Is it fair to get a dog if working almost full time?

[Knobblybobbly]

My husband really really wants a dog. I do too! And love looking on the rescue sites and Pets4Homes etc and imagining life with a dog. My husband has never lived a dog (even as a child). I grew up with many of them and whilst equally wanting, more realistic about things. I have reservations that are making me concerned.

I would like a small/medium dog, calm and good with children, able to handle my mum visiting a few times a week with her very placid (daft as a brush) dog.

Would you mind reading through our lifestyle/situation and telling me your honest opinion? And which breeds you think might suit us best:

We are a family of 3, me, my husband and 6 year old child. Out child is very sensible and calm around dogs. My mum has one and so she is not nervous of them. We live in a 3 bed semi with a medium to small sized garden. 6 ft fence and walls surrounding it. Live in a village in the countryside. Amazing walks all around us. We would walk it once a day.

Husband works full time, I work almost full time. We are both out of the house 5.5 hours a day on week days. Home all weekend. We only holiday in the UK. We can afford a dog and would get really decent pet insurance.

I think we would need a small/medium sized but robust dog. Husband wants something that doesn't look too girly!! He actually would love a bulldog. I love labs but think our garden is too small.

My big concern is that the dog will be unhappy being left alone while we’re at work. I could potentially reduce or condense my hours to 3 days.

What do you think?

[thestarvingcaterpillar]

Personally I wouldn't dismiss it just yet, My DDog is left for just over 5.5 hours 2 days per week but I have a walker who comes in mid way through the day to walk him for 30 mins. There are many dogs out there who need a loving home and it sounds like you have one to give!

[Ikeameatballs]

We thought about getting a dog.

We ended up with 2 cats.

Whilst I would still love a dog the cats were still the right choice for us right now and they are delightful.

[Snufflesdog]

Obviously my comment is depending on the dog. As others say older dogs that are ready for a nice retirement home, and low energy dogs last the puppy and teen years would be what you need.
I don’t think a young spaniel for example would work for you.
Bull dogs, if you’re saying you like those, are quite low energy dogs on the whole - but be aware there’s a huge amount of health problems in the breed!

[Snufflesdog]

Can you afford a walker? I would say most dogs will want to be walked twice a day - even if just two shorter walks it breaks up the day a bit I think.
Do you have tome to do training?

Personally I think it’s ok but I know most people here would disagree.
I think a dog would rather be home with you than in a rescue centre - where they would also be without humans and other dogs anyway

However I would definitely think about at least some of the days breaking it up with day care and/or Walker. And be aware that if you get a young dog - or indeed any rescue dog it may take time for them to be able to adjust to being left alone for any time at all.

[Toria70]

I read a brilliant article once on how dogs perceive time. 7 hours for us is what an hour feels like for a dog. So leaving a dog for nearly 6 hours would feel like a day and a half alone.

However, a rescue older dog in its later years would probably be quite happy being left that long in a warm cosy bed. We rescued an 8 year old tibetan terrier when our DC were little. He adored the kids, and happily slept on their beds for hours if we went out. We'd have to wake him back up to tell him we were home and we had him for 5 years. So whilst it would be cruel for a young dog, an older dog could be a possibility if you could find a rescue that would happily accept your working hours.

You're being really sensible to think all the options through, and being a dog owner is incredibly good for the soul. My two spaniels are my world.

[copycopypaste]

Can you arrange with your employer to work from home a few days a week and employ a dog walker, doggy day care for the days you're at work? Also consider your breed carefully. Dogs such as Lurcher or greyhounds will sleep a lot, whilst collies need a lot of attention and exercise

[Parkandride]

If you weren't doing 5 days working you might be able to make it work with the right age, breed and dog walker / day care

I have a greyhoundy type and someone WFH 3 days a week and still get dog mum guilt leaving him even to pop out which I didn't expect, he doesn't give a hoot. Dog walkers are still our 4th biggest expense after mortgage, petrol and food even for 2 days a week so make sure you think about finances when you reconsider

[adaline]

Some dogs do like alone time, I've been off work all week ill in bed and my dog has happily slept downstairs during the day.

The problem with statements like this, is you never know whether your dog will cope until you have it.

I have a small mix terrier breed and he has always been an independent soul, happy on his own and fine to be left.

On the contrary our neighbours' have one and he barks and barks all day long. What works for one dog does not work for them all.

The best advice is to plan for a dog who cannot be left alone. What would you do? Can you work opposing shifts, or pay for daycare, or can they go and stay with family/friends during the day?

[armsandtheman]

I had a retired greyhound and he had separation anxiety. They also need to get out regularly as they get older as they have small bladders. You'd need a dog walker

[Girliefriendlikespuppies]

Some dogs do like alone time, I've been off work all week ill in bed and my dog has happily slept downstairs during the day.

Op people esp on mn have very strong views on how long dogs can be left for. I agree that for some dogs and definitely a puppy 5.5 hours a day would be too much.

However there are some dogs that would be fine with this, have you considered a retired greyhound for example?

I have a small mix terrier breed and he has always been an independent soul, happy on his own and fine to be left.

Would you be able to afford doggy day care or a dog walker? Would your mum be able to dog sit for you on occasion?

I work 30 hours a week and use all of the above so that ddog is never left longer than 3-4 hours during the day.

[AnneJeanne]

Surely it’s doable with doggie daycare?

[Dozer]

What about a cat

My Mum v much wanted a dog when I was a DC but this wasn’t possible due to both parents being in FT work. So we got 2 cats! Turned out v well, although some people are “dog people” only.

[Knobblybobbly]

No need for concern guys, as I said up thread, we’re not doing it.

@Medievalist. Yes, seriously. I asked the question because a PP said she’d wished she’d got a breed which was happier left alone. I didn’t know this existed, hence my question.

Hopefully, one day I’ll have the luxury of not working 30hrs a week and then we’ll fulfil our dream of getting a dog.

Thanks for replies. Matter now closed.

[MrsDrudge]

Not good to leave a dog at home for longer than a couple of hours IMO. I wouldn’t do it unless I could get doggy day care/dog walker for working days.

[Medievalist]

So which breeds like alone time?

Seriously?!!

[adaline]

No, please don't do this. Just because lots of people do it, doesn't mean it's acceptable or fair on the dog.

[GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman]

You can make it work, but it will take commitment. You'll need to walk the dog whatever the weather and ideally more than once a day (I encounter a lot of other dog walkers at 6.30a.m.) And TBH for a young dog you'd need a neighbour or a dog-walker to give it a run while you're out. 5.5 hours alone is too long as a routine thing for any dog under about two, IMO. My two get left that long and longer a couple of times a week, but they have each other, access to a kennel yard and get plenty of exercise. And they are both well out of puppyhood.

As for breeds, terriers are pretty independent and quite like their own company (and they're not 'girly' either). In your situation I'd be inclined to go for a middle-aged terrier, two walks a day with you and a dog walker in the middle of that long block of time.

[BendyLikeBeckham]

I want one myself and have been researching!

[BendyLikeBeckham]

you may still need a middle of the day visitor to let them out or walk them, but may not need this once they are settled. They tend to be toilet trained and older dogs, either 1-2 years old if they were useless racers or 5 years old if retired. I'd go for the older ones.

[BendyLikeBeckham]

retired greyhound would be ideal. 1 or 2 short walks a day, so long as they can access a garden for toilettong, they sleep the rest of the time and are used to their own company having been kenneled. Lovely with kids, gentle, and fold up small.

[Honeyroar]

I think you’d need to look for doggy daycare or a walker to come in while you’re at work. I don’t really like dogs being left alone at all, two dogs left with each other for company is better, but perhaps not the easiest start to dog ownership. You might find two pair bonded dogs in a rescue that need renominates together.

[Knobblybobbly]

Ok thanks everyone. Decision made.

[MoaningMinniee]

Pro walker and daycare provider here. You will need to use all your annual leave, both of you, to settle a pup, and get a really good reliable local walker or daycare setting involved well before you actually need it. You might do better to rehome a more mature dog. Five and a half hours is too long to leave it (RSPCA guidelines are four hours max).

Every dog is different, even within the same breed. You might be lucky and get one of the chilled out happy to sleep when not being walked ones, or you might get one of the anxious ones. You won't know until you've got her or him what sort it will turn out to be.

[StarbucksSmarterSister]

You'd be leaving any breed alone for far too long. You either need doggy daycare or a dog walker

[Knobblybobbly]

Ok. Seems I was right to be concerned.