with the risk of upsetting everybody, i'm thinking of getting a westie, or 2.
The problem is it may well be left alone for about 7 hrs, with the exception of a friend who will pop around to check on the dogs for an hour a day.

Is this tooo unfair on the dogs?!?!

Er in a word yes unless the dog is already used to being left for such a long time

If you can afford to and don't mind the idea of someone in your home, you can get qualified pet sitters or dog walkers to sit for your puppy.
This is anything from £10 a day and there are quite a few around. They will come in for as long as you want and make sure your puppy is ok. We were looking into this option - we are picking up our puppy in November and both me and my partner work. But, my partners situation has changed which means he will be working the during the night so will be with the puppy during the day and I will be there in the morning, although we won't see much of each other! :-(

Hi

I have a Westie and she gets left alone for about the same time. Most people on this forum will think this is terrible but I don't think molly suffers (this of course is my opinion based on our dog, I'm sure everyone is diff as is every dog).

Hubby goes home to check on her. She gets her treats before I leave for work and we sit and have a cuddle. If I walk past the spot where we say goodbye she sits waiting for me to leave (even if I'm still in my nightwear). I give her her favouorite treat last and she knows this means I'm going to work.

When we get home she has our undivided attention with lots of playing, training and a nice walk (we don't have kids) and at the weekend and evenings we don't go anywhere without her.

When we got her I had lots of time off and gradually built my hours back to what they usually are so it wasn't a sudden shock for her. I have to say though that before I started back properly I cried nearly all weekend just thinking about leaving her and felt so guilty.

Only you can make the decision on whether you think it's right or not.

Hi Claire

How old is your Westies now? I have just got a nine week old pup and at the moment I'm spliting my time between working at home and taking him to my Dad's who's retired but long term I am going to need to leave him all day sometimes. Ive had so many different opinions including people thinking I'm cruella de ville for wanting to do this.

I had exactly the same as that before we got Molly - she's now 18 weeks. The trouble is if you're on your own or live somewhere expensive like we do then you have to be able to work.

When we got Molly I had a week off work. Then I worked just the morning and gradually built it back up. As I said before I go (hubby goes first) we sit and have a cuddle and she gets her favourite treat before I leave. She takes her treat off me and goes and lies down with it and doesn't even look at me again, it's almost as if she saying 'will you bugger off so I can tuck into this'.

When we get home she goes everywhere with us. She also has her best friend the cat to keep her company. Husband was home all day yesterday and said she wasn't interested in him at all, just slept all day as if he wasn't even there. I think she spends the day charging up her batteries for her evening onslaught!!!!

Are you back at work already?

Im working at home in the morning's this week and taking her to my dad in the afternoons but he lives in a flat and I want him to get used to doing his business in the garden. When you leave Molly do you crate her or shut her in? I want to try and take some time off but its a really busy time at the moment. Its really nice to know that other people are bring dogs up this way and that the dogs are still happy!!

Have replied to your personal e-mail as message was too long to post here. Hope you don't mind.

thanks for your feed back. Its a tough choice, 'cause both my wife & I both want the dog, but not at any cost. it seems a 50/50 split to those who think its a good/bad idea!

the dog walker seems a good solution.

Hi Claire,

Me and my Husband are desperately wanting a Westie (or 2), and like you, we have the problem of leaving him all day. But with the exception of a neighbour popping in. How does Molly get on now being left alone? Do you leave her toys to play with, and the run of the house? we've heard leaving a radio on is a good idea.

Did it help having a week off bonding with Molly, and then as you said, doing half days? - how long did you carry this on for, before returning full time?

did you find that family and friends said it was a bad idea, and that you were being unfair?

heeeeeeeeeeelp !!!

My male Westie Buddy who is now 19months old was 15 weeks when i got him. The breeder held onto him for two weeks while i sorted some time off from work. I arranged 3 weeks off so i could be at home with him. When it came to going back to work i used to worry about him constantly being on his own even though i'd arranged for someone to go in everyday. Considering he was left on his own for approx 3 hours before and 2.5 hours after their visit he did remarkably well (very little chewing damage) but then there was every doggy toy known to man left for him and a radio left on. Now i've changed my shift pattern and the hours i now do are even better (for him not me). I really did'nt feel prepared for the guilt i felt at leaving him. Apart from when i'm at work he comes everywhere with me. I can't condone leaving your pup alone for long periods but without being a hypocrite i can't say don't do it, just be prepared for feelings of intense guilt. Hope it all works out for you.
Budmag

Hi

Had about 2/3 weeks before went back to work, but the other posts are right, the guilt is huge when you have to leave them. I hate sunday evenings as it means I have to leave Molly. I'm in the process of trying to reduce my hours.

We make sure we get up early in plenty of time for fun and cuddles before work. Then she has her breakfast. She has the run of the kitchen and hallway. We put her bed there and loads of toys. she has an old bone and puppy kong stuffed with her food (she's a picky eater so likes to have a nibble).

None of my family or friends gave us any negative feed-back on getting a dog (and no, I hadn't turned into a dog with selective hearing!!!) I think they were all quite sensitive to the fact that we don't all have the luxury of being able to stay at home - God I wish I did!

I agree, i would give anything to be able to stay at home. Only trouble is i'd end up with a house full of puppies. Oh bliss.
Budmag

Thanks for all your kind advice. We're having a really tough time deciding what to do.
we've heard so many good things about having one, and what joy they have brought to alot of people.
im hoping we can overcome this problem of leaving him on his own. or at least make up the guilt when we get home with loads of cuddles and walkies.
fingers crossed for getting 'puppy westie stevo'!!

Stevo

Just wanted to say good luck with whatever you decide to do. One piece of advice though - if you decide against it or are still unsure then don't go near any! I told my other half (he was working) that I was just going to have a look! Yeah right! As soon as I picked my two week old Molly up there was no way I could have said no or would ever have wanted another dog. So don't make my mistake!!!

to late!!!
we went to see some a few weeks back, and straight away we feel in love with one, and wanted to bring him home!!!
It was really heart breaking.
It was so tempting to pick him up and bring him home!

Was it a puppy or adult? Can't remember what age you were thinking of?

Have you decided not to get him then? We had a boy in mind but there was only one in the litter and the stud dog owner wanted him. But then I wanted change Molly for the world.