Dog owners, am i being selfish?

Perhaps you could invest in "Doggie Day Care" a couple of times a week? This will allow the dog to be in a social environment, able to run around, play, and expend some energy. This would help to break up the routine so that the dog wouldn't be alone 5 days a week for 8+ hours a day. And, the important thing is that when you do get home from work, you spend time with the dog and ensure that they are getting proper exercise and socialization.

Quite a tricky one and probably depends on the dog. I had a greyhound and whilst they're incredibly placid they, as all dogs, need a bit of company every few hours. This is costly...but on days myself or my boyfriend couldn't get home within 8 hours we had a dog-walker that would take him out for an hour (it used to cost us about £8) and feed him if necessary. It was quite good in the end because the dog-walker built up a relationship with the pooch and they'd also take him in when we went on holiday or away for weekends.
Also really research your breeds thoroughly before committing. Smaller dogs tend to be more 'yappy' as is next doors which we're on the verge of feeding chocolate covered chicken bones in a bid to put it out of it's incessant barking misery! Large dogs are calmer (less to prove) and also look into the difference into female/male temperaments of a breed.

One thing I quickly learned is that the commitment is HUGE! I thought that because I loved being out walking in the country-side a dog would be perfect, but at times like 1am when Muttly's got the raging trots and HAS to be taken out can be a different matter! ; )
Overall though, I absolutely adored my dog and won't hesitate to get another one in the future.

Simples. Get TWO dogs.

Consider fostering a dog as a 'test run'.

I have one dog currently and am adding a second next week as I feel bad for my one dog being alone throughout the day... He is alone for about 8.5 hours monday - Friday. He seems fine and we have had no problems with him acting out in any way. Plus he is a pug which they sleep most of the time. I still do feel bad for him which is why we are getting him a friend to keep him company during the day while we are away. If you do get a dog just make sure he gets plenty of attention when you get home. Good luck!

We got two for the reason that we didn't want one being on his own all the time. We are lucky though in that the in-laws have them two days a week for us and they get walked every day by FIL and I can work from home sometimes. Do feel really guilty when we have to leave them for 5+ hours on their own. Make sure you get one that likes walking, we didn't think it through when we got ours and they have got very little legs so not great for walking long distances.

I don't think it's a bad idea, would be good if you had some sort of interaction for it during some days if not all of the days though. Do you have a next door neighbour that could pop in?

Get a couple of pound puppies. They can keep each other company and they are great workout buddies. We have 4 dogs. I work about 45 minutes from our place. Only one of our dogs is really good for working out (standard poodle, who was a rescue) The others are little and prefer short walks.

PS........if you own your home a dog door is an option.

I've had my beagle for 5 years, since he was a puppy. I work 8 hour days and I work about 45 minutes away from my house. I leave the house at 545 am for work and I don't get back til around 345 pm. My fiance works from 7 am to 8-9pm everyday. The dog is there alone for about 8-9 hours a day, and he's perfectly fine. I make sure he has water and food everyday and plenty of toys and I turn the TV on in the living room for him and the radio on in the kitchen. Just be sure, when you are home to pay attention to the dog and take him outside to play, etc. More than likely the dog will sleep most of the time you are gone.

^ Same for me. My 2 guys stay home for at least 8 hrs a day by themselves. They're happily wasting their day away & I find the evidence by seeing fur all over my bed where they've managed to roll around playing & sleep. LOL. We pay lots of attention to them when we get home & try to exercise them outside to keep them active & fit. They're my babies!

Most dogs are alone that long. A lot fewer people would have dogs if they worried about leaving them that long.

I would recommend against a puppy, though. Get a grown dog with a good temperment that's house trained. As long as you spend plenty of time with the dog when you're not at work, it will be fine.

And to add, you could get either two dogs or a cat (low-maintenance) and the dog wouldn't be alone.

Well, since you like being active outside, I think as long as you take your new buddy with you, you'll be alright. My dog is home alone for about 6 hours a day, but I make sure to get her outside the moment I come home- and if the weather is bad, then we go to Petsmart or for a drive- as long as the time you spend with him/her is active, he or she will nap for those 8 hours you're at work. I dont think you're being selfish at all.

I have a long-hair chilhuahua who is 11 months old ... she stays at home for 9 hours during the day while we work. She stays in a puppy playpen (six sided wire portable cage) with a puppy pad. She has plenty of toys to keep her entertained and we also have two cats in the house. Once she stops chewing we will allow her to run loose in the house with the cats while we work.

.i walk my dog in the morning, then go to work for 8 hours. i get someone to let him out in the garden at lunch time for a wee. then my daughter is home from school by 3.15pm and he can go out in the garden whenever he wants. then i walk him in the evening. so he gets a wee roughly every 3 hours in the day, lol! And he’s only a small dog.

i wouldn’t want to leave him all day, I don’t think it would be fair on him. he does have 4 cats to play with though and yes at the weekend, i notice he just sleeps a lot in the hours he is used to being alone.

My friends dog goes for a wee in the garden in the morning and is then left inside all day till she gets home in the evening and is then walked. she said her dog never has a problem waiting. So I presume it depends on the dog.

Most people I know hire a dog walker to take their dogs out for a walk in the day when they are at work. I think if you are not going to be around, this is a good plan. Or a dog proof garden and a dog door?

:flowerforyou:

Im really toying with the idea of getting a furry buddy.

I live alone and work at least 8 hours a day, when im not in work i am always itching for an excuse to stomp around the local countryside.

I know i can give a dog a good, relaxed and stable home with plenty of care and exercise but the poor thing would have to be alone while im working.

Thoughts please.

I grew up on a farm and dogs are ment to be free and have companionship all the time, the most humane thing you could do is NOT get a dog living in the city. it really upsets me to see animals in cages and left alone for most of the day, its wrong and it is not fair to the dog, your doing it for your own selfish reasons. don't do it, we have 2 cats that have cat doors that come and go as they please, i have never cleaned cat litter because we have 17 acres for them to do there business, plus it cuts down on food, they tend to hunt for themselves. we want a dog but know the huge maintenance they are, and the thought of leaving it alone for more than 8 hours just breaks my heart. they are more demanding than kids, the difference is you can ignore your dog which is the worst. i urge you, do not get a dog, for the dogs sake.

I've had my beagle for 5 years, since he was a puppy. I work 8 hour days and I work about 45 minutes away from my house. I leave the house at 545 am for work and I don't get back til around 345 pm. My fiance works from 7 am to 8-9pm everyday. The dog is there alone for about 8-9 hours a day, and he's perfectly fine. I make sure he has water and food everyday and plenty of toys and I turn the TV on in the living room for him and the radio on in the kitchen. Just be sure, when you are home to pay attention to the dog and take him outside to play, etc. More than likely the dog will sleep most of the time you are gone.

I have a beagle as well, her name is Pickles and it's almost the same situation. She sleeps all day and doesn't even notice that I;m at work but I am sure to take her out DAILY for a walk as soon as I get home She has to go check her "pee-mail" you know!

while puppies are cute, a rescue is better as they are already housebroken.

and yes, dogs sleep a lot... yep, even those high energy ones. I have a Weimaraner and a JRT. I take my JRT out for runs with me, she loves it and really calms her down. The Weim is difficult to manage on the leash and I'd be toast if he sees another dog while I'm running. He gets a good long walk with me each day and the run of the yard after squirrels.

Can you install a doggie door?