friend. I thought it would be interesting to see what people think.

They’ve wanted a dog for ages- one is a shift worker with several days off per week and the other works a very flexible 9-5 with half the week at home. Friend is upset as they’ve been told repeatedly that a dog is a massive tie and will prevent them from going on holiday / going away. She has worked out that there is only one day every couple of weeks that they wouldn’t be at home, and her dad lives just down the road and would be happy to pop in on the dog and give it a walk on these days. AIBU to think people just find an excuse to warn people off doing things these days? I don’t see an issue in their situation, pets bring massive joy!

I think people are ridiculous about their dogs. We’re both full time teachers so in term time our dog is home alone from 8 til about 5.30. The dog walker cones every day so he’s out for about two hours of that. He’s absolutely fine and dandy.

Me and my OH worked full time when we got our dog and we managed perfectly fine. We’ve now got a baby and I’ll be going back to work part time but he has not been any burden on us whatsoever, he is a part of our family! The whole idea you can’t have a dog if you work is absolutely absurd and just pushed by retired old grouches.

Or 4 dogs, in case the first two don't get on!

Only joking - don't do this!

Every person I speak to about dog ownership say it’s like another child in having responsibility of not leaving it at home for more than 4 hours, needing ‘day care’, walks etc.
If it’s one day in two weeks your friends aren’t at home and thru can make arrangements for daycare, then it’s workable, but they’d need to factor in holidays, work patterns changing etc.
Most of my friends with dogs work at home or take dog to workplace etc.
dh wants a dog when we retire and I have said it will all be his responsibility / I will walk if I ‘fancy it’ but the rest is on him. He thinks it’ll be like the 80s when he had a family dog and his mum did all the dog graft!!

Every person I speak to about dog ownership say it’s like another child in having responsibility of not leaving it at home for more than 4 hours, needing ‘day care’, walks etc.

But you wouldn’t leave a young child at home for 4 hours.
4 hours is a bit of an arbitrary amount of time - it really depends on the dog. Some dogs can’t be left that long at all, some dogs you can leave 5-6 hours and they barely bat an eye lid when you come home. They certainly don’t need constant company - just ask my dog. I’m ill on the sofa, he’s been outside in the garden since 8 am and has no intention of coming in to keep me company. I may as well not be here for all he cares. I wouldn’t be able to relax like this if my DS wasn’t at school. A dog is not like a child at all.

We wanted a dog for many years. DH used to borrow one from old lady to go for walk with. Waited until I retired from teaching a few years early. Now we have 2. Worth the wait. Not fair to have them if they will be alone more than 3 hours at a time. WFH is great but what if that ended and was ordered back into office? Do what my dh did and borrow a dog for walking.

I think you have to prepare for the worst and it might be better ! Our last dog you could leave for hours and just get on with life and she wasn't that bothered about human company and actively disliked other dogs. Our current one you can leave for about 4 hours and she is fine.. just sleeps.. and I got a camera linked to my phone to make sure. But when you are in she needs to be with you ALL the time, and entertained. There is always someone at home most of the time but I have had to put her in day care 2 days a week when I WFH or have loads to do as she won't let me work, or do any jobs around the house without 'helping' or attention seeking stealing and destroying things ! I'm hoping this improves as she is only young but I never invisaged this from my previous and childhood dogs. Thankfully she loves day care, it's brilliant for her socialisation and we can afford it but its £240 a month we didn't plan on spending ! On the other hand although she takes far more in terms of emotional and financial investment she gives back so much more to the family than my last somewhat standoffish dog, who we struggled to take anywhere or do anything with as she hated other dogs coming too close due to being randomly attacked as a puppy. (Despite a great deal of input from behaviourists and trainers)

I have 2 dogs - just me in the household! They go to doggy daycare and get morning walks. I’ve just moved to a fully remote role but they’ll still go to daycare a few times a week I think.