Young children, job and a dog. Do able?

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I'm considering getting a puppy.

I'm at work two days a week where the dog would be left from 8 til 5-6ish. I would pay a walker to take the dog out for an hour and then walk again after work. I'm a part-time teacher so this arrangement would be term-time only.

We have two young children Reception and Preschool age, so spend lots of time outdoors already. I also have my parents local who would be happy to do occasion dog sitting if we go out for a day and the dog can't come.

My main concern is the days I'm at work and the fact that I won't know how the dog will cope with being left until it's here. I would plan to get a dog at the beginning of the summer holidays (next year) so I would be home every day for the first 6 weeks.

Does this sound workable?

Pro dog walker/day care person here. Today I will be walking a thirteen year old who I first met at the beginning of the school holidays as a nine week old pup. I came in a couple of times during the holidays to get to know her, then at the beginning of term I spent a couple of hours with her every day that her family had to go to work split into three visits, then as she grew I started taking her for walks with the older dogs. The system has worked out beautifully and we've repeated it successfully more times than I can remember, I'm already booked for two different pups who will be arriving mid July this year.

Mine also hasn't needed to be neutered before going to daycare - somewhere he goes once a week, even though there is someone home all day. Why?

• Because it (along with other things) gives him experiences he would not get at home and thus increases his confidence in dealing with new situations
• It introduces him to all sorts of dogs and helps him understand and socialise with them
• It increases his confidence away from me as he is prone to being overly clingy
• He enjoys his day and has a great deal of fun
• So that there is somewhere he can go if I need emergency dog care that he already knows very well so won't get upset or stressed about it

However, some places I looked at did insist on neutering and he didn't start going to daycare until fairly recently (9 months old - ish).

I wouldn't leave a puppy on its own all day. With another dog as company, sure, but not alone.

I would arrange for doggy daycare or a pet minder on those days.

If you can arrange something appropriate for the days you're at work, I don't see any reason it's not doable.

My personal view is definitely no - it's not fair on the dog. We would love a dog but haven't got one as it's just not fair to leave them. I have also seen my SIL really struggle with children and dog walking - because they need to go out twice a day for a good walk and that's time consuming.

Try googling "borrow my doggy" - we have walked an Alaskan Malamute almost every Sunday for 3 years now and we found her and her owners on that site. It works well - she is their dog, but Sunday isn't convenient for them to walk her and she needs a lot of exercise. I reckon you could probably find a dog you love that needs walking when you're around near you :) There is a small sign up fee but it's more than paid off for us!

Don't do it. I got given a 10 month old labradoodle that had been bought as a puppy by a family with 2 young children. They didn't have time for her and she destroyed their home. By the time she came to me she was seriously anxious. It took about 3 years for the poor girl to calm down and feel secure. She used to lie at my feet all day just in case I left her.

I would say not right now. Wait until kids are a bit older and can help more. I have a 1 year old DS and a 2.5 year old JRT. If baby had come first we would never have got a dog at this stage.