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.

Genuine question reading this thread to those who are against leaving a dog for a large amount of time. What do you do if you're going out for dinner and drinks at night? Do you get someone to mind the dog or would you never go out for longer than a couple of hours?

I'm not a dog person and I'm genuinely curious as I have friends with dogs who would go out and not leave someone with the dogs.

Well, it depends on the dogs and how well they cope alone. It also depends on how long they've already been left that day.

As a dog walker I often get requests for evening pop-ins for dogs who will otherwise be home alone, so I do think lots of owners pay for care or ask a friend, neighbour or family member to pop in on the dog.

Some dogs will be fine home alone if they've been fed and walked, others not so much.

If your dog is old enough, and you've put in the work to teach them to relax and amuse themselves appropriately when left alone, then you go out for dinner and enjoy.

However yes, owning a dog does mean you have to think about this, you can't go for a full day out without arranging someone to have the dog or pop in to let the dog out etc etc.

It does mean if you also work, you can't leave the dog alone all day whilst you work, then come home and piss off back out again for another 4 hours to a party or dinner or whatever.

Owning a dog means you do have to make compromises and sacrifices in your own life - for the first couple of years, that tends to be pretty restrictive, and then as they mature and become sensible it gets a bit easier - but it should always be a consideration 'has the dog had their needs met, has the dog been alone too long today' etc.

If someone doesn't want that, the simple answer is, don't own a dog, rather than 'tough shit the dog will have to cope with it anyway'.

I've said earlier in the thread, but I can leave my 3yo dog in the evening (as long as she's had a busy day with a walk and lots of human company) because she's settled at that time anyway. Could easily go out 6-midnight with no issues. Wouldn't leave her 9am-3pm because she's not tired yet and she'd be bored and unhappy. After a walk could leave her say 11am-3pm and that's fine. There are degrees of what is okay and what is pushing it.

BUT for the first maybe 6 months we had her, yes we either stayed in or got someone to look after her. That was the time she needed to settle, and the time we needed to train her to be happy alone. That's the sacrifice you make when you get a dog

And this is the reason why this is the wrong place to ask this question - people feeling obliged to give their opinion even if they don't have a dog and/or don't know anything about them (and are seemingly just annoyed by poo). You're better off chatting with friends or other people you know personally who you know have dogs, to find a rescue center you trust, and get some advice on your situation there. Our rescue centers would definitely give you a dog in your situation as long as it is the right dog. Just be honest about it! The fact that you ask yourself this question already makes you a very responsible dog owner.

@andrainwillmaketheflowersgrow @WiddlinDiddlin thanks for that, I really was curious so thanks for taking it that way 🙂

I've got a terrier who would be fine with this.

I tend to book a dog Walker if I'm going to leave him longer than 4-5 hours but on the odd occasion I have left him that long he's fine.

You do need to factor in two longish walks a day every day though.

Most dogs can be left for a while each day and they like routine.

However, they do need company (it isn't just about walks) and should not be left for 6 hours.

(Leave a steady happy dog alone too long and turn it into a destructive nervous creature! Even if the dog doesn't react this badly - you would be being cruel to something you love.)

A dog walker or lunchtime visitor would be needed in your case. They are not usually difficult to find. Perhaps you can share such duties with someone else who needs a lunchtime dog visit on the days you are not working?

I hope that you and your daughter get much joy from your dog in the years to come.

I think it's possible but unfortunately you won't know till you try then what will you do if you can't? You need to make sure you think through worst case scenario tbh

We got a dog in 2017 and I wasn't sure about it tbh as although I don't work this us due to my youngest son's special needs. We got a puppy as we didn't think a older dog would fit even if a rescue would let us have one

He's not let alone much generally just while I pop to shops or something but I think maximum we ever left him was a few hours to go for meal or DIY shopping or something further away

So to some posters I'm an ideal dog owner as not working but to some I don't walk my dog no where near enough but he's happy fit and right weight etc so that matters more to me than strangers opinions if I'm honest

Hope whatever you decide it goes well