Is it cruel...?

[FrizzBombDelight]

... to get a dog if it will be alone in the house 9-5 weekdays?

Get a cat. I used to be a dog person until I got my ragdoll she is just like a dog. Follows me around the house, sits on my lap, she's litrally in love with me and even accepts the toddler and the baby but she's perfectly happy if we're out all day she just sleeps. And when we get home demands alot of fuss to make up for it🙈 she's perfectly happy though

Oh and she's so playful! Always running around playing with random toys, she has me in stitches with some of the things she does too!

Being in a proper home, with a dog walker coming at lunchtime, is a much much better life for a dog than being in a kennel in a rescue.

Please, please don't get a dog - you don't have a lifestyle suited to one and it would be really cruel. The fact the only person agreeing with it thinks a well-adjusted dog would 'go for people' speaks volumes. Dogs are sociable creatures and should never be left for more than 3-4 hours at a stretch. No rescue or reputable breeder is going to let you have a dog in those circumstances either so you would wind up with some poor puppy farmed dog you bought on gumtree - that's a miserable life for a dog.

No - not for the dog who just waits a little longer in rescue to get the family that has time for him.

My post was to Caking

Yes, dogs need company.

There is no one in our house 7.30-4.30pm 3 days a week 38 weeks of the year (term time so 114 days a year) as I'm a teacher
But if I was leaving the dog those hours every single weekday 260 days a year) I wouldn't own one as that's the majority of each year.

If she's in the area (we are very very rural) we use a dog walker £10 per walk to break the day up.

Very, very cruel indeed.

It isn't just the toilet ting issue - dogs are sociable animals and they need company. Mentally, leaving a dog alone ll day is the unkindest thing you could ever do.

Ineedwineplease Gorgeous cat! Is she an indoor cat? I would love to have a cat but I worry that it would be run over.

Throughthick. That's true. You are right.

I work in kennels and agree with Cakingbad. True the dog could wait and go to a family with more time but that's still one more home, freeing up space for another dog to be rescued. So many are turned away.

dogs need company - cats are fine to be left with a catflap.

We got a rescue dog last summer. We both work full time but work is only about a mile away from home. DH usually has the car so he nips home at lunchtime to let her out, but sometimes he can't do this. We're quite lucky that she's a laid back, easygoing dog with no separation anxiety. She gets walked by one of us every morning (we take turns) and then we both walk her for an hour after work. She gets plenty of exercise and we've never had a problem. I think it probably does depend on the dog a lot of the time though. Personally I think our dog would be fine being left every day.

Faez, so you would rehome to people who work full time?

It wholly depends on the dog. A young dog of a high-needs breed is unlikely to be happy in that situation. An older dog of a more sedate breed could be more than happy with that arrangement.

My greyhound was more than happy with a walk in the morning (well, the offer of one as he often decided he couldn't be bothered), a visit at lunchtime for a play in the garden (again, if he could be bothered) and the offer of a walk at night. ExH and I would stagger our days so he was often only alone from 9-12 and then 12.30-4. If people are willing and able to alter routines to accommodate the needs of the dog then it can work out.

I used to be a dog person until I got my ragdoll she is just like a dog.

I understand that Siamese are very "doglike" cats, too Wine.

Though I wouldn't say that in their hearing, obviously.

Imagining a cat realising someone has described it as 'doglike'

Faez, a reputable rescue/kennel would not release a dog to be adopted by owners that worked full time, surely?

I have worked in rescue and kennels and there's no way any of the ones I've been involved in would rehome to people who worked full time unless they could demonstrate they had arranged a dog walker.

The dogs trust didn't seem to have any issues with me saying I would use day care on the days I was in work but in the end we did not go with a rescue.

I have an elderly rescued retriever, and I leave her three short days a week (8-3ish). She goes for a walk plod before I go and DD15 comes home about 3 and takes her out again.
She's fine, but I have guilt. I definitely wouldn't do it to a younger/more active dog. She dozes, but watches the door and is up with the full body wag as soon as DD comes in.

When we adopted ours the dogs trust said he couldnt be left for more than 6 hours. Luckily there is always someone home with him but iv not id use a dog day care or a dog walker

I adopted my 2 greyhounds from RGT when i was working 9-5, they were fine as long as the dogs had opportunity to toilet every 4hrs and i could go home in my lunch hour. They'd have a walk before/after work. I'm home more now and they generally still sleep till about lunchtime go out to loo and then sleep again till its time for dinner/walk then more sleeping. I prefer having multiple dogs, but know plenty of others with 1 in similar circumstances, some do leave them the full 8hrs & while mine would be fine with this i don't feel its good for them longer term as they don't drink properly in order to avoid toileting.

I have a dog walker now that visits the days i'm at work as i can't get back and they just go out in the garden rather than a walk, mainly as i have 3 dogs so it would be too expensive and 2 of them aren't the easiest to walk so prefer not to entrust that job to another. Dog walker is also handy for days out and as she has a key i can always ring her if we get held up to do another visit.

I think you have to pick the right dog/breed for it to work, some need more human company and physical & mental stimulation and i definitely wouldn't get a puppy/youngster as they all need a lot of input to train/socialise.

I can understand why some rescues prefer not to rehome to full-time workers as there is a greater risk it won't work out, Though i'm glad some are able to consider each case individually.

Would bare in mind that dogs are a big tie, always on a timer when your out & have to go home to see to them & if your at work 9-5 its not really fair to then spend the evenings out too . What to do with them for trips away as its costly to board. They are expensive to keep in general, if you don't skimp on insurance cover & often costs that aren't claimable.
Its easy to imagine nice dog walks not the cold, wet walks in the dark or when your not feeling well (luckily for me greyhounds generally can manage with a short walk & aren't keen on cold/wet either). Summer seems like great time to be out but its often too warm for dogs in the day so its early mornings/late evening walks

Thanks Scatty, that is really helpful. I'll be getting my partner to read your post!