To search for a small dog that can be left alone during the day?

[PleasedToBeAFlower]

I will accept it if I get flamed by dog lovers for this.
But is there such a thing as a small dog that can be left alone for 5 or 6 hours 3 days a week?
Or is it just completely unacceptable to plan to do this?
My DD aged 9 has a significant educational learning delay. This is affecting her self esteem and self confidence. She is otherwise highly intelligent.
So I need to chanel in to things she loves, so that she can feel good about things she loves and is good at, to compensate for spending all day at school feeling rubbish about herself for not being able to learn.
And boy oh boy does she LOVE dogs. She literally adores them. She cannot pass one without making friends with it. Dogs seem attracted to her. And she's amaaaaazing with them. All breeds, all ages, doesn't matter, she adores them and they do seem to adore her.
She has begged for a dog for 6 years so far. I've always said no.
But I actually think it would be incredible for her to have one.
I have no doubt she would be 100% committed to it, and it would be a lucky dog as she would love it and care for it so much.
BUT it would be alone in the house 3 days a week for about 6 hours a day.
No way round this.
Kids at school.
DH and I go to work, and we dont have jobs that we can take dogs to.
Is this ever, ever, ever do-able???
Or is there never a way to have a dog if it's left on its own?
I realise it has to be fair on the dog, not just what we want.

I think it depends on the dog- a puppy not so much. If it's a small dog and can get a dog flap on door so it can access outside, not so bad. My friend has doggie cameras in her house and talks to her dog through it at work 😁. I think some people are being a bit precious here. It's not a blanket no!
Another option is 2 dogs as it's much easier to leave them. Or a dog walker.

Yes you can leave a dog for 5/6 hours 3 times a week quite easily!!

My dog - rescue dog we’ve had since a pup is now 7. I worked from home permanently when we first got her but now have to go out to meetings. I’m out for up to 7 hours some days and at weekends we sometimes take the kids on a trip out without the dog

I find as long as our dog has had a decent walk before we leave her she is usually ok and will just sleep (on our bed!)

Nobody buys a dog with the sole intention of leaving them - but let’s be realistic we all also have lives and things we need to get done without the dog! YANBU!

… sorry but everyone’s being ridiculous. 6 hours for an adult dog is fine. As you’re getting an adult dog I’m assuming it’s a rescue. 1) you’ll get an idea of temperament especially if it’s been in foster but watch out for ones that spend every waking minute with the dog as that is what is going to cause separation anxiety. 2) there are so many dogs in kennels that see the same 4 walls every day, I think they’d prefer a comfy sofa and loving family over technically being within a few feet of someone/ or another dog separated by a wall.

I get everyone’s thinking of the dogs here but come on. Before the pandemic this was the norm.

It totally depends on the dog. We have a medium sized active dog. She goes to daycare twice a week all day. The next day she is absolutely knackered still so sleeps the whole day whether I'm there or not. She gets forced out to have a beach play before I go to work at 8am some days and DH gets home at 2 and they spend a good couple of hours out of the house.

We have cameras and she doesn't move from our bed the whole time she is left alone. She's often annoyed if I'm there as I disturb her napping!

The vast majority of our friends with dogs would happily leave them for 5/6 hours knowing they are exercised, fed and watered without any issue.

A small number of other dogs both small and large I know have such bad separation anxiety they can't be left for minutes or they have a meltdown. Their owners have never bothered training them to be happy to be alone which Is what I think is cruel as it's unsustainable and unrealistic to never ever leave them for a few minutes. Both anxious dogs have retired owners who are around all the time. They can't pop out for dinner together ever.

We spent 6 months training our dog to be happily left alone so it takes time and patience but she is very happy and very healthy.

😂 I’ll come home for a couple of days in the week and by the second day she’s like… ok love you…. But you’re keeping me away.. go away.
my brothers moved back and started working from home. Not impressed 😂

You know dogs sleep too right?

So only rich people who don't have to work or retirees are permitted dogs and they must not be out of the animals sight at any time?

My dog would be seriously pissed off at my enduring presence in the day. She has important snoozing to do.

i think @BitOutOfPractice is right

Get a dog walker. Or don't get a dog.

it has always been the case that you had to have the time to have a dog.
dog walkers are a new phenomenon, for those that insisted on having dogs regardless of their working pattern

@meatbaseddessert 400 posts later and you quote me. Have I hit a nerve?

No, not just rich and retired people. Also SAHP, people who WFH, people who can get home in the day to see to the dog, people who can take their dog to work, people who work part time. But no, not people who are going to regularly leave their dog for long days very regularly so their neighbours can listen to the poor thing barking all day long by itself.

Wow, so many replies.
I didn't expect to get such a large volume of responses.
It's 2 days a week of 6 hours. I'd be back home by 2:30pm on those 2 days, after that I'd be with the dog for the rest of the day/evening. Plus we'd all have spent 2 hours with the dog in the morning. I'm just highlighting that because posters are still quoting 3 days a week despite my update. Although I get the impression 2 days a week isn't going to be viewed as any different to 3 days a week by the people who oppose dogs being left alone.
Anyway I've received very varied responses from people with very different views, which is interesting. I am taking all the comments on board.
Thank you to everyone who has answered considerately and politely, whatever side of the argument you stand on.

I have a chihuahua and I work 2/3 days a week .. he’s always been fine on his own.. he’d just sleep. He’s old now and needs to be let out often and given medication at certain times so I have two people that come to see him when I’m out now but he was fine on his own up until he was about 14. It would depend on the dog as well as the breed though some chihuahuas hate being left from what I’ve seen on another group I’m in. 5/6 hrs isn’t a long time though you would be out that long on a day out. As long as you did a long walk before work and after I’m sure it’d be ok … you’d struggle if you got a puppy though.

Why haven't you responded to the dog walker suggestion?

Seems the obvious solution,

So you want a pet you can happily leave along for hours on end?

Sounds like you want a cat.

@BitOutOfPractice But hang on a minute - I do work part time.
I'm not 'regularly going to leave a dog for long days very regularly' as you've stated. This is not what I've explained in my posts.
So you're saying part time workers can have a dog, whilst at the same time saying that I can't get a dog because I'm a part time worker and would leave the dog maximum 6 hours twice a week?

I have clearly stated in the very post that you have commented on that I am taking all the comments on board.🙄

She's going to walk it before work, walk it after work how many walks do you think a dog needs?!

It is 6 hours twice a week. Unclench.

I think it depends on the dog, and you are clearly thinking about that so, with a good match from a rescue you should be fine! We've currently got 2 rescues- we were up front with our circumstances and were rejected from some rescues (we also have kids) but worked with a smaller local rescue although is was a while before the right dog came in. We weren't choosy about breed or look of dog, just temperament and suitability for our lifestyle. Both our dogs are happy to be left alone (in fact one prefers it!) although I WFH now so it's probably only once or twice a month when I have meetings in London. We have used a dog walker in the past but don't bother now. Our previous dog (also a rescue) was much more needy and went to daycare if we were going to leave her more than 3/4 hours as she hated being alone (or loved the opportunity to chew furniture anyway!). Just a warning about the dog flap- our neighbours have one for when they are out at work (or wherever) and their dog will go outside and bark/yap aaaaall day which has led to reports to the council and heated posts on the village WhatsApp/Facebook!

Yes, it's called a cat.

Mine only needs one good one (and she's a high energy working breed), but she needs lots of company and attention in between times. It's not the number of walks that's the problem. I will not unclench. The problem is that OP is going into this totally unprepared - yes it is possible with some dogs, is it possible with all? No. Will she know if it's possible until the dog comes home? No. Is it almost certain that the dog will need a settling in period before they can be left at all? Yes

And?

You've asked, you've taken comments 'on board' but it doesn't actually mean that you think any are valid or that you'll take any notice.

That's why I asked

'but she needs lots of company and attention in between times'

Dogs adapt to their environment. If you have one that has become reliant and dependent on your presence 24/7 and it works for you, fine. Many people have commitments outside the home and just cannot be with a dog constantly.

As has been said it is quality of time spent with a pet, not quantity. As long as it has been exercised, has some kind of routine and knows that when the owner leaves they will return then that's pretty much all that is required.

I very much think all of the replies I've received are valid, not least because I can see how deeply people feel about this topic, which is precisely why I am taking 'everyone's comments on board'.
Here is a definition to help you with what I mean by that:
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/take-on-board#:~:text=phrase,accept%20it%20or%20understand%20it.