So, I'm thinking of getting a dog

[Jjcrackers]

Will it work?

I freelance which means I'm either out at meetings for a few hours in the morning...or in the gym. Other than that I am at home or out and about locally and he/she can be with me.

Will it be ok to leave the dog (post walk) at home in the morning?

Maybe. Some dogs are OK with being left, others get real separation anxiety. Some lie peacefully in a corner, others chew everything not nailed down.

When we first got a dog, it was at DH's insistence. He works from home, so a similar situation to you. The theory was that the dog would get him away from his desk at some stage every day.

Nice theory....

My dog is left all day from 8.30 to around 5. I have my garden fenced off and a dog flap in the kitchen so she can pop in and out all day and is quite happy with that set up.
My partner will go home at lunchtime some days but she is used to being left all day. Was previously my parents dog and they moved country so I am looking after her until they get back in a few years time.

BUT- they are a tie. As much as I love her - all the walking, constantly thinking about when she was last fed, needs fed again - got fresh water? The mud and dirt and smell. If you are out at a meeting then a friend wants to go for coffee or something that keeps you out the house longer maybe have an auto feeder just in case.
Also think of vet bills etc

I mean i love her and there's no way i'd change it but just things to remember not just puppy licks and play time :)

But to answer your question...Yes it can easily work :)

A settled dog would not be able to be left for more than four hours. What about settling in period? Would you take leave?
A puppy couldn't be left like that.

Yes, you're home a lot more than a lot of dog owners. All dogs have to be left for some periods of time, not many people can be home with them 24/7

Have you had dogs before? They are a bind, for all the reasons stated above and more. But if you love dogs, you wouldn't have it any other way.

What kind of dog are you thinking of?

The right kind of older rescue dog would be OK with this arrangement, we have had two older Staffies who have been very content to be home alone and greyhounds are reputed to spend a lot of time asleep.

It depends entirely on the dog to be honest, some are happily left for periods of time, others aren't. As long as mines got something comfy to lay under he's not bothered at all. My friends dog hates being left and cries/chews things.

Other things to consider: do you have young children visiting - ask whether any potential dog you see is ok with them? Some dogs tolerate lots of comings and goings from friends/relatives etc, some don't. How much time would you devote to exercise? Again, it's an individual dog thing but if you can only do an hour or so a day don't get a really energetic dog that requires 2 hours etc. How much hair shedding can you live with?

Just to give you something's to think about. Don't get me wrong I love my dog, and my old dog, to pieces and wouldn't be without him but they are tying, time consuming etc

Of course it will work if you do your homework and understand what the level of commitment will be.

I've often had to leave my dog longer than I've intended when I've been held up for some reason. She's never chewed anything or peed in the house, but then she is pretty independent and will happily take herself upstairs for the evening to be on her own (I sometimes wonder if she actually likes me). But tbh you won't know how the dog is going to be until you have it living with you.

As pps have said you'd be best looking at an older rescue rather than a puppy though, as puppies cannot be left at all for the first few months and the early training can be quite intense.

Dogs should be able to be left...people will always have things to do that can't include dogs.

It's just that longer than 4 hoursish without sorting out some sort of care is doing them a huge disservice.

Some dogs can't cope with being left at all, but, separation anxiety is a behavioural issue not the norm and something that you should work on making better anyway as it's not great for the dog.

I left my puppy for very short periods of time right from the start, beginning with half an hour or so and gradually increasing the amount of time he was on his own

The maximum length of time he's left for now is around 4 hours and he's always absolutely fine - being on his own has never been a big deal so it doesn't bother him

Tbh I think he finds school holidays when he's constantly surrounded by dc quite exhausting - he finds it difficult to sleep if there's something going on which might be exciting so he always has extra long naps the first couple of days of a new school term

Thank you all. Lots to think about.

Also, don't forget that you can offer to foster for many, many rescues. That would give you the experience of having a dog, without the long-term commitment you would have to make as an owner.

It's a good way of trying out dog ownership, you would have backup from a rescue, could chat with other fosterers etc.

I think it's easy to underestimate the commitment of having a dog, it's great and fun but it does restrict the hours you can be out with friends, cinema and a meal, go into town, days out, holidays. Really needs to be thought through, depending on your personal circumstances.