would it be fair to have a dog in my circumstances?

[yesbutnobut]

I am really keen to get a dog. I work 4 days a week (out of the house from 8 to 6) so realistically, much as I would love a pup, I can't see that working.

I live near woods and heathland in North London, I have 2 cats, 2 kids (11, 10), can afford vets' bills and insurance and a dog walker each day I am working, we have a secure garden (not huge).

Do you think there is a (rescue) dog out there for me? I already feel bad enough leaving my cats all day so I'm reluctant to bring a dog into my life who may be stressed being at home. Yet at the same time I think, surely lots of working people leave their dogs at home all day on their own (I see plenty walking their dogs in the morning while I"m waiting for the bus just before 8)?

I spend a lot of time surfing rescue sites and it seems a lot of the dogs have special needs (ie no young children, rural place to walk as nervous with dogs, require an 'experienced owner'). So I'm wondering just how easy it is to get a rescue dog who fits the bill?

In a way this post is just me thinking aloud but I'm getting so desperate to have a dog in my life I though I would share my thoughts. I don't want to regret never having made that step and given a dog a loving home. Any views?

10 hours is a really long time.

You are really looking at someone to be with your dog for at least 4/5 hours of that, or see if you have a doggy day care centre near you.

A puppy would be out of the question. An older rescue may not if you were able to provide the above.

whereabouts in N London are you? There was a doggy day care centre not far from Finsbury Park tube - not sure if its still there, but if close to you would be worth looking into.

Thanks WWTW and fanjolina. Someone has mentioned doggy day care to me and said they could recommend. I suppose I had thought of that as more for occasional days - it might be a bit confusing if I got a dog then farmed it out 4 days a week. It might wonder where it's home actually was (and I wonder how much day care costs?) I live in Muswell Hill btw.

Do I resign myself to not having a dog? But then I meet someone like the lady I met last week who had left her 12 week old lab pup for 7 hours on its own - not on a regular basis admittedly (when I asked her if that would be ok she seemed amazed and said well he's left on his own overnight. I'd have thought being downstairs while your owners are in bed is not the same as being on your own in a house during the day, but that's people for you).

Maybe I should give up my job - I would, like a shot if I could afford to!

I don't think any decent rescue centre would allow you take on one of their dogs with those working hours, and if they did you'd most likely end up with a very bored (ie destructive) dog on your hands.

Sorry.

WTDDT - that is exactly what I'm thinking. I should have said that the lady who does my after school care is here from 4pm so the hours are not quite so bad.

I think where I was coming from is that there may - just may - be a dog who would be happy living with my family. Lots of walks, attention and care interspersed with a few hours on his/her own (sounds quite appealing to me but then I'm not a dog!).

Alice - thanks for your replies.

That is interesting about the guide dog pup advice (I see a lady around here training a gorgeous yellow lab). I agree that just because other people leave their dogs for long periods doesn't make it right. Looks like until my circumstances change I'll have to make do with my gorgeous pusses and re-visiting that post where mumsnet dog owners posted photos of their dogs. I was very envious of lots of those, as I was of the owner of the Norfolk terrier we bumped into this morning!

If anything, rescue dogs are more clingy than pedigrees from a breeder because of their circumstances - you may well have serious issues with separation anxiety (which is very distressing for the dog, and for you could mean poo/wee everywhere, shredded furniture, neighbours annoyed by howling all day etc). I'm afraid I don't think it's feasible with your working hours - but well done for thinking this through, rather than just getting the dog and seeing if it works.

If you can bear to give them back, a lot of dogs' homes need foster-carers for dogs to give them some respite from the kennel environment - you could sign up to be a fosterer in your holiday time?

Lurcherlover - thanks for the tip, I will definitely look into possible fostering, though I can imagine it being heart -rending having to give a dog back that you've looked after and got to know. My DH says we should wait until we retire (a long time yet) but somehow the dog sized hole in my life will need to be filled before then. Hopefully I"ll be able to restructure/cut down on my working days in the not too distant future

Yes, please, please consider the Cinnamon Trust. They are crying out for dog walkers like you, and you will form the most rewarding relationship with a special dog, as well as the pleasure you will have in knowing that by doing so you are keeping a pet with its much loved owner.

As others have said, dogs homes and rescue centres are desperate for dog walkers/foster homes, especially ones with cats.

Fostering is incredibly rewarding, and yes, it's a wrench but oh, so satisfying. We have made friends with the forever homes of dogs we've looked after. One of the proudest moments of my life was seeing our gorgeous little foster bitch wearing a huge rosette at a Greyhound Fun Day, gleaming with health and happiness - made me choked up with happiness after remembering the skinny bag of bones who could barely walk when we first had her. Mind you like most fosterers, you will eventually fail at least once, and there's a rather special ten year old currently on our sofa who arrived as a foster, and somehow never left!!