Can you have a dog if you work full time?

elsien

I'd agree it depends on the temperament of the individual dog.
I work full time but my mother has Gitdog for most of the day while I'm at work. He is ok to be left in that he doesn't wreck the house or bark continuously, and when I do leave him he seems to sleep till I get back.
But.
He's not happy about being left - if he's on his own for a few hours he's really clingy when you get back, and you can see the difference in him. He's not a happy pooch at all.
So on the days when he's on his own for longer, I make sure he gets an extra long walk and stimulation in the morning before I go out.

I recall seeing a programme some time ago where webcams were left in houses where the owners thought the dog was fine on its own. Some were fine, others were clearly stressed. Not sure how you'd assess that before you got a dog though - the type of set up you're thinking of would work for a laid back dog but wouldn't be enough for a dog with separation anxiety.

nkomp18

A lot of shelters euthanize dogs if they aren't adopted in a certain time frames, due to lack of funding, lack of space and cost of upkeep. They call those the 'death row' dogs and you can find shocking statistics online about it.

I am sure if you were to adopt one of those, they would be forever grateful even if they had to be alone 8 hours a day during weekdays because if you ask the dog it much rather do that than be dead. I say go for it but choose one of those rather than a puppy from the pet store.

bellaboo86

I work full time and have a dog. He's getting on a bit a pretty much sleeps all day. On days when people are in, he looks knackered because all his snoozing is interrupted. Having said that, he does enjoy company but he does at least have the cat.
The Dogs Trust do let people that work full time have dogs.
If you're getting a rescue dog, I think being in a warm loving environment is much better than being in a rescue kennel, even if the owner does work.

Person_one

I would definitely recommend getting two, if you can find a bonded pair in rescue they will already be used to each other and relaxed in each other's company. Do lots and lots of research first though, and spend time with dogs and dog owners so you feel fully prepared. Dog ownership is hard work and you'll definitely think 'what the hell have I done?' at some point in the first week or two!

With a good dog walker visiting every day, and a bit of research on how to make it easier for the dogs settle without a human there, I see no reason why working full time should be a barrier to dog ownership. Most dogs will just chill out or chew on something for the morning then if your dog walker does their job properly they'll have a lovely walk and chance to socialise and then snooze happily for the afternoon until you come home.

That sounds much better to me than a life in a rescue kennel!

It does mean that you are a bit restricted on going out in the evening after work, its not fair to leave them all day and then for hours at night too, but for me its definitely worth it.

Person_one

Oh, and don't fall for the myth you'll hear that rescues won't rehome to full time workers. There are lots and lots of rescues in this country, big and small, and plenty of them are happy to rehome the right animals to people who work but who have a plan for how they will still meet the animal's needs. If any just say a straight no, just move on to the next one.

teddysmum

I agree with the posts above which suggest two older dogs. I am home all day, but my two old boys (12 and 13 year-old cavaliers )sleep for a lot of the time.


Some dogs actually don't mind being left, where others will fret , if alone for a very short time.


The secret is to find a good rescue, that really gets to know it's dogs and can match dog with new owner, with very few mistakes (returns). Many will also welcome you as a dog walker, so you get to know the rescue and their dogs and they get to know you.


If you state the area over which you are willing to look, perhaps someone will be able to point you in the direction of such a rescue.

bugslet

I'm lucky in that mine come to work with me and from 7.30 til 4.45 they are in the office kipping apart from being let out for a quick walk/mooch.

I think if you can get a dog walker in, that should be fine. As said before, not suitable for a pup or a very energetic dog. And two would be nice, they really are company and rescues do get two or three in at a time. I know I would want two of mind rehomed together.

map66

I'm working part time but long hours on night shifts , the dog sleeps during the night just fine.
My biggest worries been he will start barking at nights and the next door will complain but after some whining he used to be left alone.
I usually leave him a meaty bone before I go and he is happily munching in it.
On the nights I'm not working he is in his bed at 10 o'clock latest anyway.
Don't think I would get a dog walker willing to walk him at 1-3 AM.

sheramber

There is more to owning a dog than arranging a dog walker for the middle of the day.

He will need a walk first thing before you go to work and he will need a walk in the evening.

These will have to done in all weathers- rain, hail, snow, wind and in the dark in the winter,

No going out in the evening unless you arrange a dog sitter. You cannot leave a dog alone all day and again in the evening.

No days out at weekends or going on holiday without making arrangements for the dog, and bearing the additional cost.

You may need to go to training classes- another cost and time.

Having a dog or two- but double the costs for feeding, vet fees , insurance etc- can be rewarding and enjoyable but they do require you to adjust your life for their benefit.

A rescue will want to know what arrangements you have made for welcoming a dog into your life so having details of available local dog walkers, dog training classes and local vet will be an advantage.

SensibleSarah

It very much depends on the individual dog or dogs involved. Many dogs wouldn't be happy with being left, but I searched for 18 months to find a rescue dog who was cat-friendly and ok being left. She was 3 at the time, so I did worry if she might be too active to cope. She definitely isn't! Lazy is her first name, middle name and last name.

The rescues I spoke to in my search were fine with full time workers as long as provisions were made for the dog to have toilet breaks etc and they would only rehome a dog to me who had shown no signs of separation anxiety in previous home/foster home - which is more than fair enough and what I wanted anyway.

For the first 18 months or so I used a dogwalker - but my dog has issues with people (even if she knows them) coming into the house and trying to touch her due to previous abuse - so it was making her way more stressed, even though the dogwalker was lovely and very experienced with rescues. She already got 2 walks a day aside from this so it was for company rather than exercise and she simply wasn't benefitting from the company and her confidence was suffering.

So dog flap was put in the back door and she's now left on her own (bar the cats, which she ignores) from about 7.30am until around 5pm on weekdays. She's totally fine with this - she just sleeps whether I am there or not (webcams are very informative) and has access to the whole house and garden. No destruction, no noise, no movement apart from turning round and going back to sleep. She has a very similar routine at weekends when I'm there most of the time.

She gets walked first thing in the morning and last thing at night in all weathers (she hates rain but I'm very strict) and seems perfectly content as long as she has a sofa or bed to sleep on. My life is ruled to some extent by the routine (my choice of course) and I don't go out on weekday evenings unless completely unavoidable as I don't like leaving her again if she's been left all day - but she genuinely doesn't seem to care or behave any differently if I do.

So OP - it's definitely do-able - but you do have to be very careful about what type of dog you bring into your life, as having to send them back if it doesn't work out is highly traumatic for all involved. Character is the most important factor, as on paper, my dog is a breed which wouldn't at all be suited to these circumstances, but she's an exception and I don't expect it to be as straightforward next time.