> Thats not what i asked Isabel - i said if someone didnt work.

Sorry I don't know what you mean then.  I certainly would not sell a puppy to someone with no income but that is not the point.  There are plenty of people married to someone with an adequate income for both.

>The OP is only going to be working maybe 30 hours a week which to me is part time not full time

Only is not a term I would use there :-)  I would consider that pretty much full time.

Hi Freds Mum

> The OP is only going to be working maybe 30 hours a week which to me is part time not full time

30 hours is full time by many standards - and there's of course travelling time in between to be taken into consideration :)

> 30 hours is full time by many standards - and there's of course travelling time in between to be taken into consideration

thats true, it can bump things up considerably if you have to use public transport

I've replied to my own post here as I don't want to single anyone out :)

This thread has grown arms and legs since I previously posted advice on it.  Unfortunately much of that growth appears to be down to nit picking by some members as to the content of advice and opinion offered by those most experienced in animal husbandry.  Deja vu!

For those who feel the need to criticise, perhaps you'll bear in mind this is a dog forum - it's not set up to be a counselling service to those who want their mistakes (whether existing or in the planning stages) given support. 

The forum is primarily about dogs, for dogs, and largely supported by dog lovers.  Despite that, over the years those who don't have dogs, don't keep those they do have in the best circumstances or are very much on a learning curve with little by way of practical experience to keep their own house & dog in order feel the need to castigate those with vast experience and skills and whose primary concern is - strangely - THE DOGS!

The pity is that some very experienced people have left or take lengthy breaks from CD because they're sick to the back teeth of wannabee goody two shoes types trying to promote political correctness in writing styles above *best practice for dogs*

> Great if you can mastifflover but not many are not able to, or want to. I for one wouldnt be able tio do my job from home and even if i could i dont think id want to. I like keeping work at work and closing the door on it to come home to my other life at home. Horses for courses though, waht suits one doesnt always suit another :-)

I see what you mean Freds mum.
But, I see a dog as a complete lifestlye choice, not an accessory to my life. I think this is why there seem to be some replys that don't sound as 'friendly' as others would like - some of us take dog ownership as a very serious, full-time commitment and have our income worked around our dogs.
I know plenty of people have suggested that an adult dog may be better for a full-time worker, but this makes me think of my 'oldie' who I lost last Sept. I would NOT leave him for more than 2 hours at a time during his last few years, his age was showing and I didn't like him having to wait longer than that for a loo break and it simply just didn't feel right leaving him alone.

I think the attention a puppy and an eldery dog needs, is something that needs to be given much more thought by all potential dog-owners. It's all very well getting an adult dog that can be left for a while, but when they get to be little old doddery 'pensioners', leaving them for any length of time just doesn't seem right.

I stand corrected about full time hours. Shopuld have made myself clearer but as i understnad it, from what the OP has said the 30 hours are the hours she is out the house, not what she is working. She cant live far from work if she is coming back for lunchtimes etc

I completely agree Mastifflover, i suppose as individulas we all see our dogs differently (by the way thats neither agreeing nor disagreeing with you :-) )

Also, you made a good point that when an "older dog" is recommended for a full time worker it needs careful consideration as that dog soon turns into a highly demanding dog suffering old age and the illnesses/ailments that go with it. Like human life, dogs go full circle and need as much care in older age as a new pup does :-)