Is our lifestyle compatible with getting a dog? If so what breed might be good?.

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Our older kids are desperate for a dog. DH and I like dogs but he has never had one and although I grew-up with a Springer I wasn't her main carer.

We live in London but next to a park with a fenced dog walking zone. We have an 80ft garden.

We both work so nobody is home between 9-3pm 4 days a week. The rest of the time somebody is here.

We have three kids aged between 2 and 9.

Are we out too much for a dog? Are our kids too young for a puppy?

9-3 is a bit long for a dog to be left so you would need a puppy walker or something.
Personally I prefer to wait until my youngest is a bit older too but that's just me.
Other than that it would be ok I think

Watching with interest as we have been thinking this as well albeit our circumstances differ in that I work from home. One thing we are considering is not just work time but our weekends/evenings/free family time. Going on errands, to the shops, out to lunch on weekends....kids' activities. How does the dog fit into your non-work activities? Is it going to be left alone for an hour here an hour there while you dash about, etc? Will someone need to stay behind to stay with the dog?

I think with a dog walker you would be fine. Dog walker around midday for an hour would mean dog only left 2-3 hrs at a time

You really do have to think about school holidays, weekends, evenings - what do you do then? Holiday weeks aren't so bad to cover as wanting to be out at a not dog friendly event for a long day, or an impromptu night away with friends.
Being out 4 days a week would mean a dog walker, but also require a dog who needs less interaction and stimulation.
The children may be desperate for a dog, but they won't be so keen when its dark, cold, and wet and you all have to go out to walk the dog. They also don't pick up the poo, wash the floors for the millionth time, do consistent dog training, think about who is going to look after the dog when you go somewhere, deal with the vet/groomer/dogwalker/kennels, or any of the other million things that a dog needs.

I'd also say that with your youngest being 2, I'd give it another couple of years before getting a dog so you aren't managing a toddler and dog at the same time.

You need a dog walker and to make sure you will be able to walk the dog before and after work - at least one of these walks must be a really nice long one and remember dogs like variety in their walks.

Are you prepaped for the sleepless nights, the toilet training, the obedience training, the chewing and chaos that comes with a puppy? Are you prepared for the mud, hairs and smell that comes with any dog?

Your 2yo may not like the dog. The dog may get excited and push him over, jump up on him with sharp claws, chew his toys etc. You also need to adapt your home to ensure the dog is never left unsupervised with the DCs.

Think about practicalities, e.g. a puppy requires a lot of socialisation for the first few weeks, who will take time off work to do this? Small things that are easy now may become more difficult, e.g. managing a pram and a puppy that is not yet lead trained. Do you have the patience for what is effectively another child? Even if you get an older dog the settling in period is stressful and existing behavioural problems may need to be dealt with.

Thanks all. Its a big decision isn't it? I wish you could rent dogs for a week or two to see how it works but obviously that would not be fun for the dogs.

You could foster a dog for a while through one of the rescues?It would give you a good idea of what the reality of it is.

Look at getting a rescue dog me and DP thought we couldn't have a dog but we can because she is fully trained and used to being alone for upto 6hrs a day puppy's are serious hard work

I thought most rescues won't rehome to you when you have small children. Anyone know of one that does?

EGLR certainly rehome to people with small children. Look at rescues who have their dogs in foster, not kennels as they are better able to assess their dogs with children, so are happier to recommend them (or not!)