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?

Absolutely not. That's way too long to leave a dog alone. Mine scratch on the door to go out for a wee every hour or so, I could never leave them for 5 hours at a time.

Yes, you make a good point but some dogs, particularly older, more sensitive breeds really struggle in noisy and chaotic environments. If the OP gives the dog plenty of stimulation and walks I think she can make it a very happy home for her and her dog.
There are so many dogs in rescue centres needing love and attention, I think with due diligence the OP could find one that fits.

With this set up OP wouldn’t be able to get a dog from a rescue.

I don’t know of any rescues who would sign off on an adoption where the owner is going to be leaving the dog for 5 hours every day.

No competent rehoming organisation will rehome to someone out the house for ten hour shifts, plus commute.

Thanks everyone for the guidance. I knew 5 hours would be a long time but thanks everyone for confirming. I will wait until my career path changes and the hours are more suitable.

To the poster who told me to stop being selfish. I am doing the exact opposite of that. Being selfish would be going out to buy a dog without a second thought and with no regard for its wellbeing.

In short no, but it's good that you considered this carefully and have posted the question.

As you say a time may come when having a dog will work for you, you may also find with your new hours that you can look after someone else's dog for a few hours.

Good luck with the promotion...

@BearsBeatsBattlestarGalactica you do need to stop saying 5 hours , it is not 5 hours it is 10 hours with a short break in the middle . When rescues etc say dogs are ok to be left for 4 hours that is 4 hours in 24 hours , not multiple 4 hours in 24 .

If you really love dogs, then get one!

Wouldn't be fair

Good on you for considering it carefully op, so many people don’t. As others have said, you are out for too long at the moment, so it currently wouldn’t be fair on a dog (but who knows what the future holds). I’m a dog parent - I work mainly from home and my boyfriend works from my house and dog sits when I am in the office. It works really well - totally recommend getting a dog when you can make it work.

You can make it work if you really want one, but it would involve doggy daycare as leaving dog alone that long wouldn't be fair.

As others have said you are proposing leaving the dog for ten hours a day. That’s almost three times the recommended max. I’m pleased you’ve realised that isn’t fair.

to give context my dog goes out on a group walk with other dogs every day for an hour and a half plus a short walk with us each evening for half an hour. She also goes in and out of a very large garden like a yo-yo through the dog flap. I work 100% from home so I’m here all the time (obviously working) I still feel like we don’t give her enough attention.

Get a guinea pig or 3!!

Could you go on the borrow my dog website and walk other peoples dogs on weekends, it's like a dog without the responsibility!