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The doghouse

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Is it cruel to have a dog if you work??

60 replies

wherearetheturrets · 26/11/2025 17:54

Our family would like to get a dog at some point.. I’m currently a sahm (dc14,3 and 2) but will be going back to work in about a year. I haven’t wanted to get a dog yet as I don’t really feel comfortable with such young dc, plus my hands are full with the young dc and I just don’t feel able to care for another living creature on top!

But I feel like I’ve always heard the opinion that it’s unfair on a dog to be left alone at home all day while its owners are at work. So do people only have dogs if at least one person is around a lot? It’s making me feel like we maybe shouldn’t have a dog if my dp and I would be out at work, but also feels a real shame to not let my dc experience having such a lovely pet as a dog, and giving a dog a loving home. Just wondering if that opinion really is the dominant thinking?

OP posts:
c24680 · 23/02/2026 17:19

Many people have a dog and work normal 9-5 jobs with half an hour commute.

Well, where I’m from in Wales they do, I’ve had dogs all my life, they slot in and have been perfectly happy sleeping all day while we have been at work - we’ve always had labradors so not a small breed, I find they are happy to go out or to sleep though!

if you’re getting a dog, do it while you have the time so you’re not getting a puppy when you go back to work

its more of a modern opinion to not have a dog if you’re working, if everyone followed that rule the kennels would be overflowing more so than they are now.

JuicyDrop · 26/02/2026 06:55

We have an 8 month old lab who is left for two hours or so on Mondays and Fridays as they are the only two days me and my husband both work. My mother in law helps out the rest of the day- she walks him for us and feeds him and then leaves him about 12.15pm and my husband gets home at 2.30pm.
What I hadn’t factored in was how restrictive they are for just general daily things. We have a six year old and the recent half term was a bit of a nightmare- usually we’d be here there and everywhere. Swimming, cinema, days out to the farm etc. None of that could happen because of the dog and I felt terribly guilty about that. We tend to go to places where we can take the dog too but it is very limiting and I can imagine that will get worse in the summer when it will be too hot for him. We love him to bits but I can only comfortably leave him for about two hours on his own and that is incredibly restrictive when you have children as well.

WizdomE · 26/02/2026 07:00

Dogs are pack animals, so if I could not be at home (as a member of the pack) I would not have a dog. You could consider getting 2 dogs, but they are very expensive.

Amber198 · 26/02/2026 07:08

We have a dog walker for the two days a week that no-one is home all day. We pay £20 and our lovely dog walker picks her up, takes her back to her house for the day where she’s with other dogs and takes her for two decent walks.
I couldn’t/wouldn’t leave my dog for more than a couple of hours. She’d be bored, it wouldn’t be fair. She gets restless when she hasn’t had enough exercise.
We definitely factored this in when we got her as a pup, also the breeder was very particular in asking us about how long we worker and what we thought we’d do when working.
If you do decide to get a dog then factor in doggy day care while working in the same way you would as childcare.

WhereDidSummerGoAgain · 26/02/2026 07:35

If you want your DC to have the experience of having a pet, why not get a cat (or two). They are independent and don't need you while you're out, they just need access to food water and the outside.

But they can make lovely pets when you're home and are endlessly entertaining IMO.

MissyB1 · 26/02/2026 08:10

Headisonupsidedown · 27/11/2025 08:01

I wouldn’t do it in your position. I love my dog, but having him has restricted what we can do.

Same. Our dog is very loved - and treated like a bloody princess! But the financial expense of having a dog, and the massive restrictions on our lives, have made me think it was definitely a mistake.

CrazyGoatLady · 26/02/2026 08:35

We have 3 rescue dogs between 8 months and almost 8 years old. Both of us in full time work. I work remotely most of the time, occasionally have to go away (company based down South, we're in Scotland). DH works hybrid. DC are older now (teens) so they help. DM lives nearby and can help with dog sitting as well.

If you think you might need to go back to work and would be out of the house all day, you would at least need to find a dog walker who could come and walk them and break the day up. You may be able to find volunteers to do this on Borrow My Doggy, but in my experience you can't always rely on that and you need backup. Check if there's a local doggy daycare, dog sitter, or if you have family nearby, ask if they would be prepared to help when you go back to work.

If you can't afford dog walking/dog sitting services and have no family help, you can't afford to work full time and have a dog, it's that simple. Go on Borrow My Doggy as a borrower instead and walk/dog sit someone else's rather than having the responsibility and expense of your own dog.

With the ages of your younger kids being under 5, please, please do not get a puppy. Too many puppies are returned/end up in rescue because they are incompatible with young children/owners don't have time to train them properly/walk them enough. Animals should not be disposable, but sadly, most of our fosters and rescues have come from homes with young kids where the owners didn't think it through fully and then couldn't cope or the dog ended up with behavioural issues because they didn't train, unintentionally neglected the dog's needs, or in the case of our 8 m o rescue, stupidly allowed young children to roughhouse with the dog. None of these families were bad people or abusive owners, but their naivety, inexperience and lack of foresight led to their dogs becoming bored and distressed and having to be rehomed.

No responsible rescue charity would allow you to adopt a puppy, although some of the European rescue dog charities apparently do, which is crazy. Breeders are also often less scrupulous. It's a red flag if they know the ages of your kids but will sell to you/allow you to adopt anyway. Any decent charity or breeder knows that sending a puppy to a home with young children is a huge gamble and it often ends badly.

If you must get a dog while they are this young, get a calmer, adult dog who can live with children. Avoid working breeds such as collies and collie mixes, as they are hard work and need a lot of exercise and stimulation, they are not good family pets.

simpledeer · 26/02/2026 08:42

You really can’t/shouldn’t leave a dog alone for more than 4/5 hours. If it’s a puppy then it’s even shorter periods.

Newpeep · 26/02/2026 18:40

Depends on a variety of factors. Last dog was an older rescue. She was left 4 hours in the morning then 1-2 in the afternoon from about 3 years old. The first year I wasn’t working. I’d come home for an hour at least at lunch time. She had no issues with this and it was term time only. Evenings and weekends revolved around her.

Current dog very different. Much higher need for company (we knew this) although same breed type. It took us over 2 years to be able to leave her up to 4 hours happily but this wasn’t an issue as DH now WFH and the occasional office trip I could cover with TOIL etc. i worked a lot of unpaid overtime and did a lot of blagging in the first two years!

If you have back up (not necessarily daycare as not all dogs suit it) and are prepared for a lot of work then it’s doable. I personally can’t imagine fulfilling a dogs needs, having kids and working full time but everyone is different. We are childless and my main hobby is dog training so we’re ok.

stillchasingdereksheppard · 26/02/2026 19:30

Yes you can't just leave it all day. I work part time (3 days) and I have a dog walker on those days.

On my work days I am up and walking them at 0600, breakfast before I leave around 0800 and then dog walker comes and takes them 1100-1300 and I'm home by 1615. That way they're never left for more than 3/4 hours which I think is reasonable if they have toys & chews to entertain themselves (mine are small and can use dog flap into secure garden at their leisure).

Dog walker for the 3 days costs me around £320 (two dogs) a month so it is a significant cost.

You can absolutely have a dog and work long hours but you'll need help or money to pay for appropriate care.

When I do leave the dogs I generally leave them with chews / kongs / puzzle or similar to keep busy and they are tired from walk so generally just sleep or chew.

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