Should I get a dog?

[BearsBeatsBattlestarGalactica]

I am 28 and single, live alone and I’m thinking about getting a dog. I have recently received a promotion and the shift pattern is Monday-Friday 14:00-00:30. I get a 1 hour lunch from 19:00-20:00. I work 2 minutes away from
home so I spend the full hour at home. My question to you all: is it unreasonable to get a dog and expect it to be alone for 5 hours at a time whilst I’m at work? It is quite lonely on your own & I have thought about getting a dog for 12 months but been away from the house for that long a period is a concern. Can I get your opinions please?

Yes don't get one. Wouldn't be fair

No

I wouldn't. The breed u have often last for 16 years and I think it's unlikely that you'd keep the same home and shift pattern to the age of 44

Please don't get a dog. Your hours are not suitable to be a responsible and caring dog owner.

Why don't you volunteer to dog walk at a local rescue such as a greyhound rescue in your free time?

Sorry I meant the breed I have.

No , it’s too long to be alone in a day , the fact that you are home for approx an hour doesn’t make up for the 9 hours it would be alone .

I wouldn't do it. It would be a lonely and boring existence for the dog and would lead to behavioural problems.

Sadly not. I'm sure you would be a lovely and conscientious owner, but living alone and working full time is not a set up for dog ownership. Also you are very young and perhaps you don't have the career and living-situation stability of a slightly older person. Who knows what the future will bring and whether it will be dog friendly?

In several years everything may be different and you will be able to bring a dog into your life.

No, I wouldn’t - it’s too long for it to be alone and I think you’d find it hard to get a dog walker given your shifts. You might end up with a dog with separation anxiety - it’s very common - and you could find it impossible to leave it for a few minutes let alone hours without a significant amount of training (ask me how I know…)

I completely understand your longing for one - Id been desperate for a dog my whole life and I was only able to get one in my fifties when my job moved to mostly home working a couple of years ago and my DD and DH were also able to wfh when needed. What about doing some volunteering with a dog charity or joining Borrow My Doggy?

It's not five hours at a time though, it's the better part of twenty hours a day, five days a week.

When you're in the house after a shift, you'll be going to sleep, so the dog is still getting zero interaction or attention. Then you'll get up in the morning, be available for a few hours and then leave for woke again.

No dog.

No, definitely don't get a dog with your working hours.

I love my dog to pieces, but I wouldn't choose to have a dog solo again. It's restrictive in a lot of ways and they 100% rely on you and only you. It can also really restrict your dating pool too (if that's of any concern).

Just don't. Dogs are companion animals and become depressed when lonely. We dont leave our dog alone longer than 2-3 hours and very rarely.

No. Your working hours aren't suitable.

What about a cat and a cat flap?

Don’t get a dog. It will have a miserable existence waiting for you to come home, and when you do, in the early hours, you won’t want to do dog things. Don’t be so bloody selfish.

I had cats at a similar age and they were lovely company.

You could do this OP of you like cats and you can maybe borrow someone's DDog pg you want to walk with a Dog.

But it's not 5 hours at a time is it? It's 9 hours a day - which is over a third of it.

She isn't being bloody selfish. She is asking a question and thinking things through.

You know you could have said so much without being so bloody rude.

When someone is taking the time to ask questions about owning a dog rather than rushing out to buy one as do many do the best thing to do is to give constructive advice.

I wouldn't get one with your set up but have you considered borrow my doggy? Then you could dip in and out of experiencing a dog, worth a look online.

I think it depends on the type of dog. One of the many older dogs in rescue centres would be much better off with you than in stressful kennels. As long as you can walk and give them plenty of attention/stimulation when you're not at work.

No I wouldn’t get a dog in this situation, it’s too long for a dog to be left alone on a regular basis

@Entangledlife dogs in kennels are used to being surrounded by other dogs all the time. No dog would enjoy going from that to a lot of isolation.

I live alone and work almost full time but I work from home and employ a walker. I also take the dog to the pub a couple of tomes a week and run with her 2- 3 mornings.
It can work, but I don't think it is fair in the OPs case. I'm here all day to let the dog out, play with her when I get 5 minutes etc

No