Is it possible to have a dog when we both work?

[dirtyprettything]

That's it really, always had dogs as a kid and have always wanted one "when i grew up", at the grand age of 40 I think we are there.

We have good sized house, with a big garden. Our children are 4+6 and would really benefit from having a pet. I need the exercise and we had a dog to stay a few months ago for a week which went very well.

The fly in the ointment is work - we both work full time though both from home 1 day a week each so the dog would be alone 3 days a week from 8am to 5.30. I am considering hiring a dog walker on those 3 days, do you think that would be fair on the dog?

We always had Boxers when I was a child but I am keen on a border terrier but don't think it would be fair to get a puppy.

Any advice at all gratefully received!

If you are happy to pay for a dog walker to come a take your dog out on the three days you work then I would think it would be ok but would need to be a couple of times during the day possibly?

I used to home check for rescues and wouldn't permit rehoming if the dog was regularly left alone for more than 3-4 hrs.

i'm not sure it's the best idea as many pine on their own -but have a chat with a rescue who will advise you best. For this reason I'm waiting (impatiently!) until I retire (9 years and counting) to get my much longed for black lab. In the meantime I do a bit of dog walking for friends on my days off.

I work Monday-Thursday 8-6 and Fridays at home and I have 2 dogs, however they stay with my step dad during the day and he walks them at lunch time and I pick them up on my way home. However when I move to Cardiff I'll be home 3 days a week but will get a dog walker in or take them to doggy day care. If you can afford it go for it.

I work Monday to Friday 9-5 and DP is a postman so is home by 2, with a midweek day off. Our dog is alone 8.30am - 2pm four days a week. He is walked at 7.30am, 2.30pm and again in the evening. It's not absolutely ideal but DP's parents live a ten minute walk away if he needs anything and he seems happy enough, we just make sure he has plenty to entertain him while he's alone and we give him loads of attention when we're home.

I wouldn't without doggy day care. I don't think it's fair to be honest.

look into dog day care near you too. Around here an hours walk is £9-10, but you can drop at dog day care 7am-7pm for £14. Not much difference but does add up over a month for 3 days a week, and when you include all the other expenses of owning a dog (insurance, health care/parasite control, food, training treats, training classes etc) makes having a dog suddenly a £200+/month expense!

you might also need a few weeks settling a new dog into your home and making sure it is dog friendly before you can think about using dog care.