Should I get a dog?

[bradbury1985]

Hi, looking for some advice as we try to decide whether we can offer a loving home to a dog.
My husband and I grew up with dogs and have always wanted one; our two kids love dogs and are old enough to be gentle and join in on dog walks.
The problem is that we both work full time; as a teacher I leave the house at 7:30 and don't get home till 5pm. My husband can be more flexible with his working situation and work from home some days, go in later/come home earlier. My question to dog owners is this: if you work full time hours, what do you do with your dog all day? How have you solved the problem of a dog being home alone for 8+ hours?

No you don't leave a dog for hours unattended all day if you both out of the house its totally unfair. I work back to back with dh he goes to work at 4.30. I leave at half 12 and he's back at half 2/3

I wouldn’t have a dog if I worked full time. My dog came to me as a rescue after her owners marriage broke down. She was left with the husband who worked full time. She was driving herself demented every day. Barking non stop and generally being very anxious and depressed. It was not fair on her or the neighbours.

I have a dog and I couldn't leave him alone for 8 hours. It's not fair on him. I can leave him for maybe 4 hours and will only do that when he's been for a walk before being left. I no there is doggy dare care and you can hire a dog walker so dog wouldn't be alone all day.

If you grew up with dogs, who actually looked after it? A stay at home parent?

I always think of my ex who insisted we got a dog because he had one growing up and 'he was no bother at all, so easy!' I mentioned it to my then MIL who literally paled at the mention of its name.

That's a really good question: growing up I lived a 30 second walk from school so we would come home from school at lunch and would come back home shortly after 3, so our dog was only ever on his own for 4 hours at a time.

For my husband, his mum worked part time (not sure about the days/hours) and he and his brother would come home from school and keep the dogs company all afternoon.

Our situation now is definitely a lot different to when we were kids!

People who work long hours generally use doggy day care, especially for younger dogs. 8 hours is a very, very long time for a dog to be left alone (and beyond the bladder capacity for many) plus it can lead to behavioural difficulties. Puppies in particular and young dogs just can't humanely be left that long.

Puppies need a lot of input, and so really do need people around for a lot of the time. You don't know how velcro the dog will be in advance, so you need to be prepared to pay for doggy daycare long term because you might need it. But a well adjusted dog, when a bit older, might be happy with a walker coming in in the middle of the day to take them out for an hour or so.

Check prices and local availability before going ahead

I would recommend an older rescue dog, but reputable rescues don't generally let dogs go to homes where they will regularly be left for over 4 hours at a stretch.

Think carefully before taking on a dog if you both work full time. Look into local doggy daycare/ walkers as digs really can't be left so long on their own.
We took on a recue over a year ago, a beautiful, friendly, loving dog. But it's bloody hard work. The children occasionally walk/play with her, the bulk of her care is with me. We have a long walk in the morning before work/school. Thankfully my work is close to home so I take lunch at 11 and pop home for a play/ let in garden. Then back to work. DP usually home by 2/3pm so longest she's left ever is 3 hours. Then another long walk/run early evening.

She's also happy to be left, mainly sleeps when we are out. Think carefully about the logistics before committing.

Myself and my husband work full time BUT we work from home most of the time. The dog we have has pretty bad separation anxiety - she was a private rescue and came with this - I couldn't leave her alone for 10 mins, let alone 8 hours, she would bark herself hoarse. She's a Chihuahua cross and they are not fans of being alone in the first place. I'll be getting her used to coming on the train with me soon as I also work in a dog-friendly office.

Full time workers who can't be at home these days will likely be spending a small fortune on dog walkers, dog sitters and doggy daycare. Not all dogs will be suitable for these situations, my girl would not cope as she's dog reactive so would need one to one care, she'd have a meltdown in group doggy daycare. There's a chance any dog can develop these behaviours at any point in their lives, so there's always a risk that all of a sudden you've gone from a dog who can be in doggy daycare while you're at work, to one that's been kicked out and needs either yourself or your husband at home with them.

So TL:DR, no your current lifestyle wouldn't suit a dog if you're both out of the house for that long period of time.

I wouldn't in your situation tbh. Unless you were happy to shell out £££ for dog sitters / doggy day care. Definitely don't get a puppy!

We budgeted daycare in the estimated costs of having a dog. Costs us a bloody fortune but he’s a happy little stinker.

Our dog is great at being left alone but we aim for no more than 4 hours at a time, a couple of times we have pushed it to 6 but usually only in the evening when he is settling down for the night anyway. We both work from home most of the time but if we need to be out longer due to meeting clashes we have family and neighbours who pop in to let him out and have a play or take him for a walk. 8 hours alone on a daily basis is unfair and would be way too much for most dogs to handle.

We have a 2 year old dog had her since a puppy , we work hours all over the place but we always factor our days around her walks . Today my husband is on nights he got in at 7.30am took her straight out til 8.30 then went to bed . I worked 8.30-1 so I'm on a dog walk now . When we are both at work 8-5/6 she goes to day care £12 a day here or my dh comes home at lunch . I wouldn't leave her for 8 hours it's not fair .

We got our dog after my husband retired to avoid this. She’s good to be left alone for 4 hours or so, so can be left while we go shopping or for a night out but that’s it….and that’s a dog with no issues. It’s pretty much like a 12 or 13 year old child. We’ve never left her alone overnight.

In your situation I’d consider doggy daycare if you really want a dog.

Would you consider a cat? Fantastic pets for kids and are fine to be left alone for long periods as long as there’s a flap or litter tray and some food left out.

It depends on the dog, and you won’t know until you get one which is a big risk.

We leave our dog for 8 hours 1-2 days a week and she’s fine. I work from home the other days and barely see her. She’s not interested in sitting with me and is not interested in playing or interacting very much between 9-5 (although she does enjoy a nice belly rub every now and then when I go and find her!). Because she’s so independent when I’m here, I know she’s fine alone (plus we have cameras).

She is the centre of attention from 5pm until bedtime though and the definition of a lap dog in that time, so she gets her fill of attention/walks/interaction then.

She’s 3 now though, and a huge contrast to when she was a puppy and she would cry if we weren’t making eye contact. We didn’t leave her alone for almost 3 months (lockdown puppy!) and I think a lot of that built her security for being left alone for long periods now.

I wouldn't get a puppy or youngster as they really need someone around most of the time to be able to invest in training & socialisation but also is available to watch/interact with them so if your distracted with working from home, you'll likely miss the toileting cues or them chewing things or flexibility to get outside instantly when pup needs to go.

I got adopted my first dogs when I was working full-time, a pair of retired racing greyhounds and the rescue were ok as long as had toilet trip every 4 hours as it what were used to in kennels (although they do still have dogs/humans around so separation anxiety in the home could still happen). I met many working people with one greyhound but we were happier about them having company while out. I could go home in my lunch hour then but have paid dog walkers to let them into garden or walk since. They'd not have enjoyed most doggy daycares as after about 5minutes of running about they need hours of peace to recharge.

Whether I was home or not they'd sleep most of the day, but I picked the breed as they don't have high stimulation or exercise needs as a bored dog at home is likely to find its own entertainment and it's easier to build up a dog's fitness for weekend longer walks but copes if busy or ill than one that needs it's 2-3hrs a day to stay sane. Some breeds are also known to be more prone to separation anxiety as get very attached to their humans.

I have a reciprocal arrangement with exh so at times he has my dog as well as his and at others I have his dog as well as mine. On rare occasions that one can't cover the other they go to adult son's who works from home. The dogs like each other and enjoy having each other about and walking them both together isn't all that different to walking just one.

NDN leaves his dog from 5am to mid afternoon. It's hell for everyone involved, dog especially.

It's great that you're considering all aspects of dog ownership before making a decision. It's important to make sure you can provide a happy and healthy environment for the dog you bring into your home.
Leaving a dog alone for 8+ hours every day can be challenging, but it's definitely doable with the right preparations and resources. Here are a few tips to help you manage:

1. Hire a dog walker or pet sitter: Consider hiring a dog walker or pet sitter to come and take your dog for a walk and provide companionship during the day. This can be especially helpful if your husband can't be home during the day.
2. Doggy daycare: Look into local doggy daycare facilities. These facilities offer a fun and stimulating environment for dogs and can help alleviate boredom and loneliness.
3. Puzzle toys: Invest in puzzle toys or other toys that can keep your dog mentally stimulated while you're away.
4. Crate training: If you're planning on crate training your dog, make sure to gradually introduce them to the crate and ensure they have plenty of toys and blankets to keep them comfortable.
5. Consider adopting an older dog: Older dogs tend to be more mellow and may be better suited to being left alone during the day.

Remember, owning a dog is a big responsibility and requires a lot of time, effort, and financial resources. It's important to make sure you can provide a safe and happy environment for your new furry family member. Good luck with your decision!

My friend had a retired greyhound, she worked full time. It had been socialised to be left alone for long periods of time, had a short walk in the morning and then slept all day. She walked it in the evening and then it was happy on the couch.

Unless you can afford daycare, it’s totally unsuitable sadly.

Don't do it, get a cat, much easier, dogs are very hard work.

No more day trips, weekends away, holidays without the extra hassle of the dog

You cannot leave a dog that long. A cat would be more suitable for your needs.