I really, really want a dog

[Toffeeapple21]

Problem is DP and I both work really long hours, we leave the house at 7am and never get back until 7pm ( and that's on a good day).
Anyone overcome a similar problem? How long can you realistically leave a dog for and how expensive are dog sitters?

That's a long time to leave a dog, even if a dog walker comes during the day. I think the only was round it would be for it to stay with a relative/ friend while you work?

You could get a dog walker to come in during the day, but you couldn't get a puppy - you could get a rehomed dog

Get made redundant? Get a live in Nanny? Sorry to be flippant but it's really not possible, what if you wanted go out after work?

How about volunteering at a local shelter doing a bit of dog walking? You get to be around dogs and help where it's most needed.

You really can't have a dog. Get a cat, they appreciate being alone whilst warm and fed. Also they use a little tray.

Not feasible, not fair on the dog and not fair on you either.

When DH and I were both working FT out of the house, we got our doggy fix by doing weekend "dog sitting" for friends - they will love you for it if they know that a safe, reliable, dog friendly home can be used for occasional weekends away, family events etc. We used to do this for a couple of friends - one dog in particular used to love her little minibreaks with us, and would start wagging her tail about half a mile from us, leap out of the car and bound into the house and onto her favourite sofa. The other thing we did was volunteer walking for hte Cinnamon Trust. This is brillliant as not only are you enjoying a doggy fix but helping an elderly or terminally ill person as well - what's not to like? We found it incredibly rewarding and I know people who've used the service - it's a godsend. Also, as others have said, virtually every rescue in the country is desperate for volunteers, doing dog walking, transporting, helping at events, etc. Lots of face time with dogs and helping them into homes too.

Good luck. We've been in this situation and it is manageable. Later our lifestyles changed sufficiently to allow dog ownership - now we have four living with us (including some fosters)!

I really really want a super-yact, my own private island and a personal chef.

Doesn't mean I can have them though and if you're out of the house for a minimum of 12 hours a day then you can't have a dog.

Take the dog(s) for a walk before work - get a dog walker to take them for a LONG walk during the day (most charge £10 an hour, so thats £20 for two hours) then walk them when you get home. Notice the use of the plural here.

colditz - they sometimes use big trays too

They also are happy to use boxes of Lego