Hello all - this is my first post on an excellent board and we'd be grateful for any advice.

My partner and I would like a dog - we would be first time dog owners but have been waiting for a chance for many years. Now finally we have the opportunity with our own house away from London with a garden, and would like to get a dog together. We have been offered a beautiful border terrier pup from a top breeder that we have seen today.

Our main problem is that we both work in nine to five jobs. We will be desperately devoted to our new pup at every opportunity, but are aware of the difficulties of potentially being away from our new family member for too long at a time. I can take the very first week or so off work at first, and after that we would both be able to come home at lunchtimes, and have a very willing neighbour volunteering to help out daily. We would also happily check out dogsitters etc. too. The question we need help on is whether all this is enough? We have waited nine years without a dog to get to a suitable point in our lives where we can offer security, devotion, and a good home, but can't see a particular point in the future where we won't both be working. We are also both desperately disappointed to think that owning a dog and working full time may not go hand in hand.

I know opinion may be divided and some may be against the idea, but are there any others of you working full time for a living who have raised a happy healthy dog and can give us any advice?

Thanks all and happy new year !
Kusasi

It sounds asif you want the best for your dog.

Dogs will get used to a routin.  Taking the first 2 weeks off work is advisable to let the pup settle into the new inviroment and to start training.  Then once you are back at work come home every lunch time (either one or both of you thats up to you) and give the puppy some time.  Also during this time ask your neighbour just to pop in every 2 hours or so to let him/her out in the garden or to walk him/her.

Also make sure once a week you go to a dog training class mainly so the pup can get socilised with other dogs and people (also great for a chat!).  You may also have to say NO to evening meals out etc to spend time with your puppy.

Hope that everything works out for you

Rox

I am the willing neighbour of friends who work full time and own dogs.  I have helped with their 3 youngest additions as pups.

Before this they had rescued a pup at 4 weeks that the lady who was a delivery driver took with her in her van, but realised that this would not be feasible long term, as when the weather got too warm thwere would be a problem.  By this time pup was around 6 months old.

Having thought hard they realised that the dog apart from it's physical needed company.  They got another sli8ghtly older pup that was advertised in the local paper.  These two had a Kennel built in the garden and got on well enough with being taken for a long walk early in the morning and when they got home in the evening.

When they got their third it was found to be a bit noisy, and the dogs were then moved indoors, with the TV on.  They have had up to four large dogs at one time.  The bitggest problem of course was that the dogs did wreck more things than if someone was there to supervise, but they lived with that.  Hubby being a builder was often able to pop in when working in the area at lunch.  If they go out in the Evening now they get someone in to dog sit, as the dogs aare alone enough in the day.

One way of providing Companionship in adition to the neighboutr and dogsitter cxoming in is to take on an older dog first, one that may already be used to a pattern of early morning and evening walks, and would not be unhappy to continue this way, and once settled the pup would be company, and would have a good example set by a sensible adult.  With another dog for company they will be able to manage without you better, as long as they get enough attention before and after work.

I work full time and own a dog, its not easy, but can be successful. It is vital to get the early phase right, or training will not be successful. It is also hard work, and involves sacrifice.
I had my mum and dad stay the first 2 weeks full time, and i worked....they did the initial training reinforced by me in the evenings. after that, they went home and i took a week off full time, followed by two weeks half days. You have the option of extending the time because of your partner.
I walk her EVERY morning at 6 before work, and every evening after work. She used to have a pup sitter but we stopped this as she prefers to nap!
I decline most evening invitations in the week, and take her to classes twice a week. to find time for a doggy friend somethings gotta give......work or social life. If you are sure you are prepared to do thisthen it is possible.

I work (as does my husband) and I have 2 dogs( age 3 and 22 months )  and am getting another this year.It takes a certain amount of sacrifice(of sleep on my part since I work nights) but it can work.If you are willing to get someone to help when you're not there and you can put in QUALITY time when you are it can be done.
I always take some time off when I first get my babies and then fit my sleep in around my pup so that I can house train etc  and then gradually get the pup used to my 'normal' day(I sleep from 6am-8am,take kids to school and take dogs for a long run then sleep from 11am to 3pm)...where theres a will theres a way!!
Good luck,Archer

Thanks everyone for the replies so far - it's encouraging to hear them.

We don't have much of a social life to sacrifice anyway! But certainly that's not a problem and we're well aware of the commitment. We have a willing neighbour too but I think we want to make sure there is a reliable local petsitter just so we have all our options covered. Does anyone have advice on the best way to find someone reliable? It would be nice to think that we wouldn't need this in the long run too.

I also think we might re-think and look for an older dog - it seems these opportunities are rare though and again it's hard to find just the right dog who won't be trouble for first-time owners at work. We've looked a lot at shelter dogs but we know we can't commit to those who would all need extra attention.

Kusasi

If you look on www.pedigreedogs.co.uk theres a re-home a dog section with many different pedigree dogs of varying ages looking for homes...at least you should be able to find out about these dogs backgrounds and reasons for rehoming
Archer

Please remember that rescue and rehomed dogs are in that position for a reason. One of the main reasons dogs go into rescue is because they do not like being left! You also have to take into account that some people lie about their reasons for rehoming their dogs. If you do take the risk of a rescue dog, then you will still need to make provisions for them, whilst you work. If you do decide that a puppy is for you after all, then do not be tempted to spend every minute with it when you are off work. The puppy needs to spend time alone or it will not understand why it had your undivided attention for the first week and then you disappear. Good luck

My friend and I both adopted a young dog - mine 6 months, hers 8 months from the local dog home. Another chap we got to know through dog traning classes adopted an older dog - 6 years old from the same place. All the dogs have settled well. The older dog lives with a couple who both work and have disinterested teenage kids, he is happy to go out for a game of football and a trot morning and evening then snooze most of the day, although he is more bonded to his master and wont eat till he comes home - his last male owner died suddenly. We were all realistic about what we could offer, honest with the staff about our circumstances and experience, and had good information and support form the dogs home. You could consider a retired greyhound, as they need homes and are carefully matched to owners. They dont need masses of exercise, but they do need care and time to adjust to a new way of life as do all rehomed dogs, and can be fantastic pets. When we brought our pup home we said whatever happened, wed get through it together and meant it. There are no guarantees, but the rewards are massive.

Rescues have issues its true, but not all have serious ones. It seems to be seperation anxiety/destructiveness, fear aggression to other dogs or straying/bin raking for food in my limited experience. Decide what you deal with - I rent a house so I cant have a dog who eats door posts, I have a dog already so I cant have one who is unable to tolerate others. Your biggest issue is time, and convincing rescue staff that you have thought through how to care for the dog so it dosent end up in rescue again, which is perfectly reasonable. Visit rescues, chat to dog owners in the park and find out where their dogs came from and how things have been for them. Sorry Im biased in favour of rescue!

Hi,

I own 4 dogs and work full-time and I'm afraid mine are left all day BUT I am up at 6.20 to walk them, then straight in at 5.15 for another woodland walk (Even in the dark!) and then another walk around fields at 10pm.  On my days off we really go to town with long country walks and in the summer they get long evening walks too.  They certainly don't look any the worse for this regime and they are in hard condition, infact I'd say they are in harder condition that a lot of dogs who's owners are at home all day.

I wouldn't however leave 1 dog on it's own all day, 2 are by far better company.  You may find a breeder who sometimes sells their older (Veterans) stock off into pet homes, then you'll have well behaved pet who is used to other dogs for your puppy to have company with.

I too work all day but can only recommend it to the most dedicated of doggy lovers. It is very hard work and getting a dog walker which I think would be essential in most cases is very expensive.

Mine settled into a routine very quickly and she sleeps all day but it makes her a real handful in the evening, no plonking infront of the tv for us after work.

Good lUck if you decide to go ahead.

My partner and I have a border terrier girl, now a year and half old.  She is left mornings when I leave for work and then my partner either picks her up and takes her with him at lunch time or just stops in to see her for a while.  It does require effort and training but it can be done.  I don't think I could leave her all day without a lunch time visit though.

I'm not sure if my BT is unusual but I was expecting her to have loads more energy than she does, one good walk a day with a proper run or a real play with another dog for 20mins or so and she is crashed out for the rest of the day.  Maybe you could meet up with another dog owner before work and both benefit from the exercise your dogs could give each other.

Good luck, if you can come up with a way of making it work it will change your life for the better in so many ways having a little friend to come home to at the end of a crud day, I'm looking forward to seeing my girl now.

I have a BT too Moo but I never considered getting a dog while I worked full time.  Now I'm home by 1.30pm and I think having left Cops since 8.30am that's long enough.  He's fine with it, never does the toilet in the house but I take him out immediately I get home and then later at say 7pm and there's always the garden.  I agree that I soooo look forward to seeing him when I'm on my way home and there's a pantomime every time I get in the door!!!.  Everyone's situation is different and I'm sure dogs get by with all routines.

CG

Both my husband and I work full time, although we are fortunate in that we are both able to work from home. However, there are inevitably days when we are both out of the house at the same time, so we use both a dog walker and a trainer. Both have been fantastic with Cam.

I would point out that simply walking (as with a dog walker) your pup at lunchtime might not give him or her all the stimulation he or she needs to tire him out for the afternoon - remember, they will only be able to take 10 or so minutes of exercise at a time for a while. So, you need to be able to find someone who is prepared to sit in with them, and ideally (at least for us, as we have  very active breed) find and be prepared to pay for someone who is more experienced and can work your dog's brain.

If you are really serious about getting a pup or dog (as I'm sure you are) don't let working full time put you off - it is possible and can be very successful, if you're prepared to put in the time and money.  Cam is a pain in the arse at times and he has definitely affected my social life, but I love the little bu**er to bits and couldn't imagine life without him.

If you get a pup, read 'the perfect puppy' - it contains everything you need to know, particularly about accustoming your pup to leaving him. Also, pre-order a large quantity of wine and coffee - you'll need both when he's going through the teenage phase. ;)

For dog walkers and trainers: ask your vet for recommendations. I found Cam's 'personal trainer'  (who is fab), through the local dog training club I attend (he runs them).

Good luck and keep us posted.

Jo :)